SPRING 2012 - Greyhounds as Pets
Transcription
SPRING 2012 - Greyhounds as Pets
FASTfriends Greyhound – the fastest friend you’ll ever make! SPRING 2012 In this issue: • Loud sounds and your hound • Living with an older dog • Behind the scenes at Craik Kennels • Paws High! • GAP People – Brenda Goddard Also in this issue: From the Editor 2 Steadfast Friends 9 Tips’n’Tricks 12 Puzzle Page 18 Senior Spot 13 Caption Competition 19 Ask Rosie 10 We Need Your Help 13 Fave Foto 20 Doggy Doings 14 Thank You 20 Vet’s Corner 11 Contact Us 0508 GREYHOUNDS GAP Programme Director Acting Programme Director – Jacqui Eyley Phone: (04) 528 0460 Mobile: 027 447 4765 Email: [email protected] PO Box 48-217, Silverstream, Upper Hutt 5142 Regional Co-ordinators For general enquiries and adoption applications: Auckland Regional Co-ordinator – Karen and Steve Keene Areas with (09) phone prefix Email: [email protected] Phone: (09) 832 5969 Mobile: 021 213 2476 13 Glenbury Place Massey, Auckland 0614 Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taupo & Rotorua Regional Co-ordinator – Victoria Munro Areas with an (07) phone prefix Email: [email protected] Phone: (07) 829 4572 Mobile: 021 330 193 59 Reynold’s Road, RD1, Hamilton 3281 Central Regional Co-ordinator – Robyn Bowry Areas with (04) and (06) phone prefixes Email: [email protected] Phone: (06) 364 8899 Mobile: 027 264 8899 56 Freemans Road, Otaki 5512 Southern Regional Co-ordinator – Position Vacant: see page 9 Shop To purchase an item from the shop please contact: Sheila Duke Email: [email protected] Phone: (07) 858 3210 40 Malcolm Street, Hillcrest Hamilton 3216 From the Editor It’s been a busy few months this winter with lots of changes and challenges. GAP has grown quickly since its inception in 2006. What started out as a closely knit and relatively small group of people working together to find homes for greyhounds is now a large organisation with many volunteers all over the country helping in lots of different ways. Over 200 adoptions took place last year and with greyhounds being such fabulous pets we’re confident that we can keep increasing that number. To do that we’ll need help both from our supporters and Greyhound Racing so we can take GAP to the next level. Exciting times are ahead! After six years of adoptions some of our hounds are getting a little old so this edition features living with an older hound, as well as advice for the firework season and a quick tour of the Craik racing kennels. Enjoy the read – the next update will be straight to your inbox! See below for the changes to Fast Friends! n FastFriends is getting GAP Kennels To visit the kennels or for post-adoption advice: Sanson Kennel Base Sonja Bright and Irene Bessem Phone: (06) 329 3787 Email: [email protected] PO Box 80, Bulls 4863 3191 Main Road, Sanson, Palmerston North GAP is based on State Highway 1, between Bulls and Sanson Published by Greyhounds As Pets © October 2012 © Cover: Lucy (unraced) Worming Reminder Dogs need to be wormed every 3 months. Use the arrival of our quarterly newsletter as a reminder to get your Bayer ‘Drontal’ worming tablets from your vet. FastFriends is changing. It seems everyone now uses their laptop, android phone or iPad to keep up to date so thought we’d better review the way we keep in touch. We ran a quick poll on our GAP Team Facebook page asking whether people thought we should stick with the quarterly hard copy of FastFriends or move to a monthly email newsletter. Opinions were divided. Some people loved having a hardcopy they could keep and refer to, or leave at the vets, while others thought a monthly e-newsletter with more current news and links to interesting info on other websites would be better. Being flexible thinkers we decided to opt for the best of both worlds and create a monthly e-newsletter and change the hard copy version of FastFriends to six-monthly! The new six-monthly version of FastFriends will be bigger and better – retaining many of its exciting features and perhaps adding a few more. While our email newsletter will focus on keeping you up to date on what’s happening around the country, how you can get involved, and links to interesting sites, as well as some of the regular FastFriends features. This will mean a few changes to subscriptions. FastFriends will now be just $16 each year. Our new monthly e-newsletter will be sent to all our supporters and will be free! n If you have any questions about the new formats or your subscription, please contact [email protected]. and your hounds It’s that time of year again when, love them or hate them, fireworks make their comeback. Fear of fireworks is fairly common in dogs – while some hounds will have little to no reaction to fireworks, others can be terrified by the noise and bright flashes of light. Because of the loud unpredictable noises, it’s no wonder fireworks season can be a terrifying time for your dog. Simply put – fireworks are like an artificial thunder storm times ten! The good news is that there are several things you can do to help your hound cope with the fireworks season. The easiest solution is to try desensitisation – find some recordings of fireworks (the internet is good for these) and play them a few times a day in the weeks leading up to 5th November. Slowly increase the volume each day until it is quite loud, and your hound is no longer reacting to the noise. Positive reinforcement is key here i.e. give treats and praise, or play time with their favourite toy, each time you play the music and there is no reaction. Just remember not to force it – if your hound starts to show signs of fear, turn the music back down to a comfortable level and work your way back up again. Try tiring your hound out on nights you know there are going to be fireworks (i.e. large public displays, 5 November, and the couple of days before/after), and make sure you prepare for night time particularly if your hound is going to be home alone. Close the curtains and don’t allow them access to outdoors, even in a fenced yard. Turn up the radio or TV and most important of all, assume your pack leader role and don’t show any concern. Flinching, pacing, or darting concerned looks at your hound can help to fuel fear by confirming that he should be feeling afraid. Do allow your hound to retreat to a place of safety such as their bed, crate or a spare room (i.e. don’t drag them out to the lounge in an attempt to get them used to the noise) if they are more comfortable elsewhere. Another popular tool for anxious hounds is the Thundershirt. This has only recently become available via New Zealand stockists and is sold exclusively by Animates for around $80. The Thundershirt is a great tool for dogs for a number of issues including separation, crate, and travel anxiety, leash pulling, barking, general fearfulness and thunder. The design works by applying a constant gentle pressure to the dog’s torso, which has a calming effect on the nervous system. Using pressure to relieve anxiety has been a common practice for years. “The Thundershirt is like a giant, wearable hug that never ends,” says the Thundershirt website. The shirt is touted to help 80% of dogs, but isn’t always a fix-all, as evidenced by many reviews found online. GAP owner Sally has tried