Adoption experts say the dogs are equally at home with children as they are with retirees — it all depends on the temperament of the dog and the home setting.
By LIZ BALMASEDACox Newspapers
Published: Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 3:37 p.m.
The greyhound, they say, is the 45-mile-an-hour couch potato of the dog world.
While it is speed on a track that cast this breed as a race dog, it is the race-track life that has spawned active adoption and rescue groups and a greyhound-loving subculture.
It is a diverse subset with conflicting views on the greyhound-racing industry. But as National Greyhound Adoption Month reaches the final stretch of April, greyhound devotees can agree on at least one thing: These regal pooches make wonderful pets.
“They’re very loving, very loyal, extremely thankful,” says Sonia Stratemann, who runs Elite Greyhound Adoptions from her Loxahatchee, Fla., farm. “They’re social, and most of them are awesome with kids.”
Her own 10 greyhounds share the family farm with eight horses, two cats, two cockatoos and a bunny.
“They’re great with other animals. They’re very adaptable. Most of the time, they can fit your lifestyle,” says Stratemann.
Another greyhound expert agrees.
“It takes them about two weeks to get oriented into a home. Usually, they’ve never been in a home before,” says Alice Borchert, CEO of the Greyhound Adoption League of South Florida.
Like other local greyhound adoption groups, her 11-year-old agency re-homes racetrack dogs from local racing kennels. She says she finds many misconceptions about greyhounds among prospective adopters.
“Some people think they’re vicious because they’ve seen them in muzzles at the track. But it’s not true. They’re gentle, gentle dogs. They don’t have a vicious bone in their bodies,” says Borchert. “If you’re looking for a watch dog, you’ve got the wrong animal. Just about all they’ll do is wag their tails.”
Granted, it can be one mighty tail.
“When we do our home visits, we tell people to be careful about what they leave on their coffee tables. Candy dishes, forget it. When a greyhound wags his tail, everything flies off the table,” says Borchert, who used to race greyhounds at the Palm Beach Kennel Club before she and her husband launched their adoption effort. To now, she’s found homes for 425 greyhounds.
Wagging tail aside, these are not hyperactive dogs, say local adoption folks.
“They do need to be on a leash while outside on the street, though,” says Stratemann of Elite.
That’s because greyhounds are sighthounds, dogs that hunt not by scent but by sight and motion, prone to chase quickly moving objects.
That is not to say retired greyhounds are ready to race 24/7.
“They’re sprinters, not endurance dogs. They don’t have that energy all day long,” says Stratemann. “They go for about 30 seconds and then they’re done, completely done. It’s easy enough to give them the exercise they need by simply walking them.”
Which brings us to another greyhound misconception, that they belong only with young, active owners. Adoption experts say the dogs are equally at home with children as they are with retirees — it all depends on the temperament of the dog and the home setting.
Neat freaks may love the fact that greyhounds are considered to be extremely clean dogs, and nearly hypoallergenic.
“You don’t have to bathe them too frequently,” says Barbara Masi, president of the Florida Southeast Coast chapter of Greyhound Pets of America. “And they’re very quiet dogs. They don’t tend to bark too much.”
Tall and elegant and weighing anywhere between 55 and 80 pounds, the greyhound is surprisingly hardy for its size, not prone to hip dysplasia as are some larger dogs. But it is their lean structure and fine coat that makes them more sensitive to cold, insecticide and even some anesthetics. Owners are encouraged to provide warm, cushiony beds for their greyhound companions.
If greyhounds are built to be treated like royalty it’s probably because they were considered royalty once upon a time. A venerable breed, the greyhound was worshiped by the pharaohs of ancient Egypt.
The breed traveled to ancient Greece and Rome, where they were equally revered and, it seems, raced for the first time. Centuries later, they were bred for coursing, the pursuit of quickly moving game prey, by the British.
Today’s greyhound lovers find themselves sharing the fascination of the ancient noblemen, the Renaissance painters and the great English writers for the stately greyhound.
“They’re really happy dogs,” says Stratemann. “They spend every day just trying to please us.”
Friday, April 24, 2009
Rescued greyhounds travel 7,000 miles await adoption
Rescued Greyhounds Travel 7,000 Miles, Await Adoption
POSTED: 10:15 pm EDT April 23, 2009
UPDATED: 11:14 pm EDT April 23, 2009
CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio -- For 16 years, greyhounds born to run have found sanctuary in Chagrin Falls at Greyhound Adoption of Ohio.
