NewsletterPublisher: Jules Wright Issue Number: 30 Date: Autumn 2014

I am sorry to say that this will be my last newsletter as Editor as I have decided to step down. I am just so busy with my two children and working that I do not have the time to give the newsletter the attention it deserves.

I really have enjoyed reading all your stories and seeing your photos over the last 18 months. The newsletter is in excellent hands with Michele Perry and I’m sure that she will do a great job moving it forward.

Please send your stories, news and photos to Michele from now on by email: michele_storer@hotmail.com or by post to the address at the foot of this page.

Jules

michele_storer@hotmail.com 25 Vanguard Chase, Costessey, Norwich NR5 0UG

www.yarmouth-greyhound-homefinders.co.uk Telephone: 0845 458 3797

Yarmouth Greyhound Homefinders, a branch of the Retired Greyhound Trust Registered Charity No: 269668

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HomefindersNewsletter

Kennels situated at 51 Cromer Road, Hainford, NR10 3AU (on A140) and are Open from 10am until 2pm every day.

Notes from the Editor

As Chief Executive of the Retired Greyhound Trust, I was very pleased to make my first visit to the Yarmouth Homefinders branch, on Saturday 2nd August.

The day began with a visit to the kennels. There, I was delighted to meet so many volunteers (and their hounds!) who give up their time to support the branch and contribute to the extraordinary rehoming successes that Homefinders have enjoyed in recent years.

I was also pleased to catch up with Mel Shields who of course had risked life and limb, participating in the recent Fall for Hounds Skydive, raising a brilliant £1,700 for the branch. Mel showed me the thoughtful gift he had received, with the thanks of all at the branch, for his brave efforts.

Corinne and her colleagues then showed me around the site. The kennelling facilities and, in particular, the condition of all the greyhounds that I saw were excellent and a real testament to the care and dedication of everyone involved in the running of the kennels. In the branch office I noticed some fantastic photos of greyhounds taken by Molly. Their use on the branch website, in the newsletter and for press copy and adverts, really shows off the dogs to best effect and must help promote rehoming – a picture paints a thousand words!

Peter Laurie visit to the kennels - Part 1

Peter with Corinne and some of the Volunteers at our Kennels.

Mel and Peter.

CO-ORDINATOR’S BITOnce again a very busy few months. Over 90 dogs have now been rehomed and, thankfully, only one returned. Lucky dog, a lady was visiting at the time, fell in love with her and took her home! To all those kind people who have volunteered to be foster carers I do have your names on file and one day the urgent call will come as I have a growing list of ‘failed fosterers’ who’ve adopted the dog in their care! If anyone else thinks this is for them please speak to me.

We have had two very successful Open days. On both days the volunteers got absolutely soaked getting the stalls ready but by 11am the weather had brightened up and the sun shone. We had the usual large entry for the Dog Show and even a special class for 3 legged dogs which Lynda’s Jake won! The second Open Day had a fun Agility Course most of the hounds thought why jump when you can walk round the side! On both occasions we raised over £1000 so thank you everyone for your generosity.

We have been out and about with the stall with differing results almost every weekend this summer. The good news is following each outing we have rehomed at least one dog sometimes two or three. To all the helpers many, many thanks for giving up your weekends. We now have equipment to send out two stalls at events. If, in your area, you are aware of any dog shows, fetes etc which we could attend next year do let me know. We also now have volunteers taking our Bric a Brac out to car boot sales.

We are arranging another Quiz Night on November 14th so start getting your teams organised now and don’t forget our Christmas Fayre on December 13th at Taverham Village hall from 1pm-4pm.

Stadium gate collections have continued on each race night during the summer months with very full collection tins each evening, if you would like to go on the rota for Saturday evenings in the winter months please give Lisa a ring on 01692581998.

As Ros said in our last Newsletter many of you have avoided getting involved with Facebook, we find it is an excellent way to keep in touch and announce events etc in between each newsletter, if you only have Yarmouth homefinders as your friend we suggest you go to www.facebook.com/groups/180772885697 and ask to join us.

Hope to see you all at the Auction and Open day on 12th October from 11-3pm.

