To all my lovely Daybreak friends of both the four and two legged varieties, we wanted to wish you a very merry christmas! We will be making a donation to Daybreaks instead of writing cards this year so please accept this message as our card to you all! Lots of love, Laura, Craig, Roxy Razzle and Sadie. xxx

I'm lazy and buy the uncle bens.... Half of that in morning dinner and half in evening dinner :o) xxxxx

Thanks all. Helpful as always. :-) How much rice would you recommend? Don't want to bloat her! xx

Roxy is such a clever girl writing on here all by herself!! I'm amazed she hasn't started her own fb page :o) I always put a packet of white rice in my boys dinner if they are loose... Fly gets a funny tummy really easily and I always find this does the trick. Make sure its white rice xxxxxxx

Hi Laura, try giving Roxy a bland diet for a few days, rice, chicken and rice or scrambled egg, if it doesn't settle maybe a trip to the vets would be in order. Hope you are well. Jill xx

Hi all,
Just after a bit of advice... Having lived with my family for 18 months I have ALWAYS been a good girl with toileting. However, this week I have messed on 3 seperate occasions, once was overnight even though I'd been out for a walk before bed and mum and dad got up normal time. On all occasions it was very loose and has been on my walks too. Oh and I don't think I'm going as often as I normally do. My diet is the same, I've been wormed and am in good spirits otherwise. However, with new baby soon to be in house mum and dad don't like the mess so wondered if anyone had any suggestions or advice. Thanks as always for your help. Roxy. xx

Aaaaaauunnty Ruuuuuuthieeeee....mummy has spotted that I have a very big corn in one of my pads and as much as I love my vet he's not confident in what to do with them as mine are the first he's seen! (I know!!) Do you think if we came to the kennels you'd have a little look at it for me? Thank you. Big licks. Roxy Raz xxxxx

PS - Mum says thanks to Mand and family. :-) xx

Hi Laura. Sorry it's a little delayed, but just wanted to say congratulations to you, Craig and Roxy on the fantastic news. Hope to you see you soon. Lots of love Mand, Gent & Emily xx

Congratulations Roxy Razzle on your good news, well we guess it could have been even better in the form of a little fourlegged sibling but we must not be choosy!!! our mummy says that you are very welcome to come and stay with us for a little while when she needs to go away to have your new baby and i (Toby) promise that i will not flirt with you too much :-) lots of love to you all from your 3 friends Rossi Toby and McKenzie. xxx (oh yes and from our mummy xxx)

Roxy Razzle here! I'm very pleased to announce that at last I'm having a sibling! Mum and dad got me very excited when they told me. The fact that we're expecting a two legged variety in October and therefore are holding off on a four legged friend is a little disappointing, however I'm coming round to the news. ;-) Mum said to let you know that when she stops being sick we'll all visit the kennels to give out twice as many cuddles. xxxx

Merry Christmas Laura Craig and Roxy, hope to see you again in the new year x

Happy Birthday Roxy!
Love from Lola & Lena xx

Happy Birthday Roxy! 4 today! Love you loads. On the way to the kennels, apparently there's a big party on up there just for you. ;-) Better spend some money and get you a new treat. xxx

Hi. Ooh.... fingers and everything crossed that it makes things easier for her now that's been done. They are just amazing in how quickly they bounce back from these things. Love to Roxy from Lola x

Thanks Linda, Paul and Lola! Hopefully we'll see you again soon. Roxy also had a trip to the vets on Monday and had one metal strip removed from her leg as apparently it was restricting her movement and was the reason she wasn't fully flexing her leg. Last night she was very grumpy and felt very sorry for herself but seems chirpier today. Hopefully her hair grows back on her leg again soon! Xx

Hi Lauramc. It was nice to meet you and Roxy at the show on Sunday having looked at her photo with our girlie on so many occasions . Roxy is such a brave little girl and she looks like she just gets on with life despite her injury. She is quite a gal and we really hope she continues to go from strength to strength in her recovery. Lots of Love from Linda, Paul & Lola x

Hi Lauramc, so pleased to hear Roxy is starting to feel better. Hope it won't be long before she is back to normal. x

Thanks all, as usual, for your messages of care and support. Roxy is actually doing quite well, she is back to her more cheery self and although she can get in a bit of a knot trying to stand up, she does still greet us with a tail wag when we get home. Our retired neighbour has very kindly been checking in during the day and says she's getting on ok. She is messing in the house overnight which she's never done before but I guess she's just missing her walks and the chance to do it then. More time in the garden planned and fingers crossed!!