the Thundershirt on one of her hounds George (Chile Command) who has a hard time with fireworks and severe weather. “George exhibits many of the classic signs of stress,” says Sally. “He simply wouldn’t settle, would pace the room, shaking and crying.” Sally tried the Thundershirt and George’s behaviour has changed dramatically. Evidenced by the bad storms that swept through Wellington a month or so ago, Sally was woken around 5am with a stressed, pacing hound. “I put the shirt on him and he went from a clearly stressed dog, to upside down and snoozing again in the space of a few minutes.” While the shirt can www.GreyhoundsAsPets.org.nz 3 be put on after the stress has already occurred, it is said to work best if applied an hour or two before. Another GAP owner AJ, discovered the Thundershirt and has used it on her hound Wally (Boatswain Wally). AJ was recommended the shirt by a fellow GAP owner and has found it a great help with Wally’s anxiety during storms. Prior to trying the Thundershirt AJ had tried many suggested techniques such as turning up the radio and ignoring his anxious behaviour so as not to reinforce it, but to no avail. “Wally would be sleeping in my room, but as soon as the rain started he would pace back and forth, panting heavily and shaking. I tried getting him to settle back on his bed but he would just get up again and was very restless.” AJ decided to try the Thundershirt, and has found it a great help for Wally’s anxiety. Once he has his shirt on, he just plops back down on his bed, and goes back to grooming Now being stocked in Pet Stores and Vet Clinics throughout NZ. To find your nearest stockist and for more information visit our website www.fourflax.co.nz Contact Us P (03) 308 3345 E [email protected] 4 himself, or snoozing. “For Wally, it isn’t a magical fix-all for storms – we just had a massive hail storm a few weeks ago and while he was ok with the rain, as soon as the hailstorm hit, he was back to the pacing, panting and shaking. I don’t think it cures his fear completely, but it certainly does help.” There are plenty of other options to try if your hound is one of the 20% that this product doesn’t work for. Other solutions include: • homeopathic remedies (such as Rescue Remedy) • dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) laced air diffusers, collars or sprays • desensitisation (as mentioned above) • feeding a carbohydrate rich meal (rice, pasta) • distraction (a favourite toy, a stuffed kong). Remember for the most extreme cases, you would do best to consult your veterinarian who may be able to prescribe something for your hound to help. May these tips help with your 5 November celebrations! n The Natural Choice for a Healthy Dog Why choose Flax Seed Oil? 60% Omega 3 - naturally anti-inflammatory Promotes healthy skin, shiny coats and strong joints and nails Fights dry, itchy skin conditions and relieves inflammation Aids joint problems such as arthritis as well as other inflammatory conditions Reduces symptoms of allergies by increasing the amount of anti-inflammatory Omega 3 within the body Assists with the circulatory, immune and digestive systems Spring 2012 Greyhounds As Pets is a Registered Charity Grown and produced in Canterbury, New Zealand...100% Kiwi Living with an older dog We adopted Millie (formerly Bodacious Babe) on 21 May 2006, soon after Greyhounds As Pets was launched. She fitted into our household immediately, almost as though she had belonged here all her life. She was 8 ½, the oldest grey “on offer” and we chose her for two reasons – firstly because the wording beside her photo said “This girl has a lot to give” a n d s e c o n d l y, b e c a u s e our golden Labrador had recently passed away at 17 ½ years, and we thought we knew about older dogs and their ailments! Well, Millie taught us a few things! She certainly has been a loving dog, both in wishing to be cuddled and patted, and also in giving her love to us and to others. We enrolled her into the Canine Friends Pet Therapy scheme and she has making fortnightly visits to the PSS Woburn Rest Home at Lower Hutt and the local Alzheimer group, The Chelsea Club at Lyall Bay, since November 2007. She is a great favourite at both places and has such a large fan club as she is so placid and gentle. At the Chelsea Club her photo is taken with each new member so they have something to show their family. At both of these places she encourages people to stroke her by gently inserting her head under their hands and even people who profess not to like dogs find themselves stroking her. This is all self-taught! She also carries out a valuable “Doggie Public Relations” exercise with school children in our suburb and the excited calls of “There’s Millie!” are a treat to hear. In her first two years with us Millie had to have three operations to remove most of her teeth, leaving only her small front teeth. She was one of the many greyhounds that suffer poor dental health. She was obviously in pain at times, so their removal was worthwhile. The lack of teeth has not prevented her chewing bones and the hard liver treats given out at the vet practice; the vet thinks Millie must have developed a very muscular tongue to cope without teeth! About 18 months after she came to live with us, a toe broken while racing began to cause pain from arthritis and as it was bent, it then rubbed against the next toe, which would not heal. When I suggested having this broken toe amputated, our vet, then new to the greyhound world, thought it might cause balance problems and was reluctant to operate, so I posted a query on the GAP forum. Encouragingly three readers said “go ahead” and one even said that her dog was still racing after a similar operation. We were referred to an orthopaedic surgeon (didn’t know that dogs had specialists!) and the operation was an immediate success. Two and a half years ago my husband was taking her for a walk when he suffered a stroke. While he was undergoing rehabilitation I took Millie into the hospital ward to reassure her that he was all right – imagine the fright she had seeing her Above: Claire with Millie Left: Millie and Morris the cat in their award-winning Fave Foto from FastFriends Summer 2007. www.GreyhoundsAsPets.org.nz 5 owner lying on the ground. Since then she likes being able to see both of us together and over the past few months we have realised that she comes into our bedroom at night to check up on us – presumably also for “elderly dog” security. Shortly after her 13thbirthday we found that she was having difficulty breathing, particularly in the hot summer months, and after being sent again to a specialist, it was discovered that she needed another operation, this time a “laryngeal tie-back” (ref. Fast Friends Winter 2011 issue, p 11). This worked perfectly and Millie was able to resume her customary twice daily walks. Over the past year we have noticed that Millie’s hearing has begun to fail so she cannot hear people if they are behind her, and now that she is slower I find that when at the beach I can let her free and although she still runs it is rather “galumphy” and doesn’t last more than a few metres. Older dogs are like older people – they suffer from aches and pains. Millie sometimes suffers from stiffness in her