By Darren Cartwright
An off-the-cuff comment about being able to ‘squeeze’ a greyhound into their apartment led to two besties adopting a former racer that is now the unofficial mascot of a local Townsville soccer team.
Grace Mitchell (left) and Emily McMillan (right) have both had a long admiration for greyhounds.
Emily’s family is dripping in greyhound history with her father, grandfather and great grandfather all having trained chasers in South Australia.
A lengthy loving stint working in doggy day care was enough for Grace to fall in love with the breed.
“Every greyhound that came through doggy day care was super loving and, whether they were adopted as puppies or after racing, they are perfect couch potatoes,” Grace said.
“It was not until I started working at a doggy day care that I got to understand their personalities.”
So, when co-worker Teri Preh mentioned she, and her husband and trainer Danny, had a greyhound looking for a “forever home”, the two offered to meet Joe Ray Jack.
The two-year-old bitch beat home just eight runners in four starts before being retired in May and was going to be rehomed through the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP).
“Teri, at work one day, said she had a greyhound they were going to send to GAP and I jokingly said, ‘we can squeeze her into the apartment’,” Emily said.
“We then met her and straight away we knew we wanted her.”
The besties met while working at the same retail outlet in Townsville and now share an apartment after Emily’s previous flatmate moved out.
“We’ve already had the discussion about what happens to Nancy if one of us leaves the apartment,” Emily said.
After meeting Joe Ray Jack, the pair at once had the blessing of Townsville trainer Danny Preh who admits to getting very attached to his greyhounds.
He has four retired greyhounds as pets and was not going to rehome Joe Ray Jack, who is better known as Nancy these days, to anyone.
“I knew she was going to be a great pet, but the girls had to meet our fussiness,” he joked.
“We did a meet and greet with Joe Rae Jack and if every adoptive owner was like they are, it would be brilliant.
“I get very attached to the dogs, and I am overwhelmed by how good they are as owners.
"They send us photos all the time and we would be happy to look after her while they are away.”
Danny and Teri may have some competition to dog sit Nancy who has been a hit with Emily’s soccer team.
The besties have even made a mascot outfit for Nancy who regularly attends Townsville Warriors' training sessions and matches.
“I took her down before a game the girls crowded around hugging, patting her and at half time she was the centre of attention,” Emily said.
“She's definitely an unofficial mascot but she is the headline act at every game she attends.”