Download Homeward Bound 8/02 - Greyhound Pets of America

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
NANCY BATAILLE
Hello!
In this issue, I would like to address
our ongoing desperate need to place our
senior foster dogs, either in temporary/
permanent foster homes or into loving
(and hopefully permanent) new adoptive
homes.
I am sure many of you are not even
aware that this is an ongoing need. We are
acquiring quite a few senior greyhounds
over the age of seven. Some are even up to
11 years old. This is happening for various
reasons; none of the reasons make sense to
me. I feel that when you bring a pet into
your home, it is like a marriage – for
better or for worse – and they are also like
your children. Unfortunately, not
everyone feels like I do.
So my plea is – to anyone out there in our
organization who might have room in their
heart for a senior dog – to please help us if you
can. They deserve to live out their lives in nice,
loving and permanent homes. Many of our
seniors are in perfect health; they’re just not
wanted anymore by their previous owners. We
do have a few with ongoing medical needs,
which, just as with humans, comes with old
age.
If you are able to foster one of these
precious old-timers, all of their medical
expenses, food, etc. will be provided by GPALargo. If you are interested in adopting one of
them, we will sometimes be able to waive a
portion of the adoption fee, if not all of it.
All of my personal greyhounds are seniors.
I always say I have the geriatric time bomb
HELLO AGAIN, FAITHFUL READERS!
I’m pleased to report that you have
responded to our request for donations.
As we go to press, you have sent back
our donation envelopes to the tune of
over $1,500! GPA-Largo greytly
appreciates it!
As you may or may not know, GPALargo’s greyhound walking and
awareness efforts have now been
transferred over to the Tampa Track for
the rest of this year. As always, we need
volunteers to help out. If you didn’t get
the chance to inform the public about
how greyt greys can be at Derby Lane,
here’s another opportunity for you. Will
Shumaker is the man to call; he will give
you all the information you need. He can
be reached at (813)971-3114.
It has come to my attention that there
has been a recent increase in greys
getting loose, away from their owners,
and WITHOUT collars and tags. If you
have lost your grey or have a medical
emergency, call the pager at (727)5957852 and call the emergency pager at
(727)825-5363 immediately so that we can
start to help you find your dog.
Remember, your grey’s collar and tags are
his tickets for a quick, smooth and safe
return home! NEVER leave your hound
naked – that is, without a collar!
Microchips and tattoos do not ensure a
safe and quick return home. Your
hound’s collar should have a GPA tag, a
rabies tag, and a personalized tag with (at
the very least) the hound’s name and your
phone number. Call GPA-Largo if you
need assistance with these tags. If the
jingling tags make too much noise in the
house, wrap the tags in tape or a
rubberband. Noise is no excuse for taking
off collars. Keep your greys safe! (Thanks
to Susan Hendess for bringing this issue
to light.)
Christine Garrison
Homeward Bound editor
waiting to go off at my house, with
everyone over the age of 10 years. But I
would take an older greyhound any day,
because the love they have for you and the
gratitude they show is so incredibly worth
it, even though you may only have them a
short time. Won’t you please take a senior
into your home?
WHAT HAPPENED
LAST QUARTER?
The Doggie Wash, held May 25, raised
about $200. The proceeds were shared with
Noah’s Angels, a group dedicated to helping
owners who can’t afford serious illness
medical care for their pets. Several car
washes were also held.
GPA-Largo adopted out 46 greyhounds
in April, May, and June! We also picked up
35 dogs from various kennels at Derby Lane.
And last but not least, the Spring Picnic
– held May 19 – was an enormous success!
Even though it rained, a good time was had
by everyone in attendance, including Baxter
(see picture). Baxter brought his owner,
Dawn Frazee, who also had a great time.
Between the hot dogs, the Snap raffle, the
prize raffle and the photo sessions, the greys
and their humans certainly were kept busy.
Thanks for joining us – we’re looking
forward to the next picnic! (See upcoming
events on page 4.)
Be sure to visit the GPA-Largo Web site! Find out how our adoptees are doing in their new homes. Check out the new online store and message boards – chat with other greyhound aficionados!
www.greyhoundpets.com
1
WHERE DO FOSTER GREYS COME FROM?
BY CHRISTINE GARRISON
I always had a vague idea of how the
whole process worked, but I didn’t know the
specifics. And if this scenario sounds familiar
to you, don’t despair. I have come to the
rescue and asked the questions . . . now we
all will know where GPA-Largo’s foster
greys come from!
