Welcome to Mulranny Sighthounds
I have owned my own dogs since I left home in 1980. I have had whippets since 1986 but 2007 was my first year in deerhounds or more specifically deerhound! Sight hounds generally are a pleasure to live with whatever their size. As hunting hounds they tend to conserve energy for 'the chase' so if they're in the house they are happiest on a settee doing just that. If they're outside then they can go for as long or short a walk as you wish. There are always exceptions to the rule and puppies are definitely one of them, but then that's true of all puppies - life is one huge game!!
If you're looking for a pet please give a thought to a rescue greyhound. They are generally past the nightmare puppy stage and if they've spent their life in kennels, a settee would be earthly heaven for them. There are many greyhound rescue organisations and a quick search on the internet will give you plenty to contact. I can recommend trying Greyhound Rescue West of England on 07000 785092 (click on the link to their website: http://www.grwe.com) or the Retired Greyhound Trust on 0870 444 0673 (click on the link to their website: http://www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk). Both are very professional organisations that care deeply about the dogs in their care.
I know this is a sight hound website but I feel I have to give a mention to Lachie a 'Cypriot Poodle' (poodle/pointer type cross). He was rescued by my husband from a ditch, with his back leg hanging off and all sorts of injuries. That was back in 1995 and despite all his suffering at such an early age, he lived to a ripe old age of 14 and passed away in March 2007. His story made the weekly publication of Our Dogs in 2002 and I have reproduced it below. The following picture is Lachie in February 2007 when he was fit and well.
Lachie's Story
Lachie is an 8 yr old ‘Cypriot Poodle’ – a poodle/pointer type cross. He was found in a roadside ditch one Sunday in March 1995 in the village Kolossi near the British Forces Headquarters at Episkopi in Cyprus. He was emaciated to the point of starvation and had been hit by a car.
Immediately obvious injuries included a shattered and dislocated right hind leg. He also had some longer term injuries with shotgun pellets around his head and a damaged left eye. It also soon became apparent that he suffered epileptic fits, possibly as a result of his head injuries. All in all he was in an extremely sorry state, infested with fleas and ticks and within days of death.
On the day he was found he was immediately taken by car to Paphos, where a local vet recommended euthanasia there and then. However it was decided to give Lachie one more chance. He was operated upon immediately, being castrated and having his leg relocated and pinned down the length of his leg bones. He was taken home the following day in a very fragile condition, with no certainty that he could survive. He was bedded down in the garage and the ticks were removed – over 2 dozen of them. Flea treatment had to wait until he was stronger but consequently he had to be isolated from the other family pets.
He had to be carried to the garden for toilet visits and the immediate priority was to build up his strength through an intensive feeding regime – sausage and eggs every morning and double helpings of dog food later in the day. Fortunately his appetite had remained unaffected and this was one aspect of his treatment programme which he appeared to relish.
One week after surgery he was taken to the British Military vet at Episkopi. X-rays showed that the surgery had been unsuccessful – his leg had dislocated again and the pin had moved. Amputation was considered as an option, but it was decided to wait and see whether circulation continued and the leg might heal. Fortunately it did so, albeit very slowly.
Over the next weeks, Lachie slowly gained a little weight and strength. He was treated for fleas and introduced to the rest of the family – 3 dogs and a cat. His leg remained very weak, but he was clearly learning to adapt, very well in fact – to the extent of clambering over a 6 ft high chain link fence to take himself off for walkies. He also provided a few clues about his survival techniques – most notably his obvious enthusiasm for crunching up the large garden snails found in that part of the world. He had his inoculations and flew to the UK from Larnaca Airport in February 1996, going through 6 months quarantine with his new brother and sisters at Birdlip near Gloucester.
Today Lachie is a well-rounded, happy and contentedly spoiled pet. His leg remains weak, but he has come to terms completely with his injury and still loves his runs in the countryside. He does have occasional epileptic attacks and probably will do for the rest of his life. He adores people, despite the horrific treatment he has suffered at their hands in the past and all in all now has a thoroughly happy life.
David Hughes February 2002
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