Hound Life

Monkey Jockeys and More

2011-05-29T10:49:00.009-04:00

Hello friends, I thought I would share more of my collection of vintage Greyhound images. The first group is particularly interesting!

Just prior to 1930, Loretta and Charlie David began training capuchin monkeys as Greyhound "jockeys." The monkeys had specially designed saddles and spent two years training with their Greyhound partners. The Davids introduced them to crowds in Palm Beach, Florida, before taking the act across country.

More images from long ago.

Thanks for visiting!

Simple Pleasures

2011-05-14T11:45:00.005-04:00

Jackson loves toys.

And Harvey? Shredding paper's just fine for him.

Silly boys.

A Beautiful Day

2011-04-04T17:11:00.012-04:00

Several weeks ago I decided to take today as a vacation day, and oh my, did I pick the right day! It's an absolutely beautiful day... warm, breezy and sunny. It seemed like a great day to find Jackson's bear, who hasn't been played with all winter!

Jackson picked up right where he left off.

Jimmy tries to figure out what all the fuss is about.

Now everyone's enjoying the sun.

And this is how we started our day...

Hope you enjoyed your Monday too!

More From Long Ago

2011-03-10T15:53:00.008-05:00

Hello from the Hounds!

We only have time for a short post, so we thought we'd share some images we've been collecting of vintage posters featuring Greyhounds.

This reminds me a bit of my gang...

And this is my favorite (some of you may know why).

Thanks for visiting, we'll be back soon!

Random

2011-02-07T16:53:00.015-05:00

Over the last couple of weeks:

Harvey and I celebrated his 4th adoption day anniversary. I can't believe how much my life has changed because of Harvey, and I'm grateful for every day I get to spend with this very special boy.

Jackson turned 7! He still acts like a puppy, so it's funny to think that he's a senior now. Here's Jackson with his annual post-Christmas clearance toy. (Please excuse the lousy photo!)

Clyde's mom hosted a little get together for some of the folks who helped with his rescue. It was wonderful to see Clyde, and he looks fantastic! He's a hardy and happy hound.

The Around Town Hounds visited Hollywood Cemetery. Hollywood, founded in 1847, is home to the monuments of 2 presidents, 6 Virginia governors, 22 Confederate generals, thousands of Confederate soldiers, and countless others. We visited many monuments, including several with dog statuettes. We also stopped by Iron Dog, the famous cast-iron Newfoundland who stands guard over a young girl's grave.

Iron Dog.

The January Around Town Hounds: Jackson F., Harvey, Jackson, Gretta, and Amirah!

We spent an evening last week sitting with Dimples, who broke her leg and needs constant supervision. Isn't she beautiful?

And lastly, Harvey had his annual dental. Poor guy, last year he had 3 extractions, and this year had to have 5 teeth removed. He wasn't able to Roo for a few days, but made up for it today... with perhaps the loudest Roo ever!

Until the next time. Meanwhile, hugs to your hounds.

From Long Ago

2011-01-17T13:42:00.009-05:00

This morning I was browsing through the New York Public Library's Digital Gallery and came across a neat collection of cigarette cards. In case you've never heard of cigarette cards, tobacco companies began printing them in the late 1800's to promote products and to help stiffen cigarette boxes. They were meant to be collectible, and covered a wide range of subjects, from theatre and sports stars to wildlife and boats.

This set, from 1922-1939, depicts Greyhound sport at various tracks in England. I found the captions interesting and was struck by how the hounds seem so revered.

Check out the lure.

This guy has feet just like Jackson's - big, with crazy long toes!

Hope you enjoyed the cards!

Lost and Found

2011-01-08T19:51:00.024-05:00

Over the last several months we've been involved in several missing dog searches. Losing a dog is one of my worst nightmares. I've been meaning to write a blog post about some of the things I've learned, but could never seem to find the time. But last month I met Amanda, whose resolve and determination to find her dog Clyde inspired me to get off of my duff and write this post.

Clyde's Story

On December 2, Clyde was out for a walk with his mom in Richmond's Fan District when he slipped his collar. He was gone in an instant. His mom, Amanda, started posting signs, contacting neighborhood groups, and using social networking sites to quickly spread the word about Clyde.

Amanda’s search turned into days, then into weeks. She received dozens of reports of Clyde sightings, and an unfortunate pattern began to unfold. Clyde was reported north and south of the spot where he went missing, and some of the reports were within minutes of each other. Clearly, there was more than one dog, and neither dog (one of which closely matched Clyde's description) would approach people. Amanda continued to pursue every lead, although more and more sightings were coming from the southern direction.

Three weeks into to the search, Amanda decided to place traps in the hopes of catching Clyde. She made a decisive decision to concentrate her efforts to the south, in the Byrd Park area. A homeowner provided hopeful news of multiple Clyde sightings in her yard, where he'd repeatedly nabbed bits of trash and carefully placed dog treats. (The homeowner said she’d call for her angels to look after Clyde, thus earning the nickname Angel Lady.) Amanda moved one of the traps to this location.

In a remarkable coincidence, Clyde was caught on film in Byrd Park, thus validating that Amanda was searching in the right place. An animal tracker helped to identify places Clyde inhabited, including the yard where he’d been spotted numerous times. And on January 3, after being missing for 32 days, Clyde was captured in the trap placed in the Angel Lady’s yard.

Amanda's story is so inspiring, mostly because of her amazing efforts, but also because of the outpouring of volunteers who reached out to help bring Clyde home. Amanda posted hundreds and hundreds of signs, which were instrumental in getting the reports she needed to isolate Clyde's location. Volunteers combed neighborhoods, parks and used their electronic networks to spread the news of Clyde.

Clyde is also amazing. This guy weathered bitter below-freezing temperatures, snow storms, and avoided traffic in one of the most densely populated areas of Richmond. Curious about coonhounds (Clyde's a mix), I looked up their breed characteristics and read this:

"It is in a coonhound's nature to constantly figure out ways to outwit his prey, so he often does the same with people. In other words, following commands blindly is not part of a coonhound's genetic makeup. Put yet another way, coonhounds can be very stubborn!"

I believe Clyde lived up to that description, surviving on his own and waiting for the right rescue opportunity so he could be reunited with Amanda.

Now that you've read Clyde's story, I hope you'll read on as I share some of the things I've learned about bringing a lost dog home.

LOST DOG TIPS

THINGS TO DO NOW - There are many things you can do right now to prevent or prepare for a lost dog situation.

Tag Collars. Use a break-away tag collar to hold your dog's tags and your contact information. This should be different from the collar he wears on walks, which you can leave attached to the leash. Always leave the tag collar on, and if your dog slips his collar while on a walk, hopefully the tag collar will stay with him.

Microchip. Microchips are great (all of my dogs have them), but be aware that they only help if the dog is found and taken to a vet. Microchipping is very inexpensive, so it's worth the peace of mind.

Proper collar fit. Make sure your dog's collar can't be easily pulled over his head. If your dog constantly pulls, consider using a harness. (And please, don’t use a retractable lead.)

Prepare a lost dog sign. If your dog goes missing, you'll likely have little time to fuss with a sign. Prepare one now, and save the file to your phone and send it a family member or friend. Your sign can be simple. A brief description, date missing, contact information, and your dog's likeness. If your dog is a Greyhound, you can use a Greyhound silhouette instead of a photo. An example of my sign is below (if you'd like the template, please email me).

Contacts list. Make a list of contacts and join your neighborhood and community online forums. Email resources are invaluable, and homeowners have the best opportunities for sighting stray animals. Creating a list of local vets and animal shelters now will save you time when you have little time to spare.

Lost Dog Kit. Keep a bag of items in your car. You'll never know when you can help with a lost dog search. Keep a spare collar, a leash, a bag of unopened treats, and for Greyhound folks, a turnout muzzle. Also, an extra pair of sneakers, blanket, and flashlight.

IF YOUR DOG GOES MISSING

Reach out. Reach out to everyone you know, and don't worry about the time of day. Your family and friends love you and will want to help. Immediately contact your rescue or adoption group.

Signs, signs, signs. Ask your friends to start posting your lost dog signs. Put your signs in plastic sleeves and post them using a staple gun. Use a map to identify a perimeter, and post them first to main cross-streets, then post them along side streets and alleys. Post them wherever there are sightings.

Spread the word via social networks. Use Facebook, and request that friends and friends of friends share your posts. Use Twitter and email. Email your neighborhood group and ask others to cross-post your message to other neighborhood groups. Attach your sign to all messages and emails. Get in touch with anyone who may have a media contact.

Contact Animal Control and rescue groups. Contact Animal Control, adoption groups and other breed rescue groups for help and ask them if they have access to traps or tracking experts. People who love animals will want to help.

