Thank you all for your lovely comments. I'm sorry I haven't replied earlier but it has been a very difficult few days without her (and lack of internet) She really was very special xxx

What a beautiful tribute to Surprise. So very sorry you’ve lost your precious girl and it’s the worst part of loving them so much when they leave us. She will always be with you in your memories just a heartbeat away. Thinking of you xx

God bless, beautiful, happy Surprise and Mary xxxx

Sorry to hear your sad news...keep hold of the good memories and knowing that she is running free with all our Grey’s on the rainbow bridge x.

Mary, what beautiful wording describing your little angel. We are so sorry to learn that your precious girl has gained her wings. Whatever time we are privileged to share with these gorgeous souls is never enough. Sending you ALL an electronic cuddle today. Run free stunning Surprise T,J,R & B xxxx

Run free with all our angels at The Bridge xx

So sorry I remember coming out with her sister to see how she got on with your others run free Surprise a happy angel xxx

Mary, I am so very sad to hear your news. Surprise was a beautiful girl and I know you all loved her so much. You are right they should be with us forever. God Bless his newest Angel. Lots of love to you all, Kate, Skip and Fletcher Xxx

So sorry for your loss xxxxxxx

I am so so sad Fairy to hear about Surprise.... thank you for giving her a wonderful new home after her previous owner sadly passed away. Sending you hugs - she is running free and will always be in your hearts xxx

Rip surprise lots of love to Fairy. Mary John.xxxx

Surprise 22 October 2005 - 26 November 2017

Our darling Surprise gained her angel wings this morning. Although she was 12 years old, her leaving us was very sudden and unexpected.

She has been with us for less than 4 years - far too short a time. But it feels like she has been and should have been here forever. She has left a massive hole for Andy, me, Champ, Lottie, Daisy and Roxy.

I am heartbroken. She came to us on foster originally. I remember the day Ruth brought her to the farm to see how she might be with our other dogs. She went straight over and took her place on the other dogs' beds and that's where she has been ever since. The day I brought her home, we stood in Daybreaks office and she rested her head on my chest and let me see deep into those lovely eyes into such a trusting soul. That moment was a privilege and I will remember forever. We were so lucky that she chose us to come to live with.

Prisey, you have been and will always be my shadow, my precious girl but most of all my best friend and I can't say thank you enough. Although I know you are at peace now, saying goodbye to you has been so very, very difficult. Sleep well my angel, will always love you to bits xxxxxxxxxxx

Mom x

Hi Surprise, sorry it's late, but Mom's only just logged on & told us it's your birthday. Hope you've had a lovely day and been very spoilt with lots of extra treats & snuggles. Big licks Rosie & Brae xx

Happy Birthday Surprise! Lots of love Kate, Twiggy and Skip...sending you our cuddle tonight. Xxx

Happy birthday gorgeous xxx

Happy Birthday gorgeous girl!
Special love from Orla (Jambeat Keeley) xxx

Hi Surprise, sorry it's a little late in the day gorgeous... hope you're having a wonderful 10th birthday beautiful and being very spoilt. Big licks from Rosie & Brae and big hugs from Tash & John xxxx

Happy birthday Surprise xxx

Ooh! Happy Birthday beautiful Surprise! Lots of love Kate, Twiggy and Skip Xxx

Happy 10th birthday my darling xxx

Happy Birthday, Surprise! XXX

Oh Surprise, so sorry that we missed your birthday; we all hope that you had a lovely day gorgeous. Look forward to seeing you soon when my folks can arrange a get together date with your Mom. Big licks, Rosie Po, T & J xxx

Happy birthday Surprise xxx

Happy birthday surprise xxxx

Happy Birthday from Jambeat Keeley! xx
(We may probably know each other as we had the same owner / trainer at the same time)

Thank you Kate. We celebrated with steak for tea and she is now stretched out in front of the woodburner xxx

Sending my cuddle to beautiful Surprise....Happy Birthday! Xxx

Happy birthday lovely girl!!!! Hope you have enjoyed today xxx

Sound like she is living a great life and has a wonderful mum hope she is feeling better soon .Surpise what super girl you been thou a lot this last year sending you a cuddle xxx

Surprise sounds like a character. I didn't know that greyhounds like snapping flies as our three don't bother at all. We could do with Surprise at our house to catch the flies, I have never known so many around as this Summer.