Corinne

Dogs homed since last Newsletter

Jans Jade (Jade), Perfect Legend (Skippy),Swift Dion (Swifty), Perfect Charmer (Flip), Kellsboro Sal (Sal), Stargate Stella (Stella), Droopys Maya (Maya), Toosey Faye (Faye), Droopys Zino (Zino), Impact Royal ( Imp), Montis Rocky (Rocky2), Eye Eye Ty (Ty), Reference Point (Jessie), Hillside Lucas (Slowee now Gus), King Fergie (Josh), Burcastle Nova (Nova), Fermoy Henry (Henry), Ballybough Royal (Rocky1), Fawn Bandit (Bandit) Ballinprior King (Winston), Too Proud to Cry (Bryony), Tribecca Hero (Barney), Handley Jack (Jack), Sir Bobby (Bob), Highlighter (Mario), Tuppence, Canvas Max (Max), Dooey Three (Dooey), Jackies Ninja (Ninja), Blonde Sid (Sid), Swift Freeze (Freeze now Freddy), Deep Blue (Archie), Edencurra Queen (Queenie), Edencurra Lady (Enya/Bella), Society King (King).

Over the rainbow bridge

Pookies Aoife (Amber), Brangwyn Boogie (Boogie), Spocks Late Spooky), SunOak Storm (Sunny), Do Battle (Mickey), Rackethall Benny (Ben),Cloncunny Lark (Lark), Broken Trust (Buster), Mookys Diamond (Diamond), Aegean Spirit (Spirit), Barnegrane Echo (Barney).

Events List

28th September autumn walk 11am Winterton beach

4th October Coastline Vets Open Day 4.30-7.30pm

12th October Autumn Open Day at kennels and Auction 11am-3pm

14th November 7pm from 7.30pm start Quiz Night with Buffet. Hainford Village Hall (venue may be changed).Teams of no more than 6 persons. Tickets from kennels after Open day £4.00 per person.

23rd November Winter walk Burgh Castle 11am

13th December Christmas Fayre, Taverham Village Hall 1pm-4pm

Spotted!Mary Alexander saw this amazing medieval carving of a greyhound in the courtroom of the old Guildhall in Norwich in a room that is not normally open to the public.

It illustrates that greyhounds are always in on the action!

Peter Laurie visit to the kennels - part 2In the evening I visited Yarmouth Stadium on what was a busy race night. It was my first visit to the track for nearly eight years and it was great to see a vibrant crowd making use of the excellent, modern facilities, including the restaurant that serves some of the very best food I have ever tasted at a greyhound track.

It was fantastic to see further volunteers here, having given up their Saturday evening to provide opportunities for race goers to meet retired greyhounds and learn more about their suitability as pets, as they arrived at the track. As usual, I failed to back any winners, nor was I successful in the fundraising raffle but tracks are such important venues for fundraising and promotion, the partnership between the branch and the track at Yarmouth is a tremendous example of what can be achieved.

Homefinders Veterinary Assistance Scheme is equally impressive, ensuring that any greyhounds that may pick up a career-ending injury at Yarmouth, receive the best and immediate treatment and care, enabling them to recuperate fully and then go on to be successfully rehomed through the branch. As well as Homefinders financial support, such success requires the support of the track and the trainers, I understand the scheme has become even better since the CVS Bridge Vets in Gorleston, became the Stadium’s licensed veterinary surgeons. I sensed that there was genuine, widespread engagement with the rehoming operation amongst the track’s owners, trainers and volunteers, that is very welcome.

Overall, I left both the Hainford kennels and the Stadium very impressed by all that I saw and truly inspired by the commitment and dedication of the branch volunteers. Yarmouth Homefinders is a tremendous success story, having found a staggering 550 homes in the last five years alone. My congratulations and sincere thanks go to everyone involved.

Peter Laurie

Peter with Jeff and his Raffle Team. Stadium Vet Paola Marchese showing Peter and Corinne the Vets Room.

Peter with Corinne visiting the Turnstile Stall. Collecting in the Stadium Restaurant.

Sponsorship NewsWould you like to sponsor our kennel block? To be a sponsor please fill in your details below and send a cheque or postal order made payable to Yarmouth Greyhound Homefinders, and send it to:

Lisa Pimble, 77 St Benets Road, Stalham, Norwich, Norfolk, NR12 9DW.

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If you are sponsoring as a gift for someone else also provide their details.

Standing OrdersWe have now set up a standing order form for anyone who wishes to donate a monthly amount (from only £1) to Homefinders. This is another way of helping our lovely greyhounds and will be of great help to us. Simply complete the form and send it to Lisa at the same address as for the sponsorships.