Search with a dog. Ask people to take a dog with them when they search. If you're searching and don't have a dog, ask to borrow one. A dog will alert you to scents, cue you to sounds, and stick their heads into places you may not (like hedges). Also, the lost dog may pause instead of run if he sees you with another dog. Your dog partner may act to comfort the lost dog and will help protect you while you search.

Skittish dogs. Unfortunately, your dog may not allow himself to be caught. Greyhounds are notoriously skittish from the moment they go missing and may continue to run out of fear. Some dogs, like Clyde, go into survival mode. If this is the case, try to gain access to a live animal trap. Traps can be placed in the location of sightings, and a dog will likely enter the trap to reach food. (See a trap in action here.)

If you're a searcher of a skittish (xenophobic) or survival mode dog, please abide by the owner's instructions. It's tempting to call after the lost dog, but that may drive them further away. If you sight a dog that's known to run, it’s best to drop to the ground, phone the owner and try to keep the dog in your sights. These dogs may take days, weeks, or months to catch and their capture may require help from an expert.

Stay calm. Here's some great advice from Amanda - When people call in sightings, stay calm and allow the caller to describe the dog. Sometimes people aren't really sure what they saw, so it's best to let them tell you what they remember. Try and get as much information as possible. Even if you receive a call for a dog that closely matches the description of the missing dog, continue to follow all leads.

Remain hopeful. It's very difficult to remain positive and hopeful, but remember that dogs are very resourceful. And as Clyde proved, dogs are smart. They will do what instinct tells them to do to stay safe and alive.

I hope you've found some of the information here helpful (links to additional info are below).

Hugs to your hounds, whatever type they may be. And to Amanda, you are a hero to dog lovers everywhere.

Tips from Petfinder
Tips from the Missing Pet Partnership
Tips from FidoFinder
Greytalk – Greyhound Amber Alert Forum

One last note, Clyde was caught in a trap loaned by James River Greyhounds (thank you).

Our Day of Outtakes

2010-12-19T17:30:00.007-05:00

Ever have one of those days when nothing turns out as you'd planned? Well, today was one of those days, at least when it comes to photography.

This morning we headed up to Church Hill to look for period decorations. Some of the homes are so beautifully decorated, many with Victorian themes. I took a few photos, but none of them turned out... even the pictures of the dogs were a bust. Believe it or not, these are the best of the bunch.

This afternoon was no better. We tried to get a holiday photo of the hounds. Every photo, and I do mean every single one, qualified as an outtake.

So, no keepers from the day, but lots of goofball shots!

And this is out it ended.

Holiday Fun

2010-12-11T17:37:00.013-05:00

Today Harvey and I took a stroll through our neighborhood's annual holiday celebration, "Christmas on MacArthur." It's a "small town" event, and one of the things that makes Bellevue so endearing.

We saw lots of dogs, including a Labradoodle...

...and a Deerhound!

Check out Santa's reindeer!

Harvey and our new neighbor, Jackson.

Our last stop on MacArthur was at the Pampered Pets table for peanut butter treats!! We couldn't wait to get home to share them with Jello, Jimmy, and Jackson.

Jackson's anticipation was palpable.

Mom, hurry up!

Jello shows the boys how it's done.

The treats were a hit.

This afternoon I finished trimming the tree, with a little help from my constant companions, Jimmy and Jackson.

Happy Weekend, Everyone!

Hello from the Hounds!

2010-11-08T19:49:00.015-05:00

Hi Everyone, we're still here, but I must confess that I have not been up to writing new blog posts. I know others will understand that the events over the past 3 months in Texas and Florida have weighed heavy on our hearts, and it must be unimaginably difficult for those directly involved. And just let me say to those folks that even those of us from afar think and talk about your efforts every day. We are amazed at how you've continued to push forward to help Greyhounds find health, homes, and happiness.

As for us, we're doing OK! Last month marked Jimmy Chew's first year with us, and we love him more than ever. Even though taking care of 4 hounds is definitely a challenge, I'll never regret the day we decided to keep Jimmy. Happy Anniversary, Jimmy!

Jimmy and Jackson.

We recently formed a Greyhound walking group, aptly called "The Around Town Hounds." Harvey and Jackson, along with their friends Jackson Follek, Howard, Possum and Brady, meet regularly to explore Richmond neighborhoods. Sometimes other friends join in, and it's been great fun for the hounds and their escorts.

Brady, Harvey, and Jackson.

Jackson and Jackson!

Rusty and Harry.

The escorts.

The Around Town Hounds - Jackson, Brady, Jackson F., Harvey, Howard, and Possum.

This past weekend we were fortunate to participate in a GUR for Chevy, who is one of the sweetest and funniest hounds I've ever met. Chevy's northern owner could no longer keep him, but the universe conspired to place Chevy perfectly with a family in Atlanta. And it seems that the family needed Chevy just as much as he needed them. And wouldn't you know, helping Chevy get to his home was just the prescription I needed too, and I have a feeling that his story lifted many hearts this week.

Chevy.

This little guy came along for the ride...his new home is in North Carolina!

And in closing, here's my beautiful boy, Jackson.
Hugs to you and your hounds.

Something About Harvey

2010-09-07T14:57:00.011-04:00

Our boy Harvey turned 7 yesterday! Throughout the day I thought about the blog post I would write... about how much I love Harvey, about how wonderful he is, about how my life would be so different if our paths had never crossed... about what a great big brother he is to Jackson, Jimmy, and Jello, and how they would be so lost without him.

But instead of boring everyone with sentiment, here's a peek at the boy I've come to love so much.

Harvey "tires" easily. :)

Harvey's klutzy.

Harvey really does love Jackson.

Harvey likes meeting new people.

Harvey likes ice cream.

And Harvey really, really likes to Roo.

Happy Birthday, Harvey!!

Olly

2010-09-02T09:22:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was such a sad day, as our friend Chelsea had to say goodbye to her beautiful Olly. Olly was very special, and was so lucky that Chelsea found him. She taught him all about love and trust, and was Olly's protector and soul mate. Now Olly is protecting Chelsea, and will always be by her side.

Olly, you were a good boy. We love you.

Jackson's Bear-y Good Day

2010-08-29T16:23:00.008-04:00

Hi Everyone, remember Jackson's best bud? Well, today was such a beautiful day that we let Jackson take him outside for a romp around the yard.

Jackson loves his bear, and although you may not believe it, the bear is none the worse for wear!

Hope you enjoyed the photos, see you soon!

Red, White and Blue

2010-07-05T11:54:00.011-04:00

Poor Harvey. He jammed a couple of bones in his foot and had to have them reset Saturday. When I retrieved him from the vet I was surprised and delighted with his wrap. The vet techs later admitted that they had a little free time on their hands. :)

Hope everyone had a great holiday!

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-20T10:42:00.006-04:00

To my dad, thank you for passing on your love of dogs to me. I love you.

Woofstock

2010-05-17T06:44:00.003-04:00

Just a quick post to share some pictures from our day at Woofstock, an event that benefits Richmond Animal League.

Dinah, Jackson, and Doc.

Sighthounds of another kind.

Recognize these guys? They're available through AARF.

Cooling Station.

Which one of these is least like the other?

Rusty and Harry.

A teeny tiny visitor.

Thanks for stopping by!

She's Gonna Make It After All

2010-05-16T16:12:00.007-04:00

Another terrific adoption PSA. This one comes from the Greyhound Action League of Buffalo. Maybe Cal should meet Silky!

Busy Boys

2010-05-09T13:38:00.010-04:00

Harvey and Jackson had a busy day yesterday attending different events to help promote Greyhound adoption!

Harvey walked in the annual Bon Air Victorian Day parade, which is always fun.

Making a new friend.
Apollo!

Heading down the parade route.

Thanks to everyone who came out to show off their hounds!

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Jackson attended the Metro Richmond Pet Savers Adopt-A-Thon.

Jackson was very interested in the sounds coming from the next tent.

Puppies!

Kittens!

Rusty and Harry.

Cleo.

This pretty girl is Zelle!
Doc, Dinah, and Jackson.

And to my mother, I love you.

Seeking Long-Term Relationship

2010-04-24T11:14:00.007-04:00

Meet Cal!

The folks over at The Greyhound Project are producing a series of PSAs to promote Greyhound adoption. Here's the first of the series!

Don't you just love his Roman nose? There's more about Cal here. Good Boy, Cal!!

Everyone Has a Twin

2010-04-22T18:35:00.006-04:00

Has anyone ever told you that they saw your twin? Well, last month I saw Jackson's!

Don't ask why, but I was perusing the Croftview Kennels Greyhound adoption website. Croftview Kennels is just outside of London... England. Anyway, they have a feature called "Kennelhand's Choice", where one of the kennel hands chooses a Greyhound that they feel is most deserving of a new home. Last month's dog was Minnie, pictured below.

Minnie had the same anxious half moon eyes that Jackson had on his adoption day (below). And Minnie is about the same age as Jackson, so they are now the same silvery gray.