In that time, nearly 2,000 dogs have come from tracks near and far to find new homes in Ohio.
But none have traveled as far as the latest arrivals, with an estimated journey of about 7,000 miles.
The journey started in Guam last November after a track there closed.
From there, several rescued greyhounds were flown to Los Angeles for veterinary treatment and then to Arizona to prepare them for adoption.
Six of them will now call Chagrin Falls home until they are adopted.
That the Guam greyhounds survived at all is nothing short of a miracle.
"The dogs lost in the jungle, found starving, found by the side of the road, hit by cars and they were very lucky that the Greyhound Protection League was there to help them," said Linda Perko, of Greyhound Adoption of Ohio.
Perko said, "When we started doing this 16 years ago, there were about 50,000 dogs a year born and about 50,000 destroyed."
Rescuers said adoption has helped save up to half of all greyhounds bred for racing.
"They make very loving pets. They get very attached to their owners. They're just great," Perko said.
Greyhound Adoption of Ohio will hold open houses this weekend and next if you are interested in adoption.
To learn more, go to www.greyhoundadoptionofoh.org.
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/19266810/detail.html
POSTED: 10:15 pm EDT April 23, 2009
UPDATED: 11:14 pm EDT April 23, 2009
CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio -- For 16 years, greyhounds born to run have found sanctuary in Chagrin Falls at Greyhound Adoption of Ohio.
In that time, nearly 2,000 dogs have come from tracks near and far to find new homes in Ohio.
But none have traveled as far as the latest arrivals, with an estimated journey of about 7,000 miles.
The journey started in Guam last November after a track there closed.
From there, several rescued greyhounds were flown to Los Angeles for veterinary treatment and then to Arizona to prepare them for adoption.
Six of them will now call Chagrin Falls home until they are adopted.
That the Guam greyhounds survived at all is nothing short of a miracle.
"The dogs lost in the jungle, found starving, found by the side of the road, hit by cars and they were very lucky that the Greyhound Protection League was there to help them," said Linda Perko, of Greyhound Adoption of Ohio.
Perko said, "When we started doing this 16 years ago, there were about 50,000 dogs a year born and about 50,000 destroyed."
Rescuers said adoption has helped save up to half of all greyhounds bred for racing.
"They make very loving pets. They get very attached to their owners. They're just great," Perko said.
Greyhound Adoption of Ohio will hold open houses this weekend and next if you are interested in adoption.
To learn more, go to www.greyhoundadoptionofoh.org.
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/19266810/detail.html
Fast Friends: Breeders and rescuers race to find homes for greyhounds
FAST FRIENDS: Breeders and rescuers race to find homes for greyhounds
By LIZ BALMASEDA
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/accent/content/accent/epaper/2009/04/20/a1d_greyhound_web_0420.html
While it is speed on a track that cast this breed as a race dog, it is the race- track life that has spawned active adoption and rescue groups in South Florida and a greyhound-loving subculture in Palm Beach County.
It is a diverse subset with conflicting views on the greyhound-racing industry. But as National Greyhound Adoption Month reaches the final stretch of April, greyhound devotees can agree on at least one thing: These regal pooches make wonderful pets.
"They're very loving, very loyal, extremely thankful," says Sonia Stratemann, who runs Elite Greyhound Adoptions from her Loxahatchee farm. "They're social, and most of them are awesome with kids."
Her own 10 greyhounds share the family farm with eight horses, two cats, two cockatoos and a bunny.
"They're great with other animals. They're very adaptable. Most of the time, they can fit your lifestyle," says Stratemann.
Another local greyhound expert agrees.
"It takes them about two weeks to get oriented into a home. Usually, they've never been in a home before," says Alice Borchert, CEO of the Greyhound Adoption League of South Florida.
Like other local greyhound adoption groups, her 11-year-old agency re-homes racetrack dogs from local racing kennels. She says she finds many misconceptions about greyhounds among prospective adopters.
"Some people think they're vicious because they've seen them in muzzles at the track. But it's not true. They're gentle, gentle dogs. They don't have a vicious bone in their bodies," says Borchert. "If you're looking for a watch dog, you've got the wrong animal. Just about all they'll do is wag their tails."