legs so I give her a massage and it’s soon working again. Fortunately it doesn’t happen to both legs at the same time! When Millie’s arthritis is troublesome she cannot jump into the car but if I park it at a kerbside she can manage much better. She had a course of arthritis injections late last year and now has monthly cartrophen injections to make life easier for her. I did try giving her glucosamine tablets for a while, but she has always had a sensitive stomach and cannot tolerate them. For her twice daily meals she has raw gravy beef, rice and vegetables, wetted dog biscuits topped every few days with a raw egg, bones at lunchtime and “going to bed bikkies” at night – she has been well looked after – and pampered? But then she has been worth it. n Post script: Millie passed away on 16 August 2012 aged 14 years and 9 months. We feel privileged in sharing such a lot of her “giving” life and she has certainly enriched our lives and those of many others. She will be sorely missed. Keep on having your lovely racing dreams, Millie. Claire Dawe 6 From top: Millie heading out to do her Canine Friends Pet Therapy. Millie and a chum cooling their toes. Millie and Morris the cat. Spring 2012 Greyhounds As Pets is a Registered Charity Behind the scenes at Craik Kennels On Tuesday, 5 June, Anne Betham and her hound Tina came to our place and stayed the night before we headed to South Auckland to visit Craik Kennels, where Beyonce (my hound) was born and raced. Ben and Barbara Craik are well known breeders and racers of greyhounds big supporters of the GAP programme. We arrived just after midday and were met by Ben, who very kindly took us around the kennels, explaining how it all worked. We were shown the training strip where greyhounds learn to chase the lure, his ‘hot walker’, and his very modern trailer for transporting hounds to the races. All the latest pups live together and have the run of a two-acre paddock. We met so many hounds it was impossible to remember all the names, but Anne has already earmarked one for the future! There were 60 in total and the layout is organised very neatly with rows of kennels that looked like it could have been a horse stud for miniature horses. I was thrilled to meet Yonce’s mum and sister and see all her siblings, and managed to snap a few nice photos. I’m sure she remembered the surroundings and her mum. There are four retired hounds who live in the house as pets and who accompanied us wherever went. All the hounds were just so exuberant and wanted attention and, of course, so friendly. Ben breeds two litters a year and uses artificial insemination – the sire of the last lot of pups is in Ireland. I know Tom and Anne, like myself, were totally in awe of it all and enjoyed the opportunity to become more knowledgeable about greyhound racing. n Jan Curran, Waihi www.GreyhoundsAsPets.org.nz 7 Paws High! Agility is a challenging dog sport requiring speed, focus and accuracy. We all know that greyhounds excel at the first – but it takes a very special greyhound to combine all three. Lucy has already proven she is a special greyhound. The first greyhound in New Zealand to achieve a New Zealand Kennel Club obedience title (Rally Novice), she is also the first greyhound to attain Canine Good Citizen Silver. Now, she’s trying out her unique talents in the agility ring. Everyone knows agility means jumping, but as well as jumping, there are tunnels to go through, lines of weave poles to negotiate and high planks to traverse. If that isn’t enough – you have to do it FAST! Lucy’s certainly good at the fast part, and her accuracy and focus is improving all the time. She’s been to two agility shows so far, and is always a huge hit with the crowd. So far, she’s the only competitive greyhound in agility in New Zealand, but watch this space. We know of two others starting out in the sport! Greyhounds are a natural at the sport of agility with their speed and ability to turn fast, plus their long legs make them great jumpers. Could your greyhound do agility? Any dog can, but it’s easiest to start with younger dogs (under four years, but no dog under one year should be asked to jump). Smaller dogs are often lighter on their feet and find tunnelling easier. Dogs with a high play drive (love toys, and focus hard on you during games) and a high food drive (will do anything for food) make the most apt pupils. Very active greyhounds can cope with longer training sessions, but if your hound is a couch potato he may still love agility – an agility course is about as long as a race! If you’re interested in doing agility with your hound, contact your local dog training club. Many require you to do a simple obedience course first, which is a wonderful learning experience for you and your hound. Even well trained dogs (and owners) will benefit – see what you can learn about reward-based training! Lucy’s here to tell you it’s exciting stuff. n GAP People Brenda Goddard Accounts I have lived in Wainuiomata all my life, and am still there with my partner, Steve. I have always loved animals, and growing up we always had cats and dogs. I have owned two pedigree British Bulldogs, much adored pets of my family. I have two children – a daughter, Tara Anne, aged 25 who has her own baby daughter, Paige (born Boxing Day last year and is just an awesome little girl) – and a son, Joshua, aged 22. I love photography and have a collection of over 40,000 photos that I’ve taken. At special events, my family say “here comes Brenda with her camera again”! My working life has been in accounts, and I worked full-time up until a few years ago when I had a second back operation, so can now only work a few hours a week. I was made redundant from my previous job, which was only for a few hours a week, so I went to Hutt Volunteers and they gave me a choice of a jobs. Greyhounds as Pets appealed to me so I rang up and made an appointment with Jacqui Eyley. Jacqui was on her way to Europe a week later so I had a quick run-down of the role, and have been with GAP ever since – two years now. My role with GAP is in accounts payable and receivable, and reconciling accounts. I look after FastFriends and Steadfast Friends, which is quite exciting when I see new people donating regularly, and it’s great to see so many kind-hearted people donating, and giving more 8 Spring 2012 hope for all those greyhounds waiting to find a home. I also apply for grants and have had good success in achieving a lot of funding, and managed to get one marquee fully paid for, and another half paid for! There was even $2,000 received for only one ‘Adopt A Greyhound’ day. I have applied for a few others which are in the pipeline at the moment (fingers crossed). I’m very happy to be part of Greyhounds As Pets and it makes me glad to hear all the lovely stories about how much joy all these newlyadopted hounds bring to everyone.n Brenda Greyhounds As Pets is a Registered Charity Steadfast Friends Kaddy (Ultra Flyin’) Kaddy has been with Jonny and me for just over a month and is settling in nicely. She no longer finds it distressing when we have to leave her for a couple hours, but is still excited when we come home. In accordance with the breed’s reputation, she spends lots of time curled up on her bed in the