· THROUGHOUT HISTORY, GREYHOUNDS HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED A PRIVILEGED LIFE.

· THEY WERE ADMIRED FOR THEIR SPEED AND GRACE

· THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE LEFT THOUSANDS OF GREYHOUNDS HOMELESS AND WANDERING THE COUNTRYSIDE

· THE IRISH, WHO HAVE ALWAYS HELD DOGS, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE GREYHOUNDS, IN HIGH REGARD. BY LAW, THEY WERE CONSIDERED SEMI-RATIONAL BEINGS, WITH RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

· AT THIS TIME, IF YOU WILL RECALL, THE CHURCH AND STATE CAME INTO CONFLICT IN MANY COUNTRIES. IN THE EYES OF THE ROYALTY, THE CHURCH WAS BECOMING TOO POWERFUL AND TOO RICH. AMONG THE PRIZED POSSESSIONS OF MANY RELIGIOUS LEADERS WERE THE GREYHOUNDS.

· SO CAME TO BE THE "FOREST LAWS." THE LAWS PROHIBITED HUNTING OR EVEN TRESPASSING ON NOBLE'S LANDS. PENALTIES INCLUDED THE LOSS OF AN EYE OR HAND. IN ADDITION, THE POSSESSION OF THE GREYHOUNDS WAS LIMITED TO ROYALTY.

· MANY ROYALS ENJOYED THE COMPANY OF THEIR GREYHOUNDS. AT ONE POINT, CHARLAMANGE, KING OF FRANCE, BECAME INCENSED WHEN NOBLES BEGAN BRINGING THEIR HOUNDS TO CHURCH. THE KING BANNED THE DOGS, SO NOBLES CAME TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE CHURCH WITH THEIR BELOVED DOGS, BUT DID NOT ENTER. AS A COMPROMISE, THE PRIESTS AT THE END OF MASS WOULD THEN GO THE ENTRANCE OF THE CHURCH TO BLESS THE NOBLES. THUS BEGAN THE CUSTOM OF THE BENEDICTION.

· IN SOUTH WALES, HOWEL THE GOOD MADE A LAW DECLARING THE PUNISHMENT FOR THE KILLING OF GREYHOUND THE SAME AS FOR A PERSON: EXECUTION.

· IN 1304, THE WIFE OF ROBERT THE BRUCE WAS JAILED WHEN HE WAS CHARGED WITH TREASON. SHE WAS ALLOWED THREE GREYHOUNDS AND A SERVANT IN HER CELL.

· JEAN III, THE DUKE OF BRITTANY, WAS LOOKING FOR A HUSBAND FOR HIS NIECE, HE ALLOWED THE YOUNG WOMAN'S GREYHOUND, YOLANDE, TO CHOOSE THE MAN WHO WOULD BE HIS SUCCESSOR.