Granted, it can be one mighty tail.
"When we do our home visits, we tell people to be careful about what they leave on their coffee tables. Candy dishes, forget it. When a greyhound wags his tail, everything flies off the table," says Borchert, who used to race greyhounds at the Palm Beach Kennel Club before she and her husband launched their adoption effort. To now, she's found homes for 425 greyhounds.
Wagging tail aside, these are not hyperactive dogs, say local adoption folks.
"They do need to be on a leash while outside on the street, though," says Stratemann of Elite.
That's because greyhounds are sighthounds, dogs that hunt not by scent but by sight and motion, prone to chase quickly moving objects.
That is not to say retired greyhounds are ready to race 24/7.
"They're sprinters, not endurance dogs. They don't have that energy all day long," says Stratemann. "They go for about 30 seconds and then they're done, completely done. It's easy enough to give them the exercise they need by simply walking them."
Which brings us to another greyhound misconception, that they belong only with young, active owners. Local adoption experts say the dogs are equally at home with children as they are with retirees — it all depends on the temperament of the dog and the home setting.
Neat freaks may love the fact that greyhounds are considered to be extremely clean dogs, and nearly hypoallergenic.
"You don't have to bathe them too frequently," says Barbara Masi, president of the Florida Southeast Coast chapter of Greyhound Pets of America. "And they're very quiet dogs. They don't tend to bark too much."
Tall and elegant and weighing anywhere between 55 and 80 pounds, the greyhound is surprisingly hardy for its size, not prone to hip dysplasia as are some larger dogs. But it is their lean structure and fine coat that makes them more sensitive to cold, insecticide and even some anesthetics. Owners are encouraged to provide warm, cushiony beds for their greyhound companions.
If greyhounds are built to be treated like royalty it's probably because they were considered royalty once upon a time. A venerable breed, the greyhound was worshiped by the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt.
The breed traveled to ancient Greece and Rome, where they were equally revered and, it seems, raced for the first time. Centuries later, they were bred for coursing, the pursuit of quickly moving game prey, by the British.
Today's greyhound lovers find themselves sharing the fascination of the ancient noblemen, the Renaissance painters and the great English writers for the stately greyhound.
"They're really happy dogs," says Stratemann. "They spend every day just trying to please us."
5 REASONS
THERE'S NOTHING GREY ABOUT A GREYHOUND
Greyhounds are lean, sleek dogs with thin coats. Their low percentage of body fat can make them sensitive to cold and high heat. For this reason, they love sweaters in the winter and comfy, well-cushioned beds. Indoors, please.
Their thin coats often make them a good match for people with allergies. The coats also make them low-maintenance pets when it comes to grooming. In fact, they should not be bathed too often to allow natural oils to keep their coats luminous.
Greyhounds need about as much exercise as any large-breed dog, which means daily, on-leash walks.
Greyhounds are not gray. But there are some 'blue' greyhounds with a deep silvery coat.
Dogs that are bred to run professionally are often raced from the time they're 18 months old to about 4 years of age.
— Liz Balmaseda
CAMP GREYHOUND!
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office mascot, Finnegan, and the Ambass-A-Dogs, two greyhounds owned by Barbara Masi, are visiting camps this summer to teach animal kindness.
The Professor Pooches program covers animal safety, responsible pet ownership, dog care, laws governing dog ownership, the importance of regular veterinary care and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw's campaign against dog fighting.
To arrange a visit to your camp, call Masi at (561) 688-3981.
HOW TO ADOPT A GREYHOUND ...
Elite Greyhound Adoptions. Visit elitegreyhounds.org, or call Sonia Stratemann at (561) 252-2216.
Greyhound Adoption League of South Florida. Visit greyhoundadoptionleague.org, or call Alice Borchert at (561) 615-0818.
Greyhound Pets of America Florida Southeast Coast chapter. Visit greyhoundpetsfl.org, or call Barbara Masi at (561) 478-3006.
By LIZ BALMASEDA
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/accent/content/accent/epaper/2009/04/20/a1d_greyhound_web_0420.html
While it is speed on a track that cast this breed as a race dog, it is the race- track life that has spawned active adoption and rescue groups in South Florida and a greyhound-loving subculture in Palm Beach County.
