It was a very hot day on 15th June 2004 and this was the day when Nigel was to bring Lloyd down to Devon. We spent anxious hours waiting and hoping that Lloyd would cope with the journey alright. He finally arrived at around 5pm and we were so relieved to see him. He was a large frail brown and white boy with a wonderful face and two huge sightless cloudy eyes. The poor chap probably wondered what was happening to him. He had never known anything but life in a kennel for the whole of his thirteen years. His poor mouth was green, foul smelling and full of infection and rotten teeth. He was painfully thin with his ribs protruding out from his chest. He was passing a black tarry liquid stool and we were very glad that we had booked him into the vet the following morning. He did not want any food though we tried to tempt him but this did not surprise us, considering what he had been through and the state of his mouth.

The next day Lloyd was given a thorough examination by the vet and blood tests were done. It was decided that his mouth was so bad that he needed immediate dental treatment. Infection from his mouth could well be travelling to other parts of his body and causing all sorts of problems. He had to have all his teeth out and was then put on a drip overnight. His blood test showed that one of his liver enzymes was raised and also – more worryingly – that his protein levels were dangerously low.

It was decided to let Lloyd come home the following afternoon and that we would continue to closely monitor the situation. That evening he ate some chicken and rice – his first meal with us. His mouth was still sore after losing all his teeth but he seemed to feel so much better without all that poison in his mouth. It began to worry me that Lloyd did not seem interested in drinking water. I tried different containers but he just would not touch it despite the warm weather.

We fed Lloyd on simple foods such as chicken, rice and scrambled eggs in an effort to resolve the problem of his faeces being so black and liquefied. I made sure he had plenty of chicken broth with his food to compensate for his reluctance to drink water. We returned to the vet five days later for a check and thankfully he was not dehydrated.

We became increasingly worried and decided to take a faecal sample to the vet for analysis. The results took a few days to come back from the lab. They revealed that he was suffering from Giardiasis – a parasitic infection of the bowel and also Campylobacter. He was prescribed several drugs in an effort to combat these infections. It is very likely that Lloyd had been suffering from them for some considerable time so it was not going to be easy to undo the harm that they might have caused. It is likely that poor quality drinking water plus sub-standard or infected food caused or contributed to the two diseases.

We desperately wanted to help Lloyd to get better. He was such a wonderful chap and became very attached to me in particular. This was due to the fact that he needed guidance around strange areas until he could find his way unaided. He had no sight at all but was a very determined boy. I would often discover that he had found his way from the hall out into the garden on his own negotiating the kitchen and sun lounge as he went. He was so affectionate and we did want him to have some quality life after such a miserable existence for so many years.

However, despite eating well and the treatment, he continued to suffer with his bowels. He also began to be nauseous. The vet advised us that the outlook was not good. There was every indication that his intestines had been damaged badly and that he could well be suffering from cancer. We decided to try a different treatment, which can sometimes have good results. He was put on steroids combined with this new drug. We kept detailed records of everything he ate and the times when he had the drugs to make sure he was getting every chance for them to work.

Initially the new treatment seemed to be working. Lloyd was more alert and interested in what was going on. He continued to enjoy his little walks and he appeared to be so happy in his home. He was so good with the other dogs in our care. He was such a friendly chap and utterly devoted to me in particular. He loved his cuddles and slept happily at the bottom of the bed on his own thick duvet and surrounding pillows to give him extra comfort. He was still so thin and bony. It was horrifying to see what an emaciated creature he was yet still we hoped and prayed that he would recover with the aid of the treatment. He was not ready to give up just when he had found a home of his own at last and while he was fighting we would do everything we could to help him win his battle for life.

Tragically it was not to be! Our dear boy became weaker and we realised that his pathetic body had been too severely damaged to recover. He simply did not have the physical strength to fight it however much he desperately wanted to stay here. Maybe if he had come to us earlier and the treatment was started then he would have had a fighting chance. It was too late for our boy.

He had languished in kennels for many years since running his last race. He was forgotten about and ignored. He had not received the care, which should have been his right.

Greyhound given drug by top vet

A vet has been found guilty of 'disgraceful professional misconduct' after giving a greyhound a banned drug.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons ruled that Desmond Fegan, of the Walnut Veterinary Clinic at Groveland Stadium, Ashland, be reprimanded after he administered an anabolic steroid to greyhound bitch Romantic Annie.

Mr Fegan, 39, gave the dog a drug designed to suppress her reproductive 'season' so she could continue to race.

He was also said to have given the treatment without the consent of the dog's trainer, Brian Clementson, of Rowfold greyhound kennels, West Sussex.

The hearing was told that Romantic Annie's owner, Roy Farmington, saw the six-year-old bitch as a potential winner of the prestigious Golden Jacket event at Crayford Stadium in Kent.

Mr Clementson asked the vet to 'suppress' her and said he did not like many of the conventional drugs licensed in the UK. Mr Fegan agreed to use the steroid, which is not authorised in this country.

Mr Fegan, who spent a number of years in Australia, bought a supply of the drug when he was overseas.

The greyhound finished third.