April 11. My morning began by meeting
up with Maryann Tolliver at Noah’s. The
plan was to pick up a dog from one kennel at
Derby Lane and talk to an owner of another
kennel. Then we would transport the dog
we picked up back to Noah’s.
GOLDEN BOY
Getting into the kennel area at Derby
Lane is easier said than done. There is a
security guard and gate at the entrance to the
kennels. If the guard doesn’t know you,
good luck getting inside! It apparently has
something to do with the fact that there is
gambling on the premises. Maryann is a
frequent visitor to the kennels and the guard
knows her, so he let us through. We stopped
by Mendheim Kennels and picked up
Golden Boy, a four-year-old fawn male. The
pickup went smoothly, and we returned to
Noah’s.
Once at Noah’s, all greyhounds are
checked in, given vaccines and Frontline,
and put on antibiotics. This is to protect the
dog’s teeth before cleaning. The dog is also
tested with small animals while at Noah’s.
Five to seven days after the dog is checked
in, it will be spayed or neutered and given a
teeth cleaning. After a week to 10 days of
recuperation, the dog is put into a weekend
or full-time foster home situation. All dogs
fresh off the track require a minimum of
three days in a foster home before being
adopted.
Golden Boy was put into a foster home
at the end of April. He was adopted out of
the Clearwater PetSmart in June to Barb
Germain of Dunedin. Boy is doing fine in
his new forever home!
ABERNATHY KENNELS
I spoke with Jim Abernathy, a thirdgeneration kennel owner who’s spent 15
years at Derby Lane. He gets his racers from
his family’s puppy farm in Nebraska; at 1820 months of age, the pups come to Derby
Lane. He told me that about 60 dogs are
kept in the kennel at a time, rotated in and
out. There is an equal mix of male and
female dogs. (Just so you know, this kennel
was NOT quiet while I was there – whoever
said that greyhounds are quiet has never
spent a significant amount of time at a racing
kennel! Believe me, greys do bark!)
Jim led me through a typical day for the
dogs at the kennel. As early as 6 a.m., the
dogs are let out for about an hour. There are
pens at the rear of each kennel, plus a sprint
field on the Derby Lane property for the
greys to exercise on. While the dogs are out,
their beds are cleaned and it is decided
which dogs are to be worked that day, who
needs therapy, etc. Jim keeps an active list of
about 36 dogs, with four to six racing each
day. Therapy for dogs is a lot like physical
therapy for humans: to help out joint and
muscle injuries, they can be worked in the
whirlpool (heated water, of course), and
given ultrasound and magnetic stimulation.
After the dogs are let in, they are fed.
They are given a mix of beef, vitamins, bran,
Continued on page 7
2
JEFF’S FUND . . .
LEARN ALL ABOUT IT!
As part of the adoption process,
GPA-Largo provides all newly retired
greys with medical services. These
services, performed by veterinarians,
include spaying or neutering,
heartworm testing, teeth cleaning, and
vaccination. The funds for these services
come from donations and chapter
fundraisers. Occasionally, however,
GPA-Largo assumes responsibility for
medical treatment of injured, ill or
senior greys. The intense medical care
needed by these dogs can be quite costly,
and GPA-Largo’s already tight funds
can be stretched to the limit.
A new program called “Jeff’s Fund”
has been created to help care for these
special needs greys. Contributions to
this fund will help defray the costs of
surgeries, special diets and medications.
Jeff’s Fund was created by the
adoptive mom of a greyhound named
Jeff. Jeff was returned when his family
had exhausted all medical resources
available to find out why he was losing
weight and his coat. GPA-Largo placed
him in foster care, and his condition was
further researched and examined. Jeff
was ultimately diagnosed with a form of
skin cancer and a severe malabsorption
disorder. Funds from GPA-Largo
covered costs for numerous medications
and a special diet. While in her care, Jeff
stole the heart of his foster mom and
was adopted.
After Jeff passed away, his foster
mom wanted to find a way to repay
GPA-Largo for all they had done for
him. She created this special fund to
raise money to treat special needs greys
that come into GPA-Largo’s care. People
are also given the opportunity to post
memorials to their greys who have
crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.
Donations for Jeff’s Fund are
urgently needed. No donation is too
small; every dollar will make a
difference. Readers wishing to contribute
can use the “Paypal” button on the GPALargo Web site or mail a check to:
Jeff’s Fund
C/O GPA-Largo
P.O. Box 8071
Madeira Beach, FL 33738
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ASK THE VET!
