ZEN (named for racing as: Nice One Zola)
Sex/colour: Male Black
D.O.B: approx mid 2013
Last recorded owner: Not known
Last recorded trainer: Not known
Races contended: None found
Came to AfG: July 2015
Zen (named by AfG) was the first Greyhound to come into the care of AfG directly from Ireland.
There were media exposures at this time, regarding the notorious Ennis dog pound in County Clare Ireland, exposing their high ‘kill rate’ of stray Greyhounds and Lurchers, in particular.
Through these exposures, we were made aware of a group of volunteers
named Clare Greyhound Project (C.G.P) who had grave concerns for the
terrible outcome for these hounds.
So they tried to rescue as many as possible, to get them into boarding
kennels, foster homes and rescue centers.
We heard about a 2 year old black male Greyhound at Ennis pound after
being found abandoned, wandering, bewildered, lame and in pain.
Luckily he was one taken out of the pound by C.G.P.
Their vet believed he was suffering a wrist injury, advising pain relief
and months of cage rest.
This poor young hound was so upset in a cage as he longed for attention.
AfG asked if he could be transported to Norfolk and luckily the answer
was yes.
So arrangements were made for his transport as we had a suitable foster
home where he would have the company of other rescued Greyhounds and
other breeds.
So without meeting him, we chose the name Zen.
When Zen arrived we saw he was very small and so very sweet, he was very happy to meet up with one of the little dogs from his foster home and after his long journey from Ireland and a nice walk, he traveled back to his foster home to start life as a loved family member.
Dear Zen was so aptly named as even at age 2 years he was so laid back
and gentle.
Zen settled in very quickly in his foster home.
He did not seem to be severe pain with his damaged wrist but we had pain
relief for him if/when needed.
Once he was examined by our vet (also an orthopedic surgeon) and she
read the notes from the vet in Ireland, she disagreed with the treatment
he had advised.
We felt Zen needed to have regular use of his wrist joint to keep it
supple and hopefully gradually heal as much as possible.
We explained to our vet, we found no racing history found for Zen (only
ear tattoos,a racing name and no microchip) but she stated this type of
injury was not likened to any track injury but from being dropped from
a height, causing an untreated fracture and luxating wrist joint.
She hoped Zen would heal rather than have to undergo any evasive surgery.
We expect from what our vet explained, that dear Zen was thrown from a
truck or from a height somewhere, which is why he was found abandoned
and lame.
Luckily over the months which followed, Zens leg did improve and being
young he did need a free run daily but we were able to do this in the
confines of a small park so he could have a nice run without going too
far, at first he did go slightly lame but we found strapping the wrist
up with a wet band helped immensely.
Zen was so calm and friendly and soon got used to a family home and
enjoyed the company of all the other dogs.
He accompanies AfG on many events and is also so comical, the way he
lies on his back with his legs in the air and tongue hanging out, has
people in stitches.
Again, Zen was another lucky Greyhound to have been in the right place
at the right time and to come to the attention and to be saved by C.G.P.
Photos below, show Zen on rescue day, with his swollen wrist, settling
in with other hounds, improving over the months and accompanying AfG on various events.
Photos above show Zen who has been featured on 2 AfG calendars,
photographed by William Moore ( where Zen was photographed with his
litter sister Lola who was raced at Sheffield and rescued by a lady who
managed to find Zen was her litter brother) and another by Belinda Buxton.
