SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA

Have someone you need a really special greyhound gift for?  Take a look at the enclosed flyer about Retired Racers’ marvelous “Pacer” figurine.  This little fellow is not only handsome but buying him for your special someone will help out with a much needed and well deserved retirement center for older greys that find their way to the Retired Racers facility.  Remember, Retired Racers is the only place you can purchase this wonderful item.  If you have any questions about “Pacer”, please feel free to contact the Needle Nose Crew at 949 552-1373 or Retired Racers’ Pacer number at 661 267-6633.

MIKE’S KIDS

By Mike Gallas

Another training season is behind me, and as usual, I am left with many mixed emotions. The extra couple of hours of free time are nice; yet I so enjoy working, hugging and playing with my wonderful kids.  I can get very attached in nine weeks, and it’s always hard to say good-bye.  Now I have to wait until next spring to start up again.  As usual, I am left with many wonderful memories.  Nothing is more gratifying to me than seeing the true personality come out of a once very shy, uncertain dog.  I am truly in awe of how quickly some of “my kids” start to blossom.  There is so much trust, courage and love needed to believe in anyone after the treatment some of these dogs have received.  It just amazes me that they are up to the challenge.  I had some really wonderful dogs this season.  For example, there was Drifter, who was by far the most talented dog I have ever worked with, and then there was Ralph, everyone’s best friend.  There was Sire, Chip, Cyrus, Myst and Zoey who were my gentle wallflowers. Then there was Heart, Sassy, Karen and Beth, who were ready to take on the world.  There was a grand kaleidoscope of colors, sizes and personalities that definitely kept things interesting.  Of course, there will always be favorites that, for one reason or another, just seem to stand out.  I have four in particular that come to mind; three of whom I have known for years.  The first of these is Scat, a shy but really wonderful guy that Carole and I picked up from the Tracys one rainy day about three years ago.  Scat was just a basket case, afraid of everything except his traveling partner, Stubbs.  Scat and his pal spent a couple of years at Hemopet sharing a kennel.  Then Stubbs was adopted, leaving Scat on his own.  There was some concern as to how well Scat would do.  Fortunately, he was due to enter Hemopet’s foster program for long-term resident dogs, and this made all the difference.  Scat needed the quiet stability of a foster home to bring out the wonderful sweet personality that so few had seen.  He was adopted by a loving family and continues to blossom with their help and his new greyhound sister, Karen.  Unlike Scat, Cooper (Iggy) came to Hemopet as a young and very high-energy boy.  I remember only too well taking him (or being taken) for a walk and being pulled all over the neighborhood.  I think the best description for him would be manic.  Cooper also ended up in the foster program and was adopted by a great family.  Unfortunately, a number of setbacks ended with Cooper being returned to foster care.  He has since found a new and equally grand family who has shaped him into a well-mannered gentleman.  Now, he is a sweet gentle dog that seems to love everyone.  Roy is yet another of Hemopet’s long term dogs that eventually ended up in the foster care program. Roy arrived at Hemopet in very bad shape, thin and extremely fearful. The racing industry would have referred to him as a “spook”.  He will most likely never be a typical greyhound, but that doesn’t make him any less wonderful.  Roy is a sweet lovable fellow who is just choosy about his friends. Roy and his new “dad”, David, made so much progress during their nine weeks with me that I felt the need to present them with a special award.  I have never been more proud of any dog I have worked with, including my own, than I was watching Roy go through his graduation paces.  In his own way, Roy is the bravest dog I know.  And then there is Chanel. Unlike the three above, we had never met before class began.  She entered her new life as a companion with great apprehension.  She was fearful of everyone including her new “mom”.  Just two years old, Chanel didn’t have much of a career as a racing dog, most likely due to her gentle temperament… but what a darling little girl. It was obvious that she could use some confidence and socialization.  We also figured out very quickly that, fearful or not, Chanel has never met a treat she didn’t like, and we took full advantage of this. Typical of most two-year olds, Chanel had a problem staying focused at first and wanted to get up and move around.  Practice paid off and by the sixth week of class Chanel was holding her own with her older classmates.  By the eighth week, she had really improved and was more than ready to graduate.  Chanel’s personality also began to blossom as the weeks passed.  By the end of the class she was soliciting the other trainers for treats…. so much for fearful. The amazing improvement in confidence and the skill with which she performed her final exercise compelled me to once again issue a special award of improvement.  Chanel and her “mom“, Marilyn, are yet another example of what is possible if one is willing to make the effort.  Finally, I would like to finish with a few statistics. This season I worked with forty-seven dogs, nine from Canine Causes, twenty-one from Hemopet, eight from G.P.A., two from Operation Greyhound, two from Retired Racers, two from rescues outside of California and three dogs that were not greys. All were in mixed classes and all got along wonderfully.  This goes to show that it is possible for members of different groups to work peacefully together.  I would ask the powers that be within the various greyhound rescue groups throughout the Southland to use this as an example of what is possible.  Please give serious thought to putting aside all the politics and bad feelings that seem to get in the way so often.   Instead, let’s focus efforts on placing some really wonderful dogs.  I would like to thank Phil Epler and Joy Moss, my computer wizards, and Carole Oglesbee for all their help and support in making Dog Logic’s 2000 season a great success.  This season was my biggest so far with six classes from April through October and forty-seven students.  I congratulate all of you who completed the course and thank you for your participation and for sharing your dogs with me, if only temporarily.