What a lovely update on Surprise. It's wonderful to hear how well she is doing. X

Thanks Kate - not sure fox poo and flies would be the thing for me but it works for her xxx

Hi Mary, what a great update on Surprise! So pleased all went well on Monday. She really is quite a character and it is so wonderful to hear how she has embraced her new life with you and your family, rolling in fox poo and eating flies! Xxx

I thought it was time for a little Surprise update (ok I've reread it - no so little).

The last few weeks have been rather eventful. Firstly she has developed rather a penchant for rolling in fox poo. I thought Daisy was bad but Surprise is rivalling her. She had a good roll on the morning of the Daybreaks party and subsequently missed all the fun as I didn't have time to give her a proper bath before I left and there was NO WAY she was coming in the car even after the quick shower I gave her. She surpassed this on Sunday after the storms when she found a particularly wet, sticky and foul smelling patch at the start of our morning walk so we had to go the whole way round with her sticking to me all round (literally at times too - how pleasant!)

Secondly if you are a buzzy little fly, be very afraid - she is a master fly stalker, catcher and eater - lovely!

She walks beautifully off lead and has brilliant recall so for most of our walks she mooches round the fields no problem. That is until 10 days ago when Roxy lab flushed a rabbit out of the hedge right in front of Surprise. I could never have believed this little 8.5 year old (who looked every day of it when I first saw her) could move so fast. Luckily I had Champ on the lead but I think she would have outrun him. Luckily the rabbit was having a fast day with a good head start but at some point it did a double turn which Surprise followed. She came back to me but had snapped a claw off right at the toe. It was clearly uncomfortable for her so off we went to the vet (with Roxy lab who was having stitches out after her accident - another story). She was brilliant at the vet- totally unphased by other dogs, cats and other small furries. Everyone was quite surprised by her name but she won so many fans for being so sweet. We came away with antibiotics, metacam and hibiscrub. All was well or so I thought until she cut her shoulder - no idea what happened as I had just popped out for 10 mins to the shop and when I came back there she was. So another visit to the vet on Saturday where they sedated her and stitched her up. I was very concerned as on Monday she was due at Fivelands for her spey and dental and was really worried about her having 2 anaesthetics in such a short period of time. The local vet assured me it was ok but we did have much discussion when I took her in on Monday. Christian decided it was ok to go ahead but I felt awful leaving her after all she had been through over the last few days and she really didn't want to be left. I worried about her all day but she was in very good hands. I have to say that Fivelands are brilliant - so much expertise and the advice - I'm sure they got fed up with my questions. I collected her about 6pm and unsurprisingly she was very groggy - they couldn't give her metacam as she had had some the night before but they had given her ketamine which she seemed happy with. Her spey went well as did her dental - she had 18 teeth out which was better than I was expecting. She was quite uncomfortable and sore on Monday but was really good - just the occasional disorientated whine. However since then she has had a new lease of life. She is still on the antibiotics and metacam but has really perked up. I think her mouth must still be sore but she is definitely feeling the benefit of losing those sore teeth - she is back catching flies (the sound of her jaws clapping together fills me with dread), she isn't gassing us when she breathes on us and best of all she is eating and eating and eating and happily so - before it was always a bit of a chore and hit and miss at mealtimes. Hopefully this will continue once we stop the medication and her gums heal. We are going back to have everything checked next week but fingers crossed she seems to be doing very well.

