Goodbye to a Dear Friend

We’re all very sad at the moment because our dear friend Owain (aka Owen Bowen) has died.

Some of you may remember he lost one of his back legs early last year. It turned out he had an aggressive bone cancer that caused his leg to break, and the vet only gave him a few months to live. But Owain loved life and he was determined to hang on for longer than that. With the devoted care of his humans Jan and Alain and the loving companionship of his sister Mollie, he fought on for over a year.

Owain was always a powerhouse of a dog. In 2008, under the name ‘Alaskan Mist’, he won so many races he was crowned Midlands Greyhound of the Year. When his racing career ended he spent several years languishing in kennels with very little exercise, which must have been a miserable existence for a hound with so much energy and lust for life. Then Greyhound Rescue Wales took him in and he found his forever home with Jan and Alain, where he soon grew fit and strong again. It was a joy to see him racing up and down the valley behind Three Cliffs Bay. I never had a hope of keeping up with him, but Pearl used to give him a run for his money!

He would often come round to ours for play dates, or to stay when Jan and Alain were away. We’ll always remember that warm, happy summer when the three of us used to hang out in Annabelle’s front garden.

I know I was jealous of his and Pearl’s budding romance, but all that seems petty now. I just wish we could have that summer back again – if I’d known what was going to happen I’d have spent less time sulking and more time appreciating his kind, gentle presence.

Goodbye, O-Bo, we’re going to miss you. We know you’re in the Land of Eternal Summer now, racing through the meadows, but we can’t help wishing you were still here to race with us.