Our Greyhound Adoption Story
Aston
We adopted Aston five years ago from Kent Greyhound Rescue after my friend Amanda had suggested the breed. We went to visit the team at KGR at the Chilham Horse Trials in Kent that summer and had a good chat to one of their volunteers, Ian, about the process of adoption, the dogs and the charity in general. They take care of and rescue both Greyhounds and Lurchers, so we were keen to find out the differences and see which dog would fit in with us. We met up with Julie, who runs the charity and spoke at length with her at her home the following week. There were six greyhounds in the garden, and it surprised me how quiet they all were. A beautiful dog, called Alan, came and put his head on my lap and I knew instinctively that a greyhound was going to be the right fit for us.
Greyhound Love
We met Aston, who’s name at the kennels was Comet, at Paws in the Park in the September, at the KGR stand. He was bobbing for sausages when we arrived and was very over excited. We spoke to his Foster mum, Jill, about him and she suggested we take him for a walk. I was astonished at how strong he was, he was so excited to be there, but it already felt right to be with him. She suggested we visit him at her home, where he was living with her greyhound William, and a week later we did. He immediately rushed to meet us and put his head on my lap. From that moment, we were smitten.
I was about to go on my second trip to Tanzania, Africa, with The Grassroots Trust as a volunteer, and was concerned that taking him home and then going away would be unsettling for him. I was over the moon when Jill said that she didn’t have any new fosters coming in for a while and she would keep him for us, get him used to living in a home and sleeping out of a crate, and we could collect him on my return. I was so happy I cried. We had our home check and organised everything ready for my return from Africa. We chose his name - he’s named after the car and not the football team - and started to get all of the things he needed ready for his arrival. We got so much advice about greyhound essentials from both the charity and the greyhound community and we are so grateful to everyone who has helped us along the way.
I had made a tentative collection of dog items to sell at the event I organised to raise funds for my trip with The Grassroots Trust, and from that I was invited to join a creative collective that was setting up a ‘Pop-up’ shop on my high street. I came up with the name Slumbering Hound and began making for the shop and for Aston. I got the most beautiful basket on Ebay and I made Aston his first cushion, Snuggle Sack and blanket. We were all ready for him to come home.
Our Hound came home.
My time in Tanzania was exhausting, but amazing and something that will stay with me forever. I slept all day after I came home, but the following day we were up and off to Kent to collect Aston from Julie, KGR founder, as Jill was at work. Aston came to meet us, tail wagging, as did all the other dogs that Julie looks after and we took him home. We didn’t tell our daughter he was coming home that day, so she had a lovely surprise when she returned from school. He settled really easily, but we gave him a lot of space to enable him to do so. Both Gil and the KGR team were so supportive with their after care and were very happy to help with ‘new mum’ wobbles.
We have discovered since we adopted him that he was, at the 11th hour, rescued from a kennels with 15 other dogs in collaboration with another sighthound rescue, Greyhound Gap, and four of these dogs, including Aston were taken into the care of KGR. A lovely lady from the greyhound community, Sam, also took the time to trace Aston’s ear tattoo’s for us - he has one ear tattooed, which means he was born in England - and we now know his birth date, lineage and that he took part in 92 races.
I can’t believe it’s been five years. I have met so many lovely people in the sighthound and dog community over the last 5 years and made some very firm friends along the way too. I’m so happy that a greyhound came to live with us, it’s like he has always been here and we love him so much.
Kent Greyhound Rescue
Kent Greyhound Rescue is a registered charity (1138841) based near Hythe in South East Kent. They find new homes for around 150 abandoned and unwanted greyhounds, lurchers and other sighthounds each year.
The vast majority of their dogs arrive needing to be neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped and most dogs also require a dental and/or other medical treatment, as well as the usual worm and flea treatments. Some dogs need more help than others, but the average cost of rescuing each dog is £500.
They do not operate a rescue centre, which is open to the public. Instead, the dogs wait for their new homes at either private boarding kennels or, ideally, in foster homes throughout Kent.
The Grassroots Trust
Rekindling hope for Tanzanian children through sponsoring education, nutrition, health care and vibrant, loving local church life.