If you made it this far - thank you for reading xx

Melysa, thanks so much - I think she feels the same about you and Sam as you both look after her so well at training - we've all noticed you can't get enough of her! She is a special lady xxx

Just wanted to say how really lovely Surprise is, I love her, she's so sweet & loving. Mary - you did a lovely thing x

Surprise is such a sweetie at training class too, so pleased that Fairy failed and lovely rehoming pic :) J xxx

Hello to everyone who has left such lovely comments. Surprise and Champ loved seeing everyone today. So happy it's all official now. It was lovely to see old friends and new friends. Think Surprise was a little surprised seeing brothers Champ and the totally gorgeous Skip together. They are like twins and so nice to see them reunited. Even better when joined with Bobby:) xxx

Surprise looked absolutely gorgeous when she visited the kennels today with her Brother, Champ who looked just as gorgeous too! Xxx

So happy for you Surprise what a lovely mum and home you have xxx

Great 'official' rehoming picture!

Was at the kennels this morning when Champ & Surprise came in to make it official. It was great to see how well and happy the lovely Surprise looked - as lovegreys said, a happy ending indeed. xx

Wishing 'Fairy' and Surprise lots of happy times together. A happy ending to a sad story. Xxx

Hi Mary, Surprise getting into your side of the bed has made us giggle. We've had our fair share of broken nights when some little lady (who's currently snoozing on her own bed), has thought it compulsory to jump onto ours in the middle of the night and then smiled at us (I'm not kidding) when we've attempted to move her 27kg bulk off! I reckon there's a gap in the market for 'greyhound parents' sleeping baskets!! Big hugs to you All, Tash, John & Rosie Po xxx

What a little tinker! Perhaps she was just keeping the bed warm until you got back! Xxx

Thank you Tiggersmum, Melodysmum, Snipe and Clareb.

I think Surprise has been biding her time - she has always been so good about going to bed, straight upstairs and then flat out on her bed next to Champ. Literally the night the reserved sign went up she decided her own bed was no longer good enough and now she is straight upstairs and on our bed. She went back to her own reluctantly but then I had to take one of the labs out in the night and when I came back, who was curled up on my side - yep Surprise - cheeky monkey!!!

Melodysmum - in retrospect I don't think it took me 3 weeks to fail, that probably happened quite quickly, it just took me 3 weeks to admit it :)

Surprise is such a beautiful lady :) I can't blame Fairy for failing :) xx

I'm so happy for Surprise and Teazer! Hopefully they will meet up again sometime at the wonderful place that took them in and where they have met their lovely new families! (Even if it did take Fairy 3 weeks to fail lol) Go Daybreaks x

Great news :-) xx

Great news! X

Fabulous news, so happy this lovely girl gets to stay in the home she so obviously loves and is thriving in. All the best. xx

Thanks everyone and also to all who made so many nice comments at training on Saturday. She is just lovely and has settled in so well. She has been through so much and we all love her very much - I honestly cannot imagine life without her. So my fostering record has not got off to a good start and I am now a fully paid up member of the FFP..... and loving it!!!!

Hi Surprise, we all think it's fabulous news that your new home will be with Mary, Champ and 'Clan'. You're the most adorable girl and we're looking forward to seeing you again very soon. Big licks from Rosie Po and Big cuddles from Tash & John xxx

This failed gang of ours keeps growing and quite a lot recently so pleased for you all it really is such a great result

What great news, us members of the FFP Club have got to get a badge/tee shirt or a cross on our forehead as muddypaws recommends.
Love to Surprise and her new family. Sylv & The New Icemaid Clan xxxxxxx

Well done Surprise xxx

Well done surprise! So glad u have a new forever home. Who has adopted you? Hope you will b very happy. Xx

YAY! Go Mary, go Surprise! xxx

Guess what?....the FFP club has another new member! So happy for gorgeous Surprise she has a wonderful home! Xxx

hopefully there will be a surprise for Surprise soon!

