RAVEN (named for racing as Trinket boy)
Sex/colour: Male black
Last recorded owner: Mr. Brendon Matthews
Last recorded trainer: Not known
Races contended: 2
Stadiums: Shelbourne Park & Lifford: Irelend
Last recorded race:01.08.2009
Came to AfG: January 2010
RAVEN (named by AfG) was taken home by two volunteers at Yarmouth Homefinders rescue kennels.
They had walked the Greyhounds occasionally some weekends and had not seen Raven the past two times, they asked if he was still at the kennels, he was and the manager David Smith, told them they could walk him but to keep a coat on him as he was not in good condition.
After seeing Raven again, the couple were so concerned how much he had deteriorated since they last saw him and were told by the Smith, that the dog doesn’t seem to be settled in his kennel.
This was not just days or weeks of neglect under the kennels ‘care’ but months.
The couple asked if they could take Raven home to give him proper care, they were told they could as long as they signed the adoption form, which they did, though they did not have a homecheck.
The couple were relieved to get Raven out of the kennels but concerned they would have to leave him too long due to their work commitmentsand realising the immediate care he needed, so asked for the help of AfG.
AfG visited them to check Raven, we were appalled by the young Greyhounds condition and booked an appointment for him at our vets.
She was also shocked, not only by his condition but by the fact he had been allowed to deteriorate for so long in a rescue center.
Photos were taken of Raven with a long list of veterinary notes which were sent to the CEO of the Retired Greyhound Trust (RGT) Ivor Stocker who shared our concern and said he would start an investigation at the kennels.
We told Ivor we had Raven in one of our very experienced foster homes with the company of another rescued Greyhound and he agreed Raven could stay there as long as we arranged for the foster carers to sign another Homefinders adoption form.
The foster carers did so and no concern was shown by the Smith at the kennels apart from stating Raven did not settle in the kennels, he did not even ask after Ravens welfare!!.
Again no homecheck was carried out on our foster carers.
Raven received all necessary veterinary care from our vets, which RGT rightly agreed to pay for.
Among Ravens injuries, were stitches been left in for sometime after neutering, open infected pressure sores and an infected wound to the end of his tail (Which later had to be partially amputated) dry, sore itchy skin, lackluster fur and overgrown nails.
Of course as a young hound, all Raven needed was proper care, which he received.
Along with necessary vet treatment, nourishing food, soft bedding and lots of fresh air and exercise, Raven steadily recovered into a stunning hound with glossy coat.
It was not long until Ravens foster home became his forever home.
Ivor Stocker, informed AfG that he visited homefinders kennels along with a vet and found no concerns with the condition of other Greyhounds at the kennels but would do follow up checks to make sure no neglect of any Greyhounds there happened again.
Ivor was told by Smith, “that Greyhound was just one that unfortunately did not settle in the kennel” (such a shame he let poor Raven suffer for so long realising this!).
We were informed, sometime later the kennels had a new and much better manager who had replaced Smith.
So we can only hope there will never be other cases like Raven.
Raven often accompanied AFG on fundraising/awareness events, along with his Greyhound housemate Tilly and was adored by so many people, he enjoyed all the fuss and attention he received.
Photos below show Raven after being taken from the kennels and steadily improving with proper care.
Photos above show Raven fit , healthy and happy, he featured on two of AfGs calendars, he was often photographed by William Moore.
