^{Needle Nose Notes}

HEROIC WOOFER!

As dictated to Janyce Rudisel

My name is Gatorade and my mom adopted me from Hemopet. My grandma, Sophie, is a diabetic. Recently, she had a hypoglycemic episode. I tried to wake her up by woofing and woofing. I woofed so much that I woke my mom up and she called 911. We went to the ER – of course, I couldn’t go in. My mom came out and said Gram was going to be okay – and sure enough she was. My mom says I was a hero! WOW!!

TOYS

By Roger Deeringer

Toys, toys everywhere. What good are the toys? Who bought the toys and for whom? It is written in the Greyhound Pet handbook where Greyhounds find ALL their instructions (you know - where the memo about Greyhounds not barking is found), that squeakies in toys are to be disabled as soon as possible. It matters not from what fabric the toy is fashioned, or how cleverly is the design. Squeakers are the ENEMY!!! Well, some folks say that humans will disable squeakies just to maintain sanity, especially when the GreytPet decides that the squeaky killing should take place while said human is involved in an important call. Or was that during one of those rare intimate moments? Oh – yes – this is a family newsletter.

To answer one of the opening questions, humans buy the toys because the humans think the toy is just so cute and the Grey(s) will just love it. The Grey(s) think that the toy is cute only as long as the squeaky lasts. Now, come on, how many times have you humans replaced the squeaky? For those without digital cameras, and for all of us who had Greyhounds BDC (before digital cameras), how many photos have you made involving the toys? And at what cost? Does that cost go in the ledger under toys, or just human silliness? Or human enjoyment?

I guess that is the very bottom line, human enjoyment. That’s why we rescue these wonderful animals in the first place; they bring such wonderful feelings to our hearts. And so what if we humans indulge ourselves in the toys that the Greyhounds take such pleasure in destroying. The hounds get a bit of exercise and cause us to smile. Mission accomplished. Maybe the play also relieves some stress, another mission accomplished. So the next time you catch yourself saying “Well isn’t this the cutest thing” just go ahead and BUY the silly thing. Hopefully it is from a non-profit rescue group so the funds will help bring another Grey to the best place of their life.

On a serious note, PLEASE don’t buy ANY type of toy that resembles a snake. These types of toy allow the hounds to think that long, thin squiggly things are OK to play with. This summer I had a small rattlesnake in my yard. Fortunately I was able to dispose of the snake before the hounds got interested. Think carefully in your choice of toys, but give the babies good toys with which to entertain us!

MY GREYT ADVENTURE

By Susan Breininger

In 1994 when I was visiting my son in Corpus Christi, Texas, I saw a greyhound race. It was not the first I had witnessed - I used to live near Daytona Beach, Florida in the 60's where one can watch automobile races and greyhound races at the same time if one is seated in the right spot in the car race bleachers. That, however, was not "up close and personal" and did not leave much of an impression on me at the time.

Corpus Christi, on the other hand, was a life altering experience. I was able to see the greyhounds up close, and thus began a love affair and quest that only a short time ago come to fruition.

As soon as I returned home from Corpus Christi, I began researching greyhounds. After learning as much as I could about the breed in general and retired racers in particular, I set about contacting greyhound adoption agencies on the mainland in an effort to adopt one. ("One" she says - how naive!) The responses I received were either of the silent or, putting it politely, curtly negative variety. None were willing to adopt their treasures to such a far flung, "exotic" location as Hawaii. Nor did they want to subject them to the Hawaiian quarantine regulations, and for that, I cannot blame them. At that time, dogs entering Hawaii were quarantined for four months!!

By 1999 the regulations had changed so most of the requirements could be fulfilled on the mainland and the dog would only have to spend a short time at the quarantine station. I launched another search and connected with a group in California. However, when it was almost a done deal, they had an adoption go bad on the East Coast, had to go pick up the dog and decided not to do any more long distance adoptions. Needless to say, I was devastated and finally gave up hope of ever being able to adopt a retired racer.

I had pictures of greyhounds from the Internet taped all over my kitchen, but I finally gave up and took them down - it was just too painful to look at those lovely creatures that I'd never be able to give a home to.

Fast forward to January 2006 - I was planning a trip to California for March when the thought crossed my mind, "I wonder if there will be any "Meet and Greets" happening while I'm there!" Needle Nose Crew would be having one within reach the very afternoon that the convention I was going to would be over. I really wasn't thinking in terms of actually getting one ("one"-HA!) even though our quarantine regulations had changed so that ALL the requirements could be fulfilled on the mainland and the dog could come home directly from the airport!! I just wanted to get close to them and meet some rescue folks.