Great write up! Love it! X

Hi Mary, reading Surprises' list made me smile this morning. She sounds adorable and is so lucky to have you as her Foster Mom. Tash x

Lovely list of great things about Surprise! Xxx

Things we have learned about Surprise in the last few days:

- She really does respond to her name
- She doesn't like her breakfast too early
- She stays as close as she possibly can to you on her walks
- She has the most lovely toothy smile :)
- She likes to sneak very quietly onto the bed when you are asleep and snuggle down so you don't notice
- She looks lovely in pink and purple
- She likes having her tummy stroked till she falls asleep
- We don't have enough armchairs for 2 greys and 2 labs and ourselves
- She gives the most wonderful welcomes

xxx

So glad she is happy xxx

Thought I had better update everyone on how little Surprise is doing. She is definitely a girl who likes her home comforts - she has firmly taken over the sitting room as her den where she alternates between her bed and the armchairs. She still loves to curl up with the other 3 dogs in the kitchen too. She is fabulous at night - no accidents and sleeps straight through snuggled up with Champ. She is still a little picky with her food but is eating well - beef is a particular favourite of hers, so I suppose she is in the right place :) She is very affectionate and loves to stand for a cuddle and look at you with those lovely eyes. She doesn't enjoy the long walks the other dogs get but she does like to walk in the railway field where there are lots of rabbits to look at - she never ever tries to go after them. She is also a very clever girl and can open lever type door handles by jumping up and pressing down with her front paws - she's using it to great effect to get her and Champ into the dining room where the sheepskin cushions he loves have been put for safekeeping :( Her season should be over in the next week or so and we are looking forward to seeing how she settles after that. Still a totally adorable girl xx

Am so happy to read how well the lovely Surprise is getting on in her foster home. It's great news that she is eating well now and taking advantage of all the home comforts bless her. x

Great to hear Surprise is having such a lovely time with you all. Xxx

Well it has been an interesting day today. Surprise has been lovely again but her being in season has made for a few challenges as Champ and Roxy just can't ignore her. Never mind, it will be over soon.

Aside from that she is a different dog out of the kennels and is settling well. She is happily claiming the armchairs, sunbathing in front of the french doors and on the lawn and proving to be a master fly killer - she found one on the french doors, knocked it to the floor with her nose and then ate it! We had a very settled night - no accidents or early morning calls. Best of all she is eating really well - she has had 3 cups of Burns today supplemented with some sardines, turkey, turkey gravy and of course a few Easter treats. She really is adorable xx

Thanks LadyVictoria and blueangel. She has been fantastic tonight. Currently curled up next to me on her Daybreaks blanket xx

Wonderful i am so happy for you Surprise I know you have gone to a lovely foster home be happy xxx

So happy to hear Surprise is doing well and she eat all her dinner! Xxx

Seeing Surprise go off to her foster home today made me really happy..... Thanks so much for taking her - she is so used to home life and a beautiful girl with the most amazing brown eyes.... I am a happy girl tonight knowing both girls have home comforts again x

Surprise is an absolute delight. She travelled really well back to Worcestershire. The reintroductions went well and we then took her, Champ, Daisy & Roxy for a walk together in the fields. She met a couple of Shetland ponies and ducks but took it all in her stride. Since coming back she is making herself right at home. I think Champ is a little confused but I am amazed at how well our 2 labs have accepted her. We have had a few grumbles and growls as they get used to each other but nothing we cannot deal with. I was amazed at how she wolfed her dinner down and they have all had a couple of biscuits from the Easter baskets I bought at Daybreaks. She has a lovely sweet nature - amazing eyes with a way of looking at you that just melts your heart - she has gone through such a lot and yet is so trusting. Her tail is permanently curled and wagging. She is currently fast asleep on a quilt in front of the oven and looking very cute. I'm sure we have more than a few challenges ahead with her but for now it is just lovely to see her as she should be xx

So pleased to hear Surprise has been fostered. Xxxxxxx

Lovely to see that you have been fostered surprise. Know it won't be long till you get that new forever home. Xx

Your turn soon Surprise my cuddle goes to you today xxx

Met Surprise again today with Teazer. Such a welcome, a fabulous girl who loves her fuss, cuddles and kisses. She would be such a great pet for anyone willing to give her a chance xxx

Surprise is a sweet girl, came right up to the front of her kennel for some fuss this morning, so I had to give her a hug too. It would be great to see that both she and Teazer had found a new home.