BY THERESA RACKY-SOLES
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DR. JANE DORSEY, TYRONE
VETERINARY HOSPITAL
This quarter, we spent some time
talking with Dr. Jane Dorsey from Tyrone
Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Dorsey has been a
vet since 1995 and has been at Tyrone Vet
since 1998. Tyrone Vet has been helping
out GPA-Largo in a reduced fee capacity
for about two years.
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HOMEWARD BOUND: Dr. Dorsey,
we have all heard that problems with
the teeth are common in greyhounds.
How would a grey owner know that
their grey has a problem or needs a
cleaning?
DR. DORSEY: The best sign is doggie
breath. Foul-smelling breath is an
indication that there’s something going
on that needs to be looked at by a
veterinarian. Some other signs of a
problem include red gums, gums that
bleed, brown or yellow-green teeth.
Most often, you’ll see the discoloration
on the back teeth. So, it’s important to
take a thorough look at your grey’s
teeth, front and back.
HB: When we take our grey to the
veterinarian and there is a dental
problem, what happens next?
DR. DORSEY: After the examination
determines there is disease, depending
on how severe, several things can
happen. First, the teeth are cleaned and
polished. Then, antibiotics can be
administered if an infection is present.
?
EDITOR: Christine Garrison
Dead, diseased or fractured teeth are
extracted. Leaving these in can cause
problems for the surrounding teeth.
HB: That’s great information. Once the
identified problem is taken care of, is
there any type of follow-up care, or is our
grey considered cured of their disease?
DR. DORSEY: No, unfortunately it’s a lot
like humans in that respect. They need
continuous care. Most often, your vet will
want to see your grey every six months
for a checkup. This is important to keep
the disease under control. We want to
prevent tooth loss, bone loss and reinfection. In addition, there are
prescription and non-prescription dog
foods that can help as well.
HB: Is there anything grey owners can do
to help prevent decay and disease?
DR. DORSEY: Absolutely! There’s a lot
you can do. First, ideally, teeth should
be brushed every day. If it can’t be done
daily, then as often as possible. Canned
food tends to cause more problems with
the teeth, so dry foods are recommended.
There are also dental rinses that you can
find at your vet and sometimes at pet
stores. You can also try floss bones and
knobby bones. These tend to work best
for helping to dislodge food from the
teeth. Dog biscuits do not tend to help
any more than regular dry dog food.
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Thanks to Dr. Dorsey for taking time
out of her busy schedule to speak with
Homeward Bound.
HMMMM . . . DOG PARKS?
BY THERESA RACKY-SOLES
Are dog parks a good idea, or a bad one?
What about for a Greyhound? Is this a good
place for the pet that has limited exposure to
other breeds? Is this a good place for the pet
that likes to run? Well, these are the
questions we set out to answer – and more!
Here’s what we found out.
Denver and I visited the new dog park at
Fort Desoto Beach. This is a very large park
with areas for both small and large dogs.
When you have a dog that likes to chase small
moving animals, this is a VERY good thing!
At the entrance to the park is a very handy
doggie waste dispenser. Thank goodness!
The last thing this doggie owner wanted to
experience at the park was doggie bombs!
Walking into the park, there are two gates.
You have to go through one to get to the
other. This was to help keep those dogs that
think they are escape artists from actually
escaping! (Good idea!)
The first dog Denver and I noticed in the
distance was another grey! We walked over
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
Kelly Croghan- Ford, Christine
Garrison, Barbara Grilli and
Theresa Racky-Soles
DESIGNER: Rick Mugavero
PRINTER: Cora Marro
STAFF: Arlene Hess, Gary Hess and
Dana Stevenson
BOARD SPONSOR:
Maryann Tolliver
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Nancy Bataille, President
Maryann Tolliver, Vice President
Mary Haas, Treasurer
Tonya Beader, Secretary
Harold Aich
Paul Hendess
Sea Sanderson
Homeward Bound is published quarterly
by Greyhound Pets of America – Largo
chapter for the purpose of offering
continued support to retired racing
greyhound owners. This publication is
provided free of charge.
