Whippets and other sighthounds have big feelings and they show it in many ways, some through playing, talking, cuddling but mostly through their soulful eyes. The love they give us and the loyalty they show is unconditional and deep. Unfortunately, the downside to having so much love is losing it.
On 28 November 2021 this Mama had to put her beloved whippet Lawson to sleep. He had inoperable soft tissue sarcoma and dementia and was struggling to get around. Despite that he continued to be a loving companion as he had for so many years. Lawson was 13 and the loss devastated this Mama.
Lawson’s dementia came as a surprise to this whippet mama. Of course I was aware it happened in older dogs just like it does in humans but how to respond?
Lawson would come into his Mama’s room at night and stare and then go and stand between the curtains and the wall. He wouldn’t settle, just wandering in and out of rooms and looking lost – it broke this whippet mama’s heart. He wouldn’t sleep in his Mama’s room and sleeping in the lounge with him made no difference. A lot of sleep was lost and this Mama is ashamed to say that sometimes she closed the door and tried to ignore his wanderings. During the day Lawson was more himself, just a lot slower.
The Grief Monster comes to visit
This Mama is not going to lie – I was more basket case than functioning human in the days after losing Lawson. The grief was overwhelming and his absence so painfully obvious. But not just for the humans.
Lawson’s sister Millie did not cope well with losing her best friend. She had been with him since she was 6 months old and did not know life without him. Millie did not want to eat (a major change for Millie Hollow Legs) and seemed listless.
Eventually, despite personal grief this whippet Mama decided that a new hound would need to come into the family to keep Millie company and bear witness to her crazy antics. She could not be a queen without subjects !
Reuben the Greyhound
And so Reuben the red greyhound came to be part of the family, adopted (like Millie and Lawson), and keen to experience life outside a lonely kennel. He was a similar colour to Lawson which this Mama hoped would help with the transition but he was huge! Millie could walk underneath him, the same way Lawson used to walk under her.
Reuben did not have great social skills but he soon won Millie over and the two were comfortable sharing their space. As Reuben was only three and Millie was 11 there was an age gap but Millie seemed younger and happier being part of a duo again.
If only this was a happy ever after kind of story….
Reuben and Millie had many adventures with their cousins Buddy (kelpie/collie cross) and Archie (kelpie). This Mama took them to the beach and to as many parks and fun places as possible. Millie developed very severe arthritis but took her monthly injections like a champ and still liked romping around whenever she could.
A favourite activity was lying at the open door while this Mama tended the garden, leaping up to say hello to any dog that went past. Reuben was extra enamoured with chasing bikes from one side of the garden to the other, with his favourite being the poor postman.
Reuben and Millie loved chasing possums and birds (particularly crows) although Reuben was a little bit too fast for two poor creatures so this game to a bloody and unhappy end – mainly for the possums and this Mama who had to clean it all up.
Reuben slowly opened up and showed more affection and craziness over the next two years as he learned to trust that he was loved and was safe.
Getting older
Millie entered 2026 at a grand age of 14 but her life was becoming less and less grand. She struggled with incontinence and managing stairs and needed to lifted in and out of cars – something she was VERY unhappy about. She also became increasingly unhappy about going to the vet every month for two injections and not being able to join the other dogs at the park.
Millie still showed signs of the sparky queen she had always been but this Mama knew that she was struggling and becoming confused.On January 15, Mama took Millie to the vet for the last time. Coming home without her broke this Mama’s heart all over again. It also confused Reuben who had spent years with Millie, sharing beds and barking at birds and possums and motorbikes.
Fortunately Reuben still had his cousin,11yo Buddy, kelpie/collie cross. They became good companions watching life go by from the deck and running at the park. As always, this Mama tried to make sure that the boys had lots of different places to run, sniff and play in. A local off lead park became a favourite as there was a good mix of dogs, friendly owners and lots of room to play. While Buddy chased balls like the working dog he is, Reuben liked racing the bike riders around the park (him safely on the inside, them gratefully on the outside).
And then the world fell apart…
On 9 July 2026, this Mama took Reuben and Buddy to their usual off lead dog park. A man was there, raving on to a young couple about kelpies and how to train them, as they had a young kelpie of their own. He had two kelpies, a female (pregnant) and male – neither desexed or registered. They were lovely dogs and this Mama enjoyed playing with them in between throwing the ball for Buddy and watching Reuben run around the park.
At one point this man’s two kelpies started engaging in a bit of “argie-bargie” and Reuben though this was very interesting and decided to do the dog version of running around the outside yelling “fight, fight, fight”. This was not unusual for Reuben but he never made contact with a dog and never bitten one – he just liked to be in amongst the noise.
This Mama decided that Reuben had probably had enough and it was time to go. The man told this Mama that it would be dangerous to go near the dogs and that he would “deal with it”. He then walked up and kicked Reuben with all his force in this chest with steel capped boots on. Reuben’s ribs were broken and punctured his lungs and he died within 10 minutes as this shocked and devastated Mama tried to get him in the car to the vet.
Reuben was 5 years old and should have lived for at least another ten years. He was healthy and beautiful and much loved and deserved better than to die so violently at the hands of an angry, abusive man. The police were not interested and witnesses too scared to provide statements. This Mama waits for the RSPCA to take some action but knows this is unlikely.
Vale beautiful Reuben – this Mama is sorry she could not keep you safe.
