In my early days, helping with the greyhounds was going to Hemopet to walk the 50 or so resident greyhounds. I had no idea what a show and tell was or how one went about "selling" these wonderful dogs to the public. All I knew was that my help was needed so I went to lend a hand. Little did I know that this helping out would be the start of what is now the Needle Nose Crew or that this show and tell business would bring about the beginning of some long term friendships. Unlike the show and tells the Needle Nose Crew puts on today, my first event was a very stripped down affair. We had five or six people and a few greys standing in front of Barnes and Noble in Fashion Island. Most of the people participating at that first show were slightly familiar to me except for one very enthusiastic little lady. She was talking up a storm about how wonderful greyhounds are and why everyone should adopt at least one. This turned out to be Toni Schulz. Carole, Toni and I have been doing show and tells together for six years now. We have seen greyhound promotion go from small, word of mouth gatherings to daylong affairs complete with x-pens, handouts and dog goodies for sale. We have seen many people come and go, and many greys bloom into wonderful companion animals within nurturing households. We have been aggravated by the endless politics and the need some people have to create problems (right Toni). We have cheered and cried and threatened to walk away knowing all the while that these wonderful dogs are a part of us now, and we won’t be going anywhere. Toni and her husband Paul have been foster parents for GPA for about two years as well as adopting two greys of their own, Comet and Bear. Toni has also been in charge of the Needle Nose Crew monthly show and tells at Petsmart in Aliso Viejo and Foothill Ranch. Quite honestly, greyhound rescue has put me in contact with a lot of people I really don’t care for; people whose egos have proven to be more important to them than rescuing dogs. Toni and Paul have always been the antithesis of this mentality. They have always been ready to help, a joy to work with and givers of really good hugs! We have come a long way together, but it is now time to say farewell. Toni and Paul have decided to move back to Chicago to be closer to their families. They will be missed for so many reasons, but most of all because they are just really nice people. We wish you well in your travels back home and wherever else life takes you. Please know that you are both in our thoughts and in our hearts. The word "good-bye" will never be spoken as we hope you will keep in touch with us. Good luck from all of us at the Needle Nose Crew. Our loss is definitely Chicago’s gain.

