Summer 2006
Hot Times
It's HOT, HOT, HOT!  At least it's hot here and where lots of you are.  My Greys are definitely feeling the effects of the heat.  They are staying inside more and not running around as much.  Meanwhile, we are making sure they have lots of water.   Remember, they have to walk on the pavement and it gets very hot.   Dogs only have sweat glands on the pads of their feet, nowhere else on their body. Therefore the only way they have to cool off is by panting and through their feet.   Be sure you have a comfortable place for them to go potty.  Some of you have Greys who are water babies and love to splash around in a baby wading pool.  For those of you who don't, you usually can at least get their feet in the pool to cool them off.  If your Grey starts to pant excessively, take a towel and wet it with cool water and place it over their back or wrap it around them.  If this doesn't slow down the panting, take them to the vet  as they may be suffering from heat stroke.  This can be fatal if not treated immediately. 
Announcements
Two announcements: 
 1. The newsletter is now going to quarterly.   This should improve the quality as it will have more information from National Greyhound Pets of America and more room for your personal stories. 
 
2. We are not going to have a picnic this year.  The reason is that we were not able to get the dates we wanted and the cost would be prohibitive.  Also, with the price of gas and the economy, we felt our money could be better spent on the dogs. 
Passing On
As our organization gets older, we find that many of our dear Greyhounds are crossing the Bridge or are seriously ill.  For those who have passed, Jillian and Spaulding most recently, your sweet furry love will be missed by those who love you.  For those who are sick, we hope you will recover and if recovery is not possible, we hope you will go with as little pain as possible. 
 
We have also lost two of our wonderful adopters.  Betti Tobiasson and Willard Irick.  Our condolences go out to their friends and families and to Willard's wife Margy.  You will be missed by all of us in the Greyhound Community.
Available Greys!
We have several "special" Greyhounds looking for homes:  The first is Jay.  He tested positive for Valley Fever and is on medication that costs $145 per month.  He also will need liver tests to make sure the medication is not damaging his liver.  He is a very sweet beautiful white with black boy.  He is 4 years old and not cat safe.  Also, Valley Fever is not contagious and can not be passed on to your other pets.    The second is Abby.  Abby is eight years old and not cat safe.  According to Jon, after an initial bit of huffiness, she is now a very sweet and loving little black girl.  She not only gets along with people, but does very well with other dogs who are not alpha.  Last, we have Lucy.  Lucy is seven and white with brindle patches.  Lucy loves being with other dogs and comes alive around them.  She has just lost both her adopters and her best friend, their other dog.  When Jill first saw her, she was very quiet and down.  When she went back with one of her own Greys for the trip to Madera, Lucy really perked up.    If you are interested in any of these three wonderful Greys, let me know.  Thank you.
Congratulations
Congratulations are in order for our two new sets of placement reps.  Kay & Everett Scheckla are going to be covering the Redding area in Northern California.  Mark & Jill Schmidt are going to be taking over Carol Herron's territory in the Monterey, Carmel and Salinas area.  Thank you all for everything you are doing to find good homes for our Greys.
 
Speaking of Carol Herron, congratulations are in order for her.  She and Greg O'Neal were married on Sat., July 8th.  Carol retired from the Navy on Friday, the 7th.  Her two Greyhounds, Kiowa and Legs, were part of both events.   Carol and Greg will be making their permanent home in Gold Hill, Or. after Aug. 1st.  Carol will continue to find homes for Greyhounds in her new territory.
Juarez Greyhound Update
For those of you just joining us, or who need a refresher on the previous chapter, the story goes like this:  At the publishing of the March/April newsletter, the racetrack manager in Juarez, Mexico had just released 126 greyhounds – which had not raced since mid December - to GPA for adoption.  For a more detailed report, please refer to “Juarez Greyhound News”. 
 