lounge, her floor pillows in the hallway (where she sleeps at night), or generally anywhere near where I am working. She also loves to run in circles around our back garden, occasionally pouncing on her ball or rubber bone. She has a definite goofy side and loves to attract attention either through buffoonery, or, by getting into things she knows she shouldn’t. She will pick something up and then walk around with the item in her mouth until she knows I’ve seen her. So far the right tone of voice (think a Kindy teacher) has kept her from picking up the same forbidden item twice. She’s had a go at walking away with three different types of shoe, a paperback book, my keys, and a friend’s unattended leather wallet to name a few. Equally amusing (to her) was the bit of cat poo she found in the garden one morning, picked up, and deposited on our lounge carpet. We don’t have any other pets so you can imagine my surprise at finding a strange poo in such a conspicuous location. Jonny (not home at the time) found it hilarious. Kaddy loves to go for walks near Wellington Zoo, behind which are many nice trails where she can encounter interesting smells, perky birds, and the occasional friendly dog. Having these trails so close is helpful as she’s not WANTED G.A.P. SOUTHERN REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR Do you feel passionate about finding homes for Greyhounds? Are you a good communicator and great at organising? And do you have at least 10 hours each week that you could devote to a new role? If so we’d love to hear from you! We need someone who can expand GAP’s presence further in the South Island and really get the greyhounds flying out of the kennels and into new homes. For information on this exciting role contact Jacqui at jacqui@greyhoundsaspets. org.nz quoting ‘Southern RC’ in the subject line, n or call (04) 528 0460. thrilled by roads with heavy traffic, and will sometimes refuse to walk any further, or start jumping up and down like a demented kangaroo if she feels there is just too much going on! She is getting more comfortable with busy places, but there are so many quieter, less stressful options nearby, and she truly loves being outdoors. Kaddy is very sweet and affectionate. She loves being stroked and cuddled, and is very happy to say hello to visiting friends and neighbours. She is also obsessed with the three fluffy cats who live two doors down. She has a mind of her own but is mostly obedient, especially if it results in treats, pats, or the opportunity to curl up in a nice warm spot. Her favourite thing is an old duvet draped over her at bedtime, the look on her face pure bliss when she’s swaddled up in it. Her naughty streak is balanced by the joy she exhibits at spending time with us. It seems she understands that this is home and she is part of our family. We have high hopes that her increasing confidence continues, and all she has to concentrate on is being a happy dog, and not bringing any more strange poos into the house! Many thanks to GAP for all the work and love they put in to matching these beautiful dogs with their new homes.n Liz Gillett and Jonny Robertson Mandy (Whitey’s Way): Aged 5 My trainer found me a home but it didn’t work out with the cats so they asked GAP to help out and find me a suitable family. I’m super playful for my age and love cuddles. I can’t cope with being left alone for long and would prefer to be an only dog. n It only costs $9 a day to look after Mandy, can you donate 1 day a month for a dog in need? Cam (now Milly) featured as our last hound-in-need, and has now gone to her forever home with Neil & Susan from Kapiti, north of Wellington. Good luck Cam! New home needed for Mandy! www.GreyhoundsAsPets.org.nz 9 Ask Rosie Rosie is a veteran of many races during her three years as an athlete, she’s also the first GAP dog to be adopted, so at 11 she is enjoying her retirement, and can concentrate her efforts on her advice column. Dear Rosie, Is it true that the longer a dog’s nose is, the better the eyesight is? Signed Pinocchio This isn’t exactly true. Dogs with longer noses, like us sighthounds, have greater peripheral vision specifically designed to pick out moving objects from far away. This is referred to as the visual streak. Humans have a field of vision of roughly 180°, whereas greyhounds have 270°, and can see clearly up to a kilometre. A pug has the shortest field of vision at 220° but this doesn’t mean they have poorer eyesight. These short-nosed breeds have an ‘area centralis’ – a central patch with up to three times the density of nerve endings as the visual streak – giving them detailed sight much more like a human’s. This makes them much better able to see and react to human facial expressions (or watch TV!). All dogs are far superior at detecting motion than humans and can see four times better than them in low light, but colour vision is limited, with difficulty distinguishing colours between green, yellow, orange and red. Also, objects closer than 33 cm to their eyes appear blurry to dogs. when on your own is just a panic reaction. However, your owner does need to help you with this problem as it will only get worse. Some people have tried crating and even reducing the amount of protein in the diet. Others have adopted a second hound as a companion to help solve the problem. GAP have information to help with training dogs out of their separation anxiety, and the kennels are always on hand to offer invaluable advice. If all else fails, consulting a dog behaviourist may be necessary and the vet can recommend types of medication like Rescue Remedy, or anti-depressants, which may help you. Bear in mind, separation anxiety is never really cured but controlled and managed so that us hounds learn to cope with it better. Dear Rosie, I’ve noticed that we have special markings on the insides of our ears. What do they mean and what are they for? Signed Curious If you have a question that you’d like to ask Rosie, send it to: Ask Rosie PO Box 48-217 Silverstream Upper Hutt or Email: [email protected] generated code for both the left and right ears. There has now been a new coding system introduced whereby all NZ brands will start with a ‘Z’ and will only be in the left ear. ‘ZA...’ will be for the first year GRNZ start using these brands, then the following year will start with ‘ZB…’, and so on. From 1 August 2012 all greyhound pups must be microchipped as well as an ear brand in the left ear. Microchipping is an alternative form of identification. The microchip is about the size of a large grain of rice, and is inserted using a syringe below the skin at the back of the neck between the shoulder blades. The chip ID is recorded with the hound’s identification details and this information is kept for the entire life of the dog. n Oh dear, it sounds like a case of separation anxiety going on there. Your owner should try a few things to re-assure you that it’s ok to be on your own for a while and that she will be back. The worst thing is that she gets upset with you, which makes you even more anxious. If anything, she should not react at all when she finds chewed up cushions because it isn’t your fault really. You’re just acting on instinct and this behaviour you show These earmarks are tattoos, given