 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
VoI 10, issue 5 |
Please Donate to Katrina Animal Rescue Groups |
September, 2005 |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
RED RASPBERRY By Linda Brown We all know that our hounds (and yes, even us) get that occasional bout of the 'runs'. I'm not talking about the serious diarrhea that contains blood and is accompanied with vomiting. That requires an immediate trip to the vet. I'm speaking of the diarrhea that resulted in "He ate the whole roast." or "She drank the kids' milk" or "He stressed out during the thunderstorm". Common diarrhea. We also know that Pepto Bismol or Imodium is the treatment of choice. It is fairly safe and almost always effective. However, if you are looking for a natural alternative to those sodium based products, Red Raspberry is at the top of the list. Not the fruit - the leaves. Red Raspberry works as well, if not better, than Pepto or Imodium. Within minutes, the cramping ceases and diarrhea ends in less than 12 hours. I have used it religiously for my hounds and myself. For women with monthly menstrual cramps, you can take 2 - 500mg red raspberry capsules at the onset. You will be amazed how fast it stops the cramping. Use the same dosage for your pets - 2 initially, 2 more in 3 hours. If the diarrhea lasts longer than 2 days - make a vet appointment. If your pet has chronic 'common diarrhea' it could be the food you are using. Dry kibble high in protein and fat content can cause chronic diarrhea. Most retired racing greyhounds need no more than 23% protein and 10% fat content in their dry food. The dry food I recommend for all greyhounds, no matter what age or weight, is an adult-light food with no by-products or artificial preservatives, such Authority Lite Chicken/Rice found only at Petsmart. It’s so easy to digest and always good stools. JUST SAY “YES” By Joy Moss Who would have thought that a simple decision ten years ago would so alter my life? My husband and son wanted another dog. I had three cats, and the guys had a terrier, and why did they want another dog? I didn’t understand but reluctantly agreed to the idea. So off the three of us went to Hemopet to get acquainted with greyhounds. The next hurdle was to decide on which one; the decision by a committee of three took almost three months! Finally, the guys decided on one and again I reluctantly agreed. We brought Tanner home to join our family. And I was caught – hook, line and sinker. After adopting Tanner, I started working at the Hemopet kennel. It was a true crash course in animal behavior. I only lasted four months (kennel work is very physically demanding), but what a pleasure it was being with the greyhounds all day. I joined in with Needle Nose Crew shows – in those days is was just a few volunteers with their greyhounds handing out business cards. And I volunteered with Greyhound Pets of America, helping with bathing greyhounds getting ready to go to foster homes, and then fostering a couple of greyhounds. Then, a couple of years later, Carole Oglesbee asked that I seriously consider adopting a second greyhound. She gave me a list of girls at Hemopet, and a couple of weeks later, Sharin A Lane joined our family. As time progressed, volunteer opportunities increased, and everyone settled into a routine. |
Then came the time when the wonderful Needle Nose Notes editor, Eric Shelman, was going to be out of town and couldn’t do the newsletter. Carole asked if I could help that one month. I really didn’t see what was coming... but several months later, in January 2000, I took on the job as editor. Carole again called me to ask for my help as a board member with a new group, Canine Causes. Since my son was older, I felt the time was right to again foster greyhounds. In October 2000, when personality conflicts outweighed the principles of rescuing greyhounds, Southern California Greyhound Adoption League was formed, and Carole didn’t even get a chance to ask this time - I actually volunteered to run the program! I have experienced the joy of helping almost 100 foster greyhounds learn about life in my home, and the sweet/sad/joyful times when they have left me to go to their new adoptive families. I have watched in delight as more than 225 greyhounds blossomed in our SoCalGAL foster homes. I have experienced the satisfaction of successful home visits and the joy of the resulting adoption of a greyhound – even when the adopters chose a greyhound from another group. I have had the pleasure of helping greyhound families overcome all kinds of issues, behavioral and medical; sharing with them my knowledge and experiences. I have held four of my own beloved greys as they left me to cross the Rainbow Bridge, and cried with others as they did the same. I’d like to thank all of you who have touched my life. Thank you to all of you who have opened your homes to greyhounds, each and every one is special. Thanks to those who adopted my foster greys; they took pieces of my heart with them – but left some of themselves to fill the hole. A special thank you goes to Carole Oglesbee for her full-time volunteer efforts in her tireless drive to a seemingly impossible goal – a home for every greyhound. The past ten years have been very different from anything I could have imagined – predicated by a simple (reluctant) decision to say “yes”. I hope the next ten years of my life are as filled with riches – in my journey to that goal of a home for every greyhound! 2006 - AROUND THE CORNER By Carole Oglesbee Most of us are still finishing off the summer and just beginning to plan for the fall and winter. However, the Needle Nose Crew steering committee is now starting to look at the 2006 schedule. We will slot in our once-a-year special events and then add in our regular monthly or semimonthly shows. After those are in place, we will go looking for new and different venues where we can promote our beloved Greyhounds. The Needle Nose Crew is in a wonderful position with many active members who enjoy participating in promoting Greyhounds. As a matter of fact, our shows have become so well attended, we really need to seriously look at multiple shows on any given date. So let us know if you have an idea for any event that we could attend or a location that is busy and will allow us to set up a show. We will investigate whatever suggestions you propose, talk with the powers that be at a given location and start staffing an event if everything gels. Just e-mail us at gogreys@juno.com or call 949 552-1373 with your ideas.
|
|
Now, once we have investigated new venue and show ideas, we need to find show leads for each event. The task of a show lead isn’t difficult. The NNC supplies a kit with materials and helps you with understanding the basics of putting on a NNC show. Remember also, you will never be at a show all by yourself. We will contact members and make sure you have at least one to four other folks with you for any and all events. The commitment is usually six to twelve days per year. Each event usually requires about five to six hours of your time. Remember, this effort is for the Greyhounds. We have approximately eighty greys a day that grade off the tracks just in this country alone. The 200 plus adoption groups around the country place about 50 greys each day. The math is easy… there are about 30 greys that die every day. Volunteering five to six hours, six to twelve days a year is surely worth your efforts as we work to find homes for these magnificent creatures. Please don’t let them down. Help out by joining us as a show lead. CALIFORNIA OR BUST By Linda Brown Just a reminder: I will be in California the first weekend in October. Saturday, October 1st is the Bark in the Park Event, from 10 to 6 at Lancaster City Park. For more information and directions please visit * The Homestretch Greyhounds Site Retired Racers will be raffling a beautiful dog bed, donated by Linda Ciampa of Duds 4 Buds. Tickets will be $2.00 each and the proceeds will go into the new kennel building fund. AND Southern California Greyhound Adoption League has graciously asked Retired Racers to join them at their reunion/picnic on Sunday, October 2nd. The potluck picnic is from 11:00 to 3:00 at El Dorado Park West in Long Beach. Visit the website at socalgal.org for more details. I am anxiously looking forward to that!! There will be greyhounds for adoption at both events. Hope to see you there!!
Walk Around the Lake Come join our Wednesday night walks. We meet at Lake and Barranca in the “Lake Cafe" parking lot in Irvine at 6PM. Our scenic stroll around North Woodbridge Lake takes about an hour. Everyone is welcome. * Apparent broken or expired link to the Lancaster City Park. Substitute the map and address from the Homestretch site. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Submit an article for publication. Send your story and pictures to: Editor, Needle Nose Notes 4857 Royce Road, Irvine, CA 92612 or, e-mail to:
|
|
Contributions and donations are always welcome. Please send to: Needle Nose Crew P.O. Box 3012, Laguna Hills, CA 92654-3012 for more information e-mail to:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
