Articles from June 2012



Lend a Helping Hand, er, Paw!

Meeting and Greeting Is Fun!

We are in desperate need for some help at our local Meet & Greet events. In some cases, the coordinator of the location is the only person showing up to talk to people interested in greyhound adoption. M&Gs are very important for creating awareness about the adoptability of retired racers. People are naturally drawn to greyhounds because of their sweet temperaments, calm dispositions and natural beauty. We hold M&Gs around the Memphis area four Saturdays every month. Would you consider volunteering for one, even if you can only help once or twice a year?

Here are the locations for our local M&Gs:
1st Saturday — Hollywood Feed, 4684 Poplar (at Highland), Memphis, from noon-2 p.m.
2nd Saturday — Petco, 1250 N. Germantown Parkway, Cordova, TN, from noon-2 p.m.
3rd Saturday – Hollywood Feed, 5070 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, MS, from 1-3 p.m.
4th Saturday – Hollywood Feed, 6722 Highway 70 (Summer and Kirby-Whitten), Bartlett, TN, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

You don’t have to commit to every time your location has an M&G, nor do you have to commit to the entire time. If you could just give an hour of time with your greyhound at one of these locations, it would help us find homes for retired racers!

If you can volunteer, please email Cynde Dayne, our volunteer coordinator, at [email protected]. Please give her the location where you are available to help. Cynde will give your name to the coordinator of that location. This person should contact you monthly to see if you are available to help. If you can’t help, just let your contact know. And if any of our friends in Arkansas want to get the word out about greyhound adoption, we can help you establish an event!

We REALLY appreciate our volunteers!

Continuing Tales from the Greyt Life

Not sure whether adopting a greyhound is a good thing to do? To help you through this dilemma, we offer more testimony from people who have taken the plunge. These observations about life with a greyhound were provided by actual owners who posted on our Friends of Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Option Facebook page. We’ll continue to share these testimonials in the future!

Bright is a bed hog! I don’t have a problem rolling over and waking Jason, but I will lie still and uncomfortable so I don’t wake the dog. :) And there’s just something about that butt that bounces down the hallway when she has a treat!
Diane Sides

The first time Elmo made a stuffy squeak was priceless. It squeaked and he dropped it and just stared at it with his ears up then looked at me as if saying “Was that supposed to happen, mom?”
Carrie Mills Sealey

Really growling at his mirror image! Lol
Ohmy Gosh

My big baby boy Story is so funny. I go home from work at noon to let my dogs out and visit with them. When I pick up my purse to leave I say Story can you be a good boy or do you need to get in your crate? He looks up from his giant pillow, sighs, rolls his eyes and every so slowly gets up and goes to his crate. He knows he cannot leave shoes alone! He is pure love! What did I ever do without my Story boy?
Patsy Babbitt

Please feel free to share your tales from the greyt life (or what you’re missing if you don’t have a greyhound) via our Facebook page (Friends of Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Option).

Greyhound Adoption Loses a Friend

The Rev. John Atkinson, who served five Catholic parishes and countless peace and justice causes in Memphis before he retired in 2005, died Thursday after a long illness. He was 75. Father John was a good friend to MSGAO, adopting several greyhounds. His wishes to be buried with his deceased greyhound, Knight, are recounted in the following link.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/12/godspeed/

Continuing Tales from the Greyt Life

Not sure whether adopting a greyhound is a good thing to do? To help you through this dilemma, we offer more testimony from people who have taken the plunge. These observations about life with a greyhound were provided by actual owners who posted on our Friends of Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Option Facebook page. We’ll continue to share these testimonials in the future!

