sloughi rescue

Twin at Bath

I was first aware of Twin through the Bath Cats & Dogs Home website. Being a Friend of the home for more than 15 years, since we adopted a rescued lurcher puppy, we had heard of and seen the sloughis before. Twin seemed to be on the website for such a long time, but it was last summer that Rachel, my daugher and I were at the Home and Twin was being put back into his kennel after a walk – he was petrified. He was the last of the Rescue Sloughis in kennels and one of the most nervous dogs.

Twin

Rachel just turned to me and said, “well if we don’t have him, no-one will”. After coming home and talking it over, Ron, my husband, went to visit him. Ron was very doubtful if Twin would ever settle into a home environment as he seemed to be terrified of everything. Anyway, we decided to go ahead and offer Twin a home.

Twin

Due to Twin’s nervousness, we were asked to visit him every day and walk him so that he would get used to us. Luckily Ron works shifts and was able to do this. We already had two dogs, Maddie an ex-racing greyhound and Flynn, a very old lurcher (also adopted from Bath). Sadly Flynn, due to illness and old age, was put to sleep before we could bring Twin home. Eventually after a month and at the end of August 2006 Twin was ours and we were able to bring him home.

Twin
He was so nervous in the car that he was sick and then dribbled the whole way home over Ron’s back, the dribbling continued for the next month or two every time he went in the car. Twin settled reasonably well into our home, he had his own corner in every room where he could look out on the world but with no-one getting behind him. Even after a year, he still loves those corners. He was and still is very wary of anyone coming into the house, especially men, although he has never shown any sign of aggression (to man or Maddie).

Twin enjoying his freedom

I can’t say it’s been an easy road, Twin will do things his own way, he still spooks at the silliest thing, will stare at the ceiling, can be very aloof, but is improving. He loves his walks, having his back scratched, is very food orientated, although still won’t take a treat from anyone he doesn’t know but he trusts us and looks to us and Maddie for guidance.

Twin

We don’t think we will ever have a ‘normal dog’, one that will welcome you home with a wag of his tail. But Twin is loved and cared for, and with time, hopefully will learn to relax and enjoy his life to the full.

Written by Jane Thriepland

Twin is son of George and Effie, brother of Streaky and great grandson of Victoria