Best Rescue - Mou-Mou by Sian We first met Mou-Mou at the beginning of 2007 when we were looking for a companion for our existing rescue greyhound Ringo. We took Ringo with us to the rescue centre so he could meet Mou and see if he got on ok with her. They seemed to hit it off so we arranged to go back a few days later to bring her home for good. Unfortunately, during that time Ringo, who had been limping on and off for a couple of weeks was diagnosed with bone cancer and we had to make the difficult decision to postpone Mous homecoming whilst we concentrated all our time and energy on Ringo. Sadly Ringo went downhill very quickly and just a couple of weeks later we had to let him go. Hed only been with us for 18 months after a long racing career in Ireland and he was only just starting to learn how to have fun and enjoy life when it was all taken away from him. We knew the only way we could move forward from Ringos death would be to bring Mou-Mou home as soon as possible so a couple of days later we headed back to the kennels to pick her up. Shed been patiently waiting for us to come back and I couldnt wait to have her home. Shed been brought over from Ireland as a puppy and sold to a greyhound trainer who abandoned her as soon as he realised she wasnt quick enough to make the grade. She was passed from pillar to post like an object and was used for farm work to catch rabbits before finally being abandoned aged 3 at the gates of a rescue centre. She was pitifully thin and had scars and injuries all over her body but she was so pleased to see us and jumped straight up at me leaving two perfectly formed muddy paw marks on the front of my shirt! Mou was such a bright eyed, intelligent girl and so full of life. She was forever thinking up ways to cause mischief and had a permanent cheeky greyhound grin on her face. She was just what we needed to help us get over Ringos death and for the next 5 years she was our little bundle of black energy and love. Unfortunately towards the end of August 2011 Mou began limping completely out of the blue and straight away we feared the worst. X-rays confirmed our suspicions and at the beginning of September our gorgeous girl was also diagnosed with bone cancer. Mou was such a strong, active girl and unlike Ringo whod had other health issues she was fighting fit so we decided we had to try everything we possibly could to save her. The day after the diagnosis Mou was admitted into the animal hospital and had her front left leg amputated to the shoulder. After an anxious day waiting to find out how she was we were finally told the surgery had gone well and we were allowed to bring her home the very next day. We didnt know what to expect when we went to get her and wondered if the vet would carry her out to the car but she actually came running out from the back at 100 miles per hour on three legs with a huge bandage wrapped right around her and dragging the vet behind her. It was such an amazing sight and we were in floods of tears and even the vet had a tear in his eye. We were just so happy to have our girl back. The surgery was followed by chemo and she sailed through that too and was soon back to racing around the garden without a care in the world. In fact she was as fast on three legs as on four and our main concern was getting her to slow down! Realistically though we knew the odds werent in her favour and the vet couldnt tell us whether shed still be with us in 6 months time or two years time so we just lived every day to the full and made the most of the time we had together. Sadly, just 5 months after the initial diagnosis the cancer came back and this time the tumour was pressing on her spinal cord causing hind end paralysis. Mou was still bright eyed, still watching all her favourite programmes on tv and barking at our other dog to keep him line but she couldnt move by herself anymore. We knew we were out of options this time and the cancer was winning so we had to make the incredibly difficult decision to say goodbye. No matter how much we wanted to keep her with us we knew it wasnt in her best interests despite feeling as though our hearts were breaking. Being confined to the sofa day in day out was no life for the girl who loved to feel the wind in her hair when she ran. Mou-Mou was our all or nothing girl, no half measures and in 2012 just aged 8 years old we had to let her run free. Mou may have had a bad start to life and was only with us for a few years but she lived her life to the full and well always miss our gorgeous girl. She battled her illness so stoically and bravely that shes a true inspiration.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 19:59:45 +0000