Stanley gives love nips. He will give kisses and if he’s really feeling the love he’ll nip my chin all while standing on his hind legs. Ice used stand at the couch and look at me and then his spot. If things were his spot, then he’d look back at me as if to say “Hey mom, I’d appreciate you moving your stuff so I can have MY spot on the couch to lie down.”
― Martha Bowman

When my daughter was in the hospital for a week and Emma had to stay at her other grandmother’s house, Really got one of Emma’s shirts and kept in his bed until she got back home.
― Ohmy Gosh

Whenever I arrive home (no matter how short the trip), Packer greets me by grabbing my fuzzy, sheep-skin slipper. He proceeds to play with it and then carry it to his bed or place it with other toys. No matter how bad the day, I have to laugh!
― Rachel Bowman

I’ve owned other breeds, but the Greyhound is special. It’s been almost four years since I brought Sylvie home. She is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. Sylvie is definitely my heart dog, and she’s very much a mommy’s girl. We bonded the first night, and our bond is indescribable. We’re constantly together (I lovingly call her my appendage), and when she’s not by my side it feels awkward. She constantly looks for me if I walk out of her sight. Her eyes are full of love and devotion, and she loves to snuggle. Having her has given me a life I never imagined. We both now have a wonderful extended family. We both have enjoyed all our volunteer work and other activities. I will always own a Greyhound from now on.
― Paula Pilgrim

Please feel free to share your tales from the greyt life (or what you’re missing if you don’t have a greyhound) via our Facebook page (Friends of Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Option).

Gracie at the Movies: A Remembrance

Gracie with owner Gail Black

Can I tell you a story about taking Gracie (Grey’s Top Flight) to the movies? After the July 2002 windstorm called Elvis devastated Midtown, I was without power for many days. It was so hot in my little garage apartment, Gracie would just lie on the sofa panting; it was hotter in the house than outside. I would put Gracie in the car and drive around just so we could cool off with the A/C.

One afternoon, with Gracie in the car, I went to get some lunch. Afterward, I drove by Studio on the Square to see what movies were showing, thinking I might see a matinee. The manager was sitting at a café table outside the building. I stopped and rolled down my window and said, “I’d love to come see a matinee, but I don’t have power at home yet and I don’t want to leave my dog in my hot house. Is it possible I could bring her with me? She’s a therapy dog, clean, quiet, rarely barks.”

And he said, “Sure, that should be OK.”

I couldn’t believe it! I was so happy. So we went to see the matinee of Whale Rider. Gracie hopped up in the seat by me; I raised the arm rest between us. I shared my popcorn with her, which she daintily and happily munched. As the few other moviegoers arrived, they did double-takes, smiling, seeing her in a seat by me. Within moments, she had laid down, her head resting in my lap. She slept with easy breaths through the whole movie.

A few days later, Cynthia Wolff with The Commercial Appeal called me. She was writing an article about pet stories related to the aftermath of the windstorm. She included our tale. During the interview, I told her that Gracie was the best date I’d ever had. She didn’t hog the popcorn, and didn’t talk during the movie.

Gracie, age 13, had abdominal surgery last week and was struggling Saturday night. She was relieved of her struggle Sunday morning. Says owner Gail Black: “She changed my life. She will always be my light in the dark. I so appreciate MSGAO. Thanks for making it possible for her to be my dog.”

Greyt Reading: ‘Logan’s Secret’

Looking for an inspirational book that appeals to children and adults? Then check out Logan’s Secret by Suzanne Burke, whose book is informed by her experience as a volunteer with Greyhound Adoption League of Texas (GALT).

In this book, a lightning-fast racing greyhound is suddenly faced with the most crucial decision of his life during the middle of a race. Based on real-life events, Logan’s Secret is an inspirational story about a spirited racing greyhound who makes a decision that launches him into a world of danger, uncertainty and challenge. Follow Logan on his adventurous journey where he learns survival techniques and uncovers secrets to help him achieve his life dream! The story is inspired by GALT’s own Rapido Usa.

Ms. Burke has volunteered for more than 10 years with Dallas-based GALT. She also has many years’ experience as a technical writer in the information technology field. Her creative and entrepreneurial spirit led her to write about what she knows and enjoys, greyhounds!

The book is available on Amazon (paper) and soon will be available for Kindle and other e-book platforms. Learn more about the book at this link: Logan’s Secret. Learn more about the author and her passion for greyhounds at: Greyhound Stories. The book also can be purchased through GALT at this link: Logan’s Secret.