Jim's story

So here I am again, saying thank you to so many lovely people, some of whom I don't know for all the kind messages about Lucky and Jim. It truly is a comfort knowing people care

Jim leaves behind so many wonderful memories and a huge hole in our life and hearts. This is Jim's story.

                                                                        Jim
                                                         2/3/2000 to 6/12/2011 
Two weeks after adopting Sandy from Kama’s cave we were back walking the hounds and noticed Jim had a new kennel mate. A young greyhound puppy that was driving him mad, jumping up and climbing all over him but dear Jim just took it all and not once even growled but he looked so sad, we already knew what a lovely boy he was and decided there and then to take him home it was November 2004. Sandy was not amused! And 100 yards down the road we had to stop the car and muzzle her, she so didn’t want Jim to join her and Dill.

Jim had been raced for 2 years amassing 89 races in that time and then handed into Kama’s cave, unlike most ex racers Jim had not been mistreated and had no hang ups or problems he was from the very start just the most beautiful gentle dog. House training was interesting, in those early weeks his water pistol as it became known would go off whenever he got excited and he liked to help us in the daily chores! Everything we attempted took 10 times longer with his help, mainly because we would be laughing so hard at his antics. Sandy did soften to him, especially after Dill passed away 6 months later and they formed a very strong bond.

When Mac arrived as an emergency foster from Greyhound Gap he had so many problems and Jim’s quiet steady ways really helped Mac. I remember speaking to Lisa about Mac’s separation anxiety and she said put him in a room for a few minutes at a time on his own, well I did and he would howl and howl and then appear, I was stumped as to how day after day he got out, finally I twigged it, Jim was pushing the door open and letting Mac out and so The Blue’s brothers came to be.

Not much ruffled Jim’s feathers with the one exception, 9.20am every Sunday the church bells would ring and up he’d jump roaring outside to give them what for, he barked so much his front paws would leave the ground so funny to watch. Then Mac taught him to howl his head off when the telephone rang and wasn’t answered quickly, so by the time you got to the telephone you couldn’t talk because of laughing so much.

Jim loved to have his Dad sit on the floor and lay in between his legs and watch the motorbike racing. Jim only once put two paws on the sofa and after that decided never again, way to scary up that high, so the floor it was. At night time he slept in his bed at the base of our bed and when he was settled he sort of made this happy flubbery noise, which signalled all, was well.

Jim as were all our hounds together with Eric well known around the village and he helped many children over come their fear of dogs and quite a few owners who used to turn away when seeing Eric with all the hounds. Jim who believed everyone was either his friend or wanted to be, would bound over and the owners soon started to realise this large pack were not to be feared and started to let their dogs join ours in runs on the meadow. Jim had no prey drive and once even picked a bunny out of the hedge to give to his Dad, completely unharmed.

In the summer of 2009 Sandy, Jim and later Ranger were all diagnosed with bone cancer. We had decided to treat their pain until it couldn’t be controlled but Sandy’s zest for life was so strong at the 11th hour she had her leg amputated and then 2 weeks later Jim also arrived at that point where the decision had to be made. Having given Sandy the chance we couldn’t deny Jim even though we were all concerned how he would cope because of his size and not being as mentally tough as Sandy. Whilst Sandy did really well initially Jim didn’t, he became very depressed and we were at a loss as to what to do. Eric came up with the idea of a beef bone. Our butcher kept us supplied with bones and Jim’s daily teat was a bone and from that day on he picked up physically and mentally.

Sadly Sandy only lived another few weeks and on her final day she sat quietly with Jim giving him a wash and brush up and looked at him as if to say, “Jim I have to go now so you must now step up and be the main man” never have we witnessed anything so touching but heartbreaking.

Jim did indeed step up and with his quiet gentle ways led his pack, eventually he was able to start walking with again and this only stopped in the last few months, then he would go for a ride in the car, followed by a little walk about.

Jim will always remain in our hearts, a truly gentle giant with not a bad bone in him, he had 2 extra years after the amputation that we cherished, life will never be the same without the big fella but last week we discovered the cancer had returned in his shoulder and yesterday it became obvious that it was time to let him go. Sitting in his Dad’s legs surrounded by his pack munching on his favourite sweets he left us to meet up with all our other hounds.

We will always love you Jim and be so grateful for all the happy years we shared together, run free Buba xxx