Absent Friends

Every year we twist the knife deeper into ourselves with the absent friends article. Invariably, it is peppered with phrases like “we are in for a pasting” This year, we received just a lick of the strap, an insight of what losing our old friends really means. I still look for them when I carry out last minute rounds. The sight of Spot curled up tightly in a corner, making room for his sister Dot, no longer there, still brings me to tears. As a friend says “I’m too soft for this game.”

Tinkerbell hit us for six, so sudden. Taken off a crack addict and came under our protection on 2017. Tink had spent her early years fending for herself, We know she enjoyed every minute with us. Hubble is kennelled alone now as we are short of girls and he still waits for her to come back.

Malcolm was another shock at only nine. Dumped in a wood after his flapping career ended and caught the transporter to Nairn by sheer luck. Another hour and he would have been left in the pound. Lovely laughing dog and I still rage at his loss.

Maha checked out! We knew the day would come and Woody was utterly lost. His life has changed in other ways and he is at my feet as I type. The steroids are keeping his cancer at bay, at least for now. The ham slices are most welcome and moving to the house has brightened his world considerably. Lana showed him the ropes and they have built a new partnership together. Two gentle old pals. Neither will see Easter.

Woody took Uriah’s place in the house. How the hell Uriah lasted so long is beyond anyone. Uriah came in with his brother in 2015. His brother succumbed to bone cancer eight weeks later. I half expected to lose Uriah too, but it didn’t catch up with him until our move to Nairn. Over three years he lived after losing his leg to cancer.
Miss you kiddo.

Tarzan! He nearly made 14. The gentle creature at the end of his life, bore no resemblance to the fully primed cage fighter who jumped down from his trainers van, all those years ago. I could plot his whereabouts in the house by the position of the sun.
I miss you so much.

Langley and Jack never made it to the house. Langley made it to the garden as a treat, and made it quite clear that he wanted to go back to the block. Also Jack slipped through our fingers when least expected. True to himself until the end, he was as lethal as the day he arrived ten years ago. Part of the furniture, I loved you both and still look for you until I curb myself.

Our lovely lawnmower Munchkin went to the bridge, having succumbed finally to her laminitis but the really choker was losing Odin. The baby of the farm, he was only four and brought down by an adversary that has taken more famous names than him. I know, that thanks to the care of the staff and Joey that his world became a warmer place with us. Bitterly unfair.

The doves? Well, the numbers come and go, and I stumbled on a buzzard dispatching one only last week. Tooth and claw isn’t she old nature.

My final thanks to their many supporters and sponsors that continue to fund our oldies and the other dogs that we are rehoming, albeit it in a very different way. Also to past and present friends and staff, who often came to visit them after the move to the Highlands. We could not do it without you. 2026 is going to be very different, plans are afoot and will be published very soon.

It’s over 30 years since I stumbled upon my first greyhound and I’m so pleased that i did.

Absent friends, everyone!

Rehoming

Dolly

Dolly is an absolute sweetheart who has had a rough time of late, after being diagnosed with a heart condition days before she was due to head off to her new home in Scotland. She now needs a long-term foster, closer to home, so that she can continue under the care of Donaldsons.

Despite causing the rest of us a few sleepless nights, Dolly is oblivious! And she is thankfully leading a perfectly normal life. She has really started to come out of her shell and loves affection, playing with toys, collecting random items and being outside looking for mice. She is house-trained, sleeps through the night and walks nicely on her lead without pulling. Dolly is such a super-star, she will even take her medication from your hand!

It’s easy to understand why she is adored by everyone she meets.

Edalia

Beautiful Lurcher, Edalia, was picked up as a stray earlier this year and is now looking for her forever home.

Edalia is approx. 8 months old and, like all young pups, she has bags of energy and needs an active home with adopters who understand the breed. Edalia is loving and affectionate, and has already proven herself to be a very clever girl. She is house-trained and already knows a few basic commands/tricks but needs someone willing to continue with her training. Her foster family think she would be ideal and would thoroughly enjoy activities such as Canicross and Mantrailing as Edalia would benefit from plenty of exercise & stimulation.

Edalia has so much potential and will be incredibly rewarding for adopters with the time and patience to invest in this beautiful girl. She needs a home with an enclosed garden and ideally access to a secure off-lead paddock so that she can safely run & play.

Hilda

Not wanting to be left out, baby Hilda has also hitched a ride up to Scotland where she will be looking to find her forever home.

At 13 months old, Hilda is only a baby. She has never been schooled or raced and is a complete blank canvas. Understandably shy to begin with, Hilda has been in foster since arriving from Ireland a few weeks ago and she is already starting to come out of her shell. She is currently living happily with other Greyhounds and has terrier friends who she loves to play with.

Hilda needs a rehoming with another dog for company and to show her the ropes.

Caleb, Cian & Swanley

Three absolutely stunning boys who are all hoping 2026 will be their year.

If you can offer a home to any of these dogs, please get in touch at rehoming@tia-rescue.org. Remember to leave your phone number in the email! We ask for a minimum donation of £350 to adopt a Tia dog.