We didn’t pick him - he picked us. It was a cold December day in 1999 when we went to the Second Chance Greyhound Kennel in Draper, Utah. Carol gave George a leash for Christmas, saying they would pick out something to go on the other end of it during the holidays. George had seen rescued greyhounds from the Portland, Oregon racetrack while living in Washington. John, the kennel owner, showed us several but had one more he wasn’t going to show us because he didn’t think he would be good with children (we have 20 grandchildren). We wanted to see him anyway, and out charged a frisky, light brindle, beautiful 21-month old greyhound. He ran around us as fast as he could go, stopping every few minutes to sniff us. George exclaimed with a big grin, "I like him!" As we left to get supplies before picking him up, the "puppy" went to the fench, stood up on his hind legs and looked at the car as if to say, "Don’t leave me. I want to go with you. I belong to you!" John said he had never seen him do anything like that before. We decided to name him "Lucky". He was born on March 13, he was Lucky to be adopted, and we were Lucky to have him. His trainer had named him "Beyond Stubborn". He apparently would not chase the lure and was retired at 18 months of age. Carol always said it was because he was so smart – he wasn’t going to waste his time chasing a fake bunny. Now, real bunnies were a different story! He loved going to the school yard to race up and down the hill, scooting around and around the fenced yard, and playing in the snow until his belly was bright red. He loved children and held very still while they petted him, or put scarves, beads, hats, etc. on him. He loved playing tag and entertained us by throwing his toys in the air and pouncing on them. Lucky never damaged anything by chewing – his stuffed toys were still like new years later. He always kept them lined up in the bedroom and put them in place when he was finished playing. Wherever we went, Lucky was a bit hit. It would take us hours to get up and down the street because people stopped us with questions, and every child wanted to pet him. He was a great ambassador for the rescue program. Several people who adopted greyhounds in Utah and California later told us it was because of Lucky! Lucky loved to ride in the car. He traveled from California to Utah and Idaho several times, and was always content in the back seat for hours at a time. He liked going to work with George occasionally. Lucky was always quiet and well-mannered until lunchtime when he became a beggar, but the employees didn’t mind spoiling him by sharing their lunches. The third year we had Lucky, he became ill. For weeks he didn’t lift his ears, wag his tail, play with his toys, run, or even chew a bone. We took him to several veterinarians who ran many tests, but it was through the concern of Don and Dolly Young that he was finally helped. They suggested their vet in San Jacinto, Dr. Bruce Jones.

This was the year to celebrate the 4th of July!! What better way than to share it with friends and, of course, our beloved greys? For the fourth consecutive year the Needle Nose Crew swarmed the lovely town of Idyllwild for the annual 4th of July parade. The town may be small and the parade short, but you just can’t beat the setting and the enthusiastic crowd. North Circle Drive was sunny with pine-shaded spots and lined with visiting flatlanders and resident locals. The whopping 41 greyhounds in attendance received rounds of applause from everyone along the way. We were truly delighted to have greys from Retired Racers, GPA, Hemopet, SoCalGAL, Operation Greyhound, shelter rescue and a lovely token Italian Greyhound. In addition, there were available foster greys from GPA, SoCalGAL and Operation Greyhound. After the parade and a rest break for the humans and greys, several parade participants backtracked half the parade route to talk with visitors and found many who wanted cards and literature.

On Saturday, nineteen greys returned to North Circle Drive for a regular show. We have been welcomed each year by Barbara of Kountry Kollectables and are extremely grateful to her for providing such a wonderful shady, relaxed venue for us to promote our greys. Special thanks go to Jack and Gretchen Peckham, Jess and Karen Morehouse, Don Laffoon and Grace Songolo for their efforts over the holiday, and throughout the year. Their continued activities send many tourists home with literature containing local numbers of greyhound rescue organizations. Although Idyllwild is unique in many ways, it is quite ordinary in one important aspect - almost every American community has 4th of July activities. The Needle Nose Crew had representatives at the Woodbridge, Irvine parade and the Chino Hills Community Park picnic. In addition to the show at Kountry Kollectables, we had representatives at Petco in Montebello on the 6th. 

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

greytjoy@msn.com