Two's perfect company for Sheila

SHEILA Wylie can thank TV cartoon The Simpsons for providing a home for two elderly ladies – Gem and Sky.

At ten years old, Gem was taken from the Greyhound Trust centre at Hollin Hall, Fir Tree, near Crook, about five years ago.

Sky, a year younger, arrived from the Greyhound Trust branch at Chester-le-Street race track, a few months later.

Ms Wylie explained: “I had been using dogs to engage disaffected children I was teaching and I showed them the episode of The Simpsons in which they get their greyhound after he was abandoned at the race track.

“When my terrier died, I had been talking about greyhounds so much, I looked into it and got my first one – then decided one was not enough.”

Gem raced more than 80 times, generally finishing in the top three. The end, when it came, was abrupt.

“She just stopped mid race and caused havoc. She just decided she did not want to race,” says Ms Wylie.

Sky, on the other hand, was no star of the track.

“She is not very well co-ordinated and did not have the speed. She was raced six or seven times then kept by her owner before being taken into care.”

Ms Wylie says it was only when she brought Sky home that gem “came out of her shell”.

She explained: “Gem did not play for about a year. They are so used to other dogs being around them she probably felt very lonely.”