Letters, photographs and articles are
welcomed and encouraged! Please
forward inquiries, comments,
suggestions and photographs to:
Christine Garrison
Attn: Newsletter
C/O GPA-Largo
P.O. Box 8071
Madeira Beach, FL 33738
Pinellas/Hillsborough: 727-595-7852
New Port Richey/Pasco: 727-430-0456
e-mail: [email protected]
GPA-Largo is dedicated to promoting
and facilitating the adoption of
Greyhounds when their racing careers
end, and to educate the public about
Greyhounds and what wonderful pets
they can become. GPA-Largo cares for
the animals from the track to their new
homes, using our network of foster
homes where loving volunteers help
them learn the trials and tribulations of
life after the track. GPA-Largo is run
entirely by volunteers and depends on
fundraising and donations for its
operating expenses.
Continued on page 6
Be sure to visit the GPA-Largo Web site! Find out how our adoptees are doing in their new homes. Check out the new online store and message boards – chat with other greyhound aficionados!
www.greyhoundpets.com
3
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, October 5, 2002: Motorcycle
Poker Run. The fun starts at 10 a.m., prizes
awarded at 5 p.m. For more details, call
Paul and Susan Hendess at (727)797-0078.
Mark your calendars for Sunday,
December 8! Take time out from your
holiday shopping to come to the GPALargo Fall Picnic, at Phillippe Park in
Safety Harbor. The Gilleys, with the
famous dancing greyhounds, will be back
by popular demand. Additional
information to come in the next newsletter.
ONGOING EVENTS
Race season at the Tampa Dog Track
has started and runs through year-end.
Contact Will Shumaker at (813) 971-3114
for information about walking the greys
out at the track.
Meet and greets: Educate others or
adopt another greyhound! Here’s where
GPA-Largo can be found:
Petsmart: 3993 Tyrone Blvd., St.
Petersburg. Every Sunday from noon – 3 p.m.
Petsmart: 26777 US Hwy. 19 N and
Enterprise, Clearwater. Every Sunday from
noon – 2 p.m.
Petsmart: Citrus Park Blvd., Tampa.
Every Sunday from noon – 2 p.m.
Pass It On Thrift Store: 9458 US Hwy. 19,
Embassy Plaza, Port Richey. Second Saturday
each month, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Pet Supermarket: 5104 Hwy. 19, New
Port Richey. Every other Sunday from noon –
2 p.m.
Be sure to visit the GPA-Largo Web
site, and the online store! Choose from an
array of greyhound goods, from artwork to
trinkets. Remember, all money raised goes
to help the greys, so take a look!
NEW ITEM
Check out Greyt Health! It’s an allnatural blend of vitamins, minerals, and
phytonutrients, as well as glucosamine and
chrondroitin for joint support. This
supplement is used to give dogs the
essential nutrients that dog food lacks, so
they can be strong, healthy, and active after
their racing career. Do your dog a GREYT
big favor and buy some today! Greyt
Health is available from your GPA-Largo
reps in one-pound containers for $15. All
proceeds benefit the dogs awaiting
adoption.
4
LITTERMATES! UNEXPECTED
GREYHOUND REUNIONS
BY BARBARA GRILLI
It’s not every day that retirees from the
same litter end up in the same home, or
accidentally meet their brothers and
sisters. Believe it or not, this has actually
happened several times within GPALargo. This is the story of four sets of
littermates, and how you can learn more
about your grey’s family on the Internet.
Our first reunion is courtesy of our
chapter president, Nancy Bataille. In
November of 2000, when Nancy heard
that GPA-Orlando was adopting out a
dozen older dogs from a kennel owner
who had become to ill to care for them,
she came to the rescue. Two middle aged
greys, Gypsy and Vader (racing names
Martian Invader and Sky Gypsy), caught
her eye. They looked similar except that
Gypsy, the bolder one, had a crooked leg.
They were both the same shade of red
brindle, with curly tails and white on their
faces. After reviewing their birth certificates, the truth came out – they were
littermates! At first, Vader was devastated
to be separated from his sister Gypsy for
any amount of time, but they are now
both very happily retired and continue to
get along great. Per Nancy, they still run
together daily and
share food from
each other’s bowls.
