Dogs to the Vet!

My usual Monday morning, except Bank Holiday, is to drive up to the foster home near Folkestone, and feed and exercise a group of greyhounds.

The foster home actually acts as a halfway house for retired greyhounds that are looking for a permanent "forever" home and two permanent residents that belong to Julie, the foster home owner.

This week though, my job was to take two greyhounds to the vets' surgery at Vets for Pets at the Pets at Home store in Whitfield near Dover.

One, Noodle, had cut his foot in a fog park on Saturday, and the other, Charlie, has damaged his tail.  I got them into the car. Both were muzzled as it the norm when taking them anywhere. It's for everyone's safety.  They tend to be very calm, but may get triggered by other dogs.

As I was driving a face appeared next to me. Brindle, Charlie.  No muzzle. He had one in the barn!  I didn't notice as I bundled and secured him into the back seat of the car. Could I find it? No. He must have got it off whilst I was getting Noodle into the car! I need to be more attentive. 

The very nice vet, Wendy, took a look at Noodle's foot. It was clearing up, but his new owners wanted to get him before Christmas so I was under instruction, that if he needed stitches I was to wait and bring him back.

Charlie, though needed to have his tail part amputated.  It was broken about half way down and was very ulcerated and infested. The vet thought that there was a previous injury that led to the ulceration and the break was due to that weakness. I left him there and took Noodle back to the foster home.

Later in the day around 4pm I got a WhatsApp to ask if I could go and get Charlie. I had volunteered. I got up there around 5pm and he was ready.  He was a little wonky on his feet as he had had a general anaesthetic. I had to fit a cone on his neck to stop him licking the wound. I was shocked to see his tail was now just a fiver inch stump. 

However, I got him in the car. At 35kgs (77lbs) they are quite heavy and also being long bodied they are difficult to lift, let alone squeeze into the back seat of a Nissan Juke.

In the end we were all packed up and I set off. He lay on the back seat and was asleep.  I could hear him snore as we came down the A2 into Dover.

Waking him up at the foster home seemed a bit cruel, but eventually his eyes opened.

He was looking a little sorry for himself.  Once out of the car I handed him over to Julie, plus all the medicines he needs to have over the next few days and weeks.

It's quite rewarding volunteering for Kent Greyhound Rescue.  If you are retired and have some time. Maybe check out your local animal shelter or charity.