My greyhound Basil is an awkward loner weirdo – now I know how my parents felt | Patrick Lenton

Basil is a rescue greyhound, trained to chase things for entertainment.

The fear that he might see a small, white, fluffy dog running and tear it to pieces is unfortunately real.

As a newly single dog-parent, I unfortunately didn’t have any other options I had to go and work in an office so I could afford his expensive, single-protein diet food, sensitive-skin shampoo and anti-anxiety medication.

After a while, I noticed a change normally a reticent dog, when we realised he was howling with joy, running around with the other dogs.

For the first time since I’d adopted him, he was blissfully happy.

But his parents eventually realised I was happier just being a little freak, and so the biggest gift I can give Basil is the chance to be the same thing.

In Spite of Everything, Patrick Lenton is a writer and has a romcom out in May 2025 .