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VOL.6, ISSUE 8
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Happy Howlidays! |
DECEMBER 2001
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| CELEBRATING
2001 WITH NEW STARTSI
The Needle Nose Crew ends this wonderful year having completed sixty-eight shows. We are not only thrilled with the quantity but also the marvelous variety of events. This combination allows us to talk with so many more people with different interests and past-times. This year’s counts include shows at thirty-two pet stores, eight multi-day home show and community events, fourteen commercial facilities, seven community programs and seven animal welfare events. We extend our deepest appreciation to those businesses and organizations that invited the Needle Nose Crew to attend their activities. Without their support, we certainly would not be able to spread the word about greyhounds as effectively as we do. Of course, we also extend our thanks to our many members who share their spare time by promoting greyhound adoption. The attendance of these volunteers makes it possible for the public to see just how terrific our greyhound companions are. This year we would also like to recognize some very special volunteers who have stepped forward and agreed to manage and staff shows in their own areas. With this type of independent volunteering we can increase the number of shows we do and the number of potential adopters we meet. Our special thanks go out to Howard, Norma and Alan Schlesinger for their efforts in the Los Angeles area, Heath and Chris McGee and Pat Hagler for their efforts in the Chino/Riverside areas, Jack and Gretchen Peckham for the shows in the Idyllwild area and Jacki Dahl, Erika Jones and Vicky Pedrin for their multiple shows and venues in the Orange County area. These independent efforts allow us more free time and energy to increase our exposure in new areas and at new venues. To our delight this extra time has allowed us to develop a new and energetic branch of the Needle Nose Crew in the San Diego area. Our many, many thanks go to Denaire Rigney for spearheading this effort. Our thanks also go out to Mike and Judy Bushnell and John and Kindra Willey for helping get this new branch up and running. One last item that we would like to acknowledge is the increased
attendance of various foster/kennel greyhounds available for adoption at
our events and shows. We have been blessed in years past with the
attendance of s Again, thank you to all the Needle Nose Crew members and volunteers for your efforts during this past year and in all the previous six years of our existence. As we head into year number eight; we hope that more of you will join in our efforts to promote our wonderful ex-racing greyhounds. You do not need an invitation to join us…just grab your greyhounds and come on along. CONFLICT? By Joy Moss Recently I was questioned about whether being involved with Needle Nose Crew and the editor of the Notes is a conflict of interest with my position as program coordinator of Southern California Greyhound Adoption League. My immediate response was "no", but then I started thinking that if one person was questioning this, maybe others were also. I took this issue to quite a few people, greyhound owners and non-greyhound owners. I asked people in many different occupations including a social worker, law enforcement officers, and attorneys. Quite a few interesting conversations evolved from this. A couple of times when I posed the question in a group, the discussion took off among the others with very little input from me. One person I spoke with was completely surprised at the depth of my involvement – and she adopted two of my fosters! The main point of discussion was since the Needle Nose Crew promotes all greyhound rescue and adoption groups, how could I do that and still be involved with one of those groups. Would my involvement in a rescue and adoption group prevent me from promoting other groups? All greyhound owners have adopted from one (or sometimes more than one) of many rescue and adoption groups, and through donations and adoption fees support that group. Many Needle Nose Crew members volunteer with and support several different groups. Does one group have healthier dogs? Does one group have greyhounds that need homes more than others? Is it better to adopt from a kennel than from a foster home? Are greyhounds in foster homes better adjusted than those in a kennel? The answer to all these questions is "no". Every rescue and adoption group has greyhounds that need and deserve loving homes. When we remember this, it’s easy to promote all the groups, not just those we are currently involved with. I believe, as did most of the people I talked with, that this is not a conflict of interest. The other thing that came out of these discussions was not really surprising, given the time frame. These conversations started not long after September 11th when we were all feeling very grateful to be Americans. Not only could someone pose the question, we had the freedom to discuss the issue, to agree or disagree with it, and each other. HAVE A GREYT-SAFE HOLIDAY! As the holidays approach, remember your greyhound’s safety. Be careful when opening doors, and make sure your pet always wears a collar with ID tags. Consider decorating only the lower half of your Christmas tree or getting a tree that can be placed on a table. One family puts their tree in an x-pen! Tinsel, glass balls and popcorn strands can cause serious intestinal complications. Remember that plants such as poinsettias, mistletoe, ivy and holly can be poisonous to dogs. Pets are not garbage disposals for holiday leftovers – don't upset the season by making your pet ill. Dogs become accustomed to a regular diet and treating them to excessive fatty holiday leftovers can upset their entire systems. Stick with their normal diet and avoid giving them more than a scrap or two. Bones of any kind can be dangerous to your pet, but particularly splintery turkey bones. Aluminum foil that has been wrapped around meat and disposable baking pans are very attractive, so be sure to discard them securely. Most of all, don’t ignore your dog. 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! THE 12 DAYS OF A GREYHOUND CHRISTMAS
(and in the interest of saving space…we’ll skip right to…)
REMEMBRANCES Our hearts go out to…
HELP WANTED – Needle Nose Notes wants your articles and pictures of your greys! I have heard from many of our readers how much they enjoy reading the Notes. Please contribute by sharing your stories with all of us.
Send your articles and pictures to: Joy Moss, Editor, Needle Nose Notes 4857 Royce Road, Irvine, CA 92612 greytjoy@msn.com Contributions are always welcome and help our cause. Needle Nose Crew, P.O. Box 3012, Laguna Hills, CA 92654-3012
Editor: Joy Moss 4857 Royce Rd., Irvine, CA 92612 |
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groups’ fosters. However, this year has seen additional groups come
forward to participate in some of our activities. In addition to the GPA
and Southern California Greyhound Adoption League attending fosters, we
have now welcomed the Operation Greyhound fosters to the Idyllwild
events and the Greyhound Adoption Center kennel greys to the San Diego
events. The attendance of these available greys always sparks intense
interest in the people we meet. We are happy to pass on information
about these foster/kennel greys and let any interested folks know from
which group a particular grey comes. If you are a foster parent and/or
participate in your kennel activities, please feel free to attend the
Needle Nose Crew shows with your available greys. We are always happy to
have you and will do our utmost to help promote any and all greys
available through any of the Southern California rescue groups.
