Vol. 9, Issue 4

Greyt Summer Days

August 2004

MIXED FAMILY!

By Shirley Dole

On Labor Day weekend it will be two years since I adopted my first and very wonderful greyhound, Mariah (formerly LaLa).

We truly love and trust each other.  Mariah has toys all over the house, throws them around all the time complete with growls and many antics.  Sometimes she is to be found howling with delight.  She was such a shy, scared baby when I adopted her, and now makes sure she receives all the hugs, attention and love my other dogs also receive.  She is definitely not shy about getting my attention – all foot rubs are welcome!

If anyone who is considering adopting a greyhound has concerns about how they adapt with other dogs of differing breeds, I am able to say with certainty – very well indeed.  I had adopted Sabrina, my golden retriever mix about 6 or 7 years before adopting Mariah, and Mitzi, a terrier mix, 3 months after Sabrina joined my family.  Mitzi, nicknamed the “savage beast”, is the only one who had some problems with Mariah, at least initially.

The girls get along great and lounge right next to each other all the time.  I must admit that occasionally Mitzi still gives Mariah the “evil eye”, but then she is a terrier!

GALGO VISIT

By Sheila Finch

t first glance, he looks like a shaggy greyhound with a tri-colored coat, slightly smaller than an average grey male, his body a bit squarer in shape, tail longer with a kink near the tip, and ears a little fleshier. He has the same liquid brown eyes and sweet expression, but the odd thing is he's sitting squarely on his haunches on the grass of an English park, not squatting three inches off the ground as my own grey girl would be.

He's a galgo, the Spanish greyhound, and he's one of the lucky ones.

This summer I visited Anne Finch (no relation) in England and met some of these first cousins to our greys that she's rescued. The galgo isn't used for racing in its native land; Irish greys are imported for the tracks. The fate of the galgo is far worse.  In rural Spain , farmers use galgos to hunt hares and other small prey, but they often feel no need to care for or even feed the dogs. And when the day comes that the faithful galgo can hunt no more, the farmer usually feels no compunction in killing him either.

The tracks do that here, you say? In Spain , killing the galgo can become a sport in itself, with hanging the favorite method--a high branch for a quick death, a low one for a slower death if the farmer bears the dog a grudge. (There are anti-cruelty laws on the books in Spain , but weak enforcement.) Thousands each year meet this fate, a never-ending flood that galgo rescue groups in England and Europe cannot keep up with. Nor are they received with good will as they go about their mission. 

Anne says that in a culture that enjoys bullfighting, people don't understand why a dog's life should be worth anything.

Anne and her companions drive hundreds of miles each trip, following tips to rescue abandoned, starving and terrified galgos. Sometimes, she literally cuts them down from a tree at the last possible moment. She has hair-raising tales to tell of transport vans breaking down in hot weather, gasoline running out and no garage in sight, hostile farmers threatening. England has strict quarantine laws too, so when the quota for the trip is reached she can't simply bring most of them home. There's a network of kennels in dog-friendly countries like Belgium where volunteers feed and care for as many as possible before trying to find homes for them elsewhere in Europe . But the tide of animal misery never seems to turn and money is always short.

I turn back to the gentle galgo, resting at my feet in an English park and put my arms around him, thinking of my own beautiful girl in California . My eyes fill with tears. On his neck there's a place where the shaggy fur is sparse, and an ugly scarred patch from the rope his rescuers cut away at the last minute.

[In case you think this is an exaggerated story, I urge you to visit Anne Finch’s web site: www.greyhoundsinneed.co.uk, but if you have a weak stomach, don't look at the photos.]

SHOW OFF YOUR GREYS

By Joy Moss

Every so often we like to remind everyone how important you are to greyhound rescue efforts.  Needle Nose Crew volunteers gather at different venues, almost every weekend (as you can see in the Calendar of Events).  We promote all greyhound adoption groups, and everyone is welcome, no matter which group you adopted from.  Volunteers are able to compare notes on greyhound issues, and brag to interested people about how wonderful our companions are.  It’s amazing that many people have never seen a greyhound, and don’t know how great ex-racers are.

If you can’t join us, please consider an outing with your greys to a park or a beach.  Some shopping centers and farmers’ markets welcome dogs but before you go, check to make sure dogs are allowed.  Carry your group’s business cards, or Needle Nose Crew cards, with you to hand out to interested people.  (And make sure you’re equipped to pick up after your grey!)  Every time you take your dog for an outing, or just for a walk in your neighborhood, you are promoting greyhounds.  You never know when a chance encounter will save another ex-racer’s life.

PICK ‘EM UPS

By Jon Krup

Every day we have to deal with a subject near and dear to our hearts. Well, near to our feet anyway. The subject: Well, uh... poop. With two Greys, there are many daily donations to my back yard, all taken care of with a rake and scooper. But how do we deal with it on the road, on walks, at the park? The easiest way is to carry plastic bags. Aye, and therein lies the rub.  What plastic bag to carry? Vegetable bags from the local supermarket are very thin, and the carry-out bags from the check stand are just the wrong size.

	John & Kindra Willey for the loss of their curmudgeon Blue
	Dan & Deborah Breakman for their loss of the rascal Lenny
	Chris & Deb Threlfall for their loss of the incredible Nebula

If you live in California , Nevada and Arizona , find your local Smart and Final store. They supply the food-service industry, but anyone can buy there. In the containers or the paper goods aisle, look for "bakery & food service bags." There are three sizes. The 5 x 3.5 x 13 inch size seems ideal for "picking poop." They come 250 to a box which costs less than $7, including tax. They fold up to be quite compact.  I carry three on the twice-daily walks up the street with my two Greys - Sunny and Sky - and seldom have I used all three. The bags will fit on your hand like a glove, are large enough to pick up a "calling card," and long enough to turn inside-out without mess, and heavy/strong enough to avoid tearing or puncturing.

 More on this fascinating subject from your Editor...

A friend gave me a really nifty flashlight-carabineer that I clip onto my belt loop.  Wonderful for those late-night walks that AJ preferred! It also holds my “Bags on Board” container very nicely. The container and refill bags are readily available at most pet stores.  However, I do pay more for the convenience.  I like that the bags are biodegradable, too.      

FALL REUNIONS

If you missed the Spring Greyhound reunions and picnics (or even if you didn’t) there are a couple more chances for greyt fun and companionship at two Fall gatherings.

On September 19th, Greyhound Planet Day, you can head to the San Diego area for Greyhound Connection’s reunion picnic.  Details will be posted on their website at greyhoundconnection.org or contact Linda Hess at InkyPawz@aol.com.

Southern California Greyhound Adoption League has scheduled their potluck picnic in Irvine for Sunday, October 3rd.  For more details visit their website at SoCalGAL.org.

WEDNESDAY WALKS

The Needle Nose Crew is going strong with our Wednesday evening walks around Woodbridge Lake in Irvine .  What started out as a way to break up the week with a few greyhound friends has evolved into a greyt experience.  Some weeks we have about 30 greyhounds!  We meet in the parking lot (near Coco ’s) at Barranca and Lake in Irvine , at 6:00 pm .  It’s a nice leisurely walk around the lake, with a couple of breaks for conversation, and we’re usually finished up by about 7:30 pm .   Grab your greys and join us!