It is a diverse subset with conflicting views on the greyhound-racing industry. But as National Greyhound Adoption Month reaches the final stretch of April, greyhound devotees can agree on at least one thing: These regal pooches make wonderful pets.
"They're very loving, very loyal, extremely thankful," says Sonia Stratemann, who runs Elite Greyhound Adoptions from her Loxahatchee farm. "They're social, and most of them are awesome with kids."
Her own 10 greyhounds share the family farm with eight horses, two cats, two cockatoos and a bunny.
"They're great with other animals. They're very adaptable. Most of the time, they can fit your lifestyle," says Stratemann.
Another local greyhound expert agrees.
"It takes them about two weeks to get oriented into a home. Usually, they've never been in a home before," says Alice Borchert, CEO of the Greyhound Adoption League of South Florida.
Like other local greyhound adoption groups, her 11-year-old agency re-homes racetrack dogs from local racing kennels. She says she finds many misconceptions about greyhounds among prospective adopters.
"Some people think they're vicious because they've seen them in muzzles at the track. But it's not true. They're gentle, gentle dogs. They don't have a vicious bone in their bodies," says Borchert. "If you're looking for a watch dog, you've got the wrong animal. Just about all they'll do is wag their tails."
Granted, it can be one mighty tail.
"When we do our home visits, we tell people to be careful about what they leave on their coffee tables. Candy dishes, forget it. When a greyhound wags his tail, everything flies off the table," says Borchert, who used to race greyhounds at the Palm Beach Kennel Club before she and her husband launched their adoption effort. To now, she's found homes for 425 greyhounds.
Wagging tail aside, these are not hyperactive dogs, say local adoption folks.
"They do need to be on a leash while outside on the street, though," says Stratemann of Elite.
That's because greyhounds are sighthounds, dogs that hunt not by scent but by sight and motion, prone to chase quickly moving objects.
That is not to say retired greyhounds are ready to race 24/7.
"They're sprinters, not endurance dogs. They don't have that energy all day long," says Stratemann. "They go for about 30 seconds and then they're done, completely done. It's easy enough to give them the exercise they need by simply walking them."
Which brings us to another greyhound misconception, that they belong only with young, active owners. Local adoption experts say the dogs are equally at home with children as they are with retirees — it all depends on the temperament of the dog and the home setting.
Neat freaks may love the fact that greyhounds are considered to be extremely clean dogs, and nearly hypoallergenic.
"You don't have to bathe them too frequently," says Barbara Masi, president of the Florida Southeast Coast chapter of Greyhound Pets of America. "And they're very quiet dogs. They don't tend to bark too much."
Tall and elegant and weighing anywhere between 55 and 80 pounds, the greyhound is surprisingly hardy for its size, not prone to hip dysplasia as are some larger dogs. But it is their lean structure and fine coat that makes them more sensitive to cold, insecticide and even some anesthetics. Owners are encouraged to provide warm, cushiony beds for their greyhound companions.
If greyhounds are built to be treated like royalty it's probably because they were considered royalty once upon a time. A venerable breed, the greyhound was worshiped by the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt.
The breed traveled to ancient Greece and Rome, where they were equally revered and, it seems, raced for the first time. Centuries later, they were bred for coursing, the pursuit of quickly moving game prey, by the British.
Today's greyhound lovers find themselves sharing the fascination of the ancient noblemen, the Renaissance painters and the great English writers for the stately greyhound.
"They're really happy dogs," says Stratemann. "They spend every day just trying to please us."
5 REASONS
THERE'S NOTHING GREY ABOUT A GREYHOUND
Greyhounds are lean, sleek dogs with thin coats. Their low percentage of body fat can make them sensitive to cold and high heat. For this reason, they love sweaters in the winter and comfy, well-cushioned beds. Indoors, please.
Their thin coats often make them a good match for people with allergies. The coats also make them low-maintenance pets when it comes to grooming. In fact, they should not be bathed too often to allow natural oils to keep their coats luminous.
Greyhounds need about as much exercise as any large-breed dog, which means daily, on-leash walks.
Greyhounds are not gray. But there are some 'blue' greyhounds with a deep silvery coat.