Poor Roxy, I do hope she is felling better today. xx

i saw Roxy's dad today before he went and collected the little lady from the vets and he was so worried about her. i do hope that she will recover from the trauma soon and that all will heal well. i know it's not much consolation for you both at the moment but greyhounds are remarkably resiliant and generally manage to get well quite easily as they are willing to lie and rest being quite lazy by nature which is not always the case with other breeds (having owned collie/springers most of my life). i keep my fingers crossed for you all and send you my love and a big but gentle hug for Roxy. much love from Ina and her boys xxx

Sending you big cuddles Roxy razzle, lots of love from Auntie Ruth xxxxx

Thanks Sylv. Roxy came home today though is a very sad dog. Her whole leg has been shaved, the bottom half is in a purple bandage and the top is purple with bruising! She has a lot of stitches and is looking a bit spaced at the minute. Very quiet girl, she needs to be carried up and down the stairs and can't be walked. Makes me want to cry! :-(

Sorry to see this news this lady was at the kennels when we rehomed Mindy, hope all goes o.k.
SYLV

Another day without our girl as vet wants her in overnight again. :-(

Thanks guys. Roxy is still at the vets, op went ok but she can't put weight on her leg and is very upset so they're keeping her in. Will check in tomorrow! Missing her, house seems big without her! X

oh my goodness how upsetting for you and how awful for razzle, i hope that all will go well with her at the vets. love to you all and get better soon, Ina Rossi Toby (with a poorly paw himself) and mcKenzie xxxx

Hi Lauramc, I hope all goes well at the vets today for your little girl. xxx

Hi Lauramc. Hope all goes well for Roxy today. Just shows what a determined little racer she was (and still is!). I'm sure she'll get plenty of post-op TLC from you. Hope you're okay too. Mand x

Well Roxy has given us our first drama and big scare :-( Last night right after her bedtime toilet stop in the garden she saw a cat and decided to leap the wall to give chase. We're not quite sure what happened then but as she wouldn't put her back foot down and there was a lot of blood coming from her front we took her to the emergency vets. She's ripped a claw from her front paw and torn the cruciate ligament in her back leg. She's having op to repair tomorrow as we've had to wait to find out if insurance will cover it all. Fingers (and paws) crossed for our little girl. Thanks!! xx

Roxy continues to be very good, I think we've been very lucky. She walks very well and has already met lots of other dogs without any fuss. She has mastered toilet training and even lets us know when she wants to go out. Although she was wary of the stairs to start with she's quickly found her feet. She has also been home alone without any complaining so far. I can't believe how well things have gone, fingers crossed it stays that way!!

Hi all, Roxy (new name!) is settling in well! She was very quiet yesterday and didn't really eat but slept through with no fuss, toilet training has gone well and we've built up to her being on her own for 40 minutes so far. We had a walk in Sutton park today and she has slept since then! See you all soon. Xx

Coming up tomorrow! Missing you too much and need to stock up on treats and goodies. Can't believe how excited I am! X x x

Am excited and nervous! We're dog sitting for friends on Saturday so will wait to Sun/Mon to pick you up. Hope it all goes ok! :-/ xx

Hi Lauramc. I had the pleasure of meeting your little girl today. We nipped up to grab some more food for Gent and I couldn't resist taking a look. She's gorgeous and kept putting her leg through the kennel door, as if to shake my hand! Bless her. Mand x

Yay! Craig loved you lots and you were a good girl with the cats today! I can't believe you can come home with me! Better go and buy you a bed and some toys. Xx

Coming up to the kennels tomorrow with hubby. Hopefully will see you then. xx

I realised too, to reassure everyone I don't think that everything will be perfect in 2 weeks just because I happen to be off school! I know things might take longer to settle in than that but I thought having that time available might be a good start. :-) xx

Thanks Jenny. It's not negative advice at all and I take it in the good way it's meant. I want to do the right thing and will take as long as it needs and chat to as many people as needed to make sure that's what happens. School hols come around every 6/7 weeks (lucky me I know!) so when I'm ready and the right grey is ready, I'm sure what will be will be. x

Hi Lauramac at the risk of being shot down in flames by all the others who like me are besotted with our lovely Greys (I have 3) can I just say one thing, meant in the best possible way. I have followed your messages on the comments page for ages and I can see how desperate you are to give a loving home to a Grey, and that you would be devestated if it didn't work out and you had to return your Grey.
There are so many happy homings thank goodness, but when a dog is returned, like you my heart sinks.
My beautiful Cara suffered this fate and it took over 6 months to get rid of the confusion she had, and realise she was here to stay.
I hate to be the only negative advice giver and I am sure you realise that there is always a settling in period (some better than others) but the underlying theme from most of the Positive comments to you seems to be " the dog picks you" this ,and Ruth and the volunteers knowledge and observation of the particular dog whilst at the kennels is invaluable in the success of a rehoming.
Hope this helps and as you have taken so long to find "THE ONE" I know that a forever home is your aim.
Good Luck
Jenny