Here's Jackson now.

Don't they look like twins??

Metro Richmond Pets Savers

2010-04-18T09:49:00.013-04:00

Hi! Thought we pop in to tell everyone about Metro Richmond Pet Savers (MSRP). Local adoption groups (including GPA Richmond) are working together to promote MSRP and participate in the Adopt-A-Thons.

The first Adopt-A-Thon event was held at a local Petsmart. It was a fantastic day and resulted in over 50 adoption applications!

Getting things organized.

Here's Honey from Ring Dog Rescue.

This little guy stole my heart.

Film at 11!

The board says it all. What a great day!

If you're in the Richmond area, we hope you'll drop by for the May Adopt-A-Thon. Details are here!

Earlier this month we spent the day at Easter on Parade, which is a great time for pets and people alike!

The gang is ready to go.

Here's GPA Richmond's booth.

Whippets!

Our Greyhounds received lots of attention.

Pet Bonnet contestants.

Jimmy and Jackson.

Also this month... our Stony Point walk.

Last week some newly retired dogs arrived from Florida. Here are Jo and Diego.

Blaze, who is available for adoption!

And finally, some pictures from our neighborhood. It's so beautiful at this time of the year.

Thanks for stopping by, see you soon!

Gang of Four

2010-02-13T11:06:00.003-05:00

Here's the Gang, as illustrated by our new friend Kim of Greyt Friends. Proceeds from her wonderful images benefit Second Chance Greyhounds. Thanks, Kim!

Our Day in Photos

2010-01-31T15:09:00.006-05:00

We had 13" of snow yesterday, and today we took some time to play and survey the neighborhood.

Here's Harvey!

Cold feet.

Someone stepped on a squeaky toy.

Leaps and bounds.

Everyone's bundled for a walk.

Our neighborhood.

Heading back home.

And here's Jackson, closing the afternoon with his new best friend.

We hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!

Jackson's Big Day

2010-01-24T17:57:00.005-05:00

Jackson turned 6 today! He celebrated his big day with his new friend, a giant stuffed Teddy Bear. The bear was a steal at $4 (a leftover Christmas item marked down 90%).

Jackson has been such a joy, and I know I've said it before, but he puts a smile on my face... every single day. Happy Birthday, Jackson!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T06:56:00.003-05:00

Photo credit to Nerice of Nerice's Nook. Thank you!

Afterwards, They Slept

2009-12-19T11:24:00.004-05:00

He's a Rascal

2009-12-07T14:26:00.012-05:00

Skiddy Urban looks sweet, doesn't he? He really is a good boy... most of the time.

A couple of months ago I bought a cute pair of shoes that I'd planned to wear over the holidays. I put them in the shoe cubby for safe keeping.

Now, we'd been warned about Skiddy Urban's penchant for inanimate objects, so we've made a point to secure remote controls, knick knacks, and the like.

So imagine my surprise to find one of my beautiful, never worn shoes in Urban's grasp. He made quick work of the heel:

Here's the funny (well, not so funny) part... the shoes were safely tucked in a cubby with a few other fancy, albeit well-worn shoes. I guess Urban decided that the smell of new leather was irresistible. Rascal.

Over the past few weeks we've been trying out new names for Urban... Oliver, Sammy, Hudson, Hawthorne, and a few others. But lately he's been going by his new name, Jimmy Chew!

PS... Can anyone recommend a good shoe cobbler in the Richmond, VA area?

Tugging Heartstrings

2009-12-04T07:43:00.006-05:00

Here a couple of videos hosted by Vimeo, a video hosting site popular with video experts and CG artists.

First up...To raise awareness about the Dairyland track closure, a couple took their hounds for a walk down Chicago's Michigan Avenue. A fantastic idea, and the slips of papers are ingenious.

Greyhound Adoption: Track Closure Creates Need from Brad Cornelius on Vimeo.

Second up, and currently my favorite. It's a fan video for Grizzly Bear's song Two Weeks. At about 3 minutes into the video I always start to cry. Every time. It's just that beautiful.

Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear from Gabe Askew on Vimeo.

Daily Roo

2009-11-28T10:21:00.004-05:00

We thought we'd share a little video of Harvey doing what he loves best... rooing. Not a day goes by without one of Harvey's hearty roos. Enjoy!

Here To Stay

2009-10-11T11:40:00.010-04:00

This summer has been full of ups and downs, but everything is falling into place now and we're looking down the path towards the future. Our busy lives are starting to quiet down, and we're enjoying the simple joys of daily life. And it occured to us that we had a bit more room in our home and our hearts, and what better way to fill them than to adopt that sweet little boy, Skiddy Urban. So... Skiddy Urban's search for a forever home ends with us.

Welcome Home, Skiddy Urban, we sure do love you.

Now... some photos of Harvey and Jackson enjoying a Roo with their new brother!

This is Harvey's "Mom, please play that Roo song..." face.

"Please?"

Jackson hears the Roo.

Skiddy hears it too.

"Let's Roo!"

"Skiddy, you too!"

Have a great week!

Look Who's Here!

2009-10-03T12:12:00.005-04:00

Guess who boomeranged back to our house? Yep, our buddy, Skiddy Urban. Poor guy, he's still looking for his forever home. He's met several families, but hasn't found the right match. That's the plight of many of the black male Greyhounds... for some reason they lack that certain appeal.

Skiddy Urban fits right in here, and if we can make it work, he'll just stay with us. We sure do love him, but we have some things to work out first...So, please send your positive vibes our way!

A Quick Hello

2009-08-04T19:14:00.013-04:00

Hi Everyone! We're happily ensconced in our new neighborhood, Bellevue.

Bellevue is located on the northside of Richmond, and is a Crayola box of architectural styles. Craftsman and Arts and Crafts bungalows sit side-by-side to Tudors, Mediterranean, and Colonial creations. It's a dream for us, and every day we see something interesting and unique.

We just finished moving the last of our things, and are still unpacking boxes. I think we need to hire Trina for our next move! But... we did finish the fence in time and the dogs had their things in place right away.

Our neighbors are great, and are very interested in Harvey, Jackson, and Jello. One of our neighbors greeted us with this wonderful sign, which we still have hanging on the refrigerator!

Would you like to meet our first house guest? Olly is staying us until he finds his forever home. Olly's sister lives just around the bend, so we hope to find a home for Olly nearby.

Well, this is a short post, simply because there's still so much to do... we'll close with a couple of photos from our Sunday walk and a view from the room where I'm sitting now. See you soon!

Moral Support

2009-06-24T09:20:00.002-04:00

Here's my little mover's helper... Unlike the rest of the family, she's taking everything in stride.

We should be in the new house this weekend... but only if we finish that darn fence!

First Things First

2009-06-21T17:24:00.002-04:00

We're making strides to move to the new house! Before we start moving our belongings we have to ready the house for the hounds. So... fence construction is underway. We cemented the last of the fence posts today.

This little guy thought he'd take advantage of a freshly dug hole, but we didn't have the heart to make it his final resting place (post cement).

Hopefully we'll have all of the pickets up by next weekend. Wish us luck!

Events Roundup

2009-06-14T18:01:00.009-04:00

Wow, everyone's been so busy lately!

We don't have much time to spare (with moving and all), but we did want to share some photos from our most recent GPA Richmond events. The hounds have really been out-and-about lately!

GPA's monthly stroll around Stony Point Fashion Park.

Jackson tries to make a new friend.

June Dog Haul

Our buddy, Skiddy Urban!

Woofstock

Gracie.

Bon Air Victorian Days Parade

The clowns tried to recruit Macy!

Have a great week!

Homeward Bound - Skiddy Urban's Story

2009-06-09T17:18:00.021-04:00

Meet Skiddy Urban!

Skiddy is a very special 4-year old retired racer in search of his forever home. What makes Skiddy's adventure especially unique is that several GPA Richmond members (and bloggers!) have the privilege of caring for Skiddy along the way. We hope you'll follow us as we chronicle his journey to his new family. Now let's meet Skiddy!

We've only been able to track Skiddy back to his racing days, which were spent at Wheeling Downs in Wheeling, WV. Skiddy ran 44 races, winning four. His last race was in May, 2008. We're not sure where he went after Wheeling, but in January he was presented as a blood donor candidate to Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine. And somewhere along the way, either before or after his race career, Skiddy had an accident that left him with a bum nose!

Skiddy's nose injury appears to be related to his muzzle, but we don't know that for sure. When he's wearing a muzzle, part of the muzzle cage fits perfectly in the separation of his nose. Part of Skiddy's tongue is gone too, so we think that happened at the same time. The folks at Auburn assessed the injury, and surmised that it doesn't affect Skiddy's health or attitude. Another win for Skiddy!

