Rescue Stories
Penny Lane
This rather nice rescue story with a happy ending came through from the wonderful Jennifer!!! What would we do without her?
Thanks Jen and all ladies involved in Rescue both here in Vic and other states too.
Hello Jenny,
Late last year, you helped me find a whippet to adopt.
Penny Lane was in need of a new home and after agreement with her family of the time, she was flown to Adelaide.
Her first few months in Adelaide were a bit rough. My heath deteriorated and Penny found my children's interest in her
a very overwhelming. She bit Leon (my then 3 year old who was poking her nose whilst she was trying to sleep). I was
not angry with Penny, as she was defending herself, but I felt that maybe the young age of my boys was too much for her.
In December, I contacted association here in SA to find Penny a new home. I was asked to wait until after the new year
due to holidays. Thank goodness for this time.
I was admitted to hospital about a week after this email, for seven weeks. Penny went to stay at a friends house during that time.
They have a pug. These two dogs became the best of friends. I visited Penny several times whilst in hospital and was so thankful
that I didn't find her a new home. She was so excited to see me and vice versa.
I discussed with my children prior to leaving hospital, rules and guidelines for play with Penny Lane. They were told if they continued
to hurt her, then I will find her a new home. They did not want to lose her, so agreed. Proudly, my children have been very well behaved.
Penny also has settled and has become confident enough to growl when she's had enough. Now, my boys play extremely well with Penny.
Since coming home from hospital, Penny has helped me more than I can put into words. Physically (the walks help me build my strength
and balance) and more importantly, emotionally. She is a great friend and lap warmer. She sits next to me on her lambs wool rug when
I am cross stitching and on my lap when I am not. When my friends who looked after her whilst I was in hospital visit, she then jumps on
their laps if mine is occupied. Often I find her asleep at the feet of one of my children, if my door is closed.
She is a wonderful addition to our family. She's made it complete.
Thank you for helping us find her.
Kindest Regards
Sarah WrightDog
Millie's Story
An email from Karen just before Millie met her new owner.
Hi Rae,
I have Tabitha coming down on Thursday night to meet Millie. She is very keen to take her home. I am trying to keep her feet on the ground, but it does sound very positive. She lives in a townhouse, in Southbank, and as a yard. She also has another whippet who is pining for a lost mate. Tabitha works just behind her house and comes home for lunch everyday.
We thought it may possibly be a plus for Millie that living in the city, she won’t be walked off lead, and city noises won’t bother her.
I managed to get a photo of her tonight, that shows how all skin and bones she is. She has still be no trouble. Slept quietly in the crate overnight. No puddles inside. A bit of a Velcro dog which is good. Brian and I get the feeling she would be fine off lead. She went out with Brian tonight to fetch a load of water. She was quite happy to be in the van. She even hopped up onto Brian’s lap for a cuddle tonight.
She is going to make someone a great pet.
Karen
All credit goes to Karen as she did a wonderful job getting Millie back on her feet and finding her a forever loving home.
Millie’s Story by Karen Parnell –
Millie at the shelterEarly in January, Millie the whippet was accidentally let out of her yard, so naturally she took herself for a little walk down the street. Rather than return Millie to her owners, Millie’s neighbours rang the council ranger and had Millie impounded.
Little did I realise when I received the first of two phone calls requesting help to save Millie, what a special little girl she was, and just how much she could melt the hearts of anyone who came into contact with her. What made Millie so special? Millie was deaf; and I was lucky enough to spend five of the most delightful days with her, that I have ever spent with any dog.
Millie had been bought at 8 weeks of age as an impulse. She was sold through the Saturday morning paper, to the first person to arrive with the correct amount of money. By the time she was twelve months old, the novelty of owning a dog, and in particular a deaf dog, had worn off, so Millie’s first owners decided they were going to have Millie put to sleep. Fortunately for Millie, a work colleague of her first owner, stepped in and offered to foster Millie while she searched for a new home.