Hi all, I hope you enjoyed the walk today, the weather was beautiful for it! I was disappointed not to be there, which made me think all the more about how lovely it would be to own a grey and get out and enjoy weather like this. I had a lovely afternoon at the kennels yesterday having a chat and a cuddle (chatting to people - cuddling dogs!) I went for a wander and the first dog to get off her bed and greet me with a sloppy kiss and her gorgeous face happened to be Razzle. I realy enjoyed walking her and would be very very interested in rehoming. My husband has been away this weekend so I need him to meet her too and would like to know if she can be cat tested? Although my cat only comes home once every other week or so I would need to know they'd be ok. Easter hols coming up would be perfect settling in time...

Thanks all, I really appreciate your comments and interest. I am a teacher so I am lucky enough to get the long holidays to spend with a grey. I've been working very long days as I work in a high pressured school but I need to make a change from that and am certain a grey would encourage me to rush home! I'm away with friends tonight so don't think I'll be back in time for the walk tomorrow but am going to try pop to the kennels today. Will let you know how I get on. :-)

hello Lauramc, i also work long hours as i am a catering manager and i get up extra early so i can take my three boys for a walk before i go and as soon as i get in i get changed and take them out for a long walk, it does me the world of good to get out and get fresh air and the boys enjoy it also. don't forget that they are used to being on their own at the racing kennels (that is whithout humans) and most of them will adapt to your routine, some need a little more work but you will find that most of us do work and a lot of us work full time and long hours so please don't let it put you off. you mentioned being off at easter so maybe you work at a school and get a lot of the holidays which would be fantastic for you and the grey as you can have lots more time with him/her than the rest of us. best thing to do is come along and see as many dogs as possible and walk them and interact with them and before you know it your very own greyhound will let you know that he/she has chosen you to be their new mum. they are wonderful animals and i would not ever be without my 3 lads. we also may be at the walk on sunday so please do feel free to come and chat to us, i have red and black hair and my boys are 3 big black dogs, toby walks with a bad limp, you can't miss us. it will be lovely to meet you and if you fancy you can help me walk my three. love Ina x

Hi Laura, I'll be at the walk on Sunday with my pack, and I'm more than happy to be 'harrassed' about my greys! Razzle is beautiful, I can certainly see the attraction! Em x

Ah Razzle's last race was my birthday!

Thanks Mand, really appreciate your reply. I might try and join the walk on Sunday to harass a few people! :-) I'm hoping to pop to the kennels on Sat too to see all the new arrivals. Easter hols coming up soon, two weeks off work would be a good settling in time.

Hi Lauramc. If you've had a successful home-check, then I guess that the RGT are happy with where you live. Cat friendly greyhounds are out there too. As for working long hours, nothing makes you want to get home earlier, than knowing that your best friend is waiting for you. I used to work ridiculous hours before we adopted our little fella, now I have a reason to make sure I'm out on time. If you haven't been already, perhaps you could think about joining us on one of the greyhound walks and talk to the owners (blimey do we love spend time talking about our greyhounds!) or pop along to an awareness roadshow and find out what works for them and their greyhounds. We slowly built up the time over a few days that we left Gent on his own. As Skinnyme said, the right greyhound will choose you. We had met a few greyhounds before Gent chose us and it was like love at first sight, I didn't believe in it until it happened to us. Take your time, perhaps spend some more time with the dogs at the kennels and you can talk to Ruth and her team without fear of feeling pushed into anything. It's not a cliche, it really does feel like being part of one big,happy family when you adopt a greyhound from Daybreaks and help is only a phone-call (or website message) away. Mand x

It's been a couple of things I guess. I live in a maisonette, work a long day (though it could be shorter!) and I have a cat who only comes home once a week ish so I know that could be very unsettling. :-/

Dear Lauramac, dont worry about adopting a beautiful grey, In lots of instances the dog chooses you, you just get that longing look and your hooked! Please continue coming to the kennels the right dog is out there for you.

What's worrying you Lauramc? Mand x

She looks gorgeous! I've been spending many months thinking about greys, have visited the kennels 3 times, have been house checked and have worried constantly whether it's the right thing to do to rehome especially when so many have been returned lately and I wouldn't want to do that. Then I see a face like that and want them all . . . !

what a cutie just look at her sweet little face. xxx