Lorraine, I am so very heartbroken to hear of Big Al's passing. He shared part of the line of Sarah Scare bear (Ballymac Sarah). You gave him the most wonderful home and life. He will be running fast and free at Rainbow bridge with all the hounds who passed before. I remember when you told me that he was off lead and you were calling Al, Al and someone thought you were shouting help! You told me that you then used to call Alberto!! Thinking of you, much love Jo and the gang. Xxx

Oh Lorraine so sorry to hear the sad news Al has passed to rainbow bridge he was such a lovely calm soul and he had a wonderful life with you and the family he will be having a wonderful time at rainbow bridge catching up with all his mates sending you and the boys lots of love Fiona, Rob, Sarah Maddie and Toby xxxx

Al (Ballymac Albert)
01/04/2011 - 02/04/2023)

Lorraine called today to tell us her beautiful Al has gone to Rainbow Bridge. :(( After a short illness he passed away at home the day after his 12th Birthday. Xxx xxx

Al was a very special lad. Fostered by Lorraine and her family after he was returned from his previous home because he was frightened of the family's Yorkshire Terrier! He fitted right in with her three cats, three dogs and two sons! Unable to resist Al's charms, she became a member of the Failed Foster Parent Club. :))
Al had a wonderful, happy life. He was a frequent visitor to the kennels when Lorraine came in to help and loved going in the sand run with Norah, Jess and Sunny. She says he was the sweetest, gentlest Greyhound, she adored him. Xxx
Sending lots of love to Lorraine and her family. God Bless your wonderful Alberto. You can be sure Sara is at Rainbow Bridge looking after Al, Norah, Jess and Sunny for you. Xxx
Kate, Skip, Lyra and Cracker Xxxx

Happy Birthday beautiful Alberto. Our love to you. Xxx

Sending handsome Alberto a big Birthday cuddle! Lots of love Kate Xxx

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday Alberto, big licks Rosie & Brae xx

Happy Birthday Alberto. I know your mum will spoil you. Have a lovely day.

A big happy 4th birthday to my beautiful boy AL I love you with all my heart xxx

Thanks Kate for your help yesterday with Alberto or Big Al as i call him. Him and Sunny had been running around like looneys and he got rather hot and his leg was hurting but after i cool with a cool towel the fan on him so water syringe in his mouth and a nice treat he was as good as new Sunny has taught AL a lot of new tricks like bin raiding xxx

Ha,ha! Xxx

Thanks Jess but it NoraHHH!!! xxx

I've just seen some lovely pictures of Alberto running of the lead! This boy has really fallen on his feet with Lorraine and Co (Nora, Little Jess and Sunny) x

Well Lorraine you join the club. As you know g/hounds are addictive. Love to you all and your doggie family.
The New Icemaid Clan xxxx

Lovely Alberto! Brilliant news and lucky boy. lovely photos of all your babies and Alberto looks so happy! So pleased I still get to see him at the kennels too. xxx

I like his new name, sending Alberto my cuddle tonight! Xxx

Lorraine, this is fantastic news and I think one of the best rehoming photos! The FFP club has another recruit! Lots of love from me, Champ, Surprise, Daisy and Roxy xx

Just let you all know his name is Alberto xxx

Lorraine, fantastic news so pleased for you all and especially Al who is a very lucky boy xxx

Sons wont be there forever............!!! Xx

Fantastic xxxxxxxx lucky Al. Big hug Lorraine xx

Thank you all! couldn't let him get away his prefect like he has always be with us no more thou. No room in the inn it definitely full with 3 cats 4 dogs and my 2 sons xxx

great news, al! be happy. xx

Oh Lorraine. I've just logged on and seen the news. I'm so happy for you and had to shed a tear. I know how much you love Al. He is going to be so happy with you, your brood and his best mate Sunny. Plus we get to see him often. Much love to you all. Xxxxxxxx

Lorraine, this is just the best news ever! x

This is why I wouldn't dare foster! So happy for everyone xx

YAY!!! I'm so happy for you!! What fabulous news!! Xx

Lorraine, what a lovely homing photo of you and your babies. I know how much you love them all. Al will have a very happy life with you. You are fantastic! Xxx

my son has just texted me to say lorraine had a suprise for me and i just knew - lorraine you are a brilliant lady and i,m not at all suprised by this- you have just joined the failed foster club just like me and now u have 4 dogs just like me- love u- hugs to all human and doggies and see u later xxxxxxxx

Why oh why is Al not on his forever sofa yet? He is an amazing lad, good with everything. xx A big cuddle to you Al, im sure your new home will come along very soon because your a smasher! xxx

Wow Lorraine! What a gorgeous and amazing picture of Al and Angel

AL is loving this hot weather in the garden sun bathing not for to long thought. He loves playing with the toys.Him and Sunny love chasing each other and great to watch them his had a great day XXX

Hey Al, sounds like u got ur feet under the table with auntie Lorraine she is a special lady and I know u will be well looked after under your forever sofa comes along

He is Perfect! i would keep him my self if i could xxx

Can someone convince my husband to let me 'borrow' Al for the weekend? He seems perfect and I don't think i'd let him leave!

