Vinni
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Vinni's Sponsored Walk
Hello everyone, my name is Vinni Campbell. I am 9 years old and live with my human companion Elaine, she told me to say that she is 21 years old, huh! Aye right!
I have lived happily with Elaine for many years now. Although I still remember all too well what it's like to have no home or family to call my own. Phew! It's good to find a nice loving place that is safe and warm.
One day, with a couple of my best friends, I went to visit a very special place. A safe place, a place where I could run and play and meet more of "my own kind" if you know what I mean. The friends I met there told me of their lives at the tracks, of races won and lost, and of their concern when they began to "slow down”
They then told me stories of a human lady called Diane, who had given them all beds, shelter, and food, took them for walks in a big grassy field and found permanent loving homes for them.
Then I overheard the humans chatting about something they call money, I believe it is an important part of human life to have money. It is needed to pay for things like food and shelter. I listened with my ears pricked up as they discussed the amounts of money needed to provide hounds like my new found friends with basic care. I knew by the tone of the human voices that it was difficult to find money. Elaine is always telling me it doesn't grow on trees (well I knew that!)
I thought about what the nice lady was doing, helping others like me find someone like my Elaine. I had to do something to help so I came up with a great plan. I had a few meetings with some of my vertically challenged friends (non greyhounds!), we discussed what could be done and Flora, who is very clever, suggested a sponsored walk (I was hoping for something a little less energetic!). Hannah, Elvis, and Tilly all wagged in agreement when I explained about my friends at G.A.G.A.H. Tilly's Mum made up sheets of paper with names and stuff and we asked everyone we knew to give us what they could afford. We collected lots of names. Organised our humans and planned our very first sponsored walk up a big hill called Scolty.
The big day arrived and we all met up in the car park. It was really good to see everyone there. We set off, sniffing all the way. Tilly and Flora seemed to use up lots of energy running back and forth so I decided to just pace myself. We finally reached the summit. It was very windy and quite cool but it was nice to take in the view and breath the fresh air whilst munching on some rather tasty biscuits. The humans seemed to enjoy it too, the walk that is not our biscuits!
We then set off again to head back to the cars oh what a relief I had been on all fours for most of the day and was looking forward to getting back home to lie with my head on Elaine's knee up on the comfy couch dozing. A greyhound is not meant to walk so far!
It was not long before we made it home, I had some food that made me happy, I had the comfy shelter where I felt so safe, and of course best of all I got my head up on Elaine's knee and had a well deserved pet.
I heard the humans talking again about money and this time they all sounded happier I heard something about £337.50 ........ As I lay there I closed my eyes and started to daydream. I was dreaming that all the greyhounds all over the world were as happy and lucky as me. I dreamt that all the friends I met at G.A.G.A.H. would find their very own human companion, just like I did.
I hear humans say money is not everything. I hear them say that you can't buy love. I already know that it doesn't grow on trees. I suppose all of that is true, but with some money, you can have food and shelter, and a safe place to stay until one day someone comes to visit you and you both fall in love.
Vinni