Millie coped well with being deaf, but nobody had put much time or effort into training her. Millie’s new foster mum taught her few basic hand signals, so she learnt soon learnt to mind her manners. Millie also mixed well with her new foster family's three other dogs. Millie's new foster mum knew that she was not in a position to keep Millie on a long term basis, but as Millie was such a sweet loveable dog, she continued to bond with Millie, instead of trying to find that much needed new home.
The first phone call I received (on the day Millie was impounded) was from Millie’s distressed foster mum. Devastated at Millie’s impoundment; she was unable to afford the $300 fine to secure Millie’s release. Luckily for the whippets of Geelong, one of the staff at Geelong Animal Welfare is a Whippet lover. When she realised that Millie was in serious danger, she rang me to see if Vic Whippet Rescue were able to help in finding a new home for Millie. The staff at the shelter aware that Millie’s owner was not going to collect her; and they were very concerned about the possibility that nobody would be interested in adopting a deaf whippet in poor condition.
Very confused and stressed Millie was a pathetic site in her pen at the shelter. She was dirty and very thin; her coat was course & rough, and coming out in huge chunks. We needed to act quickly.
Millie’s foster owner had realized that she was no longer the best person to care for Millie, and had signed Millie over to Geelong Animal Welfare. This meant that I could now purchase Millie immediately, instead of having to wait 8 day’s for Millie to come up for adoption. As it was a Friday afternoon, I could not collect Millie until she had been desexed and micro-chipped. So poor Millie got to spend another three nights impounded.
Getting home after seeing Millie on the Friday night, I sent out an urgent call for help from the rest of the Whippet Rescue Team. What a pack of stars those girls are. Rae had Millie’s story put up onto the website overnight, and the other girls rallied to come up with a list of potential homes. By the time I collected Millie on the Monday afternoon, I had several people extremely interested in offering Millie a new family.
Millie was transferred from the shelter to the vets on the Monday, where she was desexed and given a health check. There were no concerns for her health other than her lack of condition. Even though she had only spent the day with them, Millie won them over at the vets with her sweet nature.
We collected Millie from the vets late in the afternoon, taking along our two dogs Beau and Phoebe. Introductions were made at the vets without any problems. Millie travelled the 30min drive home in a crate (in the back of the station wagon), as if she travelled this way all her life.
Bring Millie to another home surely added to Millie’s confusions, but we were amazed at just how quickly she settled in. She was still quite stressed but accepted her new surroundings with ease. She had a bit of a wander around the yard. For a whippet that had spent most of her life living outside, once she was inside the house it didn't take Millie long to find a comfortable bed to sleep on.
Living with a deaf dog proved to be an enjoyable challenge. Millie was not difficult to live with; we just had to rethink how we asked her to do things for us. Getting Millie to go outside to go to the toilet before going to bed was a learning curve, but we managed. And over the next 5 day’s we did not have a single accident inside. Millie also accepted sleeping in the crate at night without a single whimper. We found it bizarre how much time we spent talking to her, when we knew she could not hear us. Our week with her included lots of arm waving and stamping on the floor to get her attention.
Millie proved herself to be the most people orientated dog we have ever known. She compensated for her lack of hearing by keeping a close eye on our whereabouts. Whereas all our other dogs, had curled up quietly in their beds, waiting for the sound of a familiar noise, Millie preferred to either curl up at your feet, or she would calmly wander between Brian and I from time to time, just touching base with our whereabouts and making sure she wasn’t missing out on any of the action. She thrived on physical contact and did not have to be asked twice to hop up onto a lap for a cuddle.
We had expected that the interest in taking on a deaf whippet would be low, and that Millie would be with us for quite some time. We couldn’t have been more wrong. The girls on the whippet rescue team and the club website had done a marvellous job in finding homes. It wasn’t a long list, but the quality of the families offering Millie a new home was outstanding.
Millie went to live with her new family having only spent 5 nights with us. She has the company of wonderful family; and she has a new whippet friend, Solo.
I went to visit Millie a fortnight after she left us. Gone was the rough dirty coated little whippet I had met just a couple of weeks before. Her coat was now smooth and sleek like a whippet’s should be. Her tailed wagged for the entire visit, and I don’t think I could have pried Millie out of that household if I had tried. Millie’s new family were besotted with her.
