When Wolfie met Sandy, Mark and Helen, it was a journey into the unknown to a joyful destination.  

When Helen and Mark decided to bring home a second greyhound, they weren’t sure how it would work, yet now their family feels complete. This is a love story between two retired greyhounds, and their humans.

Mark: “We’ve been a little family for almost three years, and Sandy was my first retired greyhound, just before Helen and I got together. About a year later, Wolfie retired from greyhound racing and we brought him home as well.

I’ve always had dogs of different breeds growing up and my dad had greyhounds, although not at home. There was no doubt Sandy was coming home to live with me, for it was love at first sight when she came over from Ireland as a 13 month old pup before her racing days. They’re adorable, so low maintenance. They come to work every day, and just really enjoy their lives.

Settling them in together was much easier than expected. It was a journey into the unknown for us all, including Wolfie, but Sandy made it easy, and it was obvious within a couple of days that he thought home life was fantastic. They’re walked in the morning and for a little while in the evening. I know we spoil them a bit. They also eat well, that’s why their coats are so good, even at their age.

Wolfie was going to be homed by someone else in our syndicate but they decided to move to a smaller house, so Helen suggested we should bring him home and it’s just worked seamlessly. It’s great seeing them interact, they’re brilliant pets. Greyhounds are so calm, and are real characters. They’re just a joy.”

Helen: “I’ve always been a dog person, but until I met Mark, I’d never really come across greyhounds, but I’m smitten now. I really love them. We’re a family, they’re my fur kids.

They might look similar, but they’re such different characters and they’re hilarious. They’re such great company. There are quite a lot of misconceptions about greyhounds. I was under the impression they would need a lot of walking, but they literally have 20 minutes in the morning and evening, they sleep a lot, and just chill out. They’re actually quite lazy!

I think Mark always had a connection with Wolfie. When his adoption fell through, although we both work full time, I said, ‘Why don’t we bring him home? We’ve got one, so two will be no problem, and it’s company for Sandy, when she’s on her own.’  We weren’t quite sure how it was going to work, but it’s just been brilliant.

Wolfie was timid at first. We brought him home on Christmas Day and he didn’t eat much, and we were worried if he was going to settle. We had a cage for him because we didn’t know how he was going to adjust, and he only stayed there a couple of nights, he was soon up on the bed and eating everything in sight. Sometimes I think he forgets he’s a dog, because if I’m not home, he sleeps with Mark on the bed, like a human! He just loves his retirement.

We’re very lucky with Sandy, we can let her off the lead, she has good recall, and Wolfie isn’t too bothered about running off either. He’s a goofy, fun-loving dog, he loves life. They’re both calm and content. Sandy will have a little moment every so often, when she looks at us, as if to say, ‘What is he doing?’ She’s got these looks that speak a thousand words. But they get on well, they’ve never had a tussle, although Sandy is definitely Queen Bee. Girl power!”

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