Meet Dave

Sysco Dave that is.  Dave was recently returned to our group through no fault of his own.  His owner became ill and had to return her two boys.  I fostered Dave the first go round, and until Buddy, he held the record for my longest foster.  Nine months.  To say it broke my heart that he was returned would be an understatement.  I cried and cried.  Although, I'm sure I didn't cry as much as his momma.  She loved those boys dearly.  I still don't know what her illness is.  But I know it must be bad for her to give up her dogs.  She worshipped them.  Dave came to us on September 16th and has adjusted pretty well.  He has had his dental and is all set to find his forever home.  I hope he doesn't break any records this time around!

Greyhounds Reach The Beach

Finally!  It's time to share my trip to Dewey.  This was my first trip to Greyhounds Reach the Beach in Dewey, Delaware.  This has been on my bucket list for a while now.  Nothing better than a vacation planned around greyhounds and their people.

I decided since it was my first year to attend, that I would fly.  What with the price of gas and going alone, it would be just as reasonable to fly.  Not to mention, my fear of falling asleep while driving by myself.  So I left out of Evansville on Wednesday October 3rd early in the morning (6:30 a.m.) and arrived in Philly around noon.  Picked up my rental car and I was on my way.  It was only about a 2 hour drive from Philly to Delaware. 

A very generous greyhound friend, Nancy Hanrahan, offered me a place to crash.  You know, I'm a low maintenance kind of gal and really only need a dog bed to sleep on!  Many people told me I was crazy to go that far away and stay with people I didn't even know.  What were they thinking?  Obviously these people don't know greyhound people!!!  Nancy, her daughter Amber and their friend Sue, were awesome!  Nancy and Sue have these adorable cottages that they stay in every year and they are just right across the lane from each other.  Originally I was supposed to bunk with Nancy and company.  Then there was this little whippet named Ace who needed a foster mom for a couple of days.  Since I didn't have one of my own dogs with me, I offered to help out.  Sue and her girls were alone in their cottage, so Ace and I bunked with her.

You see Ace rode from Indiana to meet up with his new family as he had recently been returned, through no fault of his own.  That's okay, because his new family loves him like no other and he will have a wonderful life.  Let me tell you, this little guy was adorable and I could have taken him back home with me.  What a snuggle bug.  From what I hear, he is a bit on the bigger side for a whippet, and very strong on the leash.  Anyway, I enjoyed taking care of him for a little while. 

This post will probably be a little jumpy, kind of like I was on this trip.  Everything was awesome and I felt like a kid on Christmas morning.  Everywhere you looked, restaurants and hotels had their signs welcoming us greyhound peeps!

 

Another highlight of my trip was going to be meeting Junebug (a little greyhound/plotthound mix) that Nancy and her daughter adopted last year.  You see, I am Junebug's number one fan!  I followed her story when she was first rescued by At Risk Intervention.  If my memory serves me correctly, she had been shot in the face and also had a broken neck.  She is partially blind and deaf on her left side.  With lots of love and patience, this little girl has made amazing strides over the past year.  She will only know love for the rest of her life!  We celebrated her first gotcha day while we were there too.  I love this little Bug!

The next real treat...I got to meet Giles' Express.  For those of you who don't know his story, go HERE.  To think he suffered this abuse at the hands of his owners just makes me sick.  Giles is a real Superman! 

 He won "Most Hunkiest" at the costume contest.  

 It was a little chilly on Sunday morning before I left and Giles had on his nice warm fleece.  Here he is helping his skin-sister Amber while she is vending.  Just laying on his bed and just loving life! 

This picture was from the Pet Blessing that Gil Caldwell did at the park in Rehoboth.  If you look closely, you can see a lipstick print.  He got kissed a lot!

I won't bore you with ALL the pictures I took of Giles, but let me tell you, this is one amazing dog.  I was honored to be in his presence.  He enjoyed everything!  He truly loves life!

 

 We put this adorable hat on him since it was cold.  There was a big auction to help At Risk Intervention with expenses and a very nice lady made this for him.  He's such a good sport.

Isis and Amber (the greyhound) at the beach.  These were Sue's girls and I had a blast spending time with them in their cottage.  Such good girls.

I can't forget Adam, another member of the Hanrahan pack.  What a sweetheart.  He reminds me of my Brett.