to all greyhound (racing) pups. Each pair of earmarks is a unique alphanumeric code used to identify each and every racing greyhound. These codes are generated by a greyhound racing governing body; for and help us build a brighter future New Zealand born pups for the hounds this is GRNZ and they hold a database which DON’T FORGET you can search. Visit YOUR FAITHFUL FRIEND www.thedogs.co.nz GRNZ states that all greyhounds must Leaving a bequest is one way you can really be identified by two make a difference and help not just one hound methods before racing. but hundreds find a home after racing. GAP Currently this is done needs funds to build its own kennel base so by the ear brand and that greyhounds will always have somewhere to colouring from the go to when they are no longer able to race. dog’s papers. The If you would like to help please ask us for code used for ear more information on leaving a bequest. branding has previously consisted of a randomly 10 Spring 2012 Dear Rosie, I love my owner to bits but I absolutely hate it when she goes out without me! I cry when she goes and end up chewing the sofa cushions to bits. She gets mad at me for destroying stuff but it just makes me worse! What do we do? Signed Needy Leave a Lasting Legacy Greyhounds As Pets is a Registered Charity Vet’s Corner – Foot Injuries in Greyhounds Foot injuries are one of the most common causes of lameness in dogs. These conditions are mostly traumatic and often acute, however some develop slowly. In many instances the owners may actually see what happens; dogs may yelp at the time of the injury but in other cases, because the dog is excited and active, they may not show the effects until later once they have cooled off. The same applies to a wide range of injuries, but foot injuries often will be quite obvious the next day. Foot lameness can be caused by a range of conditions. I will discuss several of these: Nail Injuries Dogs with injured or damaged nails may exhibit any of the following symptoms: • Limping is very common • Bleeding or discharge from site of injury (nail bed) • A damaged or crooked nail may be noted • Affected foot may be sensitive and dogs often resent the foot being handled • Dogs often lick the toe • Toe may be swollen. Causes Any dog can injure a nail; however there can be a number of predisposing factors: • Overgrown nails are more likely to snag or rip • Dogs with metabolic or glandular conditions may lead to brittle nails e.g. thyroid • Some animals have brittle nails throughout their lives • Chronic nail bed infections with bacteria or fungus can also be a problem. Keeping nails trimmed is the main treatment. Toenails will wear when a dog is constantly on hard surfaces (concrete or tarseal) but dogs on soft ground and grass will grow long nails quite quickly and these will catch and tear. Racing greyhounds will have their nails checked frequently and with exercise and racing will wear naturally. Dew claws (inside toe) often are a problem because the nail doesn’t wear down and is often overgrown and sharp. This needs regular trimming to prevent snagging. Diagnosis Often diagnosis can be quite simple based on a close inspection of the foot, but due to pain may need sedation or local anaesthetic to deal with it as injured nails are painful and can often become infected. Your vet will trim the nail back to its growing point, then bandage for several days to keep it protected and clean. Infection can be controlled with antibiotics and pain relief will most likely be provided. Foot Pad Injuries Cuts and abrasions are also quite common due to sharp object injuries. Mostly these need to be treated topically and dressed to prevent infection. A cut in the pad can be sutured providing it is fresh and clean. Wounds need to be flushed out thoroughly with saline and all debris removed before any suturing. A protective bandage and boot is useful to keep the wound clean and dry. Regular bandage changes may be necessary before the wound can be left un-covered. Often your vet will suggest or provide a plastic bag to protect the bandage from wet ground. Don’t leave this bag on for any length of time or the foot will sweat and the wound will become moist and not heal. Corns These are a significant problem with greyhounds and very rarely seen in other dog breeds. A corn is very painful and quite difficult to treat. The corn is a hard circular keratin lump seen most commonly on the pads of the main central weight-bearing toes. You can liken a corn to having a small stone inside your shoe that you can’t remove and need to keep walking on (it’s very painful). Discussion around causes centre on viral or mechanical aetiology. Because it seems to occur in only one dog in multi-dog households, it would suggest that the cause may not be infectious. Corns occur in the central weightbearing toes in the front centre of the pad directly under the end of P2 (the second toe bone). It is suggested that lack of padding (fat) between the bone and the skin results in a callus (thickening of skin) forming and this becomes a hardened lump of keratin and acts as the stone in the shoe. These dogs are very much more comfortable on soft ground but become acutely lame on a hard surface. Suggestions Don’t walk your dog on hard ground or concrete, use a padded boot to protect the foot from hard surfaces when walking. Treatment of Corns There have been numerous methods applied to treating corns – some centring on surgical curetting (cutting out), others using corn pads similar to humans to soften the corn and allow scraping out on a regular basis. There has been a trial of injecting silicone in the area between pad, skin and bone. The jury is out on this. I think that in most cases of corns, treatment may improve but not cure. n Dave Angove www.GreyhoundsAsPets.org.nz 11 Tips ’n’ Tricks How to carry a greyhound There are times when you need to pick up your greyhound and carry them. How easy this is depends not only on obvious factors, such as the size of your hound and the strength of the person doing the carrying, but also on carrying technique! There are three main options: • The scoop – this is probably the most obvious one. You simply wrap your arms around your greyhound and lift (left pic). • The forklift hold – this method is frequently seen trackside. You hold your forearms out at right angles to your body, slot them under your hound’s chest and tummy, and lift (middle pic). • The half-scoop – this one is a cross between the first two options. One arm goes under your hound’s chest and the other goes round their bottom (right pic). The best option will often depend on what you and your hound are more comfortable with. The reason you’re carrying your hound will also be a factor. Visiting the vet is probably the most common reason for carrying your greyhound, and in this case his injury or illness should be taken into account. For example, if your dog has a sore shoulder then the forklift hold will be less painful, if he has a sore tummy then use the scoop. Of course, your greyhound will normally be able to walk – if he’s perfectly healthy and you’re lifting him into the car or carrying him up stairways, then you need to think about training! Thanks to Alan Pringle and a patient (if somewhat