Chief Stipe

Pensioner faces $20k vet bill after new puppy breaks both front legs www.nzherald.co.nz Multimedia Journalist·NZ Herald· 10 Dec, 2025 06:00 PM3 mins to read The young pup broke his first leg after doing zoomies around the lounge. Photo / Givealittle A Whangaparāoa woman who recently lost her beloved dog was dealt another round of tragedy when the dog she bought to replace him broke two of his legs. Diane Woodhouse, 67, turned to Givealittle after surgery and vet bills for her puppy climbed beyond $20,000. Woodhouse was “distressed for six months” after her Italian greyhound of 14 years, Georgio, died of old age in January this year. “He’ll always be the first,” the semi-retiree said. “He’s on the mantle now, there’s pictures of him everywhere.” Heartbroken, she made arrangements to buy another Italian greyhound “to be the fun, cool friend I need as I age gracefully”. She travelled to Christchurch to collect new puppy Romeo from a breeder and brought him home to Army Bay. But within seven weeks, the “fearless” pup, whom she affectionately called a “lovable psycho”, broke one of his front legs while doing zoomies around the lounge. “He just jumped off the couch and it didn’t look like he landed badly, but he let out an almighty scream and I immediately knew what he’d done.” Romeo will require further corrective surgery on his bow leg. Photo / Givealittle Italian greyhounds are notorious for fragile legs between 0-18 months, Woodhouse said, “because they think they’re Superman”. The second break happened as Romeo was recovering from the first. Woodhouse was at work when she received a call from her housemate saying Romeo “must have got inquisitive”, and knocked over a large painting and taken another tumble. “He let out another almighty scream. “I just ran to the car and drove home as fast as I could,” she said. Romeo had broken his other front leg and required further surgery. Each surgery costs up to $8500, and X-rays alone are $1100. “There’s only so much a retiree can do. The well is dry,” Woodhouse said. Although pet insurance contributed $10,000, it didn’t fully cover even the first break. Romeo the Italian greyhound broke both front legs in separate accidents. Photo / Givealittle Through it all, Romeo remains “the love of my life”. Woodhouse takes the small pup to her part-time job so she can keep a close eye on him. “He’s tiny, and people instantly want to cuddle him. “He just wants to be with you, in the car, on the couch, at work, always.” Romeo still needs corrective surgery for his bow leg from the first fall, and another to remove “a couple of screws and a plate” from the other leg. “He’s doing well; it’s been a journey, but he’s a sweet little boy, and people just love him.” The Givealittle page has raised more than $2500 so far.

But thats ambiguous. How do you slap the fore shoulder without going in forward of it? As for the hits on the noggin between the ears it's how they carry the whip when they are goimg hands and heels. The whip is so flexible it bends without any effort. Doesn't hurt the horse (haven't seem one flinch)!

You are sounding more like @Reefton every post!! When was the last time you did anything for a Club?

None of them. For example the so called favoured Club - Auckland Thoroughbred Racing had an operational loss of $10m for the last two years.

I thought you couldnt hit forward.

I think the whip rules are a mess and I find it hypocritical that some ex-jockeys have had a sudden epiphany of conscience. For example what the hell is wrong with giving a horse a slap on the foreleg/shoulder? More effective than the rump and all the top horsemen know when to use it.

What race?

@Thomass can post whatever he wants except out of context micro second screen shots of his TV screen. Ad Nauseum I might add. BOAY aims to be a Pro-Racing site with some balance.

...and we wonder why Clubs can't make enough revenue to look after their core racing assets when a Club man such as @Huey doesn't get that the racing industry is competing for every other entertainment hospitality dollar. You are also have an arrogant unsurveyed belief that those that are going AREN'T interested in racing. If they walked in with you they'd leave by about race 3 they would be so miserable. Get with the programme @Huey people go to the races in the first instance to have a day out. Unless they are an Owner, Trainer or Jockey of course - the ones that put on the show. Put it another way how many of your "true racing enthusiasts" complain about the price of drinks and the quality of the food all the time? Surely they would be happy just dinning on having a punt on a horse!

BS. If you had been doing that you would have realised that the margin on booze is a damn sight better than on betting for the Club. Instead of being a Grinch just be grateful that they are coming in the gates. Soon to be frequent flyers.

When did you do that survey?

Meeting Newshttps://bitofayarn.com Herbie Dyke Stakes First Nominations - Extendedhttps://bitofayarn.com Please note First Nominations for the Herbie Dyke Stakes have been extended until 9.00am Thursday 11 December. https://bitofayarn.com

The Government closed the industry down - isn't it up to them to do all the work?