Unfortunately, Skiddy was not accepted into Auburn's canine blood donor program. Although Greyhounds make excellent blood donors (due to their high red blood cell count), Skiddy tested positive for exposure to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. And although he doesn't have an active infection, he had to be excluded from the program.

Skiddy's owner left strict instructions that if Skiddy was not accepted into the program that he should be entered into a Greyhound adoption program. So Auburn kept Skiddy until an adoption opportunity became available. Meanwhile, he was cared for by the staff, who presented him with a feather bed. The feather bed had a short life, but they replaced it with a soft-covered "Skiddy safe" sleeping pallet.

In March Skiddy's travels began again when he went to a foster home in Florida and entered a Greyhound adoption program. Luckily, Skiddy was sent to the adoption kennel that partners with GPA Richmond! And luckily for Skiddy, he was taken in by Lynn, who is a great friend of Greyhounds and has fostered some of our favorite adopted hounds.

Skiddy stayed with Lynn until it was time for his trip to Richmond. Skiddy made such an impression on Lynn that she wrote a beautiful note for Skiddy to carry with him along his journey.

Last week Skiddy made the long trip to Richmond along with Ma's Brown Betty, Where's Sweetlee, WWW Squak Box, and GLS Maybebaby. Following an afternoon stop, the hounds made their way to Crittertown BathHouse for baths and to meet their foster families or adopters.

Skiddy was paired with one of our newest GPA Richmond friends, Tamara. And Skiddy spent his first 2 nights in Richmond just across the street from one of our favorite places, Forest Hill Park!

After some R&R with Tamara, Skiddy came to stay with us for a few days. Harvey, Jackson, and Jello welcomed Skiddy into their pack, and in no time the four became fast friends. Jackson was quick to show Skiddy how much he loves squeaky toys and marshmallows!

While under our care, we took Skiddy to meet Nerice's Nook, where Skiddy showed us that he gets along just fine with cats and little dogs. And although he met 3 kitties and 2 pocket size hounds, he was more interested in hanging out with the Greyhounds and Whippet in attendance. Go Skiddy!

Back at our house, Skiddy wiggled his way into our human hearts, and we began considering making Skiddy a permanent member of our growing family. But Skiddy has a few more stops to make, so we bundled his things and took him to his next destination...

We hope you'll travel with us as we follow Skiddy's journey home!

Bends in the Road

2009-05-24T08:06:00.020-04:00

It's funny how things work out sometimes, and that it's true that you just never know what awaits you around the bend.

In May 2008 Trina asked me to tag along on a home visit for a potential Greyhound adopter. The applicant lived nearby, and since I needed experience doing home visits, Jackson and I obliged. A short time later that applicant adopted Jello Shot Dot. And on 6/18/08 Harvey, Jackson and I met Jello and her new daddy for a Greyhound play date. We had no idea that after that day everything would change.

Jello's Gotcha Day

Play date, 6/18/08

Let's fast forward... this month I found and bought my dream home, a large 1920's Arts and Crafts bungalow. Seems that over the past year my doll house sized bungalow just wasn't big enough anymore. And as luck would have it, Jello's daddy has always wanted an Arts and Crafts house too.

Next month our merged pack will take another bend in the road as we move into our new home. And in a strange turn of events, we close on 6/18/09, exactly one year after that first play date.

My doll house bungalow

Our new home

It has a lovely front porch

The view from the porch

Rooms big enough for Greyhounds

Harvey and Jackson, thank you for guiding me and for helping me open my eyes to what was right in front of me. You are my best boys. And to Jello's daddy, I love you.

Easter

2009-04-14T16:36:00.010-04:00

The boys celebrated Easter 2009 with a return visit to "Easter on Parade", an annual Richmond tradition. The weather was beautiful and there were thousands of parade goers, including every kind of hound imaginable, large and small!

GPA Richmond was on hand with volunteers and hounds, and again hosted the ever-popular Pet Bonnet Contest. Harvey and Jackson would like to send a special thank you to our friend Karen, who generously donated one of the Pet Bonnet Contest prizes.

Harvey and Jackson survey the scene.

Contestants line up for the Pet Bonnet Contest.

The view from GPA Richmond's booth.

Harvey.

Jackson.

And just for fun, here's a photo sequence of Harvey as he gets his very first taste of a Peep!

He likes it!

Rainy Day Fun

2009-03-15T14:22:00.004-04:00

Everyone who knows Harvey knows that he's toy challenged, but he does enjoy shredding paper! Our neighbor made Harvey the ultimate paper shredding toy, a newspaper tree, which came in handy on this rainy day!

Want to make your own newspaper tree? Here's how. And Harvey? Well, here he is demonstrating that there's more to life than silly squeaky toys.

She's A Big Girl Now

2009-03-15T08:18:00.004-04:00

Jackson's pretty girlfriend Jello celebrated her 4th birthday yesterday. Jello is a sweet little cuddle bug, and is the apple of her daddy's eye!

Jello's Gotcha Day.

Just one month later, and she's already a celebrity!

Having fun with a new friend.

Jello's pack.

And she's off!

Hangin' with the boys.

Happy Birthday Jello, we love you!

Jasmine

2009-03-07T14:42:00.009-05:00

Hi Everyone, you may have heard that we had snow here... unfortunately, the snow storm brought a bit of trouble to our home, but we're OK now!

Our dear sweet neighbor emailed this story, so we thought we'd share. And at the end of the post, some pictures from our beloved Forest Hill Park.

Jasmine's Story

In 2003, police in Warwickshire, England, opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog. It had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished, and had clearly been abused.

In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a greyhound female, to the nearby Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, run by a man named Geoff Grewcock and known as a willing haven for animals abandoned, orphaned or otherwise in need.

Geoff Grewcock and the other sanctuary staff went to work with two aims: to restore the dog to full health, and to win her trust. It took several weeks, but eventually both goals were achieved. They named her Jasmine, and they started to think about finding her an adoptive home.

The dog had other ideas. No-one remembers now how it began, but Jasmine started welcoming all animal arrivals at the sanctuary. It wouldn't matter if it was a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit or, probably, a rhinoceros, Jasmine would peer into the box or cage and, where possible, deliver a welcoming lick.

Geoff Grewcock relates one of the early incidents. "We had two puppies that had been abandoned by a nearby railway line. One was a Lakeland terrier cross and another was a Jack Russell Doberman cross. They were tiny when they arrived at the centre and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee. Then she fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them."

"But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits. She takes all the stress out of them and it helps them to not only feel close to her but to settle into their new surroundings.

"She has done the same with the fox and badger cubs. She licks the rabbits and guinea pigs and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose." Jasmine, the timid, abused, deserted waif, became the animal sanctuary's resident surrogate mother, a role for which she might have been born. The list of orphaned and abandoned youngsters she has cared for comprises five fox cubs, four badger cubs, 15 chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies and 15 rabbits.

And one roe deer fawn. Tiny Bramble, 11 weeks old, was found semi-conscious in a field. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, Jasmine cuddled up to her to keep her warm, and then went into the full foster mum role. Jasmine the greyhound showers Bramble the roe deer with affection and makes sure nothing is matted in her fur.

"They are inseparable," says Geoff Grewcock. "Bramble walks between her legs and they keep kissing each other. They walk together round the sanctuary. It's a real treat to see them."

Jasmine will continue to care for Bramble until she is old enough to be returned to woodland life. When that happens, Jasmine will not be lonely. She will be too busy showering love and affection on the next orphan or victim of abuse.

And finally, some of our snow photos from Forest Hill Park.

Fun with Photos

2009-02-18T17:59:00.008-05:00

Oh boy, did we have fun on Monday. We stopped at the park for a little ball field exercise and to snap some photos. As we were viewing the photos we realized that the hounds resembled some familiar animals in the wild... can you see the resemblance?

Other photos from our day.

And did you know that February is National Pet Dental Health Month? Our vet offers a discount on dentals during February, so Harvey had his annual dental today.

Poor Harvey... he doesn't play with toys, doesn't like bones of any sort, and doesn't tolerate tooth brushing (Jackson does all of the above, and does so with zest!). Needless to say, Harvey's teeth need extra attention (Jackson's are pearly white). Harvey breezed through the cleaning, and while he was sleeping he had a stress-free nail trim and vaccines to boot. Good Boy, Harvey!

See you next time!

Sunday Field Trip

2009-02-15T14:15:00.009-05:00

Today we decided to check out two other Richmond area Battlefield Parks, Fort Hoke and Fort Brady. Both sites are near the James River, and served as fortifications in 1864. Fort Brady was used to keep Union boats bottled up north and anchored the Union line that extended to Fort Harrison.

While most of our walk was concentrated on viewing the defensive earthworks, we were treated to an encounter with a hawk and a hound dog. The hound dog was eager to protect his stomping grounds, so we made a hasty retreat in order to prevent a battle of a different sort.