Dogs that are bred to run professionally are often raced from the time they're 18 months old to about 4 years of age.
— Liz Balmaseda
CAMP GREYHOUND!
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office mascot, Finnegan, and the Ambass-A-Dogs, two greyhounds owned by Barbara Masi, are visiting camps this summer to teach animal kindness.
The Professor Pooches program covers animal safety, responsible pet ownership, dog care, laws governing dog ownership, the importance of regular veterinary care and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw's campaign against dog fighting.
To arrange a visit to your camp, call Masi at (561) 688-3981.
HOW TO ADOPT A GREYHOUND ...
Elite Greyhound Adoptions. Visit elitegreyhounds.org, or call Sonia Stratemann at (561) 252-2216.
Greyhound Adoption League of South Florida. Visit greyhoundadoptionleague.org, or call Alice Borchert at (561) 615-0818.
Greyhound Pets of America Florida Southeast Coast chapter. Visit greyhoundpetsfl.org, or call Barbara Masi at (561) 478-3006.
Rachael Ray Donates Seven Tons of Treats to Area Shelter
http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_fd69c450-2bc8-11de-87c6-001cc4c002e0.html
Stephanie De Pasquale Posted: Friday, April 17, 2009 10:25 pm
"Celebration" played loudly over the stereo as a dozen volunteers spent Friday morning unloading seven tons - yes, tons - of dog treats that TV chef and talk-show host Rachael Ray donated to the Quad-Cities Greyhound Rescue Center in Maysville, Iowa.
They passed box after box from one person to the next until a 10-by-10-foot room was filled from floor to ceiling and a second storage pod was half-full.
The donations were the result of a letter that Rochelle Buskirk, the fundraising coordinator for Greyhound Rescue, sent to the celebrity, asking for help. The shelter houses 50 dogs and goes through 12 pounds of treats per day. At that rate, even large bags are used up quickly and the shelter is always running out.
"It was the right place at the right time," Buskirk said. "It was a great deal for us because the fact of the matter is that a terrific donation like that, for a nonprofit that is a totally volunteer-run organization, is pretty big for us."
Every cent of the profits from the celebrity's dog food, Rachael Ray Nutrish, funds the Rachael's Rescue effort. The money is then donated to shelters and used to provide food and treats to animals in need. Fifty-one tons of Rachael Ray Nutrish have been donated to shelters throughout the country.
"These are good, whole foods. I like the fact that she includes plenty of vegetables in there. I really like that and its good protein sources," said Ernie Ward, the veterinary correspondent for the "Rachael Ray Show."
"The food that Rachael is donating is of very good quality. Most of the time, the shelters that I work with, we are not able to give a food of that high of quality."
The donation from Rachael's Rescue will last the Quad-Cities
Greyhound Rescue for nine months to a year, Buskirk said.
"It means that we can concentrate efforts on other things that we need and don't have to worry about the treats for a while," she added. "A huge thank you to Rachael Ray Nutrish because its been like Christmas around here today."
However, the storage rooms were nearly empty before the donation arrived because the Greyhound Rescue has run out of dog food that is normally donated by Purina, and they don't know when another shipment will come in, she said.
It takes 50 pounds of dog food to feed the animals for one day, and the rescue is relying on volunteers to provide food until more arrives from the company.
"Without the donations, we would not stay afloat," Buskirk said. "You hate to complain because everybody's struggling. But we've been around since 1997, so we make it work and it's always a work in progress and everybody out there puts in 110 percent to get it done.
"But the rewards are endless with the greyhounds, they really are. They sneak into your heart and it happens fast."
Posted in Local on Friday, April 17, 2009 10:25 pm Updated: 9:29 am. Tags: Dogs, Rachael Ray, Quad-cities Greyhound Rescue Center
Stephanie De Pasquale Posted: Friday, April 17, 2009 10:25 pm
"Celebration" played loudly over the stereo as a dozen volunteers spent Friday morning unloading seven tons - yes, tons - of dog treats that TV chef and talk-show host Rachael Ray donated to the Quad-Cities Greyhound Rescue Center in Maysville, Iowa.
They passed box after box from one person to the next until a 10-by-10-foot room was filled from floor to ceiling and a second storage pod was half-full.
