Needle Nose Notes
NEEDLENOSE CREW DONATIONS
By Carole Oglesbee
It is time once again to
list out the various Needle Nose Crew donations that are distributed to other
organizations from time to time throughout the year. The following are the donations made during
the year 2006.
Please know that without
your support, participation and general efforts on behalf of the Needle Nose
Crew, these donations would not be possible.
Organization Donation
Amount
SoCalGAL $1789
Retired Racers $50
Operation Greyhound $50
Greyhound Connection $218
Hemopet $1085
Homestretch Greyhounds $200
The above donations total
$3541, and represent approximately 50% of the donations and sales received
during 2006. The other half of the
monies received was used for copying and mailing our newsletter, printing
literature and purchasing additional items to sell. Once again, we thank all of you for
participating by way of donations, purchases and participation in our weekly
events. You are the backbone of the
Needle Nose Crew, and our promotion of greyhound adoption does not succeed
without you all.
AFTER THEY ARE GONE…
By Jane Olin
A sad thought for each of
us is that one day our greyhound friends will no longer be with us. And while it is difficult to consider, there
is a way to make sure that our pets continue to bring value to others even
after death.
The Western University of
Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine in
The program is coordinated
through your veterinarian. When you are approaching the end-of-life time
period, you should discuss the WAVE program with your veterinarian. This is a
relatively new program so many veterinarians may not be familiar with it. Your
veterinarian should contact WAVE to complete the required paperwork. WAVE will
arrange for transportation of the donated deceased animal to their facility and
will provide for the final cremation.
Each animal is treated as a
unique being with dignity and respect. Their medical history is often used as a
valuable learning tool. Memorial services are held at the start of each term to
recognize the humans donating their pets and celebrate the lives of the
treasured animals.
This is great way to make
sure that future veterinarians learn about what makes greyhounds unique. For
more information, contact Tamara Miller, Director WAVE program at wave@westernu.edu
MY HEART HOUND KURRI
By Lauren Graham
It was in October 1996 when
I met Kurri, a 4 year old gorgeous big red fawn boy. I felt the bond instantly. He was in Hemopet and I had to wait 
until he was available to
adopt him. Within about a month my
husband wanted to take home Kassidy, Kurri’s littermate, as well. Every Friday through Monday, I would
volunteer to walk dogs just so that I could see my 2 new babies. Eventually I got a job there and was thrilled
to see them all the time.
Then on
In 1999, we moved to
In 2005, Kurri was
diagnosed with Lumbar Sacral Stenosis or as other vets put it, degenerative
spine. They said he was really healthy
otherwise and that he’d probably go in his sleep. Well at the end of March 2007, his right rear
leg swelled. We took him to the vet but
they couldn’t find anything wrong. They
could tell that his back problem did get a little worst. A few days later he could no longer get
up. We had to make that decision to help
him over the bridge. Kurri went very
peacefully at age 14.5 yrs old.
We miss him very much. He was my very first Greyhound and he was my
Heart Hound. All I can say is appreciate
everyday you have with your hounds. Even
though Kurri had a long life, I still feel like he left my life too soon.
GOLDEN OLDIES!
By Joy Moss
Several years ago, I lost
my first three greyhounds within 11 months; one to old age, one to kidney
failure, and one to the dreaded osteosarcoma.
When the call came in that there was a 12 year old greyhound soon to be
homeless, I hesitated. Could I take this
boy into my home, knowing that I would have a limited time with him? I had just barely recovered from losing my
first three…
After serious
consideration, I made the commitment to adopt “Neon Champ”. I rationalized that since I wasn’t going to
have him long, I wouldn’t really let myself get too attached. Well, Champ quickly took care of that
idea. I picked him up from Hemopet one
afternoon, and by the next morning he was firmly parked in my heart! With great happiness, I soon recognized that
special tail wag and “look” that said I was HIS special person.
To Champ,
life was a grand adventure. He was so
joyful and always happy. It didn’t hurt
that he was getting very senile – each and every day was brand new! Champ would walk into a room, pause and look
around, puzzled. If nothing else caught
his eye, he would pounce on a toy – as if that’s just what he meant to do all
along.
I heard many comments on
what a pretty girl he was… Champ was a little guy – only 65 lbs. Because he was very pigeon-toed, Champ’s
front legs would cross over each other on walks. It made for a very dynamic rear-end motion. Imagine this dainty old man sashaying down the
street!
Champ was with me for only
six months. And, yes, it was just as
hard to lose him as my previous three greyhounds. As I look back on those days, I would do it
all over again. I thought I was going to
be doing a favor for a poor old dog, but it was really the other way
around. The joys of knowing and loving
Champ far outweighed the pain of losing him too soon.
Typically, greyhounds over
the age of 7 are considered senior, and have more difficulty finding homes. Some, like Champ, have already been in homes
but their owners cannot keep them anymore.
Several rescue groups in 
Greyhound Rescue in
I hope this helps someone
else who is thinking of adopting an older greyhound. Don’t hesitate to make that commitment. They have so much love to give - seniors are
truly golden greyhound treasures!
REMEMBRANCES
Our
hearts go out to…
Bette & Katie Fisher for their loss
of Vamore
Diane Anderson for her loss of Little
Bit & Heart
Paul & Karen Embler for their loss
of
15
year old Trixie
Jim & Jan O'Dell for their loss of
Dalby
Jerry & Cara Brockhoff for their
loss of
Paul & Toni Schultz for their loss
of
16 year old Comet
Scott & Lauren Graham for their
loss of
14 year old Kurri
Kim Waterson for her loss of Demi
John & Toni Beck for their loss of
Jax
Rich & Darlene Monroe for their
loss of Prince
Edgar & Jennifer Alcala for their
loss of
sweet old spoiled Brat
Tony & Terry Kavorinos for their
loss of Blake
Matthew & Heather Waugh for the
loss of Miss Nike
Sandra Bishop for the loss of sweet
little Winnie
Note from your Editor:
If we have missed including
your greyhound in our Remembrances,
please know it is not intentional. Let
us know, and we will include you in the next issue.
Send your articles and
pictures to:
Joy
Moss, Editor, Needle Nose Notes
Walk Around
the Come join our Wednesday night walks. We meet at Everyone is welcome.
Sun. June
3rd: Sun. June
3rd: Sun. June
17th: Sat. June
23rd: Sat. June
23rd: Sat. July
7th: Sat. July
7th: Sun. July
15th: Sat. July
21st: For
further details, log onto needlenosecrew.org
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June - July 2007