Update on Jake

I'd always been a cat person, grew up with them, presently have two and was never a dog person. But I always liked Greyhounds, never dreamed you could actually own one. They are special, so special that even Bart Simpson got one way back in Episode ONE, Santa's little Helper. They are sleek and fast, very much like a Cheetah yet don't try and eat you when you attempt to put a leash on them and get them back in the car

Half of the family has always wanted a dog, perhaps a Whippet as that's close as you could get to a greyhound which might persuade the other half. Then Greyhounds as Pets (GAP) was discovered and the mere thought, indeed possibility, you could actually 'adopt' one as a pet AND provide one with a home and life after racing was overpowering.

But still with two cats from the SPCA, two kids (one with special needs), people working and a small section it couldn't really happen could it? Then the GAP Facebook page was discovered and we started to see the hounds with their different back stories and characters. The unyielding one in the family started to waver and thought "it might be a good idea€¦ in the future,€ yet still listened quietly when said profiles were discussed by the other family members!

Just after Christmas we were rung to say our application to adopt a greyhound had been received and the local representative would come to see if we were suitable. "Great that's good news!€ was the answer, pretending I knew what was going on, and realising I'd been cunningly colluded against by a couple of complicit Facebook watchers€¦ Could we really get one and be deemed suitable enough? The colluded against one secretly hoped so now!

But it couldn't really happen could it? Then the Facebook page was found and the reluctant one in the family started thinking "it might be a good idea€¦ in the future!€

There were some significant considerations. First the cats, one a sixteen-year-old scheming Tabby terror who has seen a lot of change who might plot against it and/or be finished off by one change too many. The other, our spotted, gentler, younger seven-year-old cat might flee in terror. Also one of our twelve-year-old twins is autistic - he likes dogs but from a distance and can be unpredictable and irregular in his behaviour. However, we knew that greyhounds made wonderful therapy dogs. The other twin, our daughter was highly likely to love it to death and/or explode at the simple thought of getting a greyhound.

The GAP adoption process clicked smoothly into action. Anne visited us with her dog Tina and any apprehensions disappeared. A greyhound was the ideal dog for our son, gentle, quiet, clean, docile, totally chilled out and unmoving as he played at her feet and even reached out to pat her - break through! The cats arrived and the tabby dismissed this dog with disdain and a look of 'here we go again'. The supposedly timid one stood her ground assessed it as no threat at all and went about her business. A little girl beamed, the unyielding one surrendered unconditionally scarcely believing the thoroughbred/sports car of dogs was no precious Prima Donna or high maintenance at all and out catted the cats.

We were excited (and relieved) to get the call to say we were accepted a couple of days later. Still we would need the right greyhound and it might take a while to get the right one for us and them! The Facebook page took a hammering, particularly the greyhounds at Hampton Downs as that's where ours would come from. Trackside was no longer skimmed through on Sky. We thought perhaps by June€¦

Soon after at the end of January on a Thursday night we got an email from Annemarie to say they had the perfect dog for us and could we come up to the kennels on Saturday.  "Oh he's a blue€ our daughter said (by now she'd looked up the official greyhound colour chart). A flurry of preparations followed, we drove the two hours up and were introduced to€¦ Jake.

"He is quite young but we think Jake would be perfect for your home, family and particularly your son as he's virtually 'bombproof' Annemarie said. Within minutes we knew he was coming back home to Mount Maunganui and a 'Jake' he is and Jake he has stayed.

He has a few other names now though. As he hadn't raced he didn't have a racing name and our daughter thought he should have one so his Dad cheekily dubbed him Bombproof Blur!

Bombproof as above (it turns out Jake really is, being totally unflappable during a real fire alarm with fire engines, firemen and evacuation warnings blaring when we arrived at my son's school one morning). Blur comes from his speed and the band Blur that has greyhounds on the cover of their Park life album. Jake's mainly now known as FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), horror hound or that Big Blue Galumpy to the cats that boss him around and dart nonchalantly under him like a big blue viaduct arch. Together this new trio of pets queue up at mealtimes together now to form a conniving, coalition of greed.

Some six weeks on Jake's part of the family. It's like living with a real life Scooby Doo with Jake's pricky-up ears, gangly legs, dozy expressions, adorable hound face, hauntingly 'soft' eyes and clumsy clown like behaviour but with a penchant for toast. Jake is instantly loved by everyone who meets him. Disarming and charming everybody with a gentle, quiet, soulful nature, who doesn't jump up, whine or drool much or get too excited except when he wants to play.

Jake lies with his head at the feet of our son who happily plays around him or simply zonked out while Jake lies asleep and motionless, legs cast out straight impersonating a dead horse for hours at a time.

We've walked all over the place locally on a daily basis. Jake's been on scenic GAP walks to Waikino, social walks (and terrific breathtaking runs off leash) on the beach, bush and reserves with a local dog group. He regularly visits his 'grandparents' who've seen him at his greyhound best. Jake's discovered waves but still thinks you can chase and play with them. We get Jake toys designed for one thing and he uses them for another. Even better if he can steal a toy from you and tear off away and race back around you, stop and then blast away again. All the while Jake dares you to do your best Hussein Bolt impersonation with Jake flashing his manic grin that says that wouldn't be enough to catch up with him anyway. Luckily he'll come back for a fuss and responds to his name

We've all still got our L plates on dealing with the occasional impact of cyclone Jake but Annamarie, GAP and Jake's initial trainer Hayley - you've given us a Blue Beauty.

There's one just like him waiting for you at GAP now too.