The donations were the result of a letter that Rochelle Buskirk, the fundraising coordinator for Greyhound Rescue, sent to the celebrity, asking for help. The shelter houses 50 dogs and goes through 12 pounds of treats per day. At that rate, even large bags are used up quickly and the shelter is always running out.
"It was the right place at the right time," Buskirk said. "It was a great deal for us because the fact of the matter is that a terrific donation like that, for a nonprofit that is a totally volunteer-run organization, is pretty big for us."
Every cent of the profits from the celebrity's dog food, Rachael Ray Nutrish, funds the Rachael's Rescue effort. The money is then donated to shelters and used to provide food and treats to animals in need. Fifty-one tons of Rachael Ray Nutrish have been donated to shelters throughout the country.
"These are good, whole foods. I like the fact that she includes plenty of vegetables in there. I really like that and its good protein sources," said Ernie Ward, the veterinary correspondent for the "Rachael Ray Show."
"The food that Rachael is donating is of very good quality. Most of the time, the shelters that I work with, we are not able to give a food of that high of quality."
The donation from Rachael's Rescue will last the Quad-Cities
Greyhound Rescue for nine months to a year, Buskirk said.
"It means that we can concentrate efforts on other things that we need and don't have to worry about the treats for a while," she added. "A huge thank you to Rachael Ray Nutrish because its been like Christmas around here today."
However, the storage rooms were nearly empty before the donation arrived because the Greyhound Rescue has run out of dog food that is normally donated by Purina, and they don't know when another shipment will come in, she said.
It takes 50 pounds of dog food to feed the animals for one day, and the rescue is relying on volunteers to provide food until more arrives from the company.
"Without the donations, we would not stay afloat," Buskirk said. "You hate to complain because everybody's struggling. But we've been around since 1997, so we make it work and it's always a work in progress and everybody out there puts in 110 percent to get it done.
"But the rewards are endless with the greyhounds, they really are. They sneak into your heart and it happens fast."
Posted in Local on Friday, April 17, 2009 10:25 pm Updated: 9:29 am. Tags: Dogs, Rachael Ray, Quad-cities Greyhound Rescue Center
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Jasmine, the Mother Theresa Greyhound
Jasmine, the Mother Theresa Greyhound
http://www.greatpetnet.com/630/jasmine-the-mother-theresa-greyhound/
by Myke on March 27, 2009
In 2003, police in Warwickshire, England, opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog. It had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished, and had clearly been abused.In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a Greyhound female, to the nearby Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, run by a man named Geoff Grewcock and known as a willing haven for Animals abandoned, orphaned or otherwise in need.
Geoff and the other sanctuary staff went to work with two aims to restore the dog to full health, and to win her trust. It took several weeks, but eventually both goals were achieved.
They named her Jasmine, and they started to think about finding her an adoptive home.
But Jasmine had other ideas. No-one remembers now how it began, but she started welcoming all Animal arrivals at the sanctuary. It wouldn’t matter if it was a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit or, any other lost or hurting Animal, Jasmine would peer into the box or cage and, where possible, deliver a welcoming lick.
Geoff relates one of the early incidents. “We had two puppies that had been abandoned by a nearby railway line. One was a Lakeland Terrier cross and another was a Jack Russell Doberman cross. They were tiny when they arrived at the centre and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee. Then she fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them.”
“But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits. She takes all the stress out of them and it helps them to not only feel close to her but to settle into their new surroundings.
“She has done the same with the fox and badger cubs, she licks the rabbits and guinea pigs and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose.”
Jasmine, the timid, abused, deserted waif, became the animal sanctuary’s resident surrogate mother, a role for which she might have been born. The list of orphaned and abandoned youngsters she has cared for comprises five fox cubs, four badger cubs, 15 chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies and 15 rabbits.
And one roe deer fawn. Tiny Bramble, 11 weeks old, was found semi-conscious in a field. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, Jasmine cuddled up to her to keep her warm, and then went into the full foster mum role. Jasmine the greyhound showers Bramble the Roe deer with affection and makes sure nothing is matted.
“They are inseparable,” says Geoff “Bramble walks between her legs and they keep kissing each other. They walk together round the sanctuary.
It’s a real treat to see them.”
Jasmine will continue to care for Bramble until she is old enough to be returned to woodland life. When that happens, Jasmine will not be lonely. She will be too busy showering love and affection on the next Orphan or victim of abuse.