Our next
reunion was quite
by accident. Bill
Christopher and
Sandy Krabel were
at the GPA-Largo
Fall Picnic last year
with Terry (Hello
Doggy) when they
saw some greys
there with shorter
muzzles and small
ears – just like
Terry! They had learned about Terry’s
lineage on the Internet and, after conversing with the dogs’ owners and checking
ear tattoos, discovered that not only did
they all have the same sire (father); they
were also littermates. Terry’s brother Slick
(HM’s Oil Slick) had a very similar face
but was all black. Terry’s sister Nicky
(HM’s Doublenickel) was a dead ringer
right down to her white and brindle
coloring. Nicky and Slick’s owners, Gail
Hesse and Dr. Lester McLachlan, later
invited Terry and her owners to visit
them at home and meet Terry’s father,
Diamond (HM’s Flamboyant). The entire
extended family ran and played together
at the impromptu reunion and had a ball.
Our third reunion happened in
March, when Sarah Snider of Lake
Panasoffkee selected two greyhounds
from the GPA-Largo website. She
discovered that the two blue fawn males
were brothers and was “thrilled.” Reb
and Duke (Barabas and Braxton) are both
big strapping boys (at one point in his
career, Reb tipped the scales at 84
pounds!), and both had long successful
racing careers. They cause heads to turn
heads in Lake Panasoffkee, where they
are the only greyhounds in town! The
two boys love life in their forever home
with the Sniders. “They get along great.
When they are sleeping, 99% of the time
they are laying exactly alike. Reb is the
more mischievous one, but Duke does his
share – and then sits back and plays
innocent. Reb reminds us when it is close
to meal time and Duke sleeps on his back
with all four feet in
the air,” says Sarah.
Typical brothers.
Finally, my
own greyhound
littermates, Irlie
and Skyler
(Bubbles Trouble
and Mile High)
came to us in two
installments.
Although we
thought we wanted
only one greyhound, the Lay’s
potato chip theory
once again proved true: you can’t have
just one. Irlie had already embarked on
her journey into spoiled retirement with
us for three months when we got a phone
call from Maryann Tolliver from GPA.
Sister Sky needed a home. To make a
long story short, the sisters are inseparable
and do everything in unison like a
peculiar little drill team. Like Reb and
Continued on page 5
Littermates! Unexpected greyhound reunions
continued from page 4
Duke, they have distinct personalities.
Irlie is the drama queen and Skyler is
the rock ‘n roller. Irlie will lay on her
back with her feet in the air, but only if
there is an attentive audience. Skyler
loves simple pleasures like smiling and
dancing. If you remember the Patty
Duke show on TV, they are the canine
Patty and Kathy Lane.
There are several ways to learn
more about your grey’s littermates and
family. A great source of information is
on the Internet at
www.rosnet2000.com. Click on
“Greyhound Data” towards the center
of the home page and then enter your
dog’s racing name in the box on the far
right. To the left, there are a column of
boxes to select from, titled Performance
Lines, Race Charts, Genesis, Littermates, Siblings x(by) Sire, and Siblings
x(by) Dam. Start by clicking Littermates. You’ll find the name of the sire
(father) and dam (mother) and the
racing name, color, gender, weight and
owner of each member of the litter. For
example, Hello Doggy (Terry) came
from a litter of nine pups! You’ll see
Slick and Nicky listed as well. This is
also a great Web site to explore for
details of your grey’s career. You can
find out how many races your grey ran,
results of every race, and other exciting
details (like seeing if your grey won the
race on Aunt Ethel’s birthday two years
ago). See Performance Lines and Race
Charts for these gems.
If you don’t know your grey’s
racing name, your GPA-Largo
placement representative may be of
help. Sometimes birth certificates are
not available, but you may be able to
obtain the racing name from the
National Greyhound Association
through your dog’s tattoo number.
They are also on the Internet at
www.ngagreyhounds.com. Click on
“Registry” for contact information.
They are a voluntary non-profit
association, officially recognized by the
entire greyhound racing industry as the
sole registry for racing greyhounds.
Records on all breedings, litters and
registrations are maintained at the
NGA’s headquarters in Abilene,
Kansas. Good luck!
HEY DENVER,
HEY DENVER,
Cartman here. I need your advice.
These flashes and booms are really
making me nervous. I shake like a rattle
and my nose starts pouring! It’s really
embarrassing! My human folks say these
are thunderstorms and nothing to worry
about. I can’t quite figure out how
something that is loud enough to shake
the house can’t hurt me. I’m not so sure
my human folks know what they’re
talking about, ya know?! Help me out,
buddy ... what’s a grey to do when we
hate those booms and flashes?
Any suggestions on what to do when
my human folks are busy or out of the
big crate? I sometimes get bored.