Her deafness had not been an issue. For a dog that lives in a silent world, and then to be shunted around through a series of homes in the first 16 months of her life, Millie had amazed everyone that came in contact with her. Millie is quite simply a delightful little dog, a great little mate on four legs.
The last I saw of Millie, was a little face standing up at the window, tail wagging and smiling as only a whippet can, as if to say, thank you.
Fergus
Kim emailed me inquiring about joining our Association. She had just “rescued” a 9 year old whippet from the Ballarat RSPCA. Below is Fergus’ story. I have asked Kim to keep me posted about her experiences in training a whippet. I have included Kim’s details at the bottom of her story if anyone needs some advice about dog training. RCM
“One of the things that really attracted to me about the Whippet Association is the activities/fun days you have for us “pet people”.” - Kim’s words
"Ferret is a 9 year old boy who has lived in a back yard all of his life. He is looking for a home in which to spend his retirement years”.
That’s how the RSPCA description read – along with a picture of a sad little face looking very scared and all alone in the world. It was just pure chance that I was looking at the Ballarat RSPCA web site – having collapsed home after assessing dogs all morning for their Canine Good Citizen Award I was just checking the local shelters to see what was there.
For many years we have wanted a Whippet – especially my son, Tian. He has always preferred the company of dogs to human company – and last year he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and clinical anxiety. We are very fortunate in that he is a very bright little boy who doesn’t have the behavioural difficulties that often accompany Autistic Spectrum Disorders, but he struggles socially and often finds the world a very difficult and harsh place. For as long as I can remember he has wanted a ‘dog of his own’. His psychologist, paediatrician, doctor have all told us how wonderful it is that we have dogs in our home as dogs are wonderful at helping children deal with their problems and providing that unconditional love and a listening ear that sometimes only a dog can give.
We have always had giant breeds – Mastiffs for 15 years and more recently Pyrenean Mastiffs. Almost 7 years ago we adopted an 11week old rescue Afghan Hound – and although I didn’t realise it at the time, she was to waltz right in and change our lives for good. Through her we were introduced to the wonderful world of the Sighthound and since then we have become involved in Afghan and Saluki fostering. Over the past few years especially we have been fortunate to foster a number of Saluki’s and Afghans on their way to their forever homes.
Tian has always been wonderful with each and every dog who has lived with us – the permanent and foster ones. But as they have all been large dogs he has never been able to take them out for walks – not because they are ill-mannered, but just because we have felt it would be irresponsible for a small boy to walk a large dog – even with adult supervision.
Some years ago, Tian saw a Whippet and thought she was just wonderful. I promised him that one day he could have one ‘of his own’. There has always been something in the way of this though – a foster dog, broken fences, a sick dog – and a few weeks ago Tian commented that he felt the time was never going to be right for him to have his Whippet. We didn’t want a puppy – we really wanted an older dog who we could shower with love.
So, that was how we came to find “Ferret”. Thinking he would definitely have been adopted over the weekend, I rang the RSPCA at 10am on Monday morning to enquire about him. He was still there - and because it was a 2 ½ hour trip to go up and see him, the staff agreed to put him on hold until we arrived. After picking Tian up from school at lunch time, we set off to the Ballarat RSPCA just to “meet” the dog.
As soon as the staff brought “Ferret” out from the kennels we knew this was the Whippet that was meant to come to us. Although obviously stressed by the shelter experience and the noise and strange smells, he came straight up to us to say hello. We took him out to one of the exercise “yards” to spend some time with him. Despite his obvious desperation to be out of the pen, he willingly came to us – inquisitive to see what we might have had in our pockets (we had come armed with treats, chicken and some toys) and quickly worked out that the big stash was in my bag. It was obvious straight away that he was quite comfortable with children and in fact spent much of the time pottering after Tian (having pockets full of liver aided this process too!)
We were told that on his behaviour sheet it was written that he had “been known to jump fences” and that he also had some “thunderstorm issues”. I told the attendant that if I was a Whippet stuck alone in the back yard all day by myself I would jump fences too – especially if I had a fear of thunderstorms. We have high fences and all of our dogs are inside dogs, so none of these potential issues would be unmanageable for us – especially given my profession and the people I work with.
