HAPPY (named for racing as: Less Than Zero)
Sex/colour: Male Black
D.O.B: August 2009
Last recorded owner: Neville and Irene Barnard
Last recorded trainer: Irene Barnard
Races contended: 36
Stadium: Yarmouth (and previously Longford, Ireland)
Last recorded race: Yarmouth 29.08.2012
Came to AfG: September 2015
HAPPY was named by AfG, as the day we picked him up from the dreadful
flat he was being kept in, as soon as he got outside he just did not
stop wagging his tail, it is as if he knew good things were now in store
for him.
We were contacted by concerned neighbors who had watched this dear
Greyhound deteriorate over several months and lately not even seeing him
being walked.
We arranged with one of the neighbors to visit the property as we were
told the man who had Happy (then named Jamie) could be temperamental and
rude.
However, once in the flat, we were able to interact with the man calmly
and easily, who agreed he was not able to care for the Greyhound
properly and agreed it would be best for him to go to a good home.
The man told us, his daughter had first been given Happy by the trainer
but she did not really want him so passed him to her father knowing her
father was suffering from several physical and mental issues but she did
not want the Greyhound to go back to the trainers kennels in case they ‘
put him down’.
The poor man was obviously not able to care for himself properly, let
alone a Greyhound.
The upstairs flat was small and dingy full of smoke with no curtains or
windows open.
Poor Happy was very underweight with fur loss and sore skin over his body.
The man showed us the food he was feeding Happy, it was high protein
kibble with a tin of dog food, fed once a day.
We asked where Happys water was, he said he had water once a day after
his food.
Happy had a small tatty woolen jumper on (obviously some attempt to
cover the condition of his body), the man also explained he wore the
jumper and a muzzle most of the time to stop him nibbling and scratching
his skin.
Apparently Happy had been to a local RSPCA community vets, on 2
occasions who had both times prescribed medicated shampoo to help Happys
itchy skin heal!!.
The problem was, the man had nowhere to bath a large dog so Happys skin
was never treated.
It beggars belief that no other concern from the RSPCA was shown
regarding Happys condition.
We were as relieved as dear Happy was to get outside and then we noticed
in daylight, the severity of his condition.
He was absolutely crawling alive with fleas (this was caused by long
term untreated flea infestation) which is when we noticed just how sore
and infected his skin was.
Other neighbors came out of the flats to see Happy, all were so upset to
see how much more he had deteriorated, they said the man must have been
sneaking Happy out early mornings and night to make sure no one saw him.
Happy was in such a poor state for a still relatively young hound of age 6.
Luckily as we were able to take Happy straight away, we had already
planned for Happy to go into a temporary foster home but because of the
flea infestation, we could not risk him going into a home.
A quick phone call to our vets to explain Happys severe condition etc,
we were told to bring him straight there.
The vet was saddened and shocked by Happys condition and straight away
treated him for fleas and allowed him to stay at the practice until the
following morning when he would also pop over to the groomers for a bath.
She suggested we reported this to the RSPCA in Yarmouth and she would
back up the vet report with our photos.
The next day and already looking so much happier, Happy settled into his
temporary foster home.
He had 4 good meals a day with fresh water available at all times.
He went on some short walks to get used to his new environment.
We soon discovered what a very gentle calm friendly hound Happy was.
He liked people and children and all other dogs.
A few weeks later, Happy was fit enough to be neutered.
We also had a 2nd foster home for him with a rescued Lurcher and a Setter.
This was perfect for Happy as he enjoyed the company of the other hounds.
Happy continued to progress mentally and physically and hopefully able
to put his past life behind him to enjoy all the love, care and adventures.
Happy soon found his forever home with a rescued shar pei cross female
and continues to enjoy his life.
It is such a joy to see these abused, neglected hounds transform into
stunning Greyhounds with proper care and experience.
We did pass our concerns and evidence on to the RSPCA inspector and
asked why no concern was shown at the RSPCA clinic.
He checked the notes from there but we told him there is no use
prescribing medicated shampoo for a large dog that has nowhere to be
bathed and why no one thought the poor dogs condition should be looked into.
The inspector later told us, he had visited the man who signed Happy to
AfG, gave him a ‘welfare talk’ and was convinced the man would not get
another dog.
We were kept informed by neighbors that this was the case.
Luckily the good neighbors were kind enough to be concerned and seek
help for dear Happy enabling him to get the care and loving home he so
deserved
Thank goodness, as the Barnards, Greyhound owners and trainers attached
to Yarmouth, their names have cropped up in the past from giving away
their unwanted Greyhounds to anyone who will take them with no regard to
their future welfare and safety.
Photos below, show Happy on rescue day at our vets, the filthy muzzle he
wore most of the time and the tatty jumper he wore, followed by the
weeks of improvement.
Above photos show Happy as a stunning healthy Greyhound.
One above photo was on and AfG calendar, photographed by Belinda Buxton.
