Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
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 ? ?? ? ? ASK THE VET! BY THERESA RACKY-SOLES ? ? ?? 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. ? 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. ?? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ? 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