 

Oh yeah!  I almost forgot the Beach!!!  It was very pretty on the beach at Rehoboth and Dewey.  It was an awesome time and I can't wait to go back next year!

 

Dreamin' of Dewey

All I find myself doing these days is counting down until I leave for Dewey.  I have been wanting to go for so long.  My sister took this picture of Sadie and Boris this spring in Florida at Hound Dog Howlidays.  I will be travelling without my hounds, but I'm sure there will be plenty of dogs needing some extra love.

Hannah Goes Home

On the past Saturday, September 8th, Hannah started her trip north to her forever home.  My friend Kim and I made our way to the GPA Indianapolis picnic where we were meeting up with the folks from the Greyhound Alliance to make the handoff. 

I didn't have too many good pictures of Hannah, so when they wanted to take a picture of us, I jumped at the opportunity.  I immediately felt better when they had a gorgeous orange collar, complete with identification tags, ready to put on my girl.  Time to say good bye came way too soon.  I haven't cried over too many of my fosters, but I bawled like a baby over Hannah.  In public too.  She is a very special girl.

 

Hannah meeting her new momma.  This lady adopts seniors and special needs dogs.  Of course, Hannah thinks she is neither one of those.  She is a spunky ole gal, doesn't know she is 10 years old.

 

It was a bittersweet moment for me, that for sure.  Yesterday, I finally brought myself to wash her bed (folded up comforter) that she always laid on.  I still find myself looking for her when I do the head count.  I know she is in good hands, but dang, I miss that dog. 

I had the pleasure of going to Florida last weekend to pick up 5 dogs to bring back for our group.  Two of the five were already spoken for.  It seems like we are on a roll right now on adoption applications.  Sneakers is the brindle girl. Josh is the black boy with a beautiful shiny coat.  These two are being fostered together and still are very close.

   

 This little cutie is Ripley.  She came home with me to foster for a family.  Funny, funny girl.  She would just sit right between the seats of the van and look out just like a person would.

 These brindle beauties are Delay on the left and Sneakers on the right.  Love those brindles.

This is Ripley at my house.  She is an absolute doll.  After about the second day, I said it was a good thing she was promised to a family already.  She is super smart, beautiful markings and a bubbly personality.  She had a broken leg and is recovered now.  She went home to her forever family on Friday.  They absolutely adore her and plan on spoiling her rotten.

It's Hound Time

Tomorrow I am leaving with the President of our group to go pick up at least 5 dogs.  Driving to Pensacola, Florida on Friday.  Do a little visiting with friends that we've made there and pick up the hounds.  Leave to come back home on Sunday.  I will be bringing a new foster back to my house as we have 5 families approved at this time.  Of course, none of the dogs we have will work for any of these families.

Is this time of year usually busy for adoption groups?  Reason I ask is because for just about as long as I can remember, we are doing a hound haul around this time.  More than once I was away on Dixie's birthday.  I knew she would forgive me because we were getting more hounds to their couches! 

Tuesday was a bittersweet day for me.  Dixie would have been 12 years old.  She and one of her littermates have both been taken by the damn Osteo.  I sure hope to see a cure in my lifetime.  This picture was taken of Dixie on her first Christmas with us.   I miss her everyday.

Hannah, my sweet foster.  It is definite, she is getting a forever home.  Not with me.  She is going north.  I was so close to just saying leave her with us, but someone evidently needs her more.  Out of the 23 fosters that I have had, I can say this one will be the hardest to let go.  Every since I heard the news, I have cried at least once a day.  I know it's best for her.  Some are just harder to let go than others.  This family specifically wants a senior, which makes my heart happy.  I know she will be loved.  She will make her move on September 8th, unless a GUR is set up sooner. 

Just For Fun

Tom has a curly tail!

 Grandson Geoffrey and Tom taking a nap together.

 Napping again!

 Geoffrey being a copy cat.

 Foster dog Hannah got a new collar from a secret admirer.

 Sadie loves her baby!

 It's a shame that the kid doesn't have any toys of his own to play with!

 Obviously the momma rabbit wasn't very smart to build her nest in the yard where greyhounds live!

Sadie made it through her dental with flying colors!  No extractions!  Happy Day!!!