–CARTMAN
CARTMAN,
Doggie! I’ve been there! You would
think if they can figure out how to
housebreak us, they’d be able to figure
out how to make those stop! But, they
haven’t figured that out yet! In the
meantime, here’s what I do. My human
folks got me a little something to calm
my nerves. It’s called Back Flower
Essence. It’s an all-natural herb, and it
works! It can take a little while to kick
in, but it does help me settle down. Woof
your human folks to call Judith Sanders
at (727)391-5624. She’ll hook them up!
Here’s something else my human folks
do. They close the blinds and turn up the
radio. This usually helps me handle
things pretty well. When all else fails, I
find myself a dark place in a closet or
hall where there are no windows and
wait it out. Hang in there, Cartman old
buddy . . . the flash-and-boom season
doesn’t last forever! (Thank Dogness!)
–ANNETTE
ANNETTE,
You bet I’ve got some suggestions.
Here they are. I’ll call them Denver’s
Greyt Things To Do!
❖ Look out the window. There’s lots
going on out there. I thought I saw
a bunny once!
❖ Take a nap!
❖ Protect the house! Move stealthily
through and make sure your
human folks are safe!
❖ Check out the water in the toilet
bowl. But be very cautious if it’s
yellow. That’s a VERY bad sign!
Whoa Doggie!
❖ Take a nap, again!
❖ Play with your stuffie!
❖ Chew on a bone! Woof!
❖ If your human folks leave it on,
watch TV! Animal Planet is my
favorite!
❖ Push your nose on the doors and see
if they open . . . then explore what’s
behind them!
So you see Annette, there’s lots you
can do! Anyone else out there have
suggestions? E-mail me and I’ll pass
them along!
If you have a question or comment
for Denver, e-mail him at
[email protected].
Be sure to visit the GPA-Largo Web site! Find out how our adoptees are doing in their new homes. Check out the new online store and message boards – chat with other greyhound aficionados!
www.greyhoundpets.com
5
Hmmm . . . Dog parks?
continued from page 4
and met him and his owner, Arlene. This
was their first time at this park as well.
They liked it much better than the dog park
at Crescent Lake. It was much bigger and
grassier. And it was very big – right in the
middle of the park was a yellow fire
hydrant! “Cool!” I could hear Denver
thinking. And not only did they have two
open air doggie showers (for cooling off or
bathing), they also had a doggie drinking
fountain. Wow! They thought of
everything.
Well, I was very timid about letting
Denver off of his leash. I’ve never done that
before! And, there were all kinds of breeds
there, from spaniels to pit bulls. So we
walked, leashed, for about 15 minutes
before I became a little more comfortable.
Then, I took that step. I unleashed him. I
knew he would immediately start to run. I
expected to see him sprint around, as he
frequently does in the back yard. But he
didn’t. Rather, he looked up at me with a
puzzled look, as if to say, “Ummmm . . .
excuse me . . . you’re not supposed to do
that!” I gave him the okay pat and off he
went! Not sprinting, but kind of a jog. He
didn’t really check out other dogs, just
sniffed around the trees and the fence and of
course, the hydrant.
Shortly after, we met up with Arlene
and her grey again. They were heading out
to the beach. Hmmm . . . the beach! It turns
out that Fort Desoto has created a beach
where unleashed pets can take their
humans! Sounds great, I thought. So
Denver and I left the fenced-in park and
headed a few hundred feet away to the
beach. Bow wow – a lot of dogs! Playing in
the water, playing Frisbee . . . gettin’ some
sun! At first, Denver didn’t quite know
what to make of the waves splashing and
the water moving up on the shore. He was a
bit startled. But soon he was doing okay . . .
we just needed to stay far enough up on the
beach to not get wet! Because the beach was
not fenced, Denver remained leashed. As we
were walking . . . he got a lot of attention! I
got lots of opportunities to talk about
adopting greys.
We walked for a bit and then turned
around and headed back. As we were
walking, I turned back to look at another
dog barking, only to be started by what I
saw. Walking in a perfectly straight line
behind Denver were three much smaller
dogs, nose to tail! I couldn’t help but
chuckle, “What the heck, Denver? You’ve
picked up some strays!” It looked like
6
Denver was leading a train! A human could
not have lined them up any straighter. The
rest of the way down the beach, people we
passed shared my laughter at this most
unusual sight. I just told them we were out
picking up hitchhikers! Well, eventually the
dogs decided to stop following and we were
back at the car, ready to go home. Denver was
hot and tired, and so was I.
