BILLY (named for racing as Billy Bish)
Sex/colour: Male Dark brindle&white
D.O.B: February 2005
Last recorded owner: Mr. Peter Debenham
Last recorded trainer: Mr. Peter Debenham
Races contended: 17
Stadium: Yarmouth
Last recorded race: 27.04.2007
Came to AfG: May 2009
BILLY Another Greyhound quickly offloaded by Norwich Greyhound breeder/owner/trainer Peter Debenham.
We learned Debenham was operating as ‘The Racing Greyhound Retirement Home’ when in fact he was using an opportunity to advertise his unwanted Greyhounds, which resided at a block of shabby kennels alongside his racing and breeding Greyhounds.
Debenham regularly advertised his Greyhounds in a free ad paper, many people were charged a £40 fee when they picked up a Greyhound from the kennels, Debenham stated this was to cover the cost of a collar&lead and a small quantity of food.
No homechecks were carried out and none of the dogs were neutered.
Many of the Greyhounds came to the attention of AfG and other rescue centers, later found offloaded again, by the new ‘owners’ many who quickly tired of them after a short time.
Billy was one of these, who was in a small dirty house with an overgrown garden.
Luckily the ‘owners’ contacted AfG asking if we could take Billy as he was too boisterous and they did not have time for him and Debenham was not willing to take him back (luckily this would be to dear Billys advantage)
We were not able to stay in the property long as it was unaired and full of cigarette smoke, needles to say, dear Billy was relieved to get outdoors.
There was a poorly looking elderly male Greyhound in the house, we asked if we could take him but sadly they refused, stating they had him a long time and he was old and ‘no trouble’, they said he had not come from Debenham but couldn’t remember where he came from.
Billy had a good walk around the park and a much needed drink of water before being taken to his foster home, where he settled quickly with the company of one of our other foster Greyhounds Vikky( see:VIKKI dogs homed Greyhounds) and had a much needed bath.
Once Billy had time to settle he was neutered with a dental.
The foster home was spacious with a big garden and Billy enjoyed his walks over parks and beaches and received the exercise and freedom a young hound should have.
Both Billy and Vikky shared their foster home for several months until they found their forever homes.
Billy found his forever home with gorgeous Golden Retriever Marley and they became firm friends.
Worried for the elderly Greyhound from where Billy came from, we reported our concerns to the RSPCA, they later informed us, they visited and advised the ‘owners’ to increase the dogs food intake, walk him more and get his nails cut.
It is doubtful the poor hound would suddenly be well cared for and a shame the RSPCA chose to take no action, better still remove the poor hound.
AfG were saddened that our attempts to rescue him were denied.
Photos below show Billy when rescued.
Photos above show Billy happy and healthy (one of which is Billy on an AfG calendar).
