2004 PLANNING SEASON

Each fall the Needle Nose Crew steering committee begins to plan the next year’s show schedule.  As the years have gone by we have ended up with more and more pre-scheduled community events that have firm dates.  We slot those events in first, and then begin to work in the optional events such as pet store and shopping center shows.  It always takes a bit of juggling during the initial planning sessions and also requires constant reevaluating as new event invitations come up during the year.  However, we have to start somewhere.  So here we go again.

One of the most important factors in planning our annual schedule is the amount of help we can count on to set up and carry out each and every event.  There is no such thing as “small shows”.  Each one is important, as we are never sure when someone will walk up to our group and say they are interested in information on adopting a greyhound.  In order to insure a successful schedule we need to enlist volunteers who will assume the roll of show lead.  This requires working with us to pick locations, dates and times for shows that are possible for volunteers to take charge of.  The Needle Nose Crew supplies a kit with everything a volunteer will need to put on a show with the exception of a card table and tablecloth.  In addition, each show lead is guaranteed plenty of greyhound and volunteer support during the actual event.  You will not be holding down the fort by yourself.

If being a show lead is something you don’t feel you can commit to, perhaps you would be available to lend a hand as a second lead.  All that would be required is to help set up and tear down a show along with the show lead.  Whether you can help as a show lead or as an assistant, give us a call at 949 552-1373 or e-mail us at gogreys@juno.com and let us know you’d like to make a commitment to greyhound promotion.  Look at the greyhound at your feet and know that there are many, many more greyhounds waiting for good homes just like yours.  Think about helping them by joining us as a show volunteer.

We would like to extend an invitation to everyone to attend our shows no matter whether you have a greyhound or not, no matter from whom you might have adopted your greyhound, and no matter whose foster you might have in your home at the moment.  A greyhound is a greyhound, and a volunteer is a volunteer.  All we ask is that everyone stay positive and focused on greyhound adoption, and that all seven adoption groups in the Southern California area are promoted.  Hang onto your monthly newsletter – post it on your refrigerator or bulletin board, clip it to your calendar – and refer to our “Calendar of Events”.  Come join in the fun and enjoy the grand feeling of promoting our most wonderful greyhound companions.          

TAIL GATE TALES

By Colleen Summerfield          

I don’t know if anyone else has had this happen, but here’s a word of caution to those who transport their greys by truck.  I have a truck with a shell on the back that is perfect for me to take my greys around town.  My dogs, as most everyone else’s I’m sure, go nuts when they know they are going for a ride.  One of my greys, Ajax , has developed a potentially dangerous habit.  If I have not opened the back of the shell and dropped the tail gate,

Ajax leaps to get into the back, sometimes leaving claw marks and his body impression on the back.  Thank God he has never gotten hurt, just embarrassed.  He has even successfully jumped into the truck with just the shell open, and the tail gate still up.  So watch your greys, and make sure they wait till its safe to jump in.

MY ANGEL

By Axle Monier

I used to chase this thing around the racetrack, which people said was a rabbit.  I don’t know what glasses they were wearing, but believe me, they either weren’t eating enough carrots or they just weren’t lucky enough to be born a grey.  Not that I knew what a bunny rabbit looked like, I led a rather caged life.  But I was certain that the thing on the arm of a long metal stick wasn’t alive.  But since this was the only chance I got to run and feel the wind on my wet nose, I took it.

I never thought my life would be any more than it had been.  My whole life was spent in cages, being led around by people and having very little to do every day.  I was so bored.  But I learned as best I could how to dream so that I could escape the boredom.  I would dream of chasing real bunny rabbits, of chewing on bones and just frolicking in the sun.  I would dream of rolling in the grass to get all my itches itched.  I would dream of having birds to chase, rats to catch and butterflies to leap up at.  I would dream of a life my ancestors lived; a life of love, a life of activity, a life of freedom.  I was happy in my dreams.  And even when I wasn’t dreaming, I was happy when I would hear of other greys who got to live their life and not just live.  I was happy for any grey who had a life, even if that grey wasn’t me.

Then one day, a miracle happened.  My cage was opened and an angel appeared.  For the first time in my life, I now know what a real bunny rabbit looks like.  I can chase them for as long as I still have air in my lungs.  They are a little faster and definitely much cleverer in real life.  Maybe a little more practice would help since I have never actually been able to find the bunny once I begin running.  My angel says they go left when I go right…hope she is not a betting angel.

I am free to smell smells, and they are so wonderful to smell.  I didn’t realize just how many smells there are out in the world.  There are smells that I can’t even identify, but it sure is fun to try.  My angel is patient and I am allowed to smell all the smells that have come before me.  I am allowed to smell until my nose is too tired to smell any more.  I frolic in grass and leap at the butterflies.  I lie lazily in the sun, just basking in the glory of my new life.  My angel knows when I am hungry, when I like a chew treat, when I like to go on an adventure walk and when I just want to sleep.  My angel has given me the life that my ancestors had, I am certain of that.  For I can think of no better life than I have right now.

I pray every night that I don’t leave my new home.  I pray every night that I never have to return to the life I once knew.  I pray every night for my angel to stay and keep me safe for the rest of my life.  I pray every night to thank my angel for allowing me to do the things in life that I want to do.  I also pray for all other greys still living in cages.  In my prayers, I tell them to hang in there, don’t give up hope and never, never give up dreaming.  If my dreams came true, so can theirs’.  I hope they can hear me when I pray for them.  I hope other angels are listening.  I hope there are enough angels for all my friends.

You know, the most amazing thing about all of this is that I actually think my angel thanks me too.  I see a tear roll down my angel’s face and I know it is a tear of joy.  And then I think, maybe the two of us are angels for each other.

HAPPY SWEET SIXTEEN

From Kathy, Richard and Anne Gillivan

Chiyona was Hemopet greyhound #14, and was adopted in February 1994.  She will turn 16 years old in October.  Chiyona has slowed down quite a bit, and is acting forgetful, but still goes on her walks and enjoys a good bowl of dog food.  Happy Birthday, Chiyona!

WHOSE BED IS IT, ANYWAY?

By Colleen Summerfield

Shortly after bringing my greys home I was sharing my bed with one, but it wasn’t until Mikey came to live with me that I began losing sleep.  Fawn, my #1 girl, was queen of the bed with no challengers.  Then Mikey arrived.  He is a very needy boy, and was the fastest and the first to hit the bed.  Mikey would position himself across the bed so nobody else could get up.  Well, that put Fawn’s nose out of joint.  And she would exact her revenge by standing in the hallway and barking – at 3 a.m. !  Needless to say, I wasn’t getting a good night’s sleep.  The only way to get some peace was to get Mikey off the bed, Fawn up, and then let Mikey try to get back up if there was room.  Then all of us could go off to dreamland!

HAVE A SAFE HALLOWEEN…

By Joy Moss

Please make sure your four-legged companions are safe when the little two-legged monsters are roaming on Halloween.  I always put an ex-pen in front of the door, or a baby gate would work as well.  Tanner and Sharin always love to visit with the children who come to the door, and with the ex-pen there, I know they’ll be safe and not tempted to run outside.  It’s an added way to decorate too – by draping spider webs or strings of lighted jack-o-lanterns!  And watch that candy – chocolate can be very toxic to canines.  

	Retired Racers for their loss of Miss Gracie
	Bert & Judy Lilly for their loss of Ferris
	Gerald & Moria Scipione for their loss of Rocky
	Ken Isaak & Cheri Scherr for their loss of Newman
	Eddie & Lisa Robles for their loss of both Betty & Derby
	Mark & Pam Rodman for their loss of Tawny