My brother in Long Beach generously offered to ferry me hither and yon so we were able to meet with Carole Oglesbee and other Needle Nose Crew volunteers. I was beside myself to finally be able to meet them and their beautiful greyhounds. I had a lovely chat with Carole, and it became apparent that adopting to Hawaii would not be impossible if we worked through Hemopet. Since the dogs were in the Hemopet blood donor program for 18 months, there would be no problem fulfilling the 4 months’ worth of quarantine requirements before they came over to Hawaii. Believe me; I left that Meet & Greet on cloud 9. I had to choke back tears of happiness - an adoption MIGHT actually happen!

After two months of e-mails back and forth, I was notified (on a Wednesday) that 4 hounds were identified as "cat friendly", a vital necessity since I have 5 cats and a little terrier. Friday night I was on a plane to California! The idea had been to select ONE via e-mail & pictures, but when the e-mail arrived, I knew I HAD to go meet the specific greys in person. Before I arrived, my grey addicted mind started telling me that two would be no more trouble than one, but I wasn't sure that would be approved. (I needn't have worried - they were quite agreeable.)

Saturday morning I finally got to Hemopet and met the 4 hounds that they had cat tested. One was a gorgeous fawn female, but she was SO terrified that we feared she wouldn't do well on the airplane trip to Hawaii. That left two blacks – Ares, a male; and Short and Sweet, a female - and one white and black male, Hamlet, to choose from. What a time I had meeting them! I just couldn't believe that after 12 years I was actually in the process of selecting, not one, but TWO retired greyhound racers to grace my home and my heart! We went back Sunday to check them out again. As it turned out, Hamlet and Short and Sweet (now Sweeper) didn't get along so it was decided that Ares (now Aires) and Sweeper would be retiring to Hawaii! What a moment that was! I thought my heart would stop!! I did have the presence of mind to take pictures but the rest of the trip is a blur. I visited with my brother and sister-in-law, but all I can recall distinctly are those dogs!!!

So began five months of more flying e-mails with Betty de la Rosa, Hemopet's adoption coordinator, while we negotiated our way through all the Hawaii quarantine requirements - no easy task the first time out for either of us. Meanwhile, I "got ready" for them (a whole other tale in itself!) On October 5, 2006 Aires and Sweeper arrived in Hawaii! They had been kenneled together at Hemopet since my selection, so they were already familiar with each other. A friend with a truck helped me pick them up, and when we got home, they were SO happy to be out of their travel crates. I led them around the yard to their "pools" - Sweeper promptly climbed INTO hers and curled up for a nice cool down. Aires just drank and drank and drank!

I could go on and on and ON about Sweeper and Aires every moment and the absolute joy they've brought with them. What blessings these delightful creatures are! They are the gentlest, sweetest, most compliant dogs I have ever had the privilege of knowing. They are a constant source of humor and amusement. They keep me in a continual state of happy!

If anyone would like more information about how to go about adopting them in Hawaii, please feel free to contact me at merfie@hawaii.rr.comif or 808-422-6357, Hemopet at 714-891-2022, or the Needle Nose Crew at 949-552-1373

REMEMBRANCES

Our hearts go out to…

Tom & Terry Marinello for the loss of their Windsor

Bill & Gayle Kuhar for their loss of their

beloved Kiss

Matt & Joanne Jahnke for the loss of Odie

Simon & Roxanne Whitmey for their loss of

sweet Sid

Greg & Jill Nogle for the loss of their

Princess Faye-Faye

Mark Kocsis & Tamara Mason for their loss of Laika

Karen Charpie-Elton for her loss of the

marvelous Quinn

Mike & Judy Bushnell for the loss of their

goofy boy Ray

Karyn Zoldan for her loss of Painter

Bill & Elise Bindseil for the loss of Eric

WHERE’S YOUR GREY?

By Joy Moss

Please, take a moment to inspect your dog tags. We found a dog recently wandering in our neighborhood – it had tags on but they were so worn that the numbers were illegible! If you have moved – update those tags!! And contact your adoption group – we are always notified if a greyhound is found, but it really helps if we know where YOU are!! If you are leaving your dog with a friend or relative during a trip – make a tag with their address and phone number – and contact your adoption group to let them know where your grey is staying. It could make all the difference in the world if your grey gets out!

Send your articles and pictures to:

Joy Moss, Editor, Needle Nose Notes

4857 Royce Rd., Irvine, CA 92612

greytjoy@cox.net