To help bring you up to date, we share the following excerpt from a press release from GPA National :
            Abilene, KS (June 28, 2006)—American Greyhound Council (AGC) Communications Coordinator Gary Guccione today welcomed news that the last of the 126 greyhounds transferred to Juarez, Mexico over the past six months are now back in the U.S. awaiting placement in adoptive homes.   The last sixty racers came home on June 25, according to Rory Goree, president of Greyhound Pets of America (GPA), who personally oversaw the final transfer.   Even so, Guccione said, the National Greyhound Association (NGA) will not rescind the policy it originally adopted almost exactly one year ago discouraging any further movement of greyhounds to the Juarez track.
            “We’re very glad that the Juarez racers are back in the states, and GPA deserves a heartfelt pat on the back for making it happen,” Guccione said.  “Rory’s personal determination to ensure the safe return of these greyhounds speaks volumes about GPA’s commitment to greyhound welfare, no matter what the cost.”  Goree estimated that the final cost of transporting the dogs and preparing them for adoption could run as high as $400 per greyhound.
 
Anyone who has ever been involved in a dog transport can guess there was a lot more to the story than this!  A more personal account of the final trip across the boarder for these amazing dogs and the people who love them comes from Pat Roberts, President GPA El Paso:
 
On Sunday, June 25th at 10:14 am, the last Greyhound tail cleared US Customs..,
 
As I thought, it was wham bam get ‘em now. 5 vehicles, 3 trips and just over 6 hours later, we had them all. The bus hauler - yes a converted Greyhound bus - wasn't going to get here for several more hours. So exactly what do you do with over 60 Greyhounds for about 10 hours? You make a very desperate call to a good friend and wonderful person who just happens to have a boarding kennel. Angie and Jim at Bakerhaus Kennel went way above and beyond. We had Greyhounds in runs, big crates, little crates, portable crates, permanent crates, X pens, in their yard under EZ Up canopies, doubled up, tripled up. Anything and everything Angie could move, she moved. Anywhere and everywhere a dog could fit, it went. But we did it! 
 
At 5:15 pm, the bus pulled out with 63 on board. After I kissed every forehead, cried on every face, hugged them one last time, they were loaded and on their way
 
My life long thanks to everyone! The drivers that came from near and far. The riders with the fast draw on the squirt bottles that keep everything calm on the trip across the border. Everyone that crawled out of bed at 2:30 am, scooped poop, filled water buckets, got sunburned, brought ice, drinks and snacks, ran back and forth with groups of dogs needed to go out to potty. Our El Presidente who carried (like a baby) one very precious little girl when she was too scared to move on her own, ran back and forth finding the right dogs to be loaded in the bus in the right order, helped me keep my sanity, laughed and cried with me.
 
Certainly sounds like quite an experience, doesn’t it?  In case you are interested, we currently have 4 Juarez dogs here in the area.  They are: Mapco Casey, Mapco Peony, Mapco Sparky and TV Julia.  Our celebrities can be viewed here along with the rest of the hounds from the Juarez track.  (Casey still needs a home…)  If you’d like to donate towards the cost of care and transportation for the Juarez dogs, your help would be most welcome!  Please click here for details.
 
Practical Greyhound Gifts
Looking for a special gift for the Greyhound lover in your life? Ever rip through your medicine cabinet frantically trying to find gauze or a bandage that will fit your hound?   I have, and usually by the time I find it, my “boy of many scars” has decided to stretch out on the cream-colored sofa and lick the bleeding scrape himself.  Not pretty. If either of these scenarios seems familiar, check out the gift shop at GPA National’s website.  The PetMedic kit will definitely come in handy for your accident-prone hounds and the duds will keep you looking great too!
The Roo Heard Round the World
A Radio show just for greyhounds and the people who love them!  Check out Greyhounds Make Great Pets, a web radio cast with a new show recorded and posted every Friday.  Archived shows too! 
 
