Bluebell (Tailends 18.02.04 - 09.04.07)

Bluebell has been at Tailends since February 2004 when she was taken to her vet in London to be put to sleep as her owner had got a new dog – a Bull Mastiff - who kept attacking her. Thankfully the vet got in touch with Greyhound Rescue and she was then brought to Tailends.
Bluebell has always loved her walks and was very soon able to run off lead through the dunes and round the beach. She was our blue girl with a pretty blue collar with white flowers on it and a blue winter and summer coat, lead and harness. (We put all our dogs on harnesses as we think it is safer than attaching the lead to a collar and more comfortable for an older dog.)

Bluebell, in recent months, could no longer run and play on the dunes and beach as she did during her first months at Tailends. Her arthritis had been stabilised by giving Prednoleucotropin tablets and she managed very well, though the loss of her right eye seriously affected her confidence. She could only manage short walks to the fields where she spent her time munching rabbit droppings. I tried in vain to deter her from this rather unsavoury habit but she persisted in spite of my efforts. Thankfully it never seemed to have done her any harm or affected her digestion in any way. Occasionally she would have a little run when she saw a rabbit dash across the path in front of her. Mostly she just pottered around sniffing the grass and hedgerows.

In recent months Bluebell had become frailer and a little senile. She sometimes forgot that she had eaten her meal and came back into the kitchen looking for it again. I gave her Vivitonin tablets to help the blood supply to her brain and nervous system. She also had daily vitamins, fish oil and glucosamine/chondroitin for her joints.

Our lovely blue girl was the sweetest, most affectionate little greyhound you could ever find. She slept very deeply and went off into her bedroom and cuddled up in her bed as soon as she had finished her breakfast. However she was very fussy about her sleeping arrangements and spent some time getting everything in the right position. This does mean that she often got carried away and ended up with all the dog beds and vetbed in a large heap in the corner and her fast asleep on the carpet! Then she did not stir again until it was time for the afternoon walk, and even then you had to go and get her. She was always pleased to get up for a walk especially if the sun was shining and there were rabbits around. Bluebell was extremely gentle and kind to all the other dogs. The little ones were often found snuggled up to her in her bed. She never complained and seemed to quite enjoy their company. She ate well and was simply a very old lady enjoying the twilight of her life and the comforts we gave her.

It is difficult to imagine how she could have been rejected in favour of another younger dog. People have commented that she must have been a very beautiful girl in her youth - but to us she was still the prettiest girl in the world and we hoped she would have many more happy months at Tailends.

Our dear sweet little girl left us on April 9th. She lived at Tailends for 3 years and two months, and in all that time she was never any problem and was happy and contented. She loved her cosy bed and always ate up all her meals when she came back from her walks. When she first came she was able to go off the lead quite quickly and raced around the beach and dunes in delight. Gradually she became less agile and was then content to have a slow ramble around the fields twice a day. She would come up to me for a cuddle and then wander back to her bed and fall asleep. You could not ask for a nicer girl. She was accompanied on her walks last year by little Arfa.

On Easter Sunday she went out as usual and ate her dinner. There was nothing to indicate that she was so near the end. At around 3am on the Monday morning she started to become agitated. I immediately went to see what was wrong but she seemed to be unaware of her surroundings. I sat with her until dawn and then rang my vet who came out to see her. Sadly as we walked up to her I realised that her breathing had stopped. She had slipped away just before the vet arrived. I am sure she knew nothing after the seizure, which I think must have been a stroke.

Daisy May is feeling very sad after losing her two friends, Alison and Bluebell so close together. Clegg is doing his best to comfort her.

We are taking an elderly old boy from Ireland next weekend. He is not fit to travel at the moment. We are asking Bluebell's sponsors to perhaps consider continuing their sponsorship by helping this old man, who will be called Amos. I am sure this is what Bluebell would have wanted. She was such a kind girl and was always concerned about the others if they were ill. She is very much missed by everyone and I cannot get used to seeing her empty bed where she should be. We are so glad that we were able to share her final years and give her some joy. I hope there are some rabbits where she has gone as she loved to watch them but would never attempt to harm one.