From left, Toby, a stray Lakeland dog; Bramble, orphaned Roe deer; Buster, a stray Jack Russell; a dumped rabbit; Sky, an injured barn owl; and Jasmine with a Mothers heart doing best what a caring Mother would do… Such is the order of God’s Creation.
Link: http://www.warwickshirewildlifesanctuary.co.uk/index.htm
via David Wilson
http://www.greatpetnet.com/630/jasmine-the-mother-theresa-greyhound/
by Myke on March 27, 2009
In 2003, police in Warwickshire, England, opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog. It had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished, and had clearly been abused.In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a Greyhound female, to the nearby Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, run by a man named Geoff Grewcock and known as a willing haven for Animals abandoned, orphaned or otherwise in need.
Geoff and the other sanctuary staff went to work with two aims to restore the dog to full health, and to win her trust. It took several weeks, but eventually both goals were achieved.
They named her Jasmine, and they started to think about finding her an adoptive home.
But Jasmine had other ideas. No-one remembers now how it began, but she started welcoming all Animal arrivals at the sanctuary. It wouldn’t matter if it was a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit or, any other lost or hurting Animal, Jasmine would peer into the box or cage and, where possible, deliver a welcoming lick.
Geoff relates one of the early incidents. “We had two puppies that had been abandoned by a nearby railway line. One was a Lakeland Terrier cross and another was a Jack Russell Doberman cross. They were tiny when they arrived at the centre and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee. Then she fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them.”
“But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits. She takes all the stress out of them and it helps them to not only feel close to her but to settle into their new surroundings.
“She has done the same with the fox and badger cubs, she licks the rabbits and guinea pigs and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose.”
Jasmine, the timid, abused, deserted waif, became the animal sanctuary’s resident surrogate mother, a role for which she might have been born. The list of orphaned and abandoned youngsters she has cared for comprises five fox cubs, four badger cubs, 15 chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies and 15 rabbits.
And one roe deer fawn. Tiny Bramble, 11 weeks old, was found semi-conscious in a field. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, Jasmine cuddled up to her to keep her warm, and then went into the full foster mum role. Jasmine the greyhound showers Bramble the Roe deer with affection and makes sure nothing is matted.
“They are inseparable,” says Geoff “Bramble walks between her legs and they keep kissing each other. They walk together round the sanctuary.
It’s a real treat to see them.”
Jasmine will continue to care for Bramble until she is old enough to be returned to woodland life. When that happens, Jasmine will not be lonely. She will be too busy showering love and affection on the next Orphan or victim of abuse.
From left, Toby, a stray Lakeland dog; Bramble, orphaned Roe deer; Buster, a stray Jack Russell; a dumped rabbit; Sky, an injured barn owl; and Jasmine with a Mothers heart doing best what a caring Mother would do… Such is the order of God’s Creation.
Link: http://www.warwickshirewildlifesanctuary.co.uk/index.htm
via David Wilson
Randolph man's group publicizes need to adopt former racing dogs
Randolph man’s group publicizes need to adopt former racing dogs
By Lauren DeFilippo
Tue Mar 31, 2009, 06:02 PM EDT
http://www.wickedlocal.com/randolph/news/x549587405/Randolph-man-s-group-publicizes-need-to-adopt-former-racing-dogs
Randolph -
At the time, Michael McCann and his wife had wanted to get a cat.
But McCann read a newspaper article that described greyhounds as the most “cat-like” breed.
Then he met a greyhound while staying at a bed and breakfast in Maine.
In 1994, the couple adopted its first greyhound.
“It was the ugliest greyhound you’d ever see,” he said, describing Teddy, who only had one eye. “(He) was the greatest dog.”
Since then, he’s opened his Randolph home to foster more than 100 of the dogs.
He owns three greyhounds now: Santos, Whisper and Camban.
McCann is president of the Greyhound Project, a non-profit group of volunteers that promotes the welfare and adoption of greyhounds.
To mark April as national Adopt-A-Greyhound Month, the group has produced six radio public service announcements that debut today.
Fostering greyhounds helps overcrowding at kennels and adoption agencies. The greyhound population at those facilities will increase after regional greyhound racetracks close their doors following voters’ approval to ban greyhound racing in the state.