HOLIDAY BOARDING

The holiday season is fast approaching and many will be taking off for out of town destinations.  As much as we would all like to take our wonderful companion greys with us, often it is impossible.  For those lucky enough to have friends, relatives or a trusted pet sitter, leaving our companions alone is not as traumatic an experience as it can be for others who do not have such a support system.  The Needle Nose Crew has always recommended several kennels, but they can stand to be repeated this time of year.  In addition, we now have another facility to add to the already existing list.  Sheila Budd, the adoption coordinator for Hemopet, now has her kennel in Phelan open for boarding.  We are pleased to include her facility in our list of recommended kennels and urge you to give her a call if you are looking for a place to board your canine friends.  As is the case everywhere in the Southland, many of the facilities and services we recommend are already completely booked for the Thanksgiving weekend and the week between Christmas and New Year.  If you haven’t already contacted someone to tend to your animals for the holidays, we urge to do so now.  The best fill up fast and we often receive panic calls at the last minute that just can’t be helped out with quality care.  For those of you heading south into the San Diego area and further, you can contact Greywood Kennels at 9078 Winter Gardens Blvd in Lakeside, east of San Diego along Highway 8.  The facility is located in front of the Greyhound Adoption Center kennel and is used by many San Diego area greyhound owners.  Greywood can be reached at 619 443-7605.  If you are heading toward the Las Vegas area and beyond, Sheila Budd’s Boarding Kennel is located at 11257 Corton in Phelan just off Highway 15 at Highway 138.  You can reach Sheila for reservations and directions by calling 760 868-9224.  If you are bound for somewhere north, Linda Brown’s Retired Racers is located at 6027 Valley Sage Road in Acton on Highway 14 just east of Highway 5.  Many of you have attended Retired Racers’ Fun Day and already know what a marvelous environment this is for your greys.  You can call Linda at 661 269-2544.  Any of the above kennels provide wonderful care and exceptional love for your companions.  If you are in the Orange County area, would rather not travel any distance to a kennel and/or are flying out of the John Wayne Airport, we recommend Sunrun Kennels located just off Highway 73 at 20322 Riverside Drive in Santa Ana.  Although Sunrun’s address is Santa Ana, they are in the Cost Mesa area just south of Highway 55.  You can reach these terrific folks at 714 641-3193.  Remember, call for reservations as soon as you possibly can.  Early planning can help everyone enjoy the holidays to the fullest.

GREYT LOVE

By Kaaren Douglas

My husband John and I adopted Caesar the year we married, 1994.  We had gone skiing on December 27, and unfortunately it turned into a disaster... I fell in the parking lot and broke my right forearm even before we got on the slopes.  On December 28, we drove down to La Mesa to get our treasure and bring him home.  I distinctly remember the rain that winter, as I tried to walk Caesar with one arm in a cast, holding an umbrella, and still trying to pick up dog poop.  Ugh.  It was uphill from there, and we delighted in taking Caesar with us traveling, camping and hiking.  John actually trained Caesar to run with him, and would put on his roller blades to keep up a pace that suited Caesar.  Altogether it was a great partnership.  When John became ill, then bedridden last fall, Caesar would sleep in the bedroom with me, then go downstairs, check in with John in the family room where his hospital bed was, and then outside to play.  He spent his days on the floor in "John's room."  After John died, he has mourned with me.  Losing John has been difficult for him to understand.  So often in the Notes, I read about someone losing his beloved greyhound companion.  Instead, Caesar and I lost John.  I cannot tell you how comforting it has been for me to have Caesar's company during this past difficult year.  Caesar is now nine, and I cherish the time we have left together.

REMEMBRANCES

Our hearts go out to…

• Cheryl Bryant for the loss of her seven year old Renda.