Delilah's Story

Hi! I’m Delilah. I used to race, but I’m retired now. On November 29, 2002, I met my new family – Marie and Samantha. My new family moved here from the U.S. three months before they brought me to live with them. When Marie and Sam brought me home, they worried about how I would adapt, since I had never lived in a house before. They put a folded duvet on the floor and I immediately adopted it as my bed. I didn’t have any problems with the wood floors, but I wouldn’t go anywhere near the stairs! The first night, they slept downstairs on the couches so that I wouldn’t get nervous all alone. I was O.K., so they didn’t need to worry. After that I slept on my duvet by myself just fine. On the third day that I was home alone, I decided to explore and finally braved the staircase. When Marie and Sam came home, they found me upstairs and had to put the leash on me to encourage me down the stairs. For the most part, I sort of just tumbled down the steps! After a couple days of practicing going up, I finally learned to walk down all by myself. Now, I’m an expert stair climber. I wasn’t spayed when Marie and Sam brought me home, so they took me back to have my surgery. I came home the same day. I was tired and sore for a couple days, but then I was fine. I was a very picky eater. Mr. Plunkett, the very nice man who kept me at the farm where I stayed while I waited for a family, told my new family that I had to be talked into eating. So my new mom cooked chicken and beef to add to my dog food. I really liked that. But on New Year’s Day I started feeling badly. I had an upset stomach. After a couple days, Marie took me to the vet and they gave me pills and special food because I had a virus. It took a week or so before I felt better again. While I was sick, I started sleeping upstairs with Marie so that she would wake up when I needed to go out. I’m very good about going outside and not messing up the house – even when I’m sick. They always know when I want to go out because I pace in the front hall and they can hear the “click,click” of my toenails on the wood floor all over the house. My mom found two dry dog foods that I liked, so she started mixing them and now I don’t need any people food at all. I’ve even gained a little weight – boy, I look good! I like Purina Lamb and Rice Formula mixed with Kibbles and Bits! I like treats, but it took me a while to get used to taking them from the hands of people. My mom has to slide the treats into my mouth. Since I’ve never been fed by hand, I don’t beg. I don’t beg from my family at the table, or even if someone has snacks in the lounge. They tell me to lie down on my blanket and I do. I’m tall enough to reach the dining room table, but I have never stolen any food. Of course, that doesn’t mean if it was tempting enough that I wouldn’t consider it! I do steal to get attention! I take hair clips and socks and hide them in my duvet. I pull papers from the coffee table and leave bite marks in them. This usually means that I really just want a treat to chew on. My family bought me a special greyhound coat to keep me warm. I don’t mind it on long walks, but when I’m just going out to take care of business, I don’t want that coat in my way! I also have a muzzle. I wore it a couple times, but I don’t need it. I don’t fight with other dogs. In fact, I like other big dogs – they look like they would be so fun to play with. Those little dogs aren’t my favorites. I’m not sure what it is about them, but I don’t like them. I avoid them when I can. I know where the cats hang out in my neighborhood, so I stop on my walks down the street and look under the vehicles that they hide under, hoping they’ll run so I can watch and dream of chasing them! I have short hair, so I don’t need much grooming. My mom is going to take me to the groomer for a bath and to get my nails clipped. I don’t wear them down like I used to when I raced, so this nail trimming thing is new for me, and I don’t like it very much. I love to ride in the car. I jumped right in when my family came to the farm to take me home. When they have errands to run, I love when they let me go along. All the other people like to pet me and say how cute I am. Who can complain about that? I’ve lived with Marie and Samantha for three months now. I act like I’ve always lived here. I don’t jump at all (except onto the bed), but I certainly hop around when they come home. They have to pet me for at least half an hour before I’ll stop pushing at their hands with my head. They walk me three times a day; once in the morning, once when they come home in the afternoon, and once before we go to bed. I sleep all day on my duvet while they are at work and school, so I’m really rested when they come home. I’ve started playing with chew toys now, but I don’t fetch! I have two very good qualities; I don’t lick people, nor do I bark! I can personally recommend adopting a family to every retired greyhound! I love my family and I don’t know what they would do without me!