My baby is gone...

Afternoon,

A sad say for us...

For you that read the Blog on a regular basis know that our little Izzy was ill. We got her home last thursday from Dick White Referrals. She was happy and we were over the moon that she was responding to the treatment. Unfortunatly over the last few days it became clear that things were not OK...

Even though my baby was eating like a horse and fighting really hard, the weight started dropping of her. By friday she was like a walking skeleton. On friday afternoon we took her to the normal vet to see if there was anything that we could do to get her to put some weight on. The shocking news was that because of the damage done to her gut she could not absorb any of the food that she ate. After consultation with the vet we had to take the hard decision to let her go. Although she was fighting like a lion this was a battle she could not win.

Jackie held my little girl as she slipped away... I am very proud of her, she went with dignity... Good girl, Izzy...

Rest in Peace my little girl.

Izzy, Racing name 'Is You Is'
Born: Ireland 26th of May 2002
Died: 30th of October 2009.




Little Izzy came to us 1 1/2 year ago. We used to put our other grey, Jay, in racing kennels near Colchester, Dillymore Kennels. As Jay can be a grumpy one the last two times he was there he was put together in a kennel with a brood bitch. She was used in the kennels to calm jumpy and nervous dogs down. Jay really got on well with her. So we asked if she was up for rehoming. Even though she was a personal favourite of the kennel owners they allowed us to rehome her. From day one Izzy was very happy. She tried to make Jay play (Fat chance... He dont do play!), she loved the big walks in the countryside, happily murdering rabbits with JayJay. Within two days Izzy and JayJay were sleeping arse to arse on the settee. She was not very lucky with illnesses. She had corns on her feet that were cut out three times. She had a toe amputated because of that. Then this spring she got spindle cell cancer on her leg. That was successfully treated and we thought we were out of the woods. Then two months ago she got bad diarrea and the rest is history.

At the moment my wife and myself are pretty cut up... But some of her antics can make us smile again...

There was the time when we went boating on the Broads. We didn't know how the dogs would take to that but they loved it. One day we were moored up near Wroxham. We had the top of the boat open. We took our eyes of her for a second and hoppa, she legged it over the side and went to visit a painter that was sitting further down the bank. We quickly rounded her up but the painter said he didn't mind, she was a very friendly dog. The picture above is from that trip. As space was at a premium on the tub Izzy had taken to sleeping with the missus. She started at the foot end but by morning she would be laying with her head next to Jackie happily snoring on the pillow.

She was a favourite at the RGT shows that she went to with JayJay and the missus. Most of the time she would just lay in the grass surrounded by little children that would pat her continously... We never heard a bark or a growl out of her, she was a very happy cheerful dog. When I came down this morning and she was not there with her tail wagging, hopping around to go for a walk it hit home again. I have lost my happy little girl...

Another funny side of her was her mothering side. She had had two litters. The last lot was send to Ireland for training for the track. They were sent back within weeks as they would not run. Basically she loved her little ones so much that she would not let them out of her sight. That was also evident at home. She had a crate full of old teddy and toys. She would take them one by one and round them up and lay right on top of a whole heap of toys... Little minx...

So, Izzy, I hope you are happy wherever you are, playing together with my other grayhound Mick that went before you. We miss you like mad and are very happy and proud to have had you in our lives for a short time... Thank you for all the good times...

Last night we put a little candle and a teddy on Mickey's grave. The candle burned all night for her...

Run free forever my baby...

Alex and Jackie.