Last updated: 22 Jul, 2019
Published on: 25 Jul, 2016
13-year-old greyhound bounces back from near death and celebrates daily with zoomies!
“It was late one night, just before Christmas, I got a phone call from my friend Hollie at Greyhound Rescue. She was sobbing,” says Kelly. “She told me about a dog she’d just rescued, a 13-year-old female greyhound named Sally - bald, anaemic, flea ridden and weighing only 15 kilos.
“Hollie just needed someone to talk to who loved and understood oldies. She wasn’t sure Sally would even make it through Christmas, but I begged her to bring this dog to stay with me. My husband was overseas at the time, so I made an executive decision to bring her home!
“I arranged to pick Sally up from the kennels on Christmas Eve, and Hollie told me to brace myself. When I saw her, I started sobbing. She was tiny, skinny, almost totally bald from being flea ridden, and covered in sores and infections. She could hardly walk, because she was so weak and her long claws curled over.
“I gave her lots of filling, nutritious food and a comfy bed, and loved her as much as I could and got myself mentally prepared every single day to lose her. I told my husband I was sad that he wouldn’t get to meet her, as there was no way she would survive long enough for him to return from overseas.”
Six months later, Sally is a different dog with a new lease of life...
“That was over six months ago. Now, Sally enjoys two long walks every day. She eats like a horse. She is so strong, I can’t even pull her on the lead if she doesn’t want to move! She does zoomies around the house when she is excited. She leaps on and off the sofa at will. She roaches all day long. She’s gained about eight kilos and has a full coat of fur. She is my Christmas miracle!
“I’m soooo happy to say that Sally will be staying with us as a permanent foster! Every day she is still with us is a total blessing.
“No dog should have to live their twilight years in kennels, or at the pound. They deserve a loving home, whether it’s just for a matter of days, weeks or months. I will always be happy to adopt or foster a senior, and hope others will consider it after reading this too.”
If you have room in your heart and home to help a senior greyhound or any older pet in urgent need of a foster or forever home, search the PetRescue website using the advanced search options for ‘senior pets’ and ‘needing foster care’.