About Us

We’re Andy and Sarah Jury, or as the villagers here in Glemsford call us, Mr and Mrs Greyhound. Over the years they’ve seen us walking a pack that was originally two, that ultimately swelled to ten – sometimes 12 when we had friends’ dogs visiting! – and is now back at two again (feels weird!) 

So when we thought about setting up a small business and asked ourselves “What do we really know about?” and “What do we love doing?”, then the answer was quite obvious wasn’t it?

It could have been very different though. We’d got as far as thinking we might get a labrador if we were ever in a position where we were home all day; but just as home-based working became a reality for us back in 2002, we also had a life-changing encounter with a four-greyhound family on a canal towpath. Labs were out, greys were in, and in 2003 we became hapless helicopter parents to our first grey, Susie. 

She was a bit of a madam, was Susie – black, elegant, haughty, like a catwalk supermodel. We learnt so much from her, and became much more competent parents! We thought we’d stop at Arthur, as a companion for Susie and with a two-dog family making sense. Er...it didn't quite work out like that!

We inevitably fell into addiction and entered the greyhound cult, developing a particular weakness for the hard-to-homes – from the scaredy, unhomeable Monty to the run of seven black boys who were variously too big, too shut down, too aggressive,  too nervous, none of which failed to become the most delightful, settled souls on the planet. 

The biggest hard luck story? Tricky to choose - Herbie, who was found scavenging round the bins and remained unclaimed? One-eyed Eddie, always overlooked because of his cataract? Or maybe Buzz, returned for no proper reason just before Christmas, and who was safely with us in time for some turkey.

The Grey Hotel’s current canine greeters, Zak and Reg, are numbers 16 and 17 on the adoption register, with a further six on the foster tally. We’ve also volunteered in kennels, done rehoming checks, delivered hounds across the UK, and regularly looked after our best friend’s hounds (at least another 10!). So we do see ourselves as pretty rounded and grounded grey folk, familiar with most of their endearing little habits and confident in their care, though never complacent.

Administering medicine, doing minor doggie first aid, dealing with an upset tum, eye-rolling at the boys marking their territory, getting up at 2am because someone decides they need a wee ‘now’, it’s all part of the great tapestry of greyhound life so please don’t worry. We’ve got it covered. Plus we have a 24/7 vet on speed dial, just in case.

Our house has been and remains a very happy home for our dogs. There’s plenty of interior space with secure areas front and back, six foot high fences that can't be tunnelled under, and a double bolted/latched front gate to control visitor entry.

We’re happy for hounds to go everywhere in the house but let us know if you’d prefer they didn’t do – or learn – stairs. We have two sitting rooms, so can always segregate dogs if necessary, and a large hall area; accommodating crates isn’t a problem. The important thing about the house really? The vibe. Nothing much happens at all, except a lot of snoozing, chilling, eating and, of course, roaching. Which is just how greys like it.