apprehensive!) Puni. n Adjusting a Martingale collar It’s important to check your hound’s collar regularly – a collar which is too loose is easy to slip and a collar which is too tight is uncomfortable. Your greyhound’s collar is like clothing and, like us, sometimes it fits better than others. We’ve spotted a few hounds recently with incorrectly fitted collars so here’s a quick guide to making sure your hound is safe and comfortable. Your greyhound should be wearing a Martingale collar as these automatically tighten when your dog pulls on his lead, and loosen when the lead is relaxed or absent. A Martingale collar consists of a main piece of material, a slide adjuster, and a shorter loop which connects each end of the collar with the D-ring, which the lead then connects onto. To check your dog’s collar is fitting correctly, slide the collar up to the narrowest point of his neck (behind his ears) and check that, with the D-ring pulled to ensure a snug fit, the ends of the main collar section do not easily touch (see arrows A & B on pic at right). Ideally there should be around one to two centimetres of the shorter loop material between the ends of the main collar section. 12 Spring 2012 Adjust the collar using the slider as necessary. If you’d like further advice then please contact us. n A B D-Ring Greyhounds As Pets is a Registered Charity Senior Spot – Lucy Hi I’m Lucy, Mum says I qualify for senior spot now at 12 years of age. So I thought I would tell you a bit about myself! I used to live with Bill Hodgson and his family – I loved playing with the children, but one day he said I had a new home. I was adopted by my owners Jacqui, Jon, Josca and Jasmine Eyley when I was just three years old. They brought me home to a lovely 1½ acre block full of sheep and also a miniature pony named Angus. What fun! I started going to obedience classes, learned to heel, sit and lie down, and when I did my test I got ‘most improved’ which I was very proud of. I love my food, sometimes mum says I must be a Labrador in disguise, but all the Labradors I’ve met are chunky and like wallowing in muddy puddles so I’m not sure what she’s talking about! It might be because I lie behind their chairs at dinnertime so no one can get up without my knowing. As soon as a chair moves I go straight to my pre-wash station to lick the dishes before they go into the dishwasher (ew, Jacqui! gross :o(). And there was the time at an A&P show when I managed to visit the doughnut stall without anyone noticing – the nice man brought me back to our marquee and kept popping back with bags of doughnuts for me. Mum called me doughnut dog after that. I have quite a few nick-names, including “Aunty Lucy” – Dad says he calls me this because if I was human I would be the sort of lady that would give children shiny new six-pences (that’s five cents for you Kiwis). Aunty Shirley in New Plymouth calls me “juicy-Lucy” (I’m not sure why) and Mum calls me “bomb-proof Luce” usually before we go visiting a school – I love children – they just taste so good! I will do anything for treats – I don’t know why they say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks when only last summer I learned how to shake hands. I also have a nice trot. Everyone says that if there were dressage competitions for greyhounds I would be a winner! Of course, I never run because if I do Sasha chases after me and bounces me which is very irritating but I suppose she’ll grow out of it one day, when she’s as old as me! n Bye for now, Lucy We Need Your Help Polar (Our Polar) Could you be an Area Co-ordinator? Our greyhounds need you to help find them a home! If you live in one of the following areas and regularly have a few hours to spare then please contact us! We urgently need people to help in the following areas: • Northland • Bay of Plenty • Taupo/Wanganui • Manawatu • Christchurch Our Area Co-ordinators help by organising: • monthly walks • local promotions eg, markets, street fairs and Animates fun days • local fundraisers eg, sausage sizzles and supermarket collections To say ‘Yes!’ and/or find out more about joining the team contact Jacqui on (04) 528 0460 or [email protected] Rest in Peace 29 Aug 2001 – 8 Sept 2012 Thanks to all of you who shared and contributed to ‘Our Polar’ whether in real life, or virtual life for our overseas friends. She was lovely, loving and is sorely missed. Love Catherine, Conrad, Charley, Carol www.GreyhoundsAsPets.org.nz 13 Doggy Doings – News from around the country . . . Auckland The wintery months seem to have flown by, with a busy schedule of events and get together’s making the time fly. We’re finally recovering from our biggest annual event – the Auckland Pet Expo held in August. Over the course of the weekend event, our team of volunteers did the hard yards, talking and promoting our beautiful hounds to the scores of visitors. We have received over 15 adoption applications since the event, so we definitely did something right! Coupled with a fundraiser at least once a month in front of our friendly animates stores, our group has been super busy, with their friendly hounds doing their best sales pitches ! On a social level we’ve had huge turnouts to our monthly GAP walks, always centred around a cafe (it is Auckland after all!) and with ever changing locations, we’ve been amazed at the numbers of owners coming along to catch up. A bonus for our owners is the addition of our GAP ‘pop-up shop’ which allows owners to try before you buy all the GAP shop products under the marquee. We’re investing in red carpet right now so we can hold fashion parades for the hounds to show off their new goodies (only joking Auckland, don’t get any ideas!) So a big thank you to our huge group of owners, and all the volunteers who provide so much of their time to help us. We’re planning some exciting events leading up to Christmas, and through summer, and a quick note to any GAP owners in Auckland who haven’t come along to an event – we’d love to see you there, the more faces the better! Karen and Steve Keene WAIKATO/TAUPO/BOP The Bay of Plenty group has persevered through thick and thin and even major flooding whilst the Waikato group seems to be in luck every month – with pale blue skies and some wintery warmth on the nominated Sunday. Many thanks, particularly to Anne and the Dowager Tina, and Jan with the ever beautiful Yonce, for taking charge of the BOP walks at some wonderful locations. Over the last few months our BOP owners and hounds have ambled around the man-made lakes at Tauriko, joined in “Bark in the Park” in Bayfair (many thanks to Luci and to John for this suggestion) and trotted along Taupiro Beach whilst sampling local cafés up and down the coast. Did you know our very own Luci Carter was named BOP Volunteer of the Year for her work with the Guide Dogs? Congratulations from all of us Luci. Left: North Shore Pet Expo with our GAP bunny leading around Revenge the greyhound for the day. Below: Catalina cafe at Hobsonville Point with POP-up GAP shop. 14 Spring 2012 Above: Back Row left to right – Ms Girdle Buster, Cyn Furneaux, The Strongman and Miss Tittle Tattle Front Row left to right Kitty von Litter (Victoria Munro) and (Luscious) Lily. In the Waikato we have been fortunate to enjoy the hospitality