From kennelled racer to a life of luxury

Chilled out Woody’s favourite pastime is watching the world go by from his squishy window-side bed.

Life as a much-loved pet is a far cry from the existence the greyhound was once used to – one which had left him homeless, and with a serious and painful injury.

The brindle greyhound couldn't walk when he arrived at Blue Cross Southampton in 2019, having dislocated a joint in his front left leg on the racetrack. No longer wanted when he couldn’t run, he was initially saved by Hope Rescue.

His injury was one of 18,000 recorded on British licensed greyhound racing tracks between 2018 and 2021. Sadly, more than 2,000 dogs died. These shocking statistics are why Blue Cross is campaigning for this cruel practice to end.

Thankfully, Woody’s leg could be fixed, though the road to recovery would be a long and painful one.

Tasha Cole, Rehabilitation Trainer and Behaviour Advisor, explains: “For the first three months, Woody had to be bandaged with splints and was on strict rest.

“It was a stressful time for him, which involved multiple vet visits, drugs and treatment. But he found joy in spending time behind reception with the team.”

Woody was placed in foster care as soon as possible to continue his recovery. Once he was ready, gentle walks helped him build up muscle again – and he thrived in a loving, nurturing home environment.

“Woody was very interactive, bright and fun in foster care,” says Tasha. “He was also really affectionate.”

For a dog who clearly loved human company and his home comforts so much, it’s heartbreaking that Woody’s first two years of life were spent racing or in kennels, existing as a commodity rather than a pet.

But Woody, now eight, has more than made up for lost time since going to live with the Webbers.

After 200 days spent in Blue Cross care, he waved goodbye to kennel life for good and is now in his fifth year living as a cherished family member.

Zondy and Marjory, along with daughter Christina, adopted Woody in 2020, 21 years after losing their last dog in their native South Africa. Busy work schedules prevented them from having a pet before then.

It was Christina, who’s since married and flown the nest, who had her heart set on adopting a greyhound.

She says: “They have very sweet little faces. And I read that their temperament was good and that they have a reputation for being quite happy to sleep a lot and not dogs that need constant stimulation.”

So, after seeing Woody on the Blue Cross website, the family soon welcomed him home.

He quickly settled in and didn’t waste any time stretching out his long legs on the sofa.

“He moves around the room depending on where the sunlight is hitting,” laughs Christina.

Between snoozes, fuss and bird watching in the garden, Woody loves his walks – except for when it’s raining – and meeting people when out and about.

He has also learned to love the company of dogs other than greyhounds, which he was initially unsure of, since going to a dog walker twice a week. Photo updates to his family depict all the fun he has.

The occasional limp after a longer walk hints at his past injury, but anti-inflammatories keep this under control.

Meanwhile, having Woody has got his family out in the great outdoors more than ever.

Zondy says: “We never knew the local area quite so well. It’s great to be out and about more and we’ve discovered areas that we wouldn’t have gone to.”

And Woody’s first trip to the beach was a sight to behold.

“He wasn’t too sure at first, but he did enjoy it,” continues Zondy. “He was running around and then the one time he stopped, he started digging a hole. Even he seemed shocked that he was doing that and where this instinct came from.”

But quirky-in-nature Woody is not keen on pebble beaches, only sand, and will insist on being carried otherwise.

His presence in the home has also brought plenty of joy to his family, with his excitable greeting when they walk back through the door after going out particularly endearing.

Marjory says: “Zondy sometimes travels for work and when he’s first gone, Woody is always moping around a bit. And when Zondy gets home, he’s running around the house and gets very excited. There’s a special bond between them.”

While they’re all at home together, Woody “is definitely the centre of attention,” adds Marjory.

Blue Cross believes that all greyhounds deserve the chance to be a much-loved pet, in a warm home environment – where they belong, as Woody proves.