A retired greyhound stole the show on an Airdrie couple’s wedding day after his surprise appearance outside of church brought the groom to tears.
Chloe and Ollie Cameron tied the knot at Cornhill Castle in Biggar with Chloe presenting her husband with a new four-legged addition to the family – retired racing greyhound The Other Donny, aka Donny.
Chloe had secretly homed Donny to surprise Ollie after the pair had been walking him for more than two months while volunteering at their local greyhound homing centre.
The happy couple had considered homing another dog after the loss of their beloved retired racer Apollo in January. Their other greyhound, Ruby, was craving a companion and despite her excitement, Chloe had been careful not to reveal a single detail of the surprise to her husband.
“Apollo passed away at the start of the year and we had been thinking about getting another dog to provide company Ruby,” she said.
“Ollie had been walking Donny and said he would love to home him. I had to do it in secret, so I reserved him and I had to put on an act, saying that I didn’t think I was ready for another dog yet.
“Ollie was walking him and had no idea, they had already built up such a great bond.”
The big reveal came during the wedding photographs, as Chloe called on her best friend Paige - who was in on the secret - to fetch the dogs for pictures.
There was initial confusion as two dogs returned, with Chloe’s nieces suspecting that Apollo had come back to life, before Ollie’s reaction made the planning worthwhile.
Chloe added: “Ollie was so surprised at seeing the second dog with Ruby, and then he realised it was Donny. He was so excited. It was such a lovely surprise for Ollie, he even shed a tear.”
Donny, once known as The Other Donny, picked up two race wins at Newcastle Stadium during his year-long racing career in 2024 after being trained by Tom Heilbron.
Now, he’s settled comfortably into his new home.
“As soon as we got home, he jumped straight on the sofa,” Chloe said. “He loves being at home and he loves Ruby - they’re like best friends already.
“We like to take the dogs for acupuncture treatments, and before we could book Donny in, we took Ruby to her appointment Donny did nothing but cry when they were separated. He just wants to be with her all the time.”
Chloe’s love of greyhounds began in childhood as her family always rehomed ex-racers and she has seen first-hand how affectionate they can be.
“It is such a great thing, to be able to offer them a new home,” she said. “They are so loveable and great natured, they’re amazing family dogs. I have five nieces and a nephew and they absolutely love them. They cuddle them and the kids play with them and they love it.”
And the surprises didn’t stop there as Chloe and Ollie travelled to Sunderland Stadium after they tied the knot so Donny and Ruby could reunite with their former trainers.
“They were so excited to see their former trainers,” said Chloe. “They clearly loved what they did and are so great natured.
“They both watched the races from the stands and wanted to get back out on the track and race, it was a wonderful evening.”
For further information about homing a retired greyhound, visit www.sunderland-greyhounds.co.uk/welfare-and-care.
Photos: Mairi Tiffoney Photography.