LettersWoof Woof

Hi everyone! Dana’s here. Mummy took so many pictures that she decided to send some.

Mummy and Daddy (Jacqueline and Bill Rookes) spoil me rotten and I am definitely loving it.

Love Lowestoft and have made many four-legged friends.

Got to go Mummy made me a lunch of rice and meat. Yummy!!

Lots of licks from me.

Dana

My life turned upside down by Zoe

I had just passed by 1st gotcha day and felt very content in my forever retirement home, all the space I needed sofas, beds, treats and lovely quiet country walks with my slaves. Little did I know things were going to change....

It seems that my slaves were becoming very impressed with a 2 year old white fluffy boy who didn’t race, called Slowee, what a very silly name, who would want a dog called that? and personally I think that the black silky hounds like myself are the best.

I didn’t get much say in it although they took me to the kennels to see if we would get along. He wanted to play with me and bounced around for a bit – I just ignored him but he ended up coming home with us that day anyway and the slaves ended up calling him Gus.

Silly Gus doesn’t seem to have grown into his big paws yet, he has been bumping into everything at home and even bumped into me. He is a real baby and walks after mummy slave all the time. I have had to growl at him a few times when he got too close to my squeaky hamburger, he is such a scaredy cat he runs away when I do this!

On Saturday we spent time in the garden and he was getting up to all sorts of mischief, running after the family bunnies (I have learned that this is a no no), trampling down the plants, he fell in the pond twice. I stood back and looked superior when silly Gus ran into the house soaking wet, ran upstairs and shook stinky pond water all over the place and jumped onto the slaves bed. I was waiting for Silly Gus to get into big trouble - but they just laughed.

He is a such a poser and is always looking in the mirror and at his reflection and everyone we meet says how handsome he is. When this happens I make sure I use my special nudging talent so I get ear scratches and people don’t forget how beautiful I am.

I have been really helpful though and I have had to teach Silly Gus how to climb the stairs, so I am getting more good girl treats at the moment. He still has a lot to learn, its just as well he has got me! Don’t tell the slaves but I think I will like living with Gus and the slaves need to help as many greyhounds as they can.

Are you coming to the Autumn Open Day?If you bring a can or cans of sardines along with your name on you can put them in the sack and the first two pulled out will get a prize each.

IN MEMORIUM

Dear Jules,

Our lovely boy Sunny sadly was put to sleep in June. It was one of the hardest things that we have had to do, but we knew we had made the right

choice. He was the 3rd greyhound that we received and he fitted in well with the family and the other dogs. He was like the granddad of the dogs leaving them missing them as much as us.

He was a quiet dog with big brown eyes that always looked happy and full of love and the house seems much quieter without him.

His picture and the very kind card that Greyhound Homefinders sent us takes pride of place on our wall, he is still looking at us with those big brown eyes!

Sunny is on the left

Dear Jules

Bunty, Sasha and Jason have had an exciting month Settling into their new Abode........they have only been here 4 weeks.....do you think they have settled in!!???? In order they are......Sasha, Jason and Bunty.........Regards Diane.xx

STOP PRESS: Diane has also now adopted Max, who is settling in very well.

He will never be forgotten and I think Tilly (our second rescue dog) misses him the most.

Thanks for finding us such a wonderful dog, he will always be in our hearts.

Jo & Paul Southgate, Tilly Spot and Oscar

Dear Jules,

Just to let you now that Andy (Catchem Andrew) was pts in July aged 11 1/2 , he developed a throat problem which made eating difficult so the decision was made to help him over the

bridge he is greatly missed. I have lost 4 greyhounds in under a year & the house is very empty without them.

Yours Julia Slater

Dear Jules,

I just wanted to let you know that my beautiful girl Lucia (Tylers Lass) died yesterday. She had bone cancer and had quite bad pain. She let me know when she had had enough.

She was born Jan 2004 and died 12th Sept 2014. She will be so badly missed. A really gentle pure spirit.

Susanna Spencer

Dear Jules,

Sadly, my sweet lovely Connie (Constant Sorrow), was put to sleep on September 10th, just a few weeks short of her 13th birthday. She had become very frail and was no

longer enjoying the good life we both had since she came to me 5years ago. I will miss her very much

Thanks to you all for the wonderful way you look after these terrific dogs.

With sincere good wishes

Joyce Gibson

Open Day - We raised £1116.72.

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