“Ferret” was not desexed so we were unable to take him home that day, so sadly we hugged him goodbye with promises of our return the following day to bring him to his forever home. On the way home, we all decided that “Ferret” was a horrible name for any dog, let alone a Whippet, so my son chose to call him Fergus. Fergus he is.
The trip home from the vet in Ballarat the following day was a little difficult, as poor Fergus was stressed, hot and generally restless – but with several stops along the way and discovering he had a liking for McDonalds chicken nuggets we arrived home.
For the next 2 weeks he was only allowed in the back yard on a lead – he was not toilet trained and we wanted to ensure that he wouldn’t seek to try and jump fences while he was still settling in to his new home. It broke our hearts that he was initially scared to come inside the house (perhaps he had been punished for this in the past) and it took a great deal of coaxing on our parts to get him to come up on the couch (that said he overcame that concern pretty quickly!)
For an ageing dog who has never been inside, Fergus has settled in amazingly quickly. He did have some initial separation concerns, so we spent our first week simply doing 2 minute trips out and back and gradually leaving him for longer periods (the fact that he has access to 3 human beds, 2 couches, his own bed, toys and 2 other dogs for company inside has helped significantly!) and he is now quite comfortable when we go out. The only time he has had a toileting accident inside was in the first few days when we tried to ‘mark’ some of the corners (which we fully expected given that he had been entire for 9 years!) He is now fully toilet trained (it took less than a week) and can go out into the yard without a lead. He toilets and comes running back inside.
Over the years I have had several Whippets come to my training classes, so I already knew they were incredibly intelligent – and very fast learners. As a Delta trainer I only use positive reinforcement methods and Fergus has responded unbelievably well to training. Like all of our other dogs, he is being clicker trained and he has learned to shake hands, sit, go to his bed, not beg for food (this did take a little longer as he is a bit of a pig and very fast!!) and not rush through doorways. He has come to school several times and is a HUGE hit with all of the children and has even learned not to pester the cats when they come in for their dinner.
Fergus is an amazing, wonderful little man and we can’t understand how anybody could have parted with him. Next year my son is going to bring him to a training class and we are going to take him through his Canine Good Citizen Award test. For my son, all of his dreams have come true – he finally has his ‘own’ dog, who sleeps on his bed and just listens without judgement. Tian now has a dog of his own he can walk with us and I believe that at least some of Fergus’ dreams have also come true. They are a perfect match.
I am told that Whippets are known as the “potato chip dog” in that you cannot just stop at one. For now, having 2 other wonderful dogs we have to stop at one – but after only a few weeks of living with a Whippet we know that we will never be without one.
Kim Leong
Angels with Paws
Dog Behavioural Training and Education
Cert IV; Delta Accredited; Vic Govt. Approved
www.angelswithpaws.com.au
(03) 9738 0361
Lily's Story
The other “rescue” story that really springs to mind is Elaine/Olympia/Lily. Bear with me if the story is not entirely correct as I came into this “story” a week or so after it happened. Rys was contacted by a breeder in NSW saying that she had been traced by Elaine’s microchip. The bitch was sold in good faith to a buyer in Melbourne 4 or so years ago. 
Four years later Lily was surrendered to a country pound who sent her to a local branch of the RSPCA. They traced her microchip back to the breeder and so Elaine’s story unfolded. She somehow got into the hands of “our” notorious puppy farmer in central Victoria and in her short life Olympia had produced at least 4 litters.
Jenny, Rys & Ilona brought her down to Melbourne as the RSPCA said she was in such bad condition they felt there was no way they could re-home her from their shelter. She was destined for the “gas chamber”!!!! She was in shocking condition, skin a bone, her stomach so distended that at first Jenny’s Vet felt she must have been full of worms.
And so she was but also she was about to give birth to her fourth or fifth litter of puppies. Ilona took her to her Vet and they felt she would not survive a normal birth and said a C Section was all that would save her. 
