Romeo
From Rome to Home

On May 24th 2002 the Cinodromo dog track in Rome became bankrupt, with approximately 370 Irish greyhounds needing to be re-homed. The Manager of the track, had always felt responsible towards his retired dogs, and maintained them for years following their retirement from racing. The track has been rewarded, with bankruptcy, due maybe to the huge costs of maintaining hundreds of retired dogs for many years. The help of Greyhounds in Need (GIN) was requested by the Greyhound Adopt Centre Italy, who had established an adoption programme for retired greyhounds from the track. They are a young group, and were overwhelmed by such a large number of dogs to be re-homed.

In June, GIN put out an urgent plea for help to greyhound rescue groups in Europe, and received offers of places from Germany, France, and Switzerland, while those with Pet Passports (about 25 dogs) would come to the UK. About 150 were to be re-homed in Italy. GIN had appealed to groups in the UK to help with the enormous costs they were incurring with this operation, and also for help in re-homing the dogs coming to the UK.  GAGAH could not afford to help with the costs, but Diane did offer to take two of the dogs for rehoming, which was accepted.

It was not known when the dogs would be able to leave the track. Sensitive negotiations had to take place between the company, the Receiver, Rome City Council and the trade unions representing the workers at the track. At one point it was feared that the track would be closed up, leaving the dogs inside with no food or water.
Finally release dates of 1st – 10th October 2002 were agreed.

The dogs coming to the UK were transported by road, in a specially converted lorry approved by DEFRA for the movement of dogs. At last on the 8th October after travelling for over 24 hours they arrived in the UK. Diane then heard that she would be getting Ruanda, a small black bitch, and Romeo, a brindle male.

Arrangements were then made for a relay of drivers to get them to Methlick. So on the 13th October Annie and I set off for Perth to collect them. Ruanda was the smallest greyhound I have ever seen, not much bigger than a whippet! Romeo was very nervous, so much had happened to them over the previous week, he was totally overwhelmed. However, once Annie got out the ‘Treada Freats’ (Freda’s homemade treats) they soon started to come round. They eventually arrived at Diane’s at 9pm; they had been travelling for almost 12 hours.


Within a couple of weeks Ruanda had found a home, and set off on her new life leaving Romeo behind.  A few months went past, and hounds came and went from the GAGAH kennels, but Romeo remained.  Diane said that the right family was out there for him, it was just a case of waiting for them to arrive.  How right she was.  Mid January I got a call from a guy (Colin) interested in a greyhound, sounded nice, so I asked Annie if she and Freda would do a home visit.  Colin and Moira passed with flying colours, and Colin visited Diane with his grandson that Friday.  Diane already had Romeo in mind for them!  Colin couldn’t decide without Moira (sensible man), so they went back out on the following Monday - and went home with Romeo!  Diane said that on Monday morning there was something different about Romeo, it was if he knew he was going home that day.  So, after travelling thousands of miles across half a continent, Romeo finally arrived home.  He now lives in the lap of luxury in his owners (should that be slaves?) Aberdeen home, and is (probably) the most spoiled GAGAH dog ever!