Kiki, a greyhound bred for racing, will not pursue a career on the track. Instead, she is relocating from Sunderland, England, to California with her new owners, jazz musicians Natalie Angst and Tomas Antonic. The couple, currently based in Germany, plan to bring Kiki to their performances before she returns home to rest.
Professional greyhound trainer Yvonne Bell, who bred and raised Kiki, noted that the dog lacked the typical racing instinct. "She'd play all day and chase a ball, but all she wanted was to be fussed by people," Bell said. "Not all of them have that instinct to chase - she was one of those that didn't really have it."
Kiki was part of a litter of seven, with most of her siblings going on to race. However, during her track trials, Kiki showed little interest. "You can feel it in the body when you've got hold of them," Bell explained. "She wasn't really fussed… she might jog after it [the hare], but she wasn't keen."
Instead of racing, Kiki will join Angst and Antonic, accompanying them at their shows. The couple intends for her to relax at home when not at their performances.