Oh lovegreys he sounds wonderful! X

p.s. Al, this day went far too quickly. xxxx

Brian and I had the privilege of taking beautiful Al out for the day earlier this week. What a gorgeous boy. He travelled very well in the car, settling quickly. On the way we had to stop off briefly at a friend's house. When our friend saw Al in the back of the car, she insisted we all come in for coffee (and water). Al was amazing - he sat quietly, enjoying all the fuss. We felt very proud of him. Our friend was impressed and wanted to learn more about greyhounds! After a nice walk (great on the lead) we went back to our house. After peanut butter sandwich lunch, which he took gently from Brian's hand, Al explored the garden. Oscar the cat emerged from his hiding place and on seeing Al ran across the lawn. Although on the lead Al didn't move a muscle, but just looked and then decided to go back inside the house for a rest. What an amazing boy! When he had had a short snooze it was time to go back to his lovely foster mum, Lorraine. He jumped into the car and settled happily on the journey back. This boy has it all; good natured, quiet, gentle, calm, handsome and cat friendly too. Thank you, Al, for the pleasure of your company, you made our day. xxxxxxxxxxxx

I passed the cuddle on Shanesmum oh thanks for mine. AL really is fabulous boy such a gentle calm soul bless him xxx

I'm sending Lorraine a cuddle today for looking after the fabulous Al, and Al a cuddle for being fabulous! This lovely boy is "good to go" to his forever home, hope it happens for him soon. xxxxx

Hi Kate Angel the little black cat in the photo loves AL she is always hanging around him i think it because his so calm xxx

Great photo of Al with one of Lorraine's cats! Xxx

Glad to hear Al got on ok at the vets; he is such a sweet lad. Xxx

Al when to the vet today he has got a few more days of antibiotics but apart from that his great and fur should grow back soon. And his still super cat friendly just a fantastic lad xxx

Al was a brave boy when his stitches were removed. Glad he enjoyed his walk in the park with his mates! Xxx

Well Al has had his stitches out and has a little infection which his on antibiotics for and his going to the vets Monday.His had a great day and went for lovely walk in eldmon park with my three and Charlie and Louis and little Tilly his flat out on the sofa bless him xxx

Hope all went well for you today big fella and your stitches have gone at last. I know Aunty Lorraine is taking great care of you and you are having a lovely time with her dogs & cats. Fingers crossed for you that your very own sofa is not far away now. xx

Well AL loves pottering around the garden with Sunny and even has a little bark with Jess still great with the cats. Who ever gets this boy will be very lucky. Bringing him up the kennels tomorrow auntie Ruth taking his stitches out xxx

So sorry that things didn't work out for Al, but it's got to be right for everyone involved and no good upsetting any of the dogs -but what a hard decision to make. Still, on the plus side he has shown how perfect he is going to be in a home with a less boisterous little doggie, and he gets to stay with foster mum extraordinaire Lorraine for a while. Thanks for looking after him Lorraine, you're great. xx

Hi ethanerincody you did the right thing by bringing him back if he was not happy around your Yorkshire terrier.This boy is a dream so laid back prefect! sleepthought all the night,toilet trained does not brother at all with the cats no barks,growls just got to train him to get up the stairs but what a fabulous lad xxx

So sorry for you all it was not to be for Al this time, but thanks so much for giving him a chance. How nice he won Best Rescue at the charity event! I am sure the perfect home will soon be his...after such positive comments from you and also his new foster Mom. Big hugs to gorgeous Cody and of course little Millie! Kate Xxx

Hi there,just wanted to explain what happened on the trial we had with the beautiful AL.On bringing Al home he behaved fantastically considering he didn't know us and had recently had stitches.He had to contend with two children,two rabbits and two dogs.I cannot stress enough how well he coped with all of these, even going for his daily walk in the park was an absolute pleasure.He even went out to a charity event and won best rescue as he was so well behaved and believe me there was some tough competition.The only problem we encountered and the reason for Al's return is my very over zealous yorkie terrier.She is also a rescue and has had no training at all which resulted in not leaving Al alone at all and constantly wanting to play.Her rude manners left Al very stressed and constantly trying to find an exit.We packed our yorkies bags and moved her out for two days and suddenly Al came alive showing what a beautiful nature he has.I never thought another greyhound would steal my heart like my cody but Al certainly did.We all agreed that although he was stressed with my yorkie another calmer small dog would be no problem and he loves other dogs and children.If you are looking to take on a greyhound, Al would be an excellent choice.We were not right for Al not the other way round.I cried all the way home today after taking him back so it would be wonderful to hear from his new mom and dad once he is hopefully snapped up.Thankyou to the lady who fostered him today and all the team at Daybreaks.Big kisses AL miss you already.xxxxx.

