Vol 4, Issue 47

CHANGES

By Carole Oglesbee

It doesn’t seem possible that the first issue of the Needle Nose Crew newsletter, the Needle Nose News, started in February of 1995. Those first publications were issued on a quarterly basis and continued until May of 1996. The main accomplishment of those first few months was to set the tone and content of the NNC’s newsletters. We wanted a fun and informative publication about greyhounds and their adopters. We wanted items that would entertain and assist our readers.

By May of 1996 we decided that we needed a monthly newsletter and a dedicated editor. That decision saw the birth of the Needle Nose Notes, and we welcomed Eric Shelman as our new editor. To our delight, our greyhound promotional group grew and our newsletter continued with just what we intended…fun and information. By May of 2000, Eric and his wife, Linda, were preparing to relocate to Florida and the NNC needed a new editor for its monthly publication. Fortunately for all of us, Joy Moss stepped forward.

For the past six and a half years, Joy has cut, pasted and edited the articles which many of us submit. She has tirelessly put out every single issue, seventy-nine with this month’s publication. Our thanks cannot be strong enough for all that Joy has contributed to the Needle Nose Crew in general and the Needle Nose Notes specifically.

Most of you know that we struggled last year with the costs of putting out a monthly publication. Our circulation has increased five fold over the years. We also must continue to supply articles on a regular basis. The generosity of our readers/members was spectacular and we continued on through 2005 and 2006. However, we now find ourselves in a similar situation. It is not our goal to constantly ask for donations. These funds are better directed to your favorite active adoption groups. We have put our heads together and come up with what we believe to be a long term solution to an ongoing problem.

This issue of the NNN will be the last of our monthly issues. We will begin publishing our newsletter every other month. There will be no issue in December. However, do keep an eye open for the next issue coming in January 2007. We will post our show schedule for the following two complete months. In addition, we will cover important news that we can foresee that affects those following two months. We hope you will all understand the need for our chosen changes and will continue to send in your information and thoughts to our editor at greyjoy@cox.net. Thanks for your support over the last 11 plus years. It is our delight to promote ex-racing greyhounds and to send out our Needle Nose Notes to each and every one of you.

GREYSAVE

By Cathy Kiburtz

There’s a new greyhound adoption and support group in the greater Los Angeles area called GreySave! Headquartered in LA County, it has volunteers in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Orange Counties. GreySave is the result of a desire by a small group of individuals to do something ‘greyt’ for greyhounds. The volunteer base boasts many veteran greyhound lovers, adopters, and volunteers who have a deep passion for the hounds, experience in placing greyhounds and some new ideas for sharing their passion with others. GreySave is a completely volunteer-staffed CA-based nonprofit, charitable 501(c)(3) organization (IRS determination pending); there are no paid or salaried positions. Our main goal is to find permanent and loving homes for greyhounds, but we also want to help spread the word about how wonderful greyhounds are as pets. Our activities include greyhound adoption, socials, greyhound get-togethers, fundraisers and ‘Meet and Greets’ where the public can get to know greyhounds one-on-one. Everyone interested in helping greyhounds is welcome to attend our events! GreySave’s enthusiastic and energetic volunteers are the heart and soul of the organization. Funding GreySave’s operations through donations, gifts and grants, the volunteers do everything possible to make sure that the best interests of every dog and every adopter are met. For dogs with out-of-the-ordinary medical needs (broken bones, long-term illnesses, injuries or accidents), a special account called the GreytLove Fund has been established. Funds donated to the GreytLove Fund will be used exclusively for foster greyhounds with extraordinary medical needs. To find out more about the organization, upcoming events, or to sign up for the mailing list, go to www.greysave.org. The website includes information about the group plus photos and information on some of the greyhounds currently being readied for adoption. Check the website often to keep track of events and changes - the organization is very new and while parts of the website are still under construction, new information is added almost every day. If you’d like to participate in GreySave events as a volunteer or participant, contact the group using the website links, or by calling 866-GreySave or 866-473-9728.

Thanks so much to the Needle Nose Crew for putting in an article about GreySave in your Newsletter. I am quite sure that this will activate greyhound adoptions up in the LA and valleys area and that it will certainly benefit the hounds. Also thanks again for inviting GreySave to join you at your Meet and Greets and we hope to be able to continue to join you at them as we get even more volunteers. We are all looking forward to working with you and the other So CA groups that share our desire to get as many greyhounds into loving homes as possible.

Pickle in the Middle?

BoxCar, Neo and Checkers

WOUND - KOTE

By Linda Brown

I found this great product when my horse caught his foot in a fence and literally skinned himself from his hoof to 3 inches above it. Gross!! I dressed it with antibiotic salve after flushing it with Nolvasan Skin Cleanser for at least 10 minutes and wrapped it. Well, it was healing okay but after 4 days of re-dressing and re-wrapping, it was time for some air to get to it. How could I do that and keep it clean as well? Off to our local Farm and Feed Store – and after perusing the many products on the shelf - I decided to ask a cowboy! He said "Wound-Kote"!! I read the label on the can and it said it did exactly what I needed it to do.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I sprayed it on my horse!! It went on very bright red and in seconds it turned into a dark, natural scab. The injury was protected from dirt and debris and the 'scab' let the air in so the wound could finish healing properly. In two days, the ugly skinned area was healthy and almost completely healed.

This product is perfect for our greyhounds! For those bothersome wounds that magically appear on spots you can't wrap. We all know that our greys, with that thin skin, can run past a rose bush and get a skin tear along their sides or even better - on that big muscular thigh. Try wrapping that one!! Oh, and the infamous 'happy tail'!! For those minor wounds - flush it with a medical skin cleanser (like Nolvasan) let it dry and grab the Wound-Kote!! Re-apply when needed. You will be amazed at how fast the injury heals.

PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS ON AN INJURY THAT OBVIOUSLY NEEDS THE ATTENTION OF A VETERINARIAN. Do not use on puncture wounds and NEVER use it on a cat.

It can be purchased at almost any pet shop and always at an equine store.