Happy birthday Miles
November 10th 2010 08:23
Miles is a greyhound who has had many names. He was bred by Tony McGrath, of Shepparton East, Victoria, Australia. For reasons now probably forgotten, Tony called the pup Scottie.
The pup grew up into a quiet dog. He was a promising racer with a quirk - while most greyhounds bark rarely, Scottie never barked at all. And that's why his first trainer, Jason Thompson, gave him the nickname Miles. It was in honour of Miles Plum, a horse trainer known for a quirk of his own - he would never say a word when being interviewed.
It was a nickname because about this time Miles got his racing name, Proven Smokey, and it would become a well-known name amongst greyhound racing people.
Proven Smokey might never bark, but he became a big noise in racing. Under that name, he had 137 starts, including a Group 1 Adelaide Cup final. By the time he retired from racing Proven Smokey had 33 wins and 55 placings, and deserved a special retirement home.
He got it. He was adopted by the adopters - the people at the Greyhound Adoption Program in Victoria decided that he would become their resident greyhound. And so Miles settled down, knowing he'd never have to go through another name change.
Miles actually has duties at the GAP centre. He is greeter in chief, and he can be seen most days strolling around the complex welcoming the new dogs hoping for adoption. He is also in charge of GAP's social media promotional program. In a way it's yet another name - @MilesGAP. That's his Twitter account.
Apart from all that, Miles also learned to bark.
GAP manager Larissa Darragh said staff had been trying for some time to teach Miles how to bark, and then suddenly he did so. The problem is, they aren't sure just how they managed it.
“Now he barks to let us know when he wants to come in or out of the office, or when he’s hungry. We absolutely love him and it just goes to show that you can teach an old dog new tricks,” Larissa said.
And this month he has something else to bark about - his 11th birthday. Happy birthday Miles.
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Comment by Anonymous
Comment by heidiclyde
Signed by Clyde's proud sister and foster sister,
Heidi and Martha.
Comment by Anonymous
Greyhound Adoption Program Victoria
http://gap.grv.org.au
Comment by Chris Champion
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I won a race too, and who knows how many more I could have won if they hadn't decided that epilepsy and racing don't mix.
Don't think my name helped either.
But I reckon you're all missing the point. This is about retirement plans: lazy days, comfy beds and, most importantly, retirement rations.
Still reckon Big Boss could feed me more, though.
Wags,
Scratchy
Comment by heidiclyde
Geeze ther Sheilas carry on like pork chops, dun they? Fust they're in like Flynn runnin' us blokes dahn, then they carries on like we're ther ants pants, up an dahn like er brides nightie I tell's yer.
An ut's all past history, good oh ut ther time, I'd go like ther clappers an felt like Christmas on er stick when I won, bet Miles did too, but ut's ova, cactus, dahn ther tube. Retirement us crash hot an mostly I would'n go back fer quids. I dunno though, when I goes ter ther track fer publicity I get's real cocky. Racin wus tops, ther real McCoy when I wus fit, ther memories are bonza, bet Miles thinks so too but yer'd be er real dingbat ter wunt ter go back, retirement us ther duck's guts!
I coulda told ther sheilas I wern't ther top galah but they're so full uv ut they would'n listen if yer give ut ter them on er plate.
Tell Miles Happy Birthday frum me, would'n mind goin jaggin with him sometime.
Ooroo,
Clyde.
Comment by Chris Champion
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You have, in your usual sophisticated vernacular, put your paw on it.
Pity poor Miles - as the resident hound at a GAP kennels, he has to put up with many more bitches than we do.
I'm sure Larissa will pass on your birthday greetings. Maybe, if we're lucky, she'll let Miles say hello himself.
Ooroo to you too,
S
Comment by heidiclyde
That'ud be goodoh. Miles sounds er real good sort, er cove I could tyke er shine ter.
Praps ther Sheilas he lives with dunt give him heaps like our two, ther foster hounds takes a garbla weeks ter work aht how pet life goes an then another ter catch on ter ther chiacking, Miles prolly dun hev ther sheilas there thut long.
see yer rahnd ther traps,
Clyde.