of two of our rural owners: Kirstie in Te Awamutu and Noel and Linda in Glen Murray, who both opened their homes and paddocks for the muzzled hordes and a morning tea. Thank you – they were both great Sunday walks. Our last walk at Horotiu attracted 16 hounds, two ‘extras’, a great crowd and thankfully, again – beautiful weather. We have continued our run of speaking engagements – Probus, Grey Power, the Hamilton Bowling Club and back to Hilda Ross Nursing Home. Many thanks particularly to Gary with Riley and Rosemary with Chelsea for helping out there. We have also been movie stars in Caitlin Kidd’s video production (can’t wait to see the results) and a star attraction at the week-long New Zealand Vet Conference in Hamilton with subsequent appearances in several vet newsletters. The conference offered great exposure amongst allied professions and industries and Greyhounds As Pets is a Registered Charity also reminded the vet community of the virtues of hounds as pets. Most delegates made multiple visits for a friendly pat and a wet nose… and as many said…”it was great to have a live exhibit!” Jan and Tom Curran, along with Anne Betham, visited Craik’s racing kennels in Auckland with an inside look at the behind-the-scenes workings of this very professional set-up (see page 5). I received a fascinating account from Jan and I believe Anne has been following the form of a couple of the racing hounds she met up there! The Craik’s are tremendous supporters of GAP, having put 65 of their hounds through our Programme. Jan Curran has also been recognised for her work with the SPCA – receiving one of the Queen’s Jubilee Awards for Service in NZ and will receive this honour from the Royal Society at a ceremony in October. Congratulations Jan – a tremendous effort. On a far more frivolous note, Lily and I were part of a local Burlesque performance with the theme of Circus Freaks. Lily, I am happy to report, took it all in her stride and wasn’t even put off by the Bearded Lady or the corsetted fire-eaters! Great interest, more adoring fans and a performance fee – marvellous. Quite a few adoption applications in the pipeline as well as applications for fostering which is tremendous – we will look forward to seeing you out and about with your hounds shortly. Many thanks to all our BOP, Waikato and Taupo owners for being part of the growing GAP community – everyone makes a difference. Enjoy the spring and we look forward to catching up soon… Victoria and Lily Taranaki Over the last couple of months we have had four hounds find homes in Taranaki, with another couple waiting for the right hound. We are continuing our promotions and getting some very good momentum. We realise many people don’t decide to adopt a greyhound overnight and we are beginning to reap the benefits of the work done over the last couple of years by many people locally. Long may it continue and many thanks to our local GAP supporters. The other huge news is the Greyt Taranaki GAP Fundraising Quiz Night on Saturday 29 September, brought to you by GAP Taranaki and Alsco who are our major sponsors for the night. We have had an incredible number of prizes donated from local businesses and it is shaping up to be a fantastic night. We are planning to make this an annual fixture so do think about a making a weekend of it in Taranaki next year. We would absolutely love to have teams from outside the province. Also, keep an eye out for details of the ‘Ladies Only’ fundraising event on the Monday 26 November. Denis, Evie, Shirley, Merc, Nellie and (foster boy) Mac Wairarapa In June the Wairarapa crew dragged ourselves out of hibernation for a winter run at Castlepoint on the east coast of Wairarapa. We had hounds and owners from Wellington and Kapiti make the journey over the Rimutaka hill, which was a brilliant effort. In total we had 21 hounds having a blast, with only a couple of ‘near drownings’ in the estuary. If you’ve seen a hound run too fast into water and misjudge the depth, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Rebecca Conole with the hounds on a blustery www.GreyhoundsAsPets.org.nz day at the Castlepoint beach run, Wairarapa. Patch, in her red fleece, managed to keep up with the young ones. Patch (aka Rosie Senior) somewhat of a senior citizen at 12, made my heart melt, seeing her with her new family and trotting around with what can only be described as a smile on her face. After the hounds had exhausted themselves, there was a pub lunch for the owners. Robyn organised a raffle and even managed to sell a polar fleece to a non-hound dog owner lunching at the pub. It was great to be able to raise a few dollars for GAP in the process of having a catch up! Julia (Charlie’s new Mum) organised a visit to the rehabilitation ward at Masterton Hospital. Everyone was very impressed with how quiet and well behaved the hounds were! We have six greyhounds enrolled at the local Dog Obedience Club doing a mix of Canine Good Citizen and Rally-O which is good fun and socialising for all. Planning has started for the coming season of A&P shows, along with various other events, and we’re hoping that more and more hounds find their forever homes in the Wairarapa and join our great group of GAP owners. Rebecca, Priceless & Blondie WELLINGTON It’s been quiet over winter but adoptions are now starting to pick up. We’ve had fantastic new owners come on board, and their enthusiasm for GAP and delight with their new companion is heart warming. The new feature ‘Retired Stars’ on the NZ Greyhound racing site www. thedogs.co.nz has featured two Wellington hounds – Cortez (Hailey’s Agent) and Wally (Boatswain Wally). It’s wonderful to read these happy ‘forever home’ stories. Wally’s story includes attending dog obedience classes where he excelled. I’m getting lots of feedback that the instructors are really accommodating and helpful with our adult dogs, which I also found when taking George and Mynx to classes. I found the opportunity to socialise Mynx with other breeds was invaluable and made visits to dog parks so much more enjoyable and relaxing for us both. 15 Doggy Doings We now have an off-lead weekend walking group in Newlands, and an on-lead weekend walking group in Karori. These groups are very much driven by owners wanting to meet up regularly to exercise and socialise their dogs while sharing tips and the joys of owning greyhounds. I’d encourage owners everywhere not to wait for GAP-organised walks but to take the initiative and ask your local co-ordinator to share your details with others in your area and invite them to form a group. Luckily we live half-way between Newlands and Karori, so George and Mynx enjoy both walks, and we have a ‘greyt’ time! Invitations for events over late spring and summer are starting to come in, so we’ll have plenty of reasons to get the local hounds together over the coming months. Sally, George and Mynx CENTRAL We’re all looking forward to the event season and have been giving it a lot of thought. GAP has some big annual events, which we love, but there are so many others that GAP could have a presence at without the huge commitment of marquee, set up, time etc. And the easiest of these has to be the local school gala. Driving from Otaki to Levin each day I pass three