Making our way to the Parks.

A view of the trail through the earthworks.

The battlefield hound dog.

Have a great week!

Our Visit to Drewry's Bluff

2009-02-09T19:59:00.008-05:00

The weather this weekend was outstanding (again!), so we decided to visit one of the Richmond National Battlefield parks. Drewry's Bluff was the location of Fort Darling, which was used to defend the Port of Richmond from Union forces. It was also the site of the Confederate Naval Academy and the Confederate Marine Corps Camp of Instruction.

Some pictures from our day.

A photo of Drewry's Bluff taken during the Civil War.

And remember Harvey's littermate Thai? Thai lives in Nova Scotia and was adopted in 2005 through the Greyhound Pets of Atlantic Canada. Thai's family sent a few photos from his "Hound Day", which is what we refer to as "Gotcha Day." Enjoy!

Football Anyone?

2009-02-03T16:31:00.009-05:00

The weather on Super Bowl Sunday was beautiful, so we decided to take a ride out to the baseball fields to run in the sun. What a happy coincidence to find other Greyhounds there!

Harvey and Jackson had a blast running with girlfriends Jello, Cleo, and Salina. And although Jackson was slightly handicapped by his muzzle, he tried his best to play football with the new friend he made that day. Oh, and his new buddy? You'd never guess that he's a little JRT. Go figure!

Are we there yet?

Harvey tests the field.

Jello and Salina.

Cleo and Jello.

Nicodemus and Jackson.

Everyone's exhausted.

Have a great week!

Jackson's 5!

2009-01-25T17:36:00.006-05:00

Jackson turned 5 yesterday!

Jackson's "Gotcha Day", June 16, 2007.

Jackson enjoying his birthday present, January 24, 2009.

Happy Birthday, Jackson. You make my heart sing each and every day.

Harvey's 2nd Adoption Day Anniversary

2009-01-19T10:16:00.012-05:00

It's hard to believe, but Wednesday will mark the 2 year anniversary of Harvey's adoption day. Although he's just as sweet as ever, Harvey's made many strides since then, and just recently turned the corner to becoming a brave, confident boy.

Coincidentally, Jackson's sister Jewel also made the trip from Florida with Harvey on January 21, 2007. She lives with Nerice's Nook's family in North Carolina.

Happy Adoption Day Anniversary, Harvey, I love you!

Photo Tag

2009-01-10T09:55:00.006-05:00

Happy New Year!

We've been tagged by Belle and Beau and Nerice's Nook to perform the following task: find the 6th photo in the 6th image folder and post it with a description.

Funny how things work sometimes. The photo that meets that criteria is of my beautiful hound Harper, who left this earth in 2006. She's the reason for my involvement with Greyhounds. She was a German Shorthaired Pointer/Greyhound mix, which made her a scent and sight hound. What a challenge! But she was so special, and her unique personality led me down the path to Greyhounds.

So, here's the 6th photo in the 6th folder (followed by 2 additional photos). Harper, I miss you, and I'll remember you always.

Harvey's Month of Surprises

2008-12-28T09:15:00.017-05:00

December brought several turns and twists, some good and some bad. First with the good!

We were contacted by the family of one of Harvey's littermates, Muzzle Tuff. Muzzle Tuff, who is now known as Thai, lives in Nova Scotia. It turns out that Thai and Harvey share a lot of the same characteristics, including big schnozzes and cautious demeanors. Thai and Harvey both like to build nests out of their dog beds and sometimes sleep with their front paws tucked beneath them. We are so grateful that Thai's family took the time to contact us, thank you!

Pictures of Thai, courtesy of his mom.

And now for the bad. Harvey had an accident earlier this month, which resulted in surgery and an overnight stay at the emergency vet. We're not sure exactly what happened, but Harvey ran into something in the yard and hurt his leg. Because of his thin skin (a Greyhound trait), what began as a small laceration turned into a very large tear.

Harvey was the perfect patient. He never whined, cried, or tried to remove his e-collar. Oh, and that e-collar? Harvey had to wear the biggest collar available, which made navigating a challenge. But Harvey was a very good boy and his leg healed nicely. We're just glad that his injury wasn't worse and that there are no lasting effects. Go Harvey!

Harvey's ouchie.

Here's the first collar we tried, but it just wasn't big enough.

Here's the megaphone Harvey wore for the rest of his rehabilitation.

We have other stories to share, so look for a new post soon!

Dog Lessons for People

2008-11-21T12:56:00.007-05:00

We saw these "lessons" on a t-shirt recently and thought they were worth sharing. I just wish I knew who to credit for the list.

Enjoy the simple pleasures of a walk.

Follow your instincts.

Never underestimate the value of a belly rub.

Be loyal and faithful.

Always drink plenty of water.

Sometimes it is best to just sit close and listen.

Be quick to forgive.

Avoid biting when a growl will do.

Keep digging until you find what you want.

Run and play daily.

Accept all of life's treats with gratitude.

Life is short, pet often.

Love unconditionally.

Byrd Park Pump House

2008-11-16T10:21:00.013-05:00

Earlier this month we stopped by the Byrd Park Pump House. The Pump House provided water for the City of Richmond from 1883 to 1924. In addition to its utilitarian function, it was also a social venue and boasted a dance hall on the upper level.

Although normally closed to the public, the Pump House building welcomed visitors a couple of Saturdays ago. For one beautiful day folks could stroll through the pumping area and climb the steps to the old dance hall. The site is undergoing revitalization, and plans include reopening the building to the public as a reception space.

Please enjoy some photos from our day.

October

2008-11-09T10:20:00.015-05:00

Hi Folks! We've been neglecting our blog, but we're back with a wrap-up of our October adventures.

First up... The Fall Festival at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Academy in Powhatan, Virginia. What a great time. Nice people, lots of games, crafts, and small town fun, including a cake walk, Plinko, and Alpacas!

Jackson thought someone made these marshmallow sheep just for him!

Alpacas!

Our friend Howard came along for the ride. He napped most of the way home.

Then, we met up with a bunch of our Greyhound buddies for an afternoon walk. Can you spot Harvey and Jackson in this picture?

Here's our friend Baxter!

On our way to another event... The Dog Days Festival in Ladysmith, Virginia.

These guys have it made.

These guys don't.

Our good friend Jello.

Then a side trip to Shenandoah National Park for a ride along Skyline Drive.

This is Thoreau the Bear. Where we go, he goes.

Big Meadows.

What a beautiful day.

And finally... Harvey and Jackson spent a few days away from home while I spent some time in Denver. I had a great view of the Rocky Mountains from my hotel room.

Another view from my room... The Denver Marathon.

And check out this bear!

While we were away the beds were stacked in a corner. Harvey was so exhausted when he got home that he couldn't wait for them to be dispersed to their proper places.

And that's a wrap!

Simple Mindedness

2008-09-24T17:34:00.008-04:00

Lately we've received quite a few inspirational poster parodies (also known as Demotivators) via email. In keeping with the trend, here's our own version.

Parks, Festivals, and Who's on First

2008-09-23T09:53:00.019-04:00

Hi Everyone, we've been MIA lately, but only because Harvey and Jackson have been busy visiting parks, attending festivals, and hosting play dates with new friends! Here's a look at what we've been up to...

We made several visits to Richmond's beautiful James River Park System.

This little guy was no bigger than a dime!

This guy was much bigger.

One night we stopped by Bryan Park, the home of Richmond's famous azaleas. Sorry about the dark photos, but we were visiting at dusk.

Last weekend we volunteered at the 43rd Street Festival of the Arts, which benefits Freedom House. It was a really hot day, but we had lots of fun and met some great people.

Jackson, meet Jackson. We just met Jackson (the kid) that day, but notice how his shorts complement Jackson's (the hound) coat!

Here's our new neighbor, Howard! Fortunately for us, Howard (Pa's Zeus) lives just down the street, so he's able to visit often for romps in the yard and digging contests with Jackson.

The boys meet for the first time.

Howard and Jackson, who I imagined were having a "Who's on First?" discussion. Jackson's look of confusion suggests that he's playing the part of Costello.
A truce.

And finally, a photo of a sunset we saw as we made our way home one evening.

We'll see you soon... meanwhile, hug your hounds!

A Walk Through the Park

2008-08-10T12:22:00.013-04:00

Hi Friends, hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! The weather here is fantastic, so we seized the opportunity to take a long walk through our favorite park.

Forest Hill Park is part of our neighborhood, and it's an absolutely gorgeous oasis. The park was established in the late 1880's, and at one time hosted a swimming area, an amusement park, dance hall, and other assorted entertainment venues. Trolleys carted park visitors to-and-from the city.

Over the last few decades the lower portion of the park has returned to its natural state, and resembles a tiny wetland refuge. It's a beautiful place to visit.

Here's the park in 1917.

And a couple of postcards from the 1920's. Notice the swimming area.

