It took 14 months but finally it's a case of mission accomplished for patient pet lover Edna Whitelaw. And abandoned greyhound Bluey will be showered with affection this Christmas after being adopted by Edna and husband Maurice at the Country Cuddles Boarding Kennels near Kinross.

With winter fast approaching last year, Edna first spotted the blue brindle greyhound hobbling through the woods by the Blairadam kennels while she was out walking her own Rhodesian Ridgebacks. And it's taken her all this time to lure the hapless hound into a tender trap.

An earmark and diligent research revealed that the animal was registered at Shawfield Stadium 4 years ago but her racing days are over. Edna (48) told the PA: "It was heartbreaking to see her wandering around in the forest because her wrist was injured and she was clearly in pain. She had been abandoned.

"I tried to catch her but she took off into the woods. That's when I first started putting out food for her. I'd leave Pedigree Chum at the same spot for her morning and night, with some milk at lunchtime. It got to the stage she was waiting for me each morning.

"I took along a seat and tried to encourage her to come to me. But she was always wary and she'd keep a 20-foot flee or fight distance between us.

"I was really worried for her. How she got through last winter I'll never know because greyhounds don't have the best of coats for those conditions."

Edna's bid to befriend the animal became the talk of the local community. First up, she tried tranquilliser tablets from the vet but that was a non-starter. Then an expert was summoned from Kirkcaldy to target the dog with a dart gun.

"He was successful but 20 of us combed the woods and couldn't find her!" recalled Edna, who was nearing her wits' end. But a cunning Plan C finally paid off and the greyhound nicknamed Bluey was reined-in by stealth.

Edna explained: "I built a kennel in the woods and left food for her. Then we attached string to the sliding doors and I lay in a field waiting for my chance!"

The cost of operation hound dog was mounting but Edna's mission stuck a chord with fellow animal overs. Milnathort vets, Cameron and Greig, pledged to pay for inoculations and provide any treatment required; The Doghouse in Kinross came up with a waterproof coat, collar and lead; and Christine's Grooming Salon in Edinburgh offered a makeover!

Edna said: "Everyone wanted to know how I was getting on and people have been very supportive. It's heartwarming. There have been offers to sponsor her food."

Having trapped the reluctant greyhound, Edna slid the kennel on a trolley and headed back to her home.

"You'd think she would be petrified but when we released her in the kennels, she came up to me and licked my hand.

"It was a lovely moment. She is a lovely, good natured animal, despite all she's gone through.

"My nine-year-old daughter Fern attends Craigclowan and she loves getting home to play with Bluey. We're definitely keeping her after all we've gone through! There's no way we'll part with her."

Greyhound Action comment: A story with a happy ending, but many other greyhounds, abandoned when their racing days at Shawfield are over, are not so lucky.

RACE TO SAVE GREYHOUNDS

RETIREMENT home for racing greyhounds is desperate to find new owners for dogs facing the vet's needle.

The Retired Greyhound Trust, which housed more than 100 dogs from Glasgow's Shawfield track last year, said racing dogs were still being put down because not enough homes can be found.

Co-ordinator Mandy Reid said: "Some of the dogs are racing failures and others can be record holders."

Anyone interested should call 01470 511705.