country schools in 22km, and they all have a gala towards the end of the school year. These have to be the easiest events ever for GAP to attend. All you need is your greyhound, a blue GAP coat and a few GAP cards (available from your co-ordinator) in your pocket. If you know someone who is on a Gala organising committee, then what better present could you get for Christmas than a greyhound or two! Weekend markets are another easy way to promote GAP. I was in New Plymouth recently and visited the local market which Shirley Birt coordinates. Mac and I were a great hit – me, because I bought something from every stall, and Mac for just being a lovable greyhound. So there are loads of places and easy ways that you can promote GAP. Please give it a go; greyhounds will never stop needing homes. Robyn, Maxi, Issie & Billy Hutt Valley The big highlight this month was raising nearly $900 at a sausage sizzle at Mitre Ten Mega Petone. This was a massive effort from everyone involved as that’s a lot of sausages and onions! Thanks to all who helped out on this record breaking day! We also had a very busy time promoting greyhounds at the Short Straw cafe for their Baby Farm Animal weekend. Another highlight was our first ‘on lead’ walk by the river where we had 13 greys, one labrador and a weimaraner turn up for a very pleasant and social stroll which will be a good way to catch up in between our end of month runs! Tania Nelson Nelson group had their GAP walk in August with a great turn out – about 10 hounds and owners, with a couple of young ladies joining us who were interested to find out more about adopting a houynd. Our walk took us along a flat pathway with a lot of public thoroughfare (this was an on-lead walk) and all hounds behaved wonderfully. We had a few people stop us to ask questions, and of course comment on how gorgeous our hounds were! We’re planning a walk this October and looking forward to attending the Nelson A&P show in November. Robyn & Bonnie Sally Ann Marshall with Ziggy on their Karori group walk. 16 Spring 2012 Above: Harry takes a snooze at the Alexandra Blossom Festival. Christchurch We had a great turnout for our Sunday September walk, with lots of beautiful greyhounds and of course their great owners. The monthly GAP walks have become a regular event – 2.00pm at the Groynes Dog Park, second Sunday of each month. It’s a great opportunity to meet up with local owners and of course let the hounds have a great run around, so spread the word! I look forward to seeing you there. Alister & Barbie Dunedin I have just taken over the role of area coordinator for Dunedin and what a great bunch of people we have down here in the scenic south! Not long ago I had my first hound run, a great day with perfect weather and a great bunch of hounds and owners. We let them loose at one of our owner’s property and they had a ball, chased a few rabbits and generally entertained themselves and us for a few hours! We are looking to get consistent turnouts for the monthly runs and get to know the other owners a little more. The next one will be the first Sunday of October, when we will be heading out for a walk around Flagstaff. Let’s hope the impending daylight saving change doesn’t catch too many off guard, excited for longer hours and some solid ground beneath their feet. We have a number of great events planned, one being the Blossom Festival in sunny Alexandra, more monthly walks and finally a bit of collecting around Dunedin to get GAP out there, which will make for a very eventful end to the year! n Lauren & Tilly Greyhounds As Pets is a Registered Charity No by-products. No fillers. No added glutens. No bad anything. Nutrience dry dog & cat food At Nutrience, we believe in honest nutrition for every stage of your pet's life. The use of select ingredients leads to superior results including better digestibility, a fortified immune system and the building blocks necessary for a lean & healthy body. We use only the finest ingredients in addition to prebiotics, probiotics, Omega-3 & 6 fatty acids, chelated vitamins and essential minerals. ENHANCED PALATABILITY A round shaped kibble and select ingredients combine to make a great tasting food LEAN MUSCLE MASS GOOD SOURCE OF ENERGY REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF HAIRBALLS High quality chicken, lamb, duck and fish* protein sources help to maintain lean muscle and a healthy body Oat groats & brown rice are good sources of energy that aid the metabolic functions Pineapple extract, along with several high quality fibres, combine to help reduce the incidence of hairballs* HEALTHY GUMS & TEETH HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM Crunchy texture helps scrape away tartar. Green tea extract, parsley & mint help to freshen breath Vitamins C & E help support a healthy immune system INTESTINAL HEALTH LUSTROUS SKIN FORMULATED HELPS MAINTAIN & COAT FOR INDOOR CATS JOINT HEALTH Prebiotics & probiotics A balanced ratio of help support a Omega-3 and Omega-6 healthy intestinal fatty acids help tract support a lustrous skin & coat Lower levels of fat and protein help to maintain a healthy weight Glucosamine and Chondroitin help support healthy joints* Proud sponsors of *Selected formulas only. See website for details. facebook.com/NutrienceNZ www.nutrience.co.nz www.GreyhoundsAsPets.org.nz Supplied in New Zealand by 17 18 Spring 2012 Greyhounds As Pets is a Registered Charity Answers: Beach access sign, second snail, centre left seagull, greyhound collar, elbow patch, tiny stone, dog tag on hound, dog tag on terrier, tongue on terrier, second question mark, leaf on left hand side, second perched bird, bangle, sunglasses, flower on bag, foreleg on small dog, foreleg on other small dog, post right hand side, shoelace, middle sailboat, tail on hound, back pocket on guy, island in centre, cloud by arm, label on bottle. There are 25 differences between the first picture of Rusty and his new mates, and the second picture? See how many YOU can find! It looks like Rusty and his human are on their way to the beach to have a great run about. On the way he met a couple of his new doggy friends. Puzzle Page Don’t forget all you Steadfast Friends get a GAP Shop www.greyhoundsaspets.org.nz 10% DISCOUNT! s Pets nds A ou Greyh GAP 2013 Calendar It’s time to put in your orders for next year’s calendar, and we’ve got dar Calen 2013 some fantastic photos that proud owners have sent in of their treasured hounds. The BEST EVER Christmas present to send to all your friends and family! Only $20 (incl p&p). n pets .org.nz Printed nds as Greyhou by www. un greyho dsaspe ts.org.n z GAP Christmas Cards These adorable Christmas cards are available again this year for only $18 for a pack of 10 (incl p&p) so you can send your loved ones something a little different! Be in quick, we only have limited supplies. n GAP Christmas Collars We are pleased to offer a limited edition collar especially for Christmas. These are made to order only. The snowman collar is available with red or black webbing. Only $35 (p&p $2 unless ordered with other items). n Email your orders to: [email protected] Win over $80 Flea Larvae Roundworm Hookworm Whipworm Otodectes Sarcoptes Demodex* Lice Protect your pets - inside and out Advocate®, the