Not only did they save the bitch but also all the puppies as well. And surprise, surprise they were pure bred whippets!!! She was a wonderful mother and fed her puppies even though her uterus was taken during the C Section. Then Ilona went to the Vet’s daily at 4 hourly intervals when they were 3 weeks, to ween the puppies. She had a key to the Vet’s so she could get in over night.
The puppies were all sold starting at 5 weeks and I believe are doing extremely well considering their tender age. Diana has little Andy from the litter and he is as bold as brass. When Olympia was well enough to travel she went to Jenny’s sister in Queensland and became Lily.
I have since heard that she is seeing a doggy psychiatrist due to extreme separation anxiety and other related issues which would be connected with her short traumatic life in the puppy mill. But she is gradually beginning to “trust” Sue as the new forever person in her life and is starting to settle into her wonderful new home.
Lily now resides in Melbourne with Sue and has almost fully recovered from the shocking ordeal she tolerated (as whippets do) in the first 4 or 5 years of her life. As you can see in the before and after pics Lily was in very poor condition when she arrived at Sue’s.
RCM
Pira's Story
I had a very sad phone call from a lady. She has a 5 months old whippet bitch called Pira who suddenly came down with a nasty skin disorder. She contacted one Vet who said they would refer this person to a skin specialist!!!
Unfortunately by the time the lady found another Vet poor Pira had lost all her coat and was quiet sick. She is now well on the way to recovery but has to undergo further treatment for about 3 months to help her fully recover which is going to cost this lady about another $300- more.
She discussed with her Vet having Pira put to sleep but he said she will fully recover from the mite infection and otherwise she is perfectly healthy. He suggested contacting our Club as he was sure some whippet lover would be only too happy to give Pira a kind and loving home. She probably needs to be with someone who already has another dog or is not working as she does suffer at the moment from separation anxiety. She’s had lots of attention over the past couple of months so she wouldn’t cope being left alone.
Fortunately this story had a happy ending. She found a very loving new home with a lady and gentleman and their other whippet called Devo. As you can see by the “before and after” pics of Pira all her hair grew back and she fully recovered thanks to Craig and Lynda’s perseverance and she is now a regular participant at our Fun Days.
Zella's Story
I had another phone call about a "jumper". After lengthy investigation, it was established that the bitch lived in the garage on a piece of carpet with another dog, was never allowed inside and rarely if ever taken for walks. So obviously she was trying to escape to find a warm doona to sleep under and a loving family to give her lots of TLC. Zella has found a wonderful home with Imogen, Phil and their young son. This is the second "rescued" whippet that Imogen has taken on. A very timid, undernourished and obviously mistreated whippet puppy Binker, was found by the "Lamports" in their front garden 16 years ago. Binker recently passed away and Zella has happily moved into their lives and judging by her photo is living a life of luxury and contentment.
Indi's Story
Hi all, meet our new addition. This little girl was adopted from the Newcastle RSPCA yesterday. She was one of 20 whippets that were surrendered to the RSPCA after their owner died. Yes I only came back with one, Lyndon was a bit worried that I might come back with a few.
She is very timid and shy, but is gentle and loves cuddles. She is an outdoor whippet and wasn't sure what inside was, but seemed very excited and curious exploring the house. William has been a good boy and doesn't mind her too much. We think with time they will be great friends.
She worked out how to use the doggy door in one night and we know how long it took William (2 months). Anyways this little girl has no confirmed name as yet, although Lyndon and I love the name Indiana. She is responding to Indi, so that might be it. Jules
Kuki's Story
I thought I'd give you a quick update to let you know how Kuki (the 2 yo female fawn brindle parti-color) is settling in to her new home. She's doing really well now and is much less timid - she plays chasey & tug-of-war with the other dogs & their toys.
She loves cuddling up on the couch and has started to let the cats snuggle up with her too, though she seemed a bit spooked by them at first. We've all gone over to the oval across the road a few times & Kuki loves zooming around & leaps in the air for joy when first let off the leash. All in all it's going really well & Kuki continues to grow in confidence around other people. Here is Kuki's picture.