AL came home with me tonight love the car on the way back looking out the window.His been such a good boy great with my dogs and on his walk tonight. Fine with my cats as good as Norah so far. A calm and gentle lad he is now fast sleep on the sofa xxx

What happened with Al's trial? He is such a fantastic boy. xx

Such a lovely boy. Fingers and paws crossed. Xxxx

Keeping everything crossed Al gets on well while out on trial. Xxx

Just what you need AL he is a lovely boy good luck xxx

Oh Al. I see you are on trail. Great news and good luck. I met you at the kennels and got loads of kisses through the bars. You are related to my 2 and he has the same little stripe on his nose as Sarah. Once again good luck sweetie..lots of love and luck from Stevie, Sarah and their mom. Xxx

How is Al doing? Hope he is feeling better.

Poor Al - he has 4 bite marks and is now tucked up in a giant crate at ours.... he has had big cuddles tonight :-( I popped in to my friend's house which is round the corner from the vets with him and he met the cats - and no reaction at all. He was great with the children in the house too.... such a sweetheart x

Poor Al. Hope you feel all better soon you gorgeous boy.

Hope you are feeling better soon. X

Oh poor Al you get the biggest electronic cuddle tonight that I can send hope you feel better soon and that your propective owners come back and see you.

Get better soon AL xxx

Oh poor Al. Take care.x

Oh dear Al. Hope you are feeling better soon lovely boy. Xxx

Poor Al, so sorry for you, hope you're feeling better, you get my cuddle tonight too xxx

Poor al. He had just gone off to vet when we arrived this morning. Hope he makes a speedy recovery and that the people who came to view him give it a second go. Xx

Oh no...poor Al! I am sure he will get lots of hugs tonight. Sending him my cuddle. Xxx

Poor poor Al - he had a viewing today but sadly he has spent the day at the vets as he was bitten by his kennel mate despite being together for several weeks. I am off to collect him from the vets now and he will get extra TLC for the next few days.

I agree with Louisa and Shanesmum. Al is beautiful on the inside and the out. A fabulous boy. X

Thanks for taking this lovely big boy out Louisa, isn't he just gorgeous? Such an affectionate soul, happy, cuddly other breed and cat friendly - in fact, why is he still here??!!! xxxxx

I took Al to Hatton Dog show on Sunday. I know I always say it but I did fall in love with him! He is such a sweetie and is very affectionate. He gives very good cuddles and lots of kisses. He was brilliant with other greyhounds, all breeds and people. He did not pull on the lead and was perfectly behaved. He jumped straight into the back of my car and travelled well. He is very handsome and has a lovely brown sheen and the most striking amber eyes. I know someone will fall for him very soon as I have!

So glad you had a lovely day out yesterday Al. By showing just what a great boy you are, surely your very own sofa won't be far away now. xxx

We love this boy!! He came to Hatton today and was the perfect boy,took everything in his stride,no incidents with any other dogs and cat friendly to boot! Whoever has this chap will be very lucky. Xxx

Al must be the slowest eater i have ever seen x

Al is a super loving chap. Spent time with him on Monday and he was the most affectionate boy. Took him for a walk , he was great on the lead,we walked past some "barking" dogs and he was fine ,no reaction. Top Dog Al !!!

Al was brilliant with the cats today xxx

Al is just adorable, when I went in to lead him up for his walk he jumped up onto his bed and proceeded to give me lovely licky kisses whilst I was doing his lead up. His kennel mate, the beautiful Silky, did exactly the same so I emerged from the kennel with a lovely clean face!!! Such a happy, cuddly boy. xx

I thought this boy was handsome - turns out he's related to the gorgeous Sparky, my lovely boy who is having the very best retirement out in France with Tracey & gang. Extra cuddles for you today Al. xxx

Ooo -handsome!! Looking forward to meeting you Al.x

Al is so handsome and so friendly xxx

Al is a very handsome lad! Xxx

what a beautiful calm boy you are. You didnt like the bath to much, but enjoyed the rub down afterwards. x