Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Option

Leigh & Paul Wilson and the greyhound Max join James Brown and Bette for a shift in the MSGAO booth at the Overton Bark first birthday celebration.

Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Option joined supporter Hollywood Feed in celebrating the first birthday of Overton Bark — the dog park at Overton Park in Memphis.    The birthday celebration for the park was part of the Day of Merrymaking event on the Greensward.  Hollywood Feed is a generous supporter of MSGAO.

A festive statue for the Overton Bark birthday celebration!

Conrad and Sadie Keeping went tropical for the annual MSGAO Dog Wash.

Greyhounds were pampered and primped  for a good cause on May 19, raising about $4,000 for their friends still awaiting forever homes.

The 2013 edition of the  Dog Wash was a great success, reports Vicki Cohen, MSGAO director. The amount raised represents fees paid for services (baths, nail trims and summer shaves), gift-card donations and the proceeds from the silent auction/raffle.  On top of the money raised, the kennel received much needed (and appreciated) donations of Milk Bones, toys and paper goods.

One key donation that contributed to the event’s success was the tent that virtually covered the kennel yard and helped everyone — dogs and humans — beat the heat as the weather turned warmer.  Its rental was made possible through the generosity of the Darren Henry Kennel.

Vicki also gives a special thanks to those who traveled great distances to attend, from as far away as Little Rock and Missouri.  ”Folks are so generous,” with both their time and resources when it comes to supporting the adoption program. MSGAO appreciates the support of its adopters, no matter what form it takes.  Every bit of it matters!

It’s that time of year again!  Time to get those stinky toes washed and trimmed, teeth brushed, and winter coats shaved. An entire day of greyhound spa pampering! The MSGAO Annual Dog Wash is one of our big fundraisers for the year, and we need your dirty greyhound(s) to show up for a spa day. This is the day for cleaning that hound and enjoying a little fun yourself.

What: MSGAO Annual Dog Wash
Date: Sunday, May 19
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Option kennel

In addition to baths and other grooming, MSGAO is hosting a raffle of goody baskets and serving lunch. So come out and enjoy the day while your pooch gets some pampering!

Prices:
The Greyhound Quickie (bath, nail trim, teeth cleaning) – $25
The Greyhound Works (bath, nail trim, teeth & ear cleaning, shave) – $40
Bath – $15
Shave (bath included) – $30
Nail Trim – $7
Teeth Cleaning – $7
Bar-B-Que Lunch – $6

Note: Greyhounds only please.

MSGAO will be having a benefit yard sale Saturday, May 11, beginning at 7 a.m. at 312 Summerfield Lane in Cordova, Tenn. There’s a ton of stuff for your shopping pleasure, including some lovely antiques. The sale will feature household goods, furniture, clothing, collectibles, decor and more!

All proceeds will benefit retired racers waiting for their forever homes.  We need to make this a greyt success. And no early birds please!

$30 = a 40 lb. bag of dog kibble

The dogs were a huge hit at the Youth Villages 5K race on April 20 in Memphis. Vicki Cohen, MSGAO director, along with Tamara Davis, Bill Becker, Brent David, Martha Bowman, Sue Arlotta and Scott Macintire, talked to several serious potential adopters, some while walking and others manning the MSGAO booth.  Paula Pilgrim, whose dog Sylvie has served as a therapy dog at Youth Villages, organized the team and procured the special team T-shirts for the event.  

Please keep in mind the kennel will not open until 3:30 p.m. Saturday since the staff will all be working at Bark in the Park.  We hope to see you there!

Lady Greyhound (Belle) and Zack the Greyhound Bus stole the show at the Ghosts of Highway 61 Antique Bus Parade in Blytheville, Arkansas!  Vicki Cohen, director of MSGAO, and Sue Arlotta, a long-time volunteer, made the bus costume.  Vicki also made the Lady Greyhound robe.  The elegant embroidery of “Lady Greyhound” on the robe was generously donated by Mary Beth Meatte of Greytcreations Embroidery.  Belle was adopted by Greg and Shannon Steed of Little Rock, and Zack was adopted by Brent and Suzan David.  We thank them and everyone who helped make this event a great success and an excellent showcase for our adoptable hounds. You can view the parade at this link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJlYLfBG7vw

Scenes from the antique bus tour!

If you are going to have an antique bus parade, then you better have a greyhound in it.  Not just the capital G version of a greyhound (meaning the  bus) but also Lady Greyhound, who was a major part of advertising campaigns for the bus line.  On April 6 MSGAO’s own  Lady Greyhound will don her finery to participate in the National Antique Bus Show “Ghosts of the Highway” parade in Blytheville, Arkansas.

According to the Blythevillle Courier News, this weekend several hundred participants in the “Ghosts of Highway 61″ Antique Bus Tour, and possibly more groups of antique bus enthusiasts, will be coming in to Blytheville’s historic downtown area.

The Courier News reports that with at least 60 antique Greyhound buses rolling into town, this tour will be the largest in event history, according to Tom McNally, tour organizer, who began putting the events together in 2006. With people coming in from across the country, Blytheville was chosen for this year’s tour destination largely because of the Greyhound Bus Station’s central location in the country and the vast restoration it has undergone over the last few years, the newspaper reported.

Origami Owl by Darlene Marie also will be at the event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.with a complete inventory of customizable jewelry (check it out at http://darlenemarie.origamiowl.com/). She is donating 10% of all sales to MSGAO.  This donation also will be honored with online orders if you mention MSGAO.

The weekend-long event is set for Thursday through Saturday, with these events open to the entire community:

• Memphis recording artist Sonny Mack from 7-10 p.m. Saturday.
•  Antique Greyhound Bus parade beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday, featuring Lady Greyhound!

… by adopting a retired racing greyhound. April is National Greyhound Adoption Month. Celebrate it by welcoming one (or more!) of these wonderful pets into your home and into your heart.