Beans: friend of Tuuli and Rankin

"We have three dogs, Tombi, a Jack Russell, Pickle, a lurcher and a little whippet called Beans.

We adopted Pickle in August 2008 from the RSPCA after he was found abandoned and starving, tied up next to two dead dogs. Beans was found wandering by a canal in November 2011 when she was only two months old and we adopted her from an amazing charity in Stoke called the Greyhound Gap.

Beans has been a fantastic addition to our family; like all whippets she's very affectionate, intelligent and playful and we all adore her. Whippets are really wonderful dogs and we are very lucky to have her!

There are so many amazing dogs in rescue centres who desperately need homes and it is so much more rewarding adopting a dog who is in desperate need of a loving home rather than buying a puppy from a breeder."

Tuuli Shipster

Photograph of Beans and Tuuli provided by Rankin

Whippet lovers are everywhere in the UK, most are unknown, some are household names. This feature is one in a series that will showcase the rescue whippet friends of famous people and their families. The posts will be archived on a dedicated page, 'Friends of the Famous', and you can read the post about Jennifer Saunders, her mum Jane, and their whippets there now, should you have missed it first time around. We are immensely grateful to the busy and talented people who have contributed their time, and their words and pictures to these posts.

Meet Lamorak

Continuing our series on the fun to be had with a rescue whippet, meet Lamorak, future flyballing star. Lamorak was rescued by us, and rehomed by Keith and Julie Huggins of DogStar Flyball and is pictured here in training. We're told he's going to be very fast.


For those not in the know, flyball is a relay racing event in which teams of four dogs race against each other, two teams at a time, over a four jump course that leads to a flyball 'box'. When the dog 'steps' on the spring loaded box a ball is released which it catches and dogs must then return over the jumps whilst carrying the ball. The jump height is determined by the shoulder height of the smallest dog in the team. Each dog must cross the finish line before the next dog begins and the first team to have all four dogs 'home' error free wins the heat, of which there are five. You can see a video of the dogs in action on the DogStar Flyball website


Lamorak is not the only rescue whippet Keith and Julie have on their team. Pictured above is little lady Melora, learning all about the box. And then there's Arthur, pictured below (photo credit Paul Bennett of Dogtography), who is the number one flyballing whippet in the country, and the only whippet to have achieved a Gold 'Milestone' Award in recognition of points attained (15,000) in competition ... Breaking News: Arthur has now been awarded the Ice Blue Moon Award after attaining an incredible 20,000 points!!

It is a common misconception among folk thinking of adopting a whippet that these are dogs that need a lot of exercise. In fact although they do appreciate a daily run many are perfectly happy with one long walk on the lead. But they are intelligent dogs and are known for their joie de vivre, and taking part in activities such as flyball and agility when the opportunity arises is something they really enjoy.

Please consider making a donation to JR Whippet Rescue today - there is a donate button to the left - and help us secure the lives of more whippets like Lamorak and his friends.

Winning ways

Champion Shalfleet Simply a Lord
The breeders of pedigree dogs are often attacked in the press, yet be assured, responsible whippet breeders have always been intent on producing athletic, healthy hounds with the best of temperaments*.

Thankfully most of those whippets will never need rehoming and will instead live happy lives with their life-long owners. And some of them will achieve great things. Playful and affectionate companions, whippets also excel on the track, in the agility ring, and at show. And to be crowned Best of Breed at Crufts, that has to be the pinnacle of achievement.


This years Crufts Best of Breed winner, Champion Shalfleet Simply a Lord, call name Troy, went on to be placed a well deserved Reserve Best of Group. Troy's breeder and owner, Jane Wilton-Clark, has kindly forwarded some photographs of Troy to us so that we might share them with you. Perhaps you'd join with us in congratulating Jane and her stunning boy.


*Without dedicated breeders many of the dedicated breed rescues wouldn't exist. Founded by Joanna Russell of Martinsell fame over 40 years ago JR Whippet Rescue is a case in point.