By Darren Cartwright
Retired city-winning greyhound Shian Cody has been dubbed the ‘gentle giant’ in his new role as a family pet in the same suburb he notched his maiden victory.
The five-year-old, now affectionally known as Monty, had his first win at Capalaba in June 2019 and last chased in October, yet already has been rehomed.
Delighted new owners Rhiannon Perrin and Jackson Morley (pictured) secured Monty through the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP).
The scheme is run by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC), at Churchable, 65km west of Brisbane.
The couple has been impressed with Monty's demeanour and affection although he doesn’t mind lounging around the house and “sleeping on the sofa”.
“He has settled in quickly and is very much a part of our family and sleeps when he wants to but is always happy to go for a walk,” Rhiannon said.
“He is so calm but also a bit shy.”
They came to the decision to adopt a greyhound because they wanted a pet that suited their active lifestyle but was not overly needy, Rhiannon said.
“We were looking for a dog that would suit our lifestyle and, from a lot of things I had read, these dogs sit on a sofa for 16 hours a day and someone called them lounge lizards and I quite liked that,” Rhiannon said with a smile.
The GAP scheme includes a re-training program so greyhounds are well adjusted to their new life as a pet, and it also allows them to enjoy walking the streets without a muzzle.
Every greyhound that graduates through GAP is health checked and behaviourally assessed, de-sexed, wormed and vaccinated and is clearly identified by their distinct green collar.
Shian Cody winning at Albion Park
“We have taken him to an off-leash area, and it has been really good, but he has zero recall although he is getting better,” Rhiannon laughed
“It’s been five weeks now and he knows it (his name) if he wants to listen to you.
“So, we only go when there are no dogs around because he has zero recall but having said that he adores other dogs and is a gentle giant.”
The couple are still stealing themselves over the price they paid for a purebred dog.
It costs $100 to adopt a greyhound through GAP although Rhiannon and Jackson purchased Monty on National Greyhound Adoption Day for $75.
“A friend of ours in the UK just sold golden retriever pups for $2,000 and, to think, we have not only adopted him and given him a family home it has only been $75,” she said.
“It’s a little surreal to adopt a purebred dog for that price.”
When not walking, Monty sleeping and there’s not much else that he does, Jackson said.
And they have had no noise issues Monty hardly makes a sound.
“The only noise I have heard him make is whining because we are taking too long to put our shoes on to for a walk,” he said.
“We take him for up to four walks a day although if we didn’t take him for so many walks, he may get restless, and he is happy to sleep on the couch for the rest of the time.”