It should be very easy to see from last month’s and this month’s Needle Nose Notes that we will be very busy this spring with multiple shows almost every weekend. We encourage you to attend as many as you possibly can fit into your very busy schedules. You and your greys are welcome, and we know you will find the events enjoyable. It is always fun to boast about our children whether they are the two-legged or the four-legged types. The Needle Nose Crew shows are certainly your chance to extol the virtues of your four-legged blessings.

We are a loose knit group of volunteers whose sole purpose is to promote the advantages of adopting ex-racing greyhounds. We try to keep our events informal, friendly and neutral. Since we are still going strong after almost eight years, we must be doing something right. However, at this point in time we would like to ask two things of all of you who attend our events.

With so many people milling around our exhibit, it is often difficult for the general public to know who to ask questions of. In order to help out these potential adopters, please be sure to wear a greyhound shirt to any and all events. Naturally, our preference is for you to wear a Needle Nose Crew shirt. In addition to the maroon and natural styles we currently have in stock, we will have new short sleeved shirts in three spring colors available at the next events. If you do not have a Needle Nose Crew shirt, please feel free to wear a generic greyhound shirt, or a rescue and adoption group’s shirts. Any of the three types will be fine with us. Just be sure to help out the public by wearing some sort of greyhound shirt.

When you arrive at each show, please put on a name badge. Again, these help the general public to know who to ask questions of, which is our sole reason for holding these events. Many of you have plastic badge holders from previous shows. Please round up these badge holders and bring them to the next event you attend. We have no problem with you keeping one to use at each show, but some of us have several. Needless to say, this runs us short for new volunteers. Since we are now out of most of the plastic holders, we have standard temporary paper badges, which you can grab when you arrive.

One way or another we need to let the public know who we are and who is available to answer their questions.

Many thanks to those of you who head various shows, those of you who attend shows on a regular basis and those of you who drop by on an occasional basis. Each and every one of you contributes to the joys of owning greyhounds and promoting greyhound adoption. Come any time and join in the fun.

IT’S TOO EARLY BUT…

The volunteers of each of these groups put in an enormous amount of time and effort in order to present their reunions. They hope to see the greys they have placed in the past and talk with old friends and owners. Of course, the reunions are also a chance for them to have all of you see the latest group of greys currently looking for homes. The reunions are important events for the much needed fund raising each group must accomplish to keep everything going. So please, get out with your own greys and support any and all of these groups you can this spring. It is a very special way to say "thank you" to the volunteers who spend countless hours finding permanent homes for our very special greys.

 First up this spring will be the Retired Racers Fun Day on Sunday, April 21st from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Most of you received a flyer with February’s Needle Nose Notes and you know that the cut-off date for reservations was February 22nd. Linda needed to make arrangements for food and volunteer support. Unfortunately, there will be no admittance at the gate without a prior reservation. We hope you all sent in your reservations and look forward to seeing you at the Needle Nose Crew booth.

Second in the lineup will be the Greyhound Pets of America Picnic in the Park on Saturday, May 4th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. As in the past, GPA’s picnic will be held in Huntington Beach Central Park just off the corner of Slater Avenue and Gothard Street. There will be many fine vendors attending as well as the Gilley’s with their remarkable "dancing greyhounds". For additional information you may contact 562 960-9997 or 714 835-7691 or check out GPA’s newly updated web site at www.fastfriends.org.

The third and forth reunion events of the spring/summer season take us down to the San Diego area. The Greyhound Adoption Center will hold "Woofstock 2002" on Saturday, June 1st from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is the second year the gathering will be held at their wonderful new Canine Sports Center in El Cajon. You will find them at 4821 Dehesa Road. The GAC can be contacted for more information at their toll free number 877 478-8364. The GAC’s web site is www.greyhoundog.org.

Operation Greyhound will be holding their 11th Annual event on Sunday, June 9th at O’Neil Lake in Camp Pendleton. The location is tucked back into the recreational area of the Marine Base and provides a wonderful spot for people and greys to enjoy an outing. For directions, contact Operation Greyhound at 619 588-6611 or visit their web site at www.operationgreyhound.com.

Lunch is provided at each of the events, but you should remember to bring folding chairs, blankets, ex-pens, awnings and anything else you need for your and your grey’s comfort. Oh yes, and be sure to bring your wallets. There will be wonderful items and services to purchase, raffles on which to take a chance, and even an auction or two. We hope you and your greys have a wonderful time no matter which of the picnics you attend.

* When it comes to great legs, good genes help.

* When I meet people, I greet them expecting that they will like me.

* You can have the best time just hanging around (on the floor) with your friends.

* When you are no longer hungry, just stop eating (and walk away from your food bowl).

* Good things come to those who wait.

* We all benefit from a good walk each day.

* Afternoon naps are wonderful.

* And finally... It is more important to be happy than to be top dog.

I've been reading too many tear-jerking stories, and I thought I would tell you about Jeff. He's been diagnosed with cancer and has had 4 operations since Jan of 2001. However it kept growing back until the vet said he couldn't operate anymore. So we went to a specialist and decided to try chemo. At about the same time, we were at a Show & Tell in Torrance where we ran into a man who was just recovering from cancer. He believed that what turned it around was mushroom pills (Agaricus Blazei Murill). He gave us a bottle and said to try them on Jeff. Well, we had nothing to lose. We started giving him the pills and a week later we started him on chemo. Lo and behold, the growths started shrinking and Jeff has become lively again. He hasn't been sick from the chemo either. We think the pills together with the chemo are doing the trick. Our Jeff is a survivor and a fighter. We are keeping our fingers crossed and pray that this keeps up and he can live a normal life. He and all greys deserve that.

Carolyn DeRose for her loss of Goldee Jeff & Lisa Walz for their loss of Gil Joe Hammond for the his loss of Sammy Joe & Diane Leffingwell for the tragic loss of Ozzie Lorri Tracy for her loss of Kelly

Thanks for all the articles and pictures… keep them coming!

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