Usually, the dogs stay in their foster homes for a short time before getting adopted, McCann said.
The work of adoption agencies is already hard, but adopting full-grown dogs is even harder, he said.
With the economy in its current state, adoption agencies also have seen a lot of returns.
“There are enough adoptive homes out there, they just haven’t discovered it yet,” he said.
McCann, who has had dogs as pets for much of his life, said he had never come across a breed so easygoing and gentle.
“They’re the 40 mile-per-hour couch potatoes,” he said of greyhounds.
When he was growing up, McCann said he always thought the dogs were vicious.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said.
That’s not the only myth about greyhounds circulating.
Because they run so fast, people think of them as hyper dogs, McCann said. He pointed out that greyhounds are sprinters, not distance runners.
“They’re very laid-back and gentle,” he said.
Lauren DeFilippo can be reached at ldefilip@cnc.com
Founded in the 1992, The Greyhound Project is a volunteer, non-profit organization. The mission of the Greyhound Project is to promote the welfare and adoption of greyhounds by providing support and information to adoption organizations, adopters, and the public.
For information, visit www.adopt-a-greyhound.org
Greyhounds Grab the Spotlight in April
Greyhounds Grab the Spotlight in April
http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-news/2009/04/01/greyhounds-grab-the-spotlight-in-april.aspx
Massachusetts-based nonprofit launches National Adopt-a-Greyhound Month.
Posted: April 1, 2009, 5 a.m. EDT
The spotlight will shine on retired racing Greyhounds during the month of April, which has been designated as National Adopt-a-Greyhound Month.
The Greyhound Project of Boston, Mass., launched the initiative for the first time this year. Organizers seek to draw attention to the large numbers of Greyhounds who retire from racing each year and are cared for by rescue and adoption groups throughout the United States as they wait to be placed into permanent homes.
Melissa Cook, Project board member, said the organization expects to see the numbers of retired Greyhounds in need of homes to increase in the coming months as racetracks in some states close as a result of new legislation to ban dog racing. Additionally, the country’s economic crisis has resulted in fewer adoptions and more surrenders to shelters because owners can no longer afford to keep their Greyhounds and other pets.
To spread the message of Greyhound adoption awareness, the Greyhound Project created a series of public service announcements about the topic. The 30-second television ads are set to air on stations across the country during the month of April.
The main goal, Cook said, is to increase Greyhound adoptions and find new homes for more of these former racing dogs. By releasing the TV ads, the nonprofit hopes to erase misconceptions about the breed and highlight some of their lesser-known traits, Cook said.
What many people may not realize about Greyhounds, she said, is that they’re great companions for seniors as well as families with children. Through the ads, she added, the public will get to see the breed’s gentle, graceful side.
http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-news/2009/04/01/greyhounds-grab-the-spotlight-in-april.aspx
Massachusetts-based nonprofit launches National Adopt-a-Greyhound Month.
Posted: April 1, 2009, 5 a.m. EDT
The spotlight will shine on retired racing Greyhounds during the month of April, which has been designated as National Adopt-a-Greyhound Month.
The Greyhound Project of Boston, Mass., launched the initiative for the first time this year. Organizers seek to draw attention to the large numbers of Greyhounds who retire from racing each year and are cared for by rescue and adoption groups throughout the United States as they wait to be placed into permanent homes.
Melissa Cook, Project board member, said the organization expects to see the numbers of retired Greyhounds in need of homes to increase in the coming months as racetracks in some states close as a result of new legislation to ban dog racing. Additionally, the country’s economic crisis has resulted in fewer adoptions and more surrenders to shelters because owners can no longer afford to keep their Greyhounds and other pets.
To spread the message of Greyhound adoption awareness, the Greyhound Project created a series of public service announcements about the topic. The 30-second television ads are set to air on stations across the country during the month of April.
The main goal, Cook said, is to increase Greyhound adoptions and find new homes for more of these former racing dogs. By releasing the TV ads, the nonprofit hopes to erase misconceptions about the breed and highlight some of their lesser-known traits, Cook said.
What many people may not realize about Greyhounds, she said, is that they’re great companions for seniors as well as families with children. Through the ads, she added, the public will get to see the breed’s gentle, graceful side.
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