After spending a year and a half with Greyhound Rescue, Moju finally found her forever home with long-term volunteers Shelley and Belinda. Finding the outside world very overwhelming, the first few months had a number of challenges until one day everything clicked into place for Moju. Read her story below.
“Moju came to us quite soon after we lost our beautiful Jessi greyhound to kidney disease,” says Shelley.
“Although still in the depths of grief, we hoped that by fostering a grey who had been in the kennels for a lengthy period, and teaching them the skills to find their forever home, it would give us something to focus on and help us deal with our loss.”
“As Moju had been in the kennels for 15 months and was scared of men, she could only go to an all-female home so it was a no-brainer that we should foster her.”
With two gorgeous dogs at the time, Piper and Rocket, Shelley and Belinda needed to ensure they were happy with any new addition to the family.
“It was a steep learning curve for all of us, and lots of new dynamics to iron out, especially given that Moju was averse to leaving the house for the first few months,” explains Shelley.
“Everyone’s routine was upended initially but gradually over time – and by sticking to a routine and keeping things in perspective (thank you Belinda!) – Moju started to settle in and one day something just ‘clicked’ in her and she started walking with Piper and Rocket and didn’t stop.”
Men gradually became less scary for Moju, and she even began approaching them for a lean when out on a walk.
“My dad also came to stay for a week over xmas and after only two days, Moju was completely relaxed with him, even roaching right next to him,” says Shelley. “It has been very special to watch her slowly build her confidence and she hopefully knows she is now safe.”
Shelley and Belinda say that although Moju started out as a foster, she now is very much a part of their family, “and it probably came as no surprise to anyone that knows us, that we would foster-fail and we can’t imagine life without her”.
Both walks and the car were a challenge for Moju in the early days. For the first six months, Moju would squeal loudly in the car every time it came to a stop, and during walks she would freeze not long after leaving the house.
Shelley says that their Greyhound Rescue application coordinator gave them some great tips to assist with this, including just having a few days off walking, and giving Moju enrichment activities at home instead.
“We also did some ‘street TV’” says Shelley, “where we just stood on the front porch of our house watching the world go by, which helped Moju get more familiar with her surroundings each time and she could easily go back indoors before it got too overwhelming.”
Despite this timidness and uncertainty early on, with the patience and love of Shelley and Belinda, along with the guidance of Piper and Rocket, Moju’s intelligence and inquisitiveness saw her blossom into the hound they knew she was deep down.
“She is a quirky, crazy, affectionate Velcro dog who can go from 0 to 100 in seconds, and just as quickly back again,” says Shelley.
“She is also a fast learner and has mastered ‘spin’, ‘down’, and ‘on your bed’ in a short space of time, and is always keen to show her skills if there’s a treat at hand.
Nowadays Moju’s favourite thing is to go for a walk, and “she gets super-excited in the mornings as soon as the alarm goes off”.
“You know what kind of walk you’re in for by the level of enthusiasm she has when she springs out of bed.”
“A close second is GREENIES TIME, which is every night after dinner. She loves having to figure out how to get the Greenie out of a variety of wrappings (incl paper, toilet roll and a cereal box), which she tears apart with such determination, she is mentally exhausted afterwards and needs some downtime to recharge.”
To anyone thinking about adopting a greyhound, Shelley says it is so rewarding but time and patience are key.
“Do your research and listen to the advice Greyhound Rescue give you regarding the initial settling-in period,” Shelley says.
“The thing to remember is that everything is so new for your hound, and they will be just as freaked out as you may be in the first few weeks and months.”
“Try not to get overwhelmed by it all and just take things one day at a time. If you have setbacks, don’t catastrophise or think that things are always going to be as they are right now: it will get better. Just take a breath and reset. There will be ups and downs, but overall, if you stick to a routine and always put your hound’s needs first, your overall trajectory will hopefully be upwards!”
In loving memory of Shelley and Belinda’s three beautiful hounds, Jessi, Piper and Rocket.