** Special Interest**       June 29, 2006 Webcast
Listen to the Juarez story in their own words!  Rory Goree and Pat Roberts detail the negotiations, threats of jail, trips over the border, and finally the release of the last 60 greyhounds from Juarez to GPA.    The audio quality improves after the commercials and Rory starts to speak.
Fall Break Planning
Summer vacations may be wrapping up, but are you ready for fall break…?  Where will your four-legged family member be spending Thanksgiving when you’ve gone “…over the river and through the woods”?  And the plethora of winter breaks and holidays?   Plan ahead and reserve your hound’s vacation accommodations early.  Trading pet sitting is great, but we also recommend G-Bark as super place for your pet to enjoy a vacation of his or her own.   The owners currently are caring for two of our long-term foster dogs, and frankly, there are just not enough good things we can say about them and their facility.
Calling All Fosters and Babysitters!
Can you foster or baby-sit?
We are always looking for fosters.  Please consider fostering as it is very rewarding.  Our next haul is Sept. 15th.  Let me know if you can foster as we will need at least 6 to 8 new fosters. 
 
We are also looking for adopters who would be willing to trade babysitting services.  With the Holidays fast approaching, many of you will need to find places for your Greys.  We would like to set up a database with the area you live in, if you have children, their ages, and if you have cats or a small dog.  This way, when someone contacts me, I can refer them to adopters in their area. 
National Convention News
National Convention Just around the Corner…Really!
The 2006 North American Greyhound Adoption Conference will be held Friday, September 8 – Sunday September 10, 2006 in San Diego, California.  Please do not be confused by the early registration deadline of 7/15; registrations ARE still being taken and rooms are available at several local hotels.  If you are just now making your reservations, don’t be afraid to shop around for your hotel.  There is a block of rooms available at the Marriott Residence Inn, but please verify your rate; the original $109 block is sold out for Friday – Sunday.  Some other places to try are:
Hilton Mission Valley  -  (619) 543-9000
Sheraton Mission Valley   -   (619) 260-0111
Habdlery Mission Valley   -   (619) 291-5720
Doubletree Hotel   -   (619) 297-5466
 
There are lots of good reasons to plan on attending the San Diego Conference!  Aside from the fact this is the closest the convention has been and will be in the foreseeable future, it is a wonderful opportunity to hear and meet speakers such as:
Rory Goree,  President GPA National 
Lee Livingood, author of Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies and Running with the Big Dogs: The Gentle Art of Turning Your Retired Racing Greyhound into Your Best Friend 
Cindy Hanson, editor of Celebrating Greyhounds Magazine
Gary Guccione, National Greyhound Association Executive Director 
Paul Jolly, CEO of PetCo.
Georgina Black, DVM a Board Certified Internist
Courtney Zwallen, DVM, a Board Certified Oncologist (This presentation will focus on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the greyhound
Gary Jon Uyeno, DVM
 
Also, our own Scott Sanders is the National Vice President.  This would be a great opportunity to meet him and pass on your ideas and suggestions. 
 
To register or for more details, please visit the website: http://www.gpaconvention.org
Greyhound Planet Week
Greyhound Planet week is September 17 – 24.  As in past years, Petco will celebrate Greyhound Planet Week by asking their customers to "round up" purchases to the nearest dollar, with all proceeds going to the Petco Foundation.  The Foundation will then distribute those monies raised to greyhound rescue groups in Petco store communities across the country.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised each year to benefit Greyhound adoption in this manner.  Our organization has been the recipient of this very generous program.
 
You can help with this effort by coordinating a mini “show and tell” with your local PETCO. Please call or stop by your local PETCO store and speak to the general manager to arrange a time when it would be convenient for you to be at their store with your dogs.  Saturday and Sundays are best! You can download the brochure from our website so you will have it to hand out.  Let us know if you can help as we can publicize it on the web site.
Greyhound News Reporting!
Do you have news for future newsletters?
We all have something to share…please help keep us in touch by sending us things you’d like to see in the newsletter.  We can’t promise to publish everything, but we can practically guarantee you WON’T see it if you don’t send it in! 
New Adoptions
We have lots of new and some repeat Greyhound adopters to report.
 
