Maddy - 2 years ago

I mentioned Maddy in the run up to my birthday and I feel I should share her  This might be long, you don't have to read if you don't wish, as its not a nice story. But I sort of felt like some of you may not really understand why I was so upset around my birthday. It's not really because she died, its more the circumstances. Anyway.


I adopted Maddy on July 31st 2009. She had been locked in a shed for the first 2 years of her life. She had never been in a home, never had a walk, and never saw anybody but her trainer, who would throw food in the shed for her a few times a week. The 'owner' had been heard by a neighbour, telling someone he was going to shoot 'the dog in the shed' as there was no way she was ever going to be any use to him, while her sister was a successful racing dog. So the neighbour reported him, and Maddy got out just in time.



What a wreck she was when she came home. She really didn't know anything about home life. Everything scared her. She also destroyed anything she cold get her mouth around. Oh what hard work I put into her. But within 6 months, she had turned into a different dog. She was in beautiful condition, her fur came through properly, and she was such a perfect girl. I was her idol. Anything I asked of her, she would do. No questions asked, which for a greyhound, is pretty good. A small furry could run right past her nose, and she wouldn't leave my side.



On the 30th September 2011, I adopted Lucy, as company for Maddy. She had Todd, but as he was 7 years older, he wasn't much 'fun' for her. So Lucy came home from the same rescue centre as Maddy did. They hit it off instantly. They were like sisters, and so much in love with each other. Maddy was teaching Lucy how to be as perfect as she was.



On the 30th October 2011, my birthday, I decided it could be the first time Lucy was let off lead. She liked to stay close with Maddy, so I knew if Maddy came back to me, Lucy would follow. We went on our favourite walk, a walk we had done hundreds of times before. Maddy would always turn left at our gate to go this way for a walk, when all our other walks are to the right. We had walked for half an hour, all off lead and the girls were loving it. I would usually put them on the lead as we turn back, but I said they could have one last run. I don't even know what made me let them. To this day I don't, and can't explain it. They were running, and Lucy jumped over a ditch, and the next thing I know, Maddy was in the ditch, screaming and screaming. Maddy always was a bit of a drama queen, I thought she had probably cut herself. I caught up with them, and I knew she wasn't OK. Her spine was broken, it poked out of her back. I can only assume she landed funny, hitting a rock on the way down. I was about a mile off the track from home, and on my own. I managed to phone the vet, who talked me through the checks to do, and basically, there was nothing that could be done. Her back end was paralysed. She was in agony. And the vet was over 2 hours away on a call. She recommended the kindest thing was to put her to sleep, but it would be around 3 hours wait. She said it would be better to get a local gamekeeper to end her life.



I can honestly tell you, this is the worst decision I have ever had to make in my life. Putting a dog to sleep is hard enough to decide, but deciding it for a 4 year old dog, with perfectly good heart and brain, to let someone end her life in this way. I still don't know how I agreed to it. I KNOW it was the right thing, but it haunts me to this day. The only comfort I have is the person who did it knows me, knew Maddy and I know he was respectful with her. He wrapped her up, carried her home and buried her for us.



Maddy had not been well before her accident. She was due the next day to go for Cushings tests. I can only feel that this, somehow, was meant to be. She didn't want a longer life of suffering, or didn't want me to be put through worrying about her. Or, that little Katy puppy needed a home like ours so badly, Maddy felt she should go. I don't know.



Either way, I think about her all the time. I know for sure though, that wherever she is, she is being a beautiful angel. I just hope she knows that what was done had to be done, and I hope she forgives me., because even now I question letting him do it, and I feel so guilty because I walked away at the end, I couldn't be there while she was shot. That's the worst for me, its even upsetting me now.


This is actually where she died. She had run here so many times, and really was at her happiest. I love this video of her.





She loved splashing





And she loved the beach





And fresh cut grass was a favourite too







Maddy by Niseag, on Flickr





Todd & Maddy racing by Niseag, on Flickr





Maddy by Niseag, on Flickr





Maddy running by Niseag, on Flickr





Maddy running in the sea by Niseag, on Flickr





Maddy by Niseag, on Flickr





Maddy and Lucky by Niseag, on Flickr





Maddy Mooface by Niseag, on Flickr





Maddy's 'I need a biscuit face' by Niseag, on Flickr





Maddy's beautiful face by Niseag, on Flickr





024 copy by Niseag, on Flickr





Maddy by Niseag, on Flickr





Maddy with Islay and Jura by Niseag, on Flickr





The face to melt all hearts by Niseag, on Flickr





Maddy enjoying the sun by Niseag, on Flickr





Walk round Loch Innes by Niseag, on Flickr





Maddy by Niseag, on Flickr

The last few I took of her, with her new sister Lucy
. I adopted Lucy for Maddy, because Todd wouldn't play with her!


Lucy and Maddy by Niseag, on Flickr





My girls by Niseag, on Flickr



They only got a month together, but they were best friends
. Maddy died exactly a month after I got Lucy.


042 copy by Niseag, on Flickr





Untitled by Niseag, on Flickr