Here are a few photos from our walk. There are more photos in the slide show.

Slide Show:

And, a few gratuitous snapshots taken since our last post.

Here's Baxter. He was part of GPA Richmond's July haul. He stayed with us for a couple of days and was a complete love!

And lastly, Harvey and Jackson enjoying the cooler weather.

Have a great week Folks, see you soon!

South of the James Market

2008-07-19T10:39:00.011-04:00

Just this year a new farmers' market opened in our little neighborhood. The South of the James Market is open every Saturday morning from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM. You'll find it in the picnic shelter area of Forest Hill Park.

This morning we stopped by and were surprised by the number and variety of vendors! We had fun browsing the vendor stalls and saying hi to friends from the neighborhood. Unfortunately it was too hot for Harvey and Jackson, so we weren't able to stay long. We'll be back though, as the market will open through October 4th.

Look at these cute little hedgehogs!

This gentlemen was singing the blues.

Our wonderful neighbor purchased this beautiful flower bouquet.

And our purchases? Thai lemongrass soap and earrings!

Earlier this week we stopped by Robious Landing Park. The Virginia Boat Club has one of their boathouses there, and it was fun checking out the sculls.

And yesterday we attended a GPA Richmond Meet & Greet!

Enjoy your weekend!

Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer

2008-07-07T07:05:00.002-04:00

4th of July - Children's Parade!

2008-07-04T12:36:00.012-04:00

Happy Independence Day Everyone!

We started our celebration early by "marching" in our neighborhood's 8th annual Fourth of July Children's Parade. The parade is a great little slice of Americana, and the kids have fun preparing for the big day by decorating their trikes, bikes, and wagons! Of course, dogs are welcome too, so Harvey and Jackson were able to join in the fun!

Our best buddy Spencer was there, and we were amazed at his amazing cycling skills. Spencer spent the last couple of days practicing riding without training wheels, and we were mightily impressed by his abilities. Hey Spencer, better pack your bags, the Tour de France starts tomorrow!

At the start of the parade... check out the bike decorations!

Our buddy, Spencer!

Harvey & Jackson.

Let's get going!

There were lots of festive wagons.

And festive dogs too!

Here we go!

All the vehicles are parked while the kids enjoy lemonade. These wheels belong to the littlest kids.

The bigger kids' wheels.

And these belong to the biggest kids!

The end of the parade.

Heading back home.

Happy 4th... Hug your Hounds!

Thrifty Tips from Harvey & Jackson - Mealtime!

2008-06-30T16:13:00.016-04:00

Hi friends, we're always looking for creative ways to save money (so we can buy more stuffies!), so we thought we'd share a couple of our mealtime tips.

Greyhounds do better with raised feeders, and there are lots of different types to choose from. Some are utilitarian, some fancy, but most are a little pricey. The raised feeder we use is a $4.98 wrought iron plant stand from WalMart. It works great, and with the right bowl, it's quite sturdy! We use an upside down pet food bowl with rubber skids with another plastic bowl set inside.

Now, if you have a food gulper (yes Jackson, that's you!), there are ways you can slow down your chow-hound. You can put rubber balls or unopened food cans in the bowl, but we found that to be messy. Or you can purchase a brake-fast bowl, which is a bowl with plastic nubby parts. Or, you can use our trick... A rubber jello mold (we found ours on sale at Target - $4.98).

So there you have it... a couple of mealtime tips from H&J!

"Why Everyone Should Own a Greyhound"

2008-06-29T20:55:00.005-04:00

We love this video... and it's so true!!

Scooper Bowl XVI

2008-06-22T13:24:00.015-04:00

Hi Everyone! Harvey and Jackson (and me!) were really busy this week! Here's a recap...

Yesterday we went to Scooper Bowl XVI, which was hosted by the Science Museum of Virginia. We went last year too, just one week after Jackson's adoption! When we attended last year Jackson had to quickly learn steps, as we had to walk down two flights to reach the Meet & Greet area. This year he took the steps like an old pro.

There were lots of kids at yesterday's event (I know, duh!), and Jackson's favorite food... ICE CREAM!! We had a great time, and I hope we can go again next year.

The FETCH a Cure hounds were in attendance!

On Friday we stopped by PetSmart for one of GPA-RVA's monthly Meet & Greets. It was cool enough to stay outside, and we met Duke and Duchess for the first time!

Duke and Duchess.

Check out this brave puppy!

And on Wednesday, Belle's family invited Harvey and Jackson to a play date at her house, which has an acre of fenced-in grass! Jello and her dad came along for the ride. Many thanks to Belle's mom and dad for hosting the play date, and to Jello's dad for taking these cool pictures! Harvey and Jackson had a blast!!

Jackson - First Year

2008-06-21T08:20:00.008-04:00

Jackson's first "Gotcha Day" was Monday! Jackson ran his last race on 4/13/07, left a Jacksonville FL track kennel on 6/15/07, and was adopted by me on 6/16/07!

What a wonderful first year it's been... Jackson is a big, goofy, happy hound, and is a great Greyhound Adoption Ambassador!

Here are a few things I've learned (and love!) about Jackson:

Jackson's chin is the color of bubblegum.
Jackson loves to play fetch. In fact, I think he's a Lab in a Greyhound's body. He's always carrying his toys (and other "finds"), except when he's sleeping.
Jackson's a velcro dog... wherever I go, he's right by my side.
Jackson's always surprised and sometimes frightened by his own flatulence.

Happy Gotcha Day!!

New Meet & Greet Venue!

2008-06-15T10:34:00.012-04:00

Yesterday we hosted our first Meet & Greet with Ukrop's! 14 Greyhounds and their families attended, and a lot of nice folks stopped by to ask questions and meet the hounds.

Here's a roll call of the Greyhounds in attendance:
Ally and Dolly (and their Whippet brother Diego)
Rusty and Harry
Cleo and Twister
Jello Shot Dot
Lady
Isabella and Hemingway
Kate and Leopold
and of course, Harvey and Jackson!

And... some photos from the day.

Dogs Playing Poker

2008-06-09T18:27:00.015-04:00

Well, I wish Harvey and Jackson could play poker... it's unseasonably hot here, and we haven't done anything fun since last weekend's Belle Isle walk!

Poor H&J, they are so bored! I've been trying to entertain them with hide-and-seek games, bones in Kongs, ear scritches, and rooing sessions. What they really want is to stretch their legs and run, but they just can't in this heat. Greyhounds have very little body fat, short coats and thin skin, making them extremely susceptible to overheating. Oh well, there's always next weekend!

We did have one Greyhound event this weekend, despite the weather. On Saturday GPA Richmond had a dog haul. Due to the heat the hauler was about 12 hours late, as the haul drivers had to continually stop for ice, which they used to keep the dogs cool. The dogs did just fine though, and we recieved Dream Thief and RMJ's Flying Joe. Dream and Flying Joe went straight to their forever homes. Hooray!

Here's Dream Thief.

Dream Thief with her new family. She's one lucky hound!

And, a couple of photos from yesterday. We took an early morning drive along the James River (before the heat became unbearable).

See you soon!

A Visit to Belle Isle

2008-06-02T18:41:00.013-04:00

Yesterday we ventured out to Belle Isle. Belle Isle is an island in the middle of the James River and is the site of a notorious Civil War prison. In 1863 the prison housed over 10,000 men.

Also visiting Belle Isle yesterday were Belle and Sasha! It was so great to see them again, and to meet their new families. I hope we see each other again soon!

A view of the James River from Belle Isle.

Belle and her family with Harvey and Jackson.

Belle and her daddy.

The view from the Belle Isle footbridge. You can see Hollywood Cemetery in the background.

Belle.

And here's sweet Sasha. Sasha, whose racing name is Flying Incubus, rode with us to the GPA picnic!

Oh, and on Saturday we stopped by Woofstock, which was hosted by the Richmond Animal League (RAL). RAL is Richmond’s oldest non-profit, no-kill humane society, and is a great friend to GPA Richmond.

Jello Shot Dot and her dad made the evening news!

Our tent was positioned between groups representing Great Danes and Pit Bulls, which are some of the sweetest dogs in the world!

Some of the gang from Ring Dog Rescue.

The agility course.

Rusty and Harry!!

The folks from Ring Dog Rescue were smart, and brought pools to help cool off their dogs. They were very kind to share the pools with some of the Woofstock attendees. Here's Dolly cooling off, while her friends wait their turn.

Jackson takes a dip!

Jello Shot Dot closes out the day.

Have a great week everyone!

The Magic of Peanut Butter

2008-06-01T13:36:00.002-04:00

Jackson is a big baby when it comes time to trim nails. I don't blame him though, as a vet tech once nicked a quick so badly that it bled for hours. I heard Jackson scream from the back of the vet's office when it happened and vowed to learn how to trim Harvey and Jackson's nails myself. Since I'm a nervous-ninny about performing nail trims, I knew Jackson and I would have to gain our confidence together.

