Walk for Snowie ! In honour of Snowie our big boy greyhound

Snowie the greyhound was my whole life. Snowie came into my life on 4th June 2020 on a wintery cold night ,when he jumped out of the car from the lady who found him my first thought was WOW HE IS SO BIG. My plan was to foster him and rehome him , however it was love at first sight and so began a lifetime of cuddles and soon to be learned "paw of more".

He came to me with no name, just a tattoo in his ear.

So as I spoke to him that first cold winter night I whispered in his ear how handsome he was and how beautiful and snowie white he was.

That name stuck and so Snowie the big boy finally had his name after 5 and 1/2 years in the dreadful racing industry. Of being swapped to numerous different trainers that tried to race him faster and faster

I will never forget that 1st time I took him on the lead in our back yard he limped on his front foot.. It was quickly diagnosed that he had not 1 but 3 corns on 3 different legs ! . His pain in walking was so severe that a simple walk to the letter box saw him in immense pain.

My darling boy Snowie passed away last Friday 24th January 2025 and only just 8 days after his 10th birthday.

After a life of being cuddled and having his daily walk ( he used to round us up at 5.54 am in the morning )

This Christmas he started to limp on his front leg, we thought it was just arthritis in the joint.

Last week only 3 and a 1/2 weeks later ........he suddenly screamed as he went to lay on one of his bed in the lounge room and he had trouble putting his rear leg to the ground. This so very soon progressed to limping on 3 legs.

So on Friday he was booked in for an x-ray and I honestly expected to have a diagnosis of more arthritis however the complete devastation we felt when the Vet rang while Snowie was still under anesthetic was a huge and overwhelming shock to both his Humans/my husband Brad and me. The vet explained to us that it was bone cancer osteosarcoma in his rear leg.

It was made clear that the previous limp in his front was just the start of this a malignant bone tumor that develops so quickly in the cells that create bone we were left with the devastating decision that to bring our beautiful Snowie home would only prolong his agony and only be palliative care for 4-6 weeks before we would have to say goodbye. So as our hearts were breaking I decided to let him go while he was sleeping under anesthetic . " JUST LIKE THAT, our SNOWIE WAS GONE"

We didn't get to say our last farewell and to tell him how much we loved him nor to cuddle and hug him before he went over the rainbow bridge. This horrible disease robbed us of this my heart is forever broken and I now have to figure out how to keep going every day without my beautiful big boy

So just like that Snowie went over the rainbow bridge the same way as he came to me on that cold winter night ,quickly and in shock.

Snowie touched so many people throughout his life. His videos of him chasing cows at the fence, and doing Zoomie's in my sisters horse paddock tell his story of happiness that touched so many people, he was instrumental in forming our local Greyhound Social group that has brought together so many likeminded people we have come to love and he even made the news in the paper on one of his famous river walks to promote Rescue Greyhounds. He is certainly blessed to have a following of greyhound lovers and rescuers. He was so happy to be loved and his smile melted so many hearts... but sadly, there is many special dogs just like him that have never been given the chance to be themselves- to be a dog-to play without punishment.-There is nothing more loving, gentle, and special than a greyhound.

With this in mind and in HONOUR OF SNOWIE I would like to help more greyhounds experience the love of a home, the love of finding that they actually can bark without being punished, (this took him 2 years to find his voice) or to find a toy that is their favourite friend and to find their way into loving homes

Greyhounds are quiet and placid dogs, naturally gentle, but sadly are ruthlessly exploited and trained for the racing industry in the pursuit of gambling money. Greyhounds that do not win money for their owners simply disappear -- thousands of puppies and dogs are simply killed every year in Australia for not being 'suitable for racing'.

Those that are 'successful' often endure a life of deprivation, confined to concrete and wire kennels, no air conditioning and put at great risk of injury and death on racing tracks. This January 2025 we already mourn the loss of 2 greyhounds on our local track in Taree and its only January ! Many thousands of dogs just like Snowie are trapped within an industry that sees them as nothing more than commodities. They deserve so much better.

To share Snowie's story with the world, is MY way of telling his story because he was such a beautiful dog that deserves to have his story told.. in the hopes of shining a spotlight on the cruelty of greyhound racing and to encourage the rescue and adoption of these gentle dogs. Snowie was such a great ambassador and inspired so many people to adopt or foster greyhounds.

Sadly he has now passed, and a way of honouring him and everything he stood for by continuing to help as many dogs as we can escape the racing industry and become beloved companions just like Snowie.

To all that loved Snowie will know, he was quite partial to a lean on me cuddle, and won hearts with his smiley facial expressions. I felt so much love it the posts that appeared on social media after his passing #walkforsnowie

It would be so wonderful to further the real-world impact of his theme and #walkforsnowie

If you who wish to honour Snowie, to throw in some money to support greyhound rescue. A cup of coffee would cost... like $5? We did loads of we walked in our locals park and sat and had a coffee under the trees (ok he probably laid down on his rug more than he walked I must admit) and if all of the people he touched threw in that amount of a cuppa (or thereabouts) Snowie's legacy can give a whole lot of money to organisations that are helping greyhounds.

Can you chuck in $5 to help more greyhounds like Snowie?

I understand if you can't afford to donate, and that's ok too. If you consider sharing this fundraiser with others that would be so awesome? Or if not, please check out greyhound rescue organisation in your area and promote them in any way you can to help spread the word. Here's a list of groups from around Australia.

https://greyhoundcoalition.com/links-to-greyhound-rescue-groups/

I feel so lucky and blessed that Snowie came to be with me and my husband, to be "His humans" his love filled our house and our hearts so much that no words can replace the hole he has left in our hearts. Honestly owning a greyhound is the best thing I have ever done, he filled our lives and the people that met him with so much happiness and for this I am eternally grateful.

#walkforsnowie

Love Susan, Brad and Snowie