We were right to panic ? my daughter came home at lunchtime taking a friend for moral support. As she opened the door the smell hit her – Hippie had opened the door to the lounge and messed on the carpet. My daughter?s friend?s only comment was:

?It looks and smells as if a shire horse has been in here.?

But that wasn?t all ? Hippie had destroyed one end of my hall carpet ? it was in tatters with underlay scattered around.

My daughter rang me saying:

?She?s trashed the house!?

I rang the rescue place to ask for advice ? the lady was kind but obviously thought I was bringing the dog back. When I asked if there was anything that would help her to settle she suggested having another greyhound. I think I became speechless at that point but then I had sudden memories of the greyhounds I had seen before we became owners, they all started off as one dog out walking but within days there were two, so obviously this is the answer ? they don?t miss you if they have a friend for company.

Top tip ? It is all much easier if you already have a dog or if you want to adopt two greyhounds.

The lady must have realised from my stunned silence that I didn?t want another dog as she then mentioned an indoor kennel, even offered to loan me one. I rang my partner and asked him what he thought ? he said I should buy my own kennel as it would cost a lot to pick up and drop off and we might need it for a long time. He went to the pet store and bought an indoor cage type kennel for £70.

Of course I had to go home and face whatever devastation Hippie had caused in the time between my daughter leaving and me getting home ? around twenty minutes??..