I bought a dremel, and studied these excellent dremel instructions. I tried Harvey first, and he was a champ! Jackson was a different story. Jackson wouldn't hold still and kept yanking his paws away. I was ready to give up until I came across this awesome tip... Rub peanut butter on the inside of a turn-out muzzle. So simple, and it works perfectly! I use soy butter instead of peanut butter, but Jackson loves it just the same.

Here's Jackson...completely oblivious to what's happening with his paws.

The nails are done, but Jackson still has a bit of soy butter to finish!

And here's Harvey, already finished with his trim and napping the afternoon away.

Tribble

2008-06-01T12:51:00.008-04:00

Last weekend we stopped at Petco for the monthly Meet & Greet. We had fun trying on the latest outdoor wear and meeting new friends. Chuck, who is another adopter, spotted a toy that he thought Jackson would love. Boy was he right!!

Harvey goes nose to nose with a new friend.

Twister (Chuck's boy), tries on a flotation vest.

Harvey models the latest rainwear. Fish sticks anyone?

Twister's ready for baseball.

Here's Jackson's buddy Chuck with Twister and Cleo.

Hey everybody, what's over there?

Now, here's the toy Chuck selected for Jackson... I'd say he loves it, don't you? It's name is "Tribble."

Jackson carries Tribble everywhere.

Even Harvey, who doesn't care for toys, gave Tribble a try. That was a first!! Thanks Chuck!

Quiet Weekend

2008-05-19T17:16:00.013-04:00

Just a few photos from the weekend, which was fairly quiet. Friday night Harvey & Jackson attended a Meet & Greet at PetSmart and on Saturday they went to an environmental fair sponsored by Bank of America. The boys made new friends and enjoyed free hotdogs at the fair, courtesy of BofA!

Have a great week!

Bon Air Victorian Day Parade

2008-05-10T16:27:00.010-04:00

On Saturday, GPA Richmond participated in the annual Bon Air Victorian Day Parade. Bon Air is a beautiful and historic village just outside of Richmond. During the late 19th century many Richmond residents began escaping the heat of the city by spending their summers in Bon Air. It's a wonderful area.

The parade was a blast, and was especially fun at the end because everyone clapped and cheered as we walked by. The Greyhounds were a big hit with kids young and old, and all of the "resident hounds" made sure to bark their protestations!

On our way to the parade start we picked up a clown hitchhiker. He was a hoot.

Getting ready to line up.

Harvey doesn't miss a chance to relax.

Bagpipers!

Jackson spies some horses.

And we're off!

Harvey (with his grandma!) greets the crowd.

It was over all too quickly.

Picnic!

2008-05-10T14:56:00.008-04:00

Last weekend GPA Richmond held their annual Spring Picnic. The hounds had a great time visiting, running, playing and napping with friends. Some very special GPA volunteers hosted the event at their home, which was wonderful (thank you Morris Family!).

Harvey and Jackson had tons of fun, and Jackson was reunited with his sisters Janie and Jewel.

Our photos from the day.

A couple of hounds hitched a ride with us to the picnic. Flying Incubus couldn't wait to see all of her friends!

Harvey surveys the scene.

Hounds having fun!

Jackson sports his new Houndstown collar.

Hooray, ice cream!!

Jackson (center) with his sisters Jewel (left) and Janie!

Here's Jello Shot Dot. She's enjoying her very first (full) day of retirement. She looks happy, don't you think?

Twister enjoys a nap.

Sable!

Harvey's done for the day.

Want to see more photos from the day? Just go here here and here. Have fun!

All For the Hounds

2008-05-09T14:10:00.011-04:00

Last weekend was jam-packed with events to benefit the hounds!

Friday night Harvey & Jackson visited with friends at a PetSmart Meet & Greet. Then, on Saturday, GPA Richmond welcomed seven lucky Greyhounds to Richmond, then started them on their way to forever homes. Finally, on Sunday, GPA Richmond hosted their annual Spring picnic. We'll post about that later. Meanwhile, here are some photos from Friday and Saturday!

PetSmart Meet & Greet

May Haul

The hounds arrive!

They're famished.

This pretty boy is SS Rio Eightball.

Here's Alkay Olbie.

This little girl is Jello Shot Dot. She went straight to her forever home!

For more photos from the day, please visit the GPA Richmond blog.

Roozer's Home!

2008-05-08T18:34:00.004-04:00

Roozer's home! He lost quite a bit of weight, and he's taller! The guys at Iron Pig said that when they removed the old bumper Roozer popped up 2 inches! They weighed the old bumper, and it topped the scales at 600+ pounds. The back bumper (also replaced at Iron Pig) was about 300 pounds, so Roozer lost almost 1,000 pounds!

Roozer's new bumper:

Harvey and Jackson were glad to see their buddy, so we've been tooling around town every chance we get.

Unfortunately, Roozer's going back in the shop soon... Some unfortunate soul with nothing better to do did a nasty key job on Roozer. Recently we attended an event that was held on private property, and someone there keyed several cars. Roozer got the worst of it... carved on the back gate is "The Crest." The carving is about a foot square, so it'll cost a bit to fix. Some people are stupid.

Look back here soon for photos from the annual GPA Picnic. Harvey and Jackson had so much fun, and Jackson got to see 2 of his litter mates, Jewel and Janie!!

The Cranky Boys

2008-04-13T10:22:00.009-04:00

Yesterday we finally had a respite from the rain, so we stuffed ourselves into the VW and headed out to visit with some GPA friends.

Harvey and Jackson (aka The Cranky Boys) were enjoying the sunshine and surroundings, until... One of the GPA members arrived with her hounds in tow, and... The Puppy.

That's when it all fell apart for The Cranky Boys. Jackson broke protocol for a moment, Harvey got snippy, and then there was a brief altercation. Not exactly the impression we'd hoped to make for folks who were meeting Greyhounds for the first time!

Then the clouds moved in.

Just as The Cranky Boys were making a spectacle of themselves the skies opened up.

So we stuffed ourselves back into the VW to head back home. Unfortunately, The Cranky Boys weren't quite finished with their argument, which resulted in me pulling off of the road (in traffic, during a crazy downpour) to settle their disagreement. Oy vey.

We did manage to make it home safely, and The Cranky Boys spent the rest of the afternoon in time out.

On a positive note, I stumbled across this giant pet bed! It's a great color, washable, and was priced right.

And... just the perfect size for a Cranky Boy.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

P.S. Roozer, please come home soon.

About Roozer (It's a Truck)

2008-04-04T19:13:00.008-04:00

Before I adopted Jackson I asked around about how I might possibly transport two Greyhounds in my VW Passat. Everyone said the same thing..."It's no problem!" I heard about the lady who toted three hounds in her Honda Civic. I heard about the two in the Mini Cooper. And on and on.

Apparently transportation wasn't going to be an obstacle, so I decided to adopt Jackson. And hauling Harvey and Jackson in the Passat was fine... for a while.

You've heard (and maybe were one) about young siblings traveling in cars. You know, "Mom, he's looking at me!", "Mom, he's touching me!", or "Mom, he's on my side of the seat!" That's exactly how it was with Jackson and Harvey. Having those two in the car was like transporting a small circus.

Enter Roozer, my 1983 Toyota Land Cruiser.

Harvey and Jackson gave me an excuse to buy something I always wanted, and before them, I could never justify the purchase. But hey, I needed something for the hounds, and for all of those bags of mulch, right?

I found the truck via Craig's List. Turns out, the owner lived close by. The truck was in great shape, ran ok, and had lots of room for the boys. When I took the boys for a "test drive", they jumped right in, which if funny, because Jackson would never get in the Passat on his own.

Harvey and Jackson love that truck. One day, Jackson tried to jump in the truck before I lowered the gate and was left dangling by his armpit.

Here's the thing about Roozer. It has a crazy bumper. The story is that the truck belonged to a Texas cattle rancher. He had a run-in with a steer that resulted in a missing bumper. He replaced it with a homemade bumper with a horseshoe embellishment. That bumper is cool. Who cares if it weighs a few hundred pounds?

Right now my beautiful truck is sitting in one of the bays at Iron Pig. I gave the guys at Iron Pig a laundry list of things to check/fix, including the wipers that gave out while I was driving down I95 during a rainstorm. And the bumper? I hated to do it, but with gas prices the way they are, the bumper's getting replaced by an ARB bumper (it'll look like this). I have mixed feelings my decision, and will really miss that horseshoe.

I hope the guys at Iron Pig finish soon. Harvey and Jackson have places to go, and driving them in the Passat is like driving a couple of six year olds to Disneyworld. From Virginia.

Roozer, we miss you. Please come home soon.