HOLIDAY TIPS

As you celebrate the holidays, it's important to keep your greyhound safe and relatively free of stress. Think of your pet as you would a small child in the same situation. Safety first! You may save an emergency trip to the veterinarian. Here are some helpful hints: Guests And Holiday Parties. If you can normally trust your greyhound not to rush out an open front door, DON’T trust him during these holidays. There are more people and pets in the streets and lots of great smells! You will want to be at the door every time it is open so your dog does not escape, and be sure he always wears a collar with ID tags. If your pet is allowed to "mingle" during holiday parties, tell your guests, especially children, the rules for your pet – in what rooms they are or are not allowed, not to feed the pet scraps (if ten guests feed a 60 lb dog two scraps, you could have a very sick dog), and other rules of the house. With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, pets become stressed - this is a time for extra attention. Take time throughout the day to stop and say hello! Hide The Chocolate! For pets, chocolate is a tasty toxin. It contains a compound called theobromine, which, like caffeine, is dangerous to dogs when eaten in large quantities. Baking chocolate, with nearly nine times more theobromine than milk chocolate, is particularly dangerous, but either kind can cause problems. If you think your dog has eaten chocolate, call your vet immediately for advice. Pet-Friendly CHRISTMAS TreeS. Christmas trees should stand in a flat, wide base, and you might want to anchor the tree with fishing line tied to drapery rods or the wall. Consider decorating only the lower half of your tree or getting a tree that can be placed on a table. For decorations, try animal-safe items such as dried flowers, pinecones or fabric and wood ornaments. Tinsel, glass balls and popcorn strands can be deadly; tinsel and other stringy substances can cause serious intestinal complications. Never allow unsupervised access to the tree. Holiday Decorations. We often bring out "tasty" plants such as poinsettias, mistletoe, ivy and holly. These can be poisonous to dogs, possibly even fatal. Keep them out of your dogs’ reach. If candles are part of your celebration, consider using holders that have glass domes, cups, or cylinders that cover the candle or flame. These are harder to tip over than traditional tapers. Don't burn candles unless an adult is there to monitor the paws of curious pets. And dogs LOVE to romp through discarded wrapping paper and empty boxes, but dispose of all bows, yarn and curling ribbons so your pet doesn’t accidentally eat one! Holiday DINNERs. Pets are not garbage disposals for holiday leftovers – don't upset the season by making your pet ill. "Treating" them to excessive fatty holiday leftovers can upset their gastrointestinal system. Stick with their normal diet and avoid giving them more than a scrap or two. This is particularly true for older animals, whose digestive systems are often more delicate. To avoid having your dog tempted by the abundance of "people food" during the holidays, feed your pet before the feasting begins. When disposing of things such as turkey and ham bones, be sure to place them in a secure garbage receptacle. Bones of any kind can be dangerous to your pet, but particularly splintery turkey bones! Aluminum foil and disposable baking pans are very attractive, so be sure to discard them securely -- ingestion of aluminum foil may cause vomiting, intestinal blockage or even more serious problems. Holiday Pet-Sitters. Won't be home for the holidays? Plan ahead to make sure you have the right pet-sitter for your pet! Look for a pet-sitter who really loves animals in general and yours in particular. Have your pet-sitter come over a few times before you leave to practice feeding the pets in your presence. This gives you a chance to gauge the person's interest level and competency, and it also gives the sitter your endorsement in your pets' eyes. Call to make reservations early. This is their busiest time of year! A Simple, Possibly Life-Saving Holiday Safety Tip. What should you do if your pet accidentally eats a glass xmas tree bulb? Before the holiday, buy a box of cotton balls. Be sure to get cotton balls, not "cosmetic puffs" which are man-made fibers. Also, buy a quart of half-and-half coffee cream (also called light cream) and put it in the freezer. Should your dog eat glass ornaments, defrost the half-and-half, dip cotton balls into the cream and feed them to your dog. Greyhounds under 50 lbs should eat 3 to 5 balls and larger dogs should eat 6 to 8. Dogs seem to really like these strange "treats" and eat them readily. As the cotton works its way through the digestive tract it will find all the glass pieces and wrap itself around them. Even the teeniest shards of glass will be caught and wrapped in the cotton fibers and the cotton will protect the intestines from damage by the glass. This treatment is not meant as a "cure" – you should still call your vet immediately if you think your dog has ingested any holiday ornaments.

THANK "YOUS" AND DONATIONS

Recently, the Needle Nose Crew participated in an unusual fund raising event. At the invitation of Eric Shelman and his employer, Lantronix, Joy Moss and I visited the company’s facility to spend time with Eric’s fellow workers. We took five wonderful greyhounds with us and enjoyed the marvelous opportunity of showing off our companions. We received a warm reception from everyone as we raved about our great dogs. There was a very real reason for this visit though other than just for fun and promotion. Lantronix runs a summer program for local charitable causes and their employees’ comfort. Each employee may pay $5.00 into a fund. They are then allowed them to wear shorts on Friday. Local charities are selected and the collected "Shorts for Charity" money is distributed among the chosen groups. Employees may also choose to make additional contributions to any of the specific selected charities. The employees have a comfortable Friday, the employees and the company contribute to worthwhile causes, the charities receive much-needed funds and everyone comes out a winner. The Needle Nose Crew was delighted to not only be chosen as one of the Lantronix "Shorts for Charity" organizations but to also receive additional funds from three individual employees. Our participation and greyhound promotion resulted in a donation of $250. Our many thanks go to Eric, Lantronix and all the wonderful employees who lent us their ears and supported our cause. For all of you out there who are always trying to find innovative ways to raise funds for your own greyhound rescue and adoption organizations, we urge you to check with your employers. I’m sure there are many creative ideas waiting to be hatched which can benefit our cause. It takes a little ingenuity and brainstorming to come up with these ideas such as the one in place at Lantronix. It also requires asking employers if they would entertain that new idea and allow you to put it into effect. But for the charities out there that are waiting for those hard earned donated dollars, it will be well worth the effort. Many thanks again to all those who participated in the "Shorts for Charity" program, but also, thanks for giving us a chance to think along a different line as we search for ways to raise funds.

• Gary and Lorri Tracy for the loss of fourteen year old JJ.

• Mike and Lou Pittman for the accidental death of five year old Dice.

• Karen Charpie-Elton for the loss of beloved Adios.

• Pam Farnsworth for the loss of her very young five year old Mele.

Apologies from Ed to the Chapman family for the misspelling last month of Ashlee’s name…