MISSY
Sex/colour: Female Black
D.O.B: 01.10.1996
Last recorded owner: Mr. Peter Debenham
Last recorded trainer: Mr.Peter Debenham
Races contended: None
Stadium: N/A
Last recorded race: N/A
Came to AfG: October 2006
MISSY (named by AfG) was discovered wandering in the countryside one
cold damp October late evening by a lady driving home from work.
Concerned for her welfare as she was not wearing a collar with ID tag,
there were no houses nearby and the poor dog was in poor condition,
looked old and was lame.
The lady was kind enough to take the poor Greyhound home and she
contacted a nearby vet who suggested she contacted AfG to see if we were
able to take her into our care and find out why she was straying.
We had a foster home for Missy with no other animals, so she was able to
go straight there (as we at this time did not know if she was used to
other animals and she was flea infested).
Once she settled into her foster home and had a good meal a good rest
and treated for fleas, we took her to our vets the next day.
The vet was concerned by Missys overall condition and after an
examination made the following report:
‘Dog found roaming,underweight build up of tartar on teeth & receding
gums,calluses on elbows,stifles and other joints,noticeable injury to
right back leg and foot twisted. Administer worm treatment, needs pain
relief’.
Nedd to x ray leg and do blood tests.
Bring her back for treatment once her condition is built up.
Neither AfG or our vet felt Missy had come from a home as her state of
neglect had been from long term lack of care and with no collar and ID
she had obviously been abandoned in a rural area.
We told our vet we would check her ear tattoos to see if we can find any
previous racing history or last owner details, this was all we had to go
on as it is before microchipping was to become compulsory.
Was it a surprise or not!? that we soon traced Missy back to Norwich
Greyhound breeder/owner/trainer Peter Debenham, who had recently started
up a ‘so called rescue scheme’ ‘The Racing Greyhound Retirement Home’
which he operated from some shabby rented kennels, where his breeding
racing and unwanted Greyhounds were kept, not too far from the isolated
area where she was found.
One of our supporters contacted Debenham, posing as the person who had
found Missy, he seemed unconcerned that she was straying, he had made no
attempt to register her missing.
He claimed”oh good job she was found, she has got out of the kennels
before but always wandered back”.
The nonsense which followed by Debenham was doubtful truthful, he
explained he had bred a litter, she had run into a gate post as a small
puppy and injured her leg but as she was so young, the injury healed
itself!!, he said she was ear tattooed before this happened but never
registered with a racing name as was no good for racing, he provided her
date of birth and stated “oh well I am glad you are able to give her a
good home”. He showed no other concern for Missy.
We passed all this information on to our vet to explain the claimed
injury Missy sustained and that we were not surprised by her poor
condition considering where she had come from.
We reported all to the RSPCA who sadly took no action!!.
Once Missy had gained condition after experienced care by her fosterer,
she was able to be neutered, received a dental and have her leg x ray
She had also improved on her pain medication, which over time could be
reduced to only ‘as and when needed’.
Our vet said poor Missys injuries had been left for so long without
being treated, the poor dog had just learned to live with her pain and
deformity.
We would certainly make sure that the remainder of dear Missy life would
be full of the love and care she so deserved and had been waiting so
long for.
Once Missy had made a full recovery from her operation and had gained
great overall body condition and her pain was well managed with joint
supplemements and pain releif if needed and good food, soft bedding and
daily exercise, Missy found her wonderful forever home.
She became a constant loved companion of her active retired adopter, had
a lovely big garden and a nearby park and beach to have daily freedom.
She was socialised with other dogs and was friendly will all of them.
We cannot understand why Debenham chose to allow Missy to languish in
his shabby kennels with a lack proper care, or be given a loving home
from a puppy..after all he is supposed to be the Racing Greyhound
Retirement Home.
Sadly had he homed Missy, she would likely end up like many of his other
‘free giveaway’ Greyhounds who he offloaded to anyone who would take
them, many of them later to be given away free once again, the lucky
ones coming to the attention of AfG and other rescues.
Photos below show Missy out for a walk not long after rescue and
settling in her comfortable foster home.
Photos above, show Missy once adopted, continuing to be loved, happy and
well cared for.
