Missy’s Page

• Basics
• Origin
• Physical Needs
• Temperament
• Health
• Special Needs

More about Missy

Missy was a beautiful little fawn greyhound girl – very petite.  This is the only picture I have of her as a puppy in Ireland.

Missy’s early years

Missy was born in Ireland and registered in the Irish Stud Book to Mr Paul Hutchings.  Paul lived in Reading and Missy started racing there at 18 months old.  She was pretty good too – very fast.  She won 20% of her races and came 1st, 2nd or 3rd in 50%.  That’s a good record.

Missy was registered under the racing name of She’s My Melody. 

Paul quit racing and sold all his dogs on to a reputable trainer.  He said he heard she had been injured but then nothing more.  After that we know nothing of her history until she was brought into rescue in a sorry state.

Abandoned and close to death

All we know of Missy’s history is that she was found abandoned in the communal back garden of a block of flats.  Her owners had done a runner owing rent and simply dumped her there.  She had been there for nearly 3 weeks without food and had survived off whatever water she could find.  No-one in the block of flats had done anything to help her.

When Evesham Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue got the call from a worried passer-by and got in she was literally skin and bone.  I later saw a picture of her just after the rescue and it was appalling.  Pip, the rescue chairman, said they had got there just in time.

Meeting Missy for the first time

My husband and I had decided to investigate a greyhound for adoption and contacted EGLR for a chat.  We visited and had a long conversation with Pip about our lifestyle.  She was happy with us as owners and after a long think said she might have something for us.  But not to be worried by her appearance as she was covered in scars.  So she went to the door to the kitchen and called in Missy.

I’ll never forget seeing this beautiful little face come round the door.  She pottered quietly into the room and acknowledged us, and went over and stood by the fire.  Her injuries weren’t as bad as I thought tey might be but that didn’t matter.  I just remember my heart leaping at the sight of her, and how much it hurt listening to Pip tell her story.

Pip also said they had had Missy 3 months and this was the first time they had considered her well enough to be rehomed.

Cat testing

But she had to be tested with the Cats.  Helen, Pip’s right hand woman, took Missy into the cat room where Pip’s 3 ‘stunt cats’ lived.  The verdict?  Brilliant.  I went to see for myself and not a single problem.  She simply ignored the cats and turned away from them.  So we signed the contract and she came home.

A joy to live with

We had Missy for a month before we decided to get another dog ( which turned out to be Jess).  She was quiet, sweet, undemanding and housetrained.  About 3 days into the adoption she took off after a rabbit in the park and yanked the lead out of my hand.  I watched in horror as this cream bullet disappeared into the bushes, thinking “Oh no – lost one dog!  What will I tell Pip?” 5 seconds later she was back and looking very pleased. 

After that we kept her on the lead for a week and then let her do her own thing.  She loved other dogs.  She went to work with Graham and sat under his desk.  She was about the best introduction to greyhounds we could ever have had.

We got Jess one month later.  The dream team was born.  They were devoted to each other.  Jess taught Missy how to be a dog, and that not all people were scary and out to hurt her.

Missy loved her new life.  She was equally at home in the field or by the fireside.  But she would have dark dreams and sometimes wake up in a fright.  We don’t know what she had been through but it had obviously hurt her very much. 

Her nicknames weren’t many.  Mostly she’d be called Missy Girl, or Pudding.  Her favourite foods were ginger biscuits and cheese and onion crisps.  She never drooled, apart from when there was a packet of either of those in the room.

Missy’s death

About 3 weeks before Missy died she got very tired.  She suddenly got very grey round her face.  I took her to the vets but he couldn’t find anything wrong.

Three weeks later we were on holiday in the Lake District.  Missy was still very tired and lagging behind on all the walks.  She would lie down whenever she could.  Early one morning, at 3am on our last night in the holiday cottage, there was a terrific howling from the dogs.  Sometimes they did set up a pack howl so once it subsided we went back to sleep.

Graham went to make tea (cup of tea) at 7am and found Missy dead.  She had probably had a heart attack and died in her sleep.  She was only 8 years old.   And the howling from JJ and Jess was their way of saying goodbye.

We had to take her body to the vets in Broughton in Furness but we never got any ashes.  We were in such a state we didn’t think to ask for them.  So now all I have is memories.  All the photos I took were printed. I asked him for them and my ex said there were none so he’s probably thrown them all away. 

Missy comes to see me occasionally in my dreams, often close to the anniversary of her death.   I will always remember, even without the photos.

Rest in peace Missy, June 1994- September 2002

My present

Blue       Vinnie        Kylah       Arwen         Ma’aloo

My past

Vanna       Missy       JJ       Jess      Holly       Jamal

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