IN MEMORY OF…

The Needle Nose Crew would like to dedicate this issue to the memory of Dayle Heald.  Dayle adopted Jessie and Josh from Hemopet.  Our sympathies are extended to Dayle’s son Brian, her husband, Rudi, and all other family members who mourn her passing.

TRAIL BLAZING

By Erika Jones

Many of us in Southern California live close to parks/greenbelt areas and have access to lots of great hiking trails.  My husband and I often take our dogs hiking in the foothills. However we always take some extra precautions while hiking with our dogs:   

Always keep your dog on a leash - as tempting as it is, don't risk it. We have come across other hikers who let their dogs run loose to chase rabbits and squirrels.  These same dogs often come back with a nose full of cactus needles or sprayed by a skunk.     

  Water, Water, Water - make sure your dog has plenty of water and is well hydrated before the hike. You can purchase "pet canteens" from your local pet store in case your dog gets thirsty while you are on the trail.  Greyhounds have a tendency to overheat so you will need to watch them closely.   

Make sure your dog is protected from fleas and ticks. We have had a wet winter and the flea and tick population is booming. I use FRONTLINE on our dogs every two months - this product is greyhound safe (visit www.frontline.com for more info). You can purchase this from your local vet.    

¨ Greyhounds have very thin skin that tears easily, so avoid overgrown trails and don't let your dogs go "exploring" in the bushes.       

¨ After the hike, examine your dog closely - look for cuts, abrasions, fleas and most importantly ticks. I have already removed several from my socks and from our dogs. Also, check your dog’s feet - make sure the pads are in good shape and check for foreign objects between the toes (brambles, small rocks, foxtails, etc.).   

¨ Most importantly, remember to have fun! There are many great places to hike with your dogs and they enjoy the scenery and change of pace as much as we do.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

By Colleen Browne

Greeting from the Greyhound Connection!   We are “the new kids on the block” of greyhound rescue and placement in the San Diego area.    We are a small and rather eclectic group of volunteers who were brought together by a strong desire to use our diverse talents and resources to make a difference in the lives of greyhounds and those who love them.  All of our volunteers have worked with one or more other greyhound groups in the past.  We have been asked why San Diego needs a third rescue group that competes with the existing groups.  We don’t see this as a competition – we are thrilled when any greyhound finds a loving home, whether it is our placement or another group’s.  We hope to establish a good rapport and spirit of cooperation not only with the other local groups, but with groups across the country.  After all, our philosophies may differ, but we have a common goal – loving homes for ex-racing greyhounds.  In achieving that goal, the Greyhound Connection operates a little differently from the other local groups.  Both our philosophy and our limited funds preclude a kennel  operation  –  we  prefer  to  use  the foster home environment to prepare the ex-racers for their retirement.  We feel strongly that  efforts  should  be  made  to  match  the life-style and personalities of the family and the greyhound.  The foster program gives us the opportunity to prepare the greyhound for home life both logistically (stairs, windows, phones, pools, doggy doors, etc.) and emotionally (cat-safe, timid, fearful, dominant).   The more we do to prepare the greyhound and to assess its personality, the better its chances of becoming a permanent, cherished member of the family.  Months of preparation and hard work finally paid off for us on April 1^st (no fooling) when we brought in our first five dogs from Tucson, Arizona.  Their names were Carla, Cash, Charlie, Corrine and Teresa - and none of us will ever forget them.  They were all bathed, given their shots, had blood drawn for tick-borne disease testing, tagged and sent home to their foster families.  Everything went smoothly and there are no words to describe the joy we each felt in participating in the process.  We unanimously felt that if we could never take in another dog, all the work was worth it just for those five precious hounds.  But we did take in more dogs, and will continue to do so because every life, every home makes a difference.  We know the Needle Nose Crew shares this view and we want to thank Carole Oglesbee and all the Crew for their encouragement and assistance during our start-up phase.   And we welcome the opportunity to meet or talk with anyone interested in adopting or volunteering in our area.  Reach us by phone at 619-286-GREY or our website at greyhoundconnection.org.

Three’s a crowd? Not according to Drifter and Fawn, as they welcome Cider home!

HOW TO BATHE THE CAT

1. Thoroughly clean the toilet.

2.  Add the required amount of shampoo to the toilet water, and lift both lids.

3.  Get the cat and soothe him while you carry him toward the bathroom.

4.  In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close both lids (you may need to stand on the lid so that he cannot escape.  CAUTION:  Do not get any part of your body too close to the edge, as his paws will be reaching for any purchase they can find.  The cat will self-agitate and make ample suds.  Never mind the noises that come from your toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this.

5. Flush the toilet three or four times.  This provides a “powerwash and rinse” which I have found to be quite effective.

6. Have someone open the door to the outside and ensure that there are no people between the toilet and the outside door.

7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift both lids.

8. The now-clean cat will rocket out of the toilet, and run outside where he will dry himself.

Sincerely, The DOG

REMEMBRANCES

Our hearts go out to…

K.C. and Toni Schaaf for the loss of the wonderful eleven year-old Baxter.

Larry and Linda Brown for the loss of thirteen years young Padre.

THAT’S THE ONE

By Joy Moss

Do you remember when you knew you had to have that one certain greyhound to make your life complete?  My husband and son picked Tanner, but he quickly turned into a momma’s boy!  I don’t know if I would be so involved in greyhound rescue if not for Tanner.  He has touched my heart in a way no other pet has in my life.  And Sharin NEEDED me.  That’s the only way I can describe what I felt when I first met Sharin.  She has changed from the scared, timid girl I brought home.  Her confidence at shows (while in the x-pen!) is a great example of the difference a loving home can make. 

GREYT ADVICE FROM SHARIN:

"Screen doors break if you try to run through them.  Have your human open them first!"

Editor:

Joy Moss

E-Mail:  GreytJoy@msn.com

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