So, back to the questions . . . are dog parks
good for greys? I say yes, they are. IF USED
WITH CARE. Leash your grey until you and
he/she is comfortable. Walk him, leashed, to
meet other dogs and see how he does. If the
park is crowded, reconsider. Maybe bringing
him at an earlier or later hour would work
best. And bring a bowl to put some water in.
Your grey may be uncomfortable drinking
from the fountain. If you see an aggressive
dog in the park, leave. Don’t stay around.
We’d like to think that all animal owners are
conscientious about ensuring everyone’s and
every animal’s safety when bringing their dog
I decided to make this list about
YOU, not about me! This is what I
expect from any and all humans I come
in contact with:
DO pet me when my human lets
you in the house. I am greeting you too;
I expect to be acknowledged. As you
know, I will do just about anything to
get your attention, including jumping
up and licking your face, stepping on
your feet, and sniffing places you’d
rather I didn’t sniff.
DON’T ignore me. Enough said.
DO give me plenty of chances to go
outside and run around in the yard. I
like greeting all the neighbors, and I get
extra pets from them too. And don’t
forget, I LOVE to run . . .
DON’T yell at me when I roll
around in the dirt . . . I like getting my
coat dirty! My human tells me her
greyhound is turning gray when I do
that, whatever that means.
to the park, but realistically, this isn’t
always the case. So, just be safe – so you
and your grey don’t end up sorry. Also,
hose your grey off when you get home to
remove any parasites he may have picked
up. And, be aware of his disposition. If
he seems anxious, try again another time.
Pay attention to this health too. If he’s
showing signs of heat, shower him off,
give him some water and, if necessary,
cut your visit short. Greys can become
overheated very quickly. It’s important
for us to pay attention. Overall, the park
was a good outing. This grey owner
would do it again!
Editor’s note: While Theresa and
Denver had a good experience at the dog
park, GPA-Largo does not recommend
that owners take their greys to these
parks. There have been several incidents
involving other dogs attacking greys at
these parks. Please be cautious if you
choose to take your grey to the dog park!
DO keep an eye on me when I run
around in the yard. I try to sneak things
past my human all the time, like
munching on assorted goodies in the
grass (or the grass itself!). She’s pretty
sharp, though, and I do think she has
my best interests at heart.
DON’T take all the fun out of my
snooping around in the yard! I find it
funny that you try to catch up with me
when I run away from you . . . I can
run faster than you . . . so what if I’m
being silly? It’s part of my charm.
DO shower me with lots of
attention. You really can sit there and
rub my back for hours – really, I don’t
mind! And I like being rubbed behind
the ears. That’s the spot . . .
DON’T stop paying attention to
me, even when I sleep. I like being the
center of your universe.
REMEMBERING TRUE HEART AND HUSTLE:
HM’S FLAMBOYANT
BY BARBARA GRILLI
Gail Hesse and Dr. Lester McLachlan
recently experienced the loss of a beloved
family member who was a celebrated
champion athlete; and most of all, an
unforgettable greyhound pet.
HM’S Flamboyant (Diamond, to
friends and family – from the perfect
white diamond on his back) was one of
the fastest sprinters at Derby Lane and
Tampa. He also competed at Mile High
and Cloverleaf in Denver, Colorado,
where he consistently set some of the
fastest times and was a finalist in every
stake race he ran. He was even featured
in Sports Illustrated – not bad for a
hometown greyhound!
After his stellar five-year career,
Diamond hung up his racing silk and
retired to home life. This was an easy
transition, since he and his littermates
Where do foster greys come from?
continued from page 2
corn oil, and stress-dex. Then they are
readied for weigh-in, which on matinee days
is at 11:30 a.m.; other days, weigh-in is at
6:30 p.m. On matinee days, the first race is
around noon, while evening races start
around 7:30 p.m. After racing is through for
the day, there is a night turn-out for the dogs
around 9:30, although some nights can run
as long as midnight!
Basic upkeep on the greys works out to
about $3 per day. This figure, however, does
not take into account any medicines or
therapy certain dogs may require. Jim takes
very good care of the racers in his stead; the
were raised in the house; and six of his
retired littermates, sons, and daughters
were already there waiting for him. His
trademark flamboyant flared gait was now
part of his trademark morning greeting to
his owners, along with tiny licks to their
faces. When he wasn’t running at home
with his fellow retired greyhound family,
chasing a ball, or napping on his featherbed; Diamond volunteered as receptionist
at his owner’s office. “He was always such a
fine gentleman and patients would request
to see him when they would make their
appointments,“ Gail recalls.