We express our sympathy to Sarah's family at this sad time.
But she must have not had any not worries, her girls will be well cared for by Daybreaks, and lovely homes found for them.
Sarah will be in our thoughts. Sylv & John x

Heartbreaking xxx

Very sad news for the family. Rest in peace Sarah, Daybreaks will take good care of your beautiful hounds. x

Terrible news to hear. Am sure Sarah's girls will go on to happy and loving homes though. Thinking of Sarah's family at this sad time. Xx

This is such terrible sad news for everyone x

So very sad to hear this. For Sarah, your girls are lovely and clearly much loved xxx

Thinking of Sarah's family at this sad time. Surprise and Teazer are both lovely and very happy girls, it is obvious they were loved very much. Xxx

What sad news. Sarah kept her girls as long as she possibly could. What a lovely lady she must have been. X

Such sad news. X

Such sad news, thoughts are with their family x

Oh Ruth...that is so sad :-(

RIP Sarah xx

Wish I could help with this girl...she looks so lovely, but I just couldn't manage 3.
It would be lovely if the 2 girls could stay together

Such sad sad news. Xx

I am so sad to hear that Sarah passed away....life seems so unfair...knowing that her girls will be safe and looked after will have helped her I am sure...RIP Sarah...wish I was in a position to have the girls..both so lovely and bound to be missing their mum...

Returning a dog is a very difficult decision and there are always different reasons for this but at the end of the day, if this happens we are here to support the dogs no matter what.

However, today was a very very sad day as we heard the news that the owner of Teazer and Surprise sadly passed away - at an age far too young to be taken. For us humans and dogs alike, every day is precious.

Rest in Peace Sarah - we will ensure your beautiful girls will be looked after xxxxx

The girls are obviously missing their mum and their home life. If you think you can offer them the comfort of home life again and the love they have lost, please give me a call.....

Cuddle for you today Surprise xx

Met the lovely Surprise today. She is an adorable little girl and loved a stroke and a fuss, despite it all being very strange for her. Keeping my fingers crossed for you and Teazer sweetheart xxx

I met this gorgeous girl today. She is so friendly I hope she can find a wonderful home soon. X

Surprise is completely gorgeous. You really wouldn't know she is 8 and a half she is so spritely. Things are a little confusing for her right now, not a surprise, but she is so affectionate and just loves you to give her a cuddle and a fuss. She has a gorgeous, silky coat and is so friendly. Bless you my lovely girl, I hope we can find you a lovely new home very soon. xxxxx

What an absolutely delightful lady Surprise is! Xxx

hugs beautiful. hope you are homed with teaser. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Its so sad for your owner and no doubt a little bewildering for both Surprise and Teazer, im hoping you can be kept as a pair, but if not Im confident that you will both be found loving homes to spend your twilight years. xx

Surprise is a lovely girl xxx

Sorry surprise it's teaser that's tinkers half sister but we are sending our love to you beautiful Xxx

Oh surprise you are such a pretty girl you must be sad as what's happened to you also feel sorry for your owner our love to you and guess what you to are half sister to tinker our beautiful girl we are sending lots of woofs and likes from tinker do and big cuddles from nanna to Xxxxx

How sad for the dogs & their owner who must be devastated & will miss them terribly.
Hope you find a comfy sofa very soon. xx

My girl (also Irish, born in 2005 & raced at Perry Barr) was renamed Jambeat something beginning with K - maybe had the same owner / trainer

You must have arrived after we left the kennels today. You look lovely. Sure you will find a new home soon and in the meantime you can have a fun time at dsybreaks. Xx

So sad for all concerned. Such a lovely looking girl.

Oh how sad for Surprise and Teazer, I know they will be loved at Daybreaks but to loose their home at their age is just so sad, i hope they get a new home soon xx

Another girl that needs a home soon, as with Teazer if hubby would let me have more I'd be there.
Love The New Icemaid Clan xx

So sad for all concerned. What a pretty girl. Xxx