VIKKI (named for racing as Dependable Lady)
Sex/colour: Female Black
D.O.B: 04.07.2004
Last recorded owner: Mr.Simon Riches
Last recorded trainer: Mr. Simon Riches
Races contended: 18
Stadium: Yarmouth
Last recorded race: 05.09.2007
Came to AfG: December 2008
VIKKI came to AfG from a young man who had thought it would be a ‘fun
hobby’ to own and race Greyhounds.
It was not long until he decided it was an industry he would rather no
be involved with.
He had four young black female Greyhounds who had all been well cared
for (an unusual experience for AfG to take in healthy Greyhounds).
He had kennels and paddocks built for them, so they had each others
company and access to free exercise and daily walks.
They often visited his home which he shared with his parent, so they all
had some experience of inside a house.
He did not want to hand any of his Greyhounds over to the homing kennels
attached to Yarmouth stadium, or to any rescue kennels.
He contacted AfG as he knew we were Greyhound/Sighthound knowledgeable
and placed our dogs into foster homes not kennels.
He planned to keep two of the Greyhounds as pets but later decided to
only keep one of them. (see also: MOLLY and LULU ‘dogs homed’: Greyhounds).
We had taken in Molly and Lulu the previous month who were both settling
well in their foster homes.
When the man asked us if and when we could take Vikki as he was planning
to move to Ireland and his parent was only able to keep one of his two
remaining Greyhounds.
Vikki was now age 4 1/2.
Luckily we did have a foster home available with two small friendly
terriers and once introductions with Vikki proved successful, we were
able to take Vikki into our care.
Sadly as before, the promise of making a donation to AfG to aid the cost
of her neutering, did not transpire.
We noticed Vikki had a deformed eye but were assured this was a birth
defect which caused her no issues.
Once Vikki had time to settle into her foster home, AfG had her
neutered., the vet agreed that Vikkis eye was nothing to be concerned
about.
Vikki was a little timid, possibly due to the change in the routine she
previously had been used to but with the company of the two resident
dogs, she soon gained more confidence.
She had a spacious garden to play in and enjoyed lots of lovely walks.
After several months in foster care, Vikki was adopted but we felt as
she had not settled well, AfG decided she should come back into our care.
This time she went to another AfG foster home with one of our other
foster Greyhounds.
Later Vikkis forever home came about, as Lance ( see LANCE dogs
homed:Greyhounds) had sadly passed away, so once his adopters heard
Vikki was in foster care, they asked if they could adopt her.
Vikki settled in well, her home was perfect as her adopters were active
retirees and Vikki spent most of her time with them so did not seem to
mind now being the only hound as she met several other dogs on her daily
walks.
Photos below, show Vikki in her first then in her second foster home.
Photos above, show Vikki happy and stunning. One image from her featured
on an AfG calendar by David Turner, other images photoed by William Moore.