Sadly, Diamond is gone now after a
wonderful life of 12 years. He lives on in his
owners’ and friends’ hearts. His legacy lives
on in his many retied littermates and
offspring too. His owners, Gail and Lester,
are avid supporters of adoption of retired
racing greyhounds. Their Web site http://
home1.gte.net/eyes2020/
hmgreyhounds.htm features an “All in the
Family” section where several of
Diamond’s kids have sent photos and
stories from their new homes (and yes,
there is a family resemblance). Local GPALargo adoptee Terri (Hello Doggy), one of
Diamond’s daughters, is happily living in
Seminole with her owners Bill and Sandy.
She had a reunion with daddy Diamond
late last year and ran and played with him,
her uncle, brothers, and sisters.
He was one proud Dad and, by the way,
a true champion.
kennel was quite clean and all the dogs I saw
looked healthy. Jim made it very clear to me
that he and the other kennel owners care a
lot about the welfare of their dogs. It’s
comforting to know that kennel owners like
Jim Abernathy help GPA in its ongoing
quest to keep greys healthy, both on the
track and into retirement.
Now that we all know how the process
works, help out GPA-Largo and volunteer
to take in a foster dog! Contact Tonya
Beader, Foster Home Coordinator, for more
information.
LEND US A PAW
PINELLAS/HILLSBOROUGH:
727-595-7852
NEW PORT RICHEY/PASCO:
727-430-0456
Ok, GPA is always in need of
something. And you can help. Here
are some ways you can do that:
QUALITY DOG FOOD! Always
needed- we can even pick it up-or
you can drop it at PetsMart for us!
BLANKETS! Our greys in foster
homes and at the kennel always
need blankets to lay on – even old
sheets will do! Just call and let us
know you have a donation!
STUFFED TOYS! Boy do they
LOVE these!
BABY GATES! If you have some of
these you’re not using anymore,
we could sure use them for our
Foster Homes!
FOOD BOWLS! Do you have any
old dog food bowls? We’ll take
them!
MONEY! Feeding, boarding and
caring for our greys is expensive
and it also takes money to raise
money. So, any tax-deductible
charitable gift you can provide
would be GREYTLY appreciated!
YOUR TIME! Volunteer for a
committee or to walk our greys at
the kennels. Your help is also
always needed during our
participation in local events to
create awareness about GPA and
all the greys that are in need of a
home. Come share your story
about adopting your grey, and
bring him or her with you! Just
call us at the number above and
we’ll let you know when and
where. There are always lots of
activities we’re involved in to help
us to raise money and awareness!
In addition, keep in mind that if
you work or participate in someway
with a group that can assist us, we
would like to talk with you about
getting their support too! This can be
working in a vet office, or you are
part of a Brownie/Boy Scout troop, or
work for a dog food company! So,
please, lend us a paw!
Be sure to visit the GPA-Largo Web site! Find out how our adoptees are doing in their new homes. Check out the new online store and message boards – chat with other greyhound aficionados!
www.greyhoundpets.com
7
GPA-Largo wishes
to express our
In a related note, here are the winners
of the Snap Raffle from the Spring Fling
Picnic.
Disney tickets: #1542. E. Turner
$50.00: #489. Benson Green
$25.00: #855. Paul Wiley
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT:
Take a
look at Hoss.
Black male.
He’s very
house friendly,
sweet, laid
back, and
loves humans. Does not like small animals,
but gets along with other greys just fine.
He was returned due to his previous
owner’s death. Contact Tonya Beader,
Foster Home Coordinator, for more
information about Hoss.
to the families of
Perrone, Gillette,
Boycott, Gunnar,
Buttons, Ramses,
Broiler, Topper,
and Joe.
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
Here’s an
update on Snap,
profiled here last
quarter. GPA-Largo had
enough funds – through
donations to Jeff’s Fund and a
special raffle – to pay for him
to have surgery. His leg
should be almost good as
new by mid-August. Thanks
a million to all who participated in the raffle and
donated to Jeff’s Fund . . .
your love and concern has
made a difference! Snap
now has a new lease on life
and will be ready for a
permanent home soon!
R . I . P. G R E Y S
heartfelt condolences