Randy & Irene Lytle adopted Princess Bella (Bandee's Pal).  They met her at a meet and greet at Petco in Modesto and fell in love.  The rest is history.
 
Ted & Jan Luff of Pacifica adopted Whitey (White).  They met him while he was being fostered at Greyhound Bark.  His new "Mom" is a pet groomer and a T-Touch Practioner.  What a lucky boy he is.
 
Shanda & Bill Magill of El Granada, and their three children, Brook, Kyle and Brogan, adopted Newbie (Picard).  They also met him at Greyhound Bark and decided he would be a good match for their female Greyhound.  Newbie is a challenge but with three teenagers to keep him busy, they are up to the task. 
 
Jack & Jackie Holtorf adopted Simba (Tweety).  They adopted her as a companion for Onyx after the sad loss of their American Bulldog.  Onyx was lonely and Simba is a good match.
 
Stephanie Bender adopted Charlie (Ball).  Stephanie and her fiancée, John, are making a new home in Arcata.  Stephanie moved here from back east.  She had a Greyhound named Rain before and knew she wanted another one when Rain passed away due to old age.  Charlie is doing very well.
 
Dick & Delene Dunne adopted Teddy.  They have been fostering Teddy for some time as he is definitely a "special needs" boy.  He is thriving at the Dunne's and they felt he was a greyt addition to their "gang."
 
Julie & Tim Sowles of Livermore adopted Marshall.  Marshall won them over when they had him for a weekend stay-over.  He is doing very well with them and is loving being an only "child." 
 
Cynthia Tipton & Frank Louie of El Dorado Hills, adopted Cookie.  Cookie is a very special little girl who was held hostage in a divorce case before going to Halfway Home Greyhounds.  She was chained in the back yard with no food or water.  Fortunately, she and another Greyhound were rescued and she is now happy and healthy in her new home. 
 
Janet Vaiana now of Las Vegas, adopted Sparky (Mapco Sparky).  Sparky was one of the four Juarez Greys we brought in.  Janet reports that he is doing well and learning to be a pet very well.
 
Darlene & Orrin Lee adopted Shadow (Bankrupt).  This is the first adoption for our new placement reps, the Scheckla's,  in Redding.  They live in Red Bluff and Shadow has lots of room to run and play.
 
You Say It's Your Birthday!
Because our newsletter is now quarterly, we have four months worth of birthdays to report.  A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the following Greys:
 
May: Rufus Buffalo, Yogi, Jubilee, Charley, Casper, Milton, Gus M., Dawn, Darby, Tetley, Ginger, Stella, Shady, Cherries, Polly, Morocco, Savvy, Bubba Nomad, Ari, Ty, Dustin, Jason, Diana, Chloe M., Newbie, Charley (Ball), Emmet, Phoenix, and Nike.
 
June: Monte, Matti, Callie, Autumn, Derby, KC, Phoebe L., Bijon, Bambi, Stearman, Peter, Farley, Marshall, Blitzen, Hula, Phoebe, Ruby, McDuff, Mooch, Colby, Glory, Diva, Sheba, Sandy, Madison, Hopper, Mesa , Jayz  and Gus B.
 
July:  Martie, Astro, Abby, Emma, Sadie, Carol, Gracie, Grommet, King, Cindy H., Chai, Katy Bell, Goldeen, Cairo, Amanda, Giulette, Sophie, Piccolo, Pepper, Wags, Dusty, Kids YoMan, Matador, Ginny, Holly and Jake.
 
August:  Carly, Periwinkle (Winks), Rayo, JeT'aime, Phoebe B., Sasha, Kaliegh, Fiona, Apple Jack, Cora, Shelby, MoJo, Kohl, Toby, Camberley, Dixie, Prancer, Tivo, Georgia, Boeller, Sidestep, Circles, Suzi Cue, Shadow Lee and Hero (Julia). 
 
Here's hoping you all have a great birthday with lots of treats and stuffies. 
Greyhound Adoption California is a chapter of Greyhound Pets of America 1-800-366-1472