I didn’t quite make it home before she died. I was in the airport when my mother had me paged and told me the news that sank my heart and made my legs buckle. Although I never got to hold her one last time I am grateful that she was not in pain waiting for me to come home. Our decision in not having a necropsy performed was made with confidence, but I will always wonder what took my sweet Miss Angela from us. And of course the big question, why? Why? I feel much regret that I was away at school during her last two months of life and wonder just what I missed. Losing one of my best friends while I was away at college was what I had feared most.

The lives of everyone surrounded and blessed by Angela’s presence, has changed. Although she is physically no longer inhabiting this Earth, I do not feel that she is absent from our lives. Her energy, like that of all living beings, is something that cannot be destroyed. I feel now that she is limitless and boundless, and is free from all the things that filled her with fear in her life such as fly swatters and firecrackers. I will never forget the beautiful memories I have of her and the time we spent together. I will not forget either the first time I noticed her six years ago when I first began volunteering at Hemopet and the certainty with which I knew I had to adopt her. Without a doubt Angela, Alva, our other grey, my mother and I all grew together and changed one another’s lives. I love them for this.

I tell this story of Angela not to sadden anyone but rather to celebrate her and remember her as the incredible spirit that she was. Also I give my deepest sympathy to all who have lost their special friends, as I know we are not the first or the last to feel such incredible pain. As humans on this earth it is important to remember just how remarkable and precious life is. And as humans of our adopted greys it is also important to cherish and just be thankful for every moment we are able to share with them. It is necessary to mourn and even be angry, but then we must celebrate and honor their lives. After all, this is why we bring them off the racetrack and into our hearts in the first place.

Angela continues to visit me. I see her up in the stars, high in the redwood trees, in the plants in my garden, and in the rain that falls from the heavens. She continues to inspire me and fill me with her unconditional love. She reminds me of the lessons she taught me in compassion, gratitude, and kindness. (She also reminds me to go to my classes and to not stay in bed and feel too sorry for myself!) She has changed the way I approach music, my life and the world.

Most of our members are aware that the purpose of the Needle Nose Crew is to promote greyhounds as companion pets and advise those we meet at our events of the seven rescue and adoptions groups serving Southern California.

We also supply a single page monthly newsletter for the main purpose of informing our members of our schedule of events for the current month. To provide our literature at events and mail out our monthly newsletter, we raise the funds necessary to cover copying and mailing expenses. We raise these needed funds by generous donations during our shows and in the mail. In addition, we benefit from the sale of the items we carry for all greyhound lovers.

Once our minimum expenses are met, any excess funds we collect are distributed to various groups and organizations throughout the area. Since we are very fortunate to have non-greyhound organizations support our efforts, many of our donations are made to those groups in appreciation of that support, as well as the smaller greyhound groups who so desperately look for funds to continue their rescue work. As we do each year, we are pleased to list the donations the Needle Nose Crew made throughout this past year. We appreciate all of our member’s support not only with the donations you send in and the products you purchase, but above everything, for the hours that are donated to help promote all the wonderful greyhounds throughout the Southland. Thank you one and all for your generosity both in dollars and in time. 

Now on to our list of 2001 donations:

Hart Muttmatcher -

Breed Rescue Listing 

$ 25.00

Greyhound Friends for Life - Lindsey Rescue 

$300.00

Greyhound Connection - General Donation 

$100.00

Greyhound Adoption League - General Donation 

$500.00

Retired Racers - 

Lindsey Grey Rescue 

$300.00

Idyllhounds - 

4^th of July Events

  $90.00

SoCalGAL -

Petsmart Script 

$150.00

Riverside Animal Care Ctr -

Raffle Prize 

$4.00

Irvine Animal Care Ctr - Open House Donation 

$50.00

Org Cty Police Canine Assoc - Demo Donation 

$125.00

Total Distributed Funds 

$ 2,454.00

The Needle Nose Crew, specifically Aja, Traveler, Patch, and Janna are making history at Patton State Hospital (Rikki has yet to make her debut, due to her tendency toward shyness.) Patton State Hospital is a maximum security forensic facility that treats approximately 1200 mentally ill patients committed to the California Department of Mental Health by the judicial system under a variety of penal code and civil commitments, including incompetent to stand trial and not guilty by reason of insanity.  Approximately six years ago, Patton began treating an increasing number of patients admitted by the Department of Corrections.  These patients include those that are either too mentally ill to be treated within the prison system or are too dangerous to be released into the community on parole.

As a psychiatric social worker, I work on the female admissions unit that accepts all commitment types, except those incompetent to stand trial.  As an admissions unit, we face the challenge of first stabilizing these patients psychiatrically and then assisting them in adjusting to hospitalization.  The climate on an admitting unit is fast paced and at times volatile... a perfect place for the calming effect of an animal's unconditional love and affection.  

Since my greys seemed to fit the bill, and the therapeutic effects of pet therapy have been well documented, I approached the hospital's administration with a proposal that a pet therapy program be initiated utilizing my wonderful gang.  Hospital administration approved the program and permission was obtained from the Department of Corrections to allow the dogs unlimited entry into the facility. Since emBARKING on this project several months ago, Aja, Traveler, Patch and Janna have each reported to work several times and I am happy to report that they are a hit, with patients and staff. They have participated in a variety of treatment groups, gone on walks around the grounds with the patients (supervised, of course) and spent supervised one on one time with some special patients.  

One such patient is a young deaf man, only 23 years of age, who has been institutionalized since the age of five.  He has been a very difficult patient and has posed numerous behavioral challenges to his unit's staff but we hit "pay dirt" with the arrival of the greys.  He absolutely loves the dogs and they reciprocate in kind.  It is heart-warming, not to mention at times tear jerking, to witness the magic that transpires between this unfortunate young man and the greys during their visits.  He loves to hold and pet them and they are more than willing to oblige.  During one visit, he and Traveler cuddled quietly together on the dog bed... what a picture that was.  There wasn't a dry eye in the place.  Surprisingly, the more psychotic patients seem to benefit the most.  The presence of the dogs tends to draw these patients out of their inner world and provides them an opportunity for interaction that is both non-threatening and accepting.  Aja was the first to visit the hospital because in her own quiet way, she really knows how to work a crowd.  During that first visit, two of the sickest women on the unit registered delight at Aja's presence and were even able to converse in a brief but coherent manner about her being there.  Another benefit has been the stabilizing effect the greys have had on the unit as a whole.  Despite the severity of their mental illnesses, and the volatility that can result, the majority of our patients demonstrate a real caring and concern for the dogs and make a more concerted effort to self regulate their behaviors, so as not to upset the dogs.

As an added bonus, the presence of the greys at the hospital seems to have sparked some interest among staff members regarding the possibility of adopting a greyhound. Typically, they have been impressed by the same qualities that have drawn so many of us to this wonderful breed... their gentle spirit, calm demeanor, and friendly personalities, to name just a few of their attributes.  Hopefully, this project will continue to benefit the patients and perhaps lead to an adoption or two.

Colleen Summerfield for the much too early loss of Crackle John & Kindra Willey for the loss of 14 year old Kukie JoAnne Jahnke for the loss of "Spunky" Winter

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

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