Harvey and Jackson Were There

2008-03-31T19:36:00.005-04:00

Friends, I have been working on a post about what's been happening at the low-end Greyhound tracks in Florida.

I'm having trouble finishing it, as it's such a hard topic to address. In the meantime, there's this to read. And, if you're a resident of Florida and want to help, please click here.

Easter on Parade

2008-03-24T18:38:00.012-04:00

We had a wonderful time at yesterday's Easter on Parade. Harvey and Jackson did such a good job showing folks that Greyhounds Make Great Pets! The GPA Richmond booth was a real draw, and we collected badly needed donations by selling people and pet treats. The hounds did their part by sporting donation jackets, which had to be emptied frequently!

Thank you, Richmond!!

As promised, a few photos from the day.

Jackson works the crowd.

Begging for gyro leftovers!

A Whippet, and Italian Greyhound, and two Greyhounds...

Jackson says Hi to Meg the Doberman, who lives in our neighborhood.

Harvey takes a rest.

Jackson made lots of new friends!

We met another hound, Cowboy (wearing the bunny ears), who looks like Harvey's twin!

A future Greyhound adopter?

Towards the end of the day.

Tuckered out.

Practice Makes Perfect!

2008-03-23T17:33:00.006-04:00

Harvey and Jackson did a great job at today's Easter on Parade festivities! Jackson didn't eat his flower necklace, but he did manage to grab Harvey's bunny ears, and a few unattended stuffed animals (from kids, oops!).

We'll post a bunch of pictures later, but for now...

Jackson, proving that practice does make perfect.

Here are the boys post parade... they're exhausted!

Getting Ready for the Easter Parade

2008-03-22T16:29:00.004-04:00

Harvey and Jackson are expected to "represent" at the annual Easter on Parade festivities tomorrow. Jackson spent part of today practicing... which meant learning not to eat his flower necklace, or his bunny ears!

Best Buddies

2008-03-21T10:52:00.004-04:00

Amazing Technicolor Hound Coats

2008-03-12T20:58:00.044-04:00

Contrary to popular belief, Greyhounds are not all gray! In fact, Greyhound coats come in many, many colors.

Some of Harvey and Jackson's friends agreed to model their colors. We'll start with the colors shown on the American Greyhound Track Operators Official Color Chart, followed by the rest of the rainbow!

Thank you to everyone who provided photos for this post... what beautiful hounds!!

The American Greyhound Track Operators Official Color Chart

Blue Brindle

Fawn Brindle

Red Brindle

Light Brindle

Dark Brindle

Brindle

Fawn

Black Brindle

Blue

Black

Red Fawn

Red

Black and White

White and Black

White and Brindle Ticked

White and Brindle

The Rest of the Rainbow!

White

Blue Fawn

Blue and White

White and Fawn

White and Red

Silver Brindle

A Message from the President of Greyhound Pets of America

2008-03-08T16:38:00.001-05:00

Friends, I hope you have time to read this post in full. And, if you can, please consider making a small donation to help with this situation. Please use PayPal and reference the email address greyhoundadoptions@yahoo.com. (Or visit www.greyhoundsvirginia.com and click on "news.")

Some of Harvey and Jackson's friends are at this kennel, and I mean that literally. Thank you so very much, and feel free to contact me at houndlife@gmail.com with any questions.

Deborah (Harvey and Jackson's mom)
_______

Message from Rory, National President of Greyhound Pets of America:

All, I want to share an e-mail that I received this morning and I think this e-mail says it all. We, as an organization, need to help out our own. I think we all need to be aware of what a fellow GPA brother/sister is dealing with, and I believe we need to come together to support a fellow family member that is in need.

I have asked GPA National to help with sending funds, but we are limited in our resources as well, and when our well is dry, its dry…so I am asking…no, begging, that if any of you have an extra few bucks that you could spare without risking your own operations, please consider one of our very needy chapters. At this time, I am not at liberty to state which chapter needs this assistance. We are currently working with the State Racing Commission, the NGA and AGC regarding the situation at this particular track and I don’t want to jeopardize those proceedings and discussions. I also know of 3 other chapters that deal with situations like this, and I know they could also use some support.

You can send the money to GPA National if you want and mark it for this chapter, or mark it for the general fund to support our own. If you know of a chapter in need, then please send it straight to them. If you send in for general support, you have my promise that GPA National officers will get it to these chapters that need it most.

I will be spending my day on the phone working to see what can be done, I can’t promise a miracle today, but I will keep working to see that a difference is made.

Last year, we had a chapter that had to move 60 plus dogs from a track, not many of our chapters in the area stepped up to help a fellow brother/sister that was disheartening. I now more than ever want our organization to be the shining example, to be an organization where we take care of our own. We are bothers and sisters in this journey, so let’s set sail together and make for a brighter tomorrow.

I’m more than committed to fight for you, to fight for our dogs. I thank you all for everything that you have done for this organization, I know that you have contributed to so many miracles, and I’m very humble as someone who does not contribute as much as you do to be able to represent each and every one of you.
Rory
_________

Rory, XXXX has convinced me that is okay to ask you for help, so here goes... I don't know that you want to share all this. Feel free to edit as you see fit!

I constantly struggle to figure out how to best spend my time. The choice has always gone to the dogs. And, it is never, ever enough. I nearly lost my job over all of this. I finally realized work time has to be work time. So, my available time for dog-related matters has been somewhat reduced.

I'll be happy to provide more detail, but here's the "short" version:

I just paid our kennel helper, XXXX, the last $300 we had in our adoption group account.

Next week, we need another $300 for him, $355 for dog food and $150 for insurance on the dog truck.

We also have lined up sending 8 dogs to adoption groups at $70 per dog, but the hauler is willing to wait on his payment.

We buy 20 bags of kibble at a time and it just went up to $17.75 per bag. That's $355 for two weeks.

Our weekly expenses, just for feeding and turning out the dogs run right at $500. That doesn't count insurance/gas/maintenance on our old dog truck (we only use it to go to the vet and back), wormer, cleaning supplies, flea/tick stuff, vet bills, etc., etc.

Hauling dogs to other groups has gone up to $70 per dog. So, we've been doing as much of that as we can ourselves, and paying the gas, etc. ourselves.

Last year, the track was helping on a fairly regular basis (approximately $4,000 total for the year). Now, they are not providing anything. I asked for money twice since the first of the year and have received no response.

We send out letters to the dog owners, asking them to help with their dogs' expenses. In past years, we have received about $50 per dog. Recently, we have been lucky to get $20 per dog. Our actual expenses are close to $150 per dog, not including any vet expenses. I've done a bang-up job, convincing the "good owners" not to send their dogs here. So, we mostly get dogs from owners who don't care what happens to their dogs.

I'll admit, we've been robbing Peter to pay Paul... Our vets have been extremely kind. As a result, we now owe them nearly $5,000.

I don't believe we can continue to operate the kennel at XXXX. It just isn't doable without support from the track.We need to pay off the vet bill and figure out a new, scaled-down mode of operation. I hate to say that. It just means more dogs will die. But, we have to be realistic.

With all the track closings, and other tracks going back to seasonal operation, dogs are flooding into XXXX every week. At one point, we were taking approximately 50% of the "retiring" dogs here. Now, we MIGHT be taking 30%. In addtion to the dogs that actually show up on XXXX racing programs, there are many other dogs who come here simply to die. There are few outlets for killing dogs outside this area. The vet who used to kill dogs died recently, so there is nobody South of here willing to kill greyhounds en masse. They now haul them up here to have them killed. Some are killed by a vet. Others are going up into xxxx to be shot. I'm not making that up. I've heard it repeatedly from trusted sources in the racing world. This has become the latest "killing ground" for greyhounds.

I have personally witnessed the kill truck being loaded three times in the last few months. The most recent experience was on the morning I had to euthanize my dear, sweet xxxx. I took him to the vet very early on a Thursday morning. On my way home from the vet's office, I stopped by the track to pick up some paperwork. I arrived just in time to see them loading up the kill truck. They weren't expecting to see me there and we had a cartoon-like moment of panic. But, there was nothing I could do. I just picked up the paperwork and left.

The kennel folks at XXXX are not shy about telling me what is going on. I often get the "pleasure" of hearing how many dogs they killed this week. They are sad about it. They know I care and they unburden themselves to me.

I know I've not done a good job of managing all of this. I got myself in over my head. Now, I have to figure out how to dig myself out of the mess I've made.

On the positive side, a couple thousand greyhounds have found homes.

XXXX

Statements in the post contain personal opinions and are made by Rory himself and do not reflect on management of this board, or organizations that Rory may be associated with, and may contain statements about expected future events and as such are forward-looking and subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ. Rory undertakes no duty to update information contained in this post via this forum or in any other public disclosures at any time.Permission required from Rory S. Goree' in writing to redistribute in part or whole.Copyright Rory S. Goree' 2008