I don't YOU do. That's what makes your posts so pathetic. Anyone with an ounce of intellect can tell you have a snitch for some daft reason. @Huey get this in your thick skull - I'm a fan of anyone who has skin in the game and is enjoying themselves. Take you blood red sun glasses off and read my posts! WHERE HAVEN'T I BEEN OBJECTIVE? (PS: you are still to post some comparative analysis).

It's not Fake News @Huey . Prove me wrong.

Before I reply to this post and before you go answer this question. WHY do you breed thoroughbred racehorses?

Realistic about what exactly? Who really gives a Flying F what you think. You are so negative and miserable about most things that even Beezlebub doesn't want you! FFS go find another sport to moan about. All your posts are full of innuendo, inference and supposition - very rarely any facts if at all. You struck me as the person who blame there lack of success in the sport of racing blame everyone else instead of your own decisions. A bit like @Joe Bloggs buying a Roc De Cambes and then spending the rest of his life justiying the decision! Move on! I know lots of people who are having fantastic fun for a small investment and not just with Te Akau! BTW don't tell them but I'm a fan of Go Racing (have quite a few friends in horses with them), Wexford (the younger generation really knows how to market and get young people involved and a few other syndicators. Not so keen on the FRAC'ers! I suggest @Huey you spend your first pay packet and buy a small share in a few horses and enjoy the fun!

Thinking about it we've had three up to speed track managers/experts with lots of experience turn up in NZ to work and they've all been shafted by either Club members or the expert rabble and mob!

Well they seem really concerned about it now with their open letters. @Freda the management of our tracks and their quality has been every stakeholders job. That's half they problem the majority of you didn't complain or organise yourselves to address the issues when they started to occur. Where were the Trainers, Owners and Breeders Associations when they needed to get track maintenance the number one issue on the agenda. Oh that's right they thought stakes were the issue. You all bought into the myth that it was "too much irrigation", "not enough farmers involved", "its NZTR's fault" or the real cop out "it wasn't like this in 1980"!

To be accurate well above the average price of the yearlings Te Aku bought. Have you done the comparision with Maher, Waller or Waterhouse? Doesn't Waller have over 400 horses in training? You miss the point as always such is your obsession of being Anti-Racing. No I don't spruik them as underdogs in OZ. I just put a realistic assessment on the class of horse racing in the areas that the likes of Te Akau and other NZ Trainers are competing. From all reports they are VERY happy so far considering they haven't had a full season with their Cranbourne stable up and running.

Economics says you have to choose but keep your head in the sand. That's why the CD is in a mess. No co-ordinated plan and parochial fiefdoms. Don't forget to put Trentham in the false start category but that's all RACE's and NZTR's fault isn't it? NOT you and other Club members. Where was your CD NZTBA branch when the tracks needed renovating? That's right sipping whiskey and studying horse pedigrees.

Blah blah. Luckily you haven't right about much to date.

I think you will find it happened the last two seasons. Hand timed on the day and then corrected by viewing the video which isn't entirely accurate.

❗️Te Rapa Racecourse Cleared to Race for Saturday 13 December ❗️ NZTR and Te Rapa Racing confirm that SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup Day at Te Rapa will proceed as scheduled this Saturday 13 December, following successful jump outs held on a Soft 5 track with the rail in the True position. Thirty-four horses worked, senior jockey feedback on the surface was clear and positive, and a full post-jump out track inspection has given the surface the green light to return to racing.https://bitofayarn.com Waikato Thoroughbred Racing Chief Executive Officer Andrew Castles commented on today’s outcome:https://bitofayarn.com “WTR is delighted the Te Rapa track has been cleared to race SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup Day this Saturday."https://bitofayarn.com "Thanks to the trainers, jockeys, and industry officials involved in today’s jump outs that were completed without issue and to positive reports on the racing surface. I would also like to acknowledge Bart Cowan and the track team, who have worked tirelessly to get the track back in racing order with a quick renovation turnaround," Castles said.https://bitofayarn.com

You can't have it both ways @Huey on the one hand through your doom and gloom glasses you are telling us the breeding industry in stuffed, owners are leaving in droves and now you want ALL the tracks to presumably race no horses on. I realise these are difficult concepts for you to grasp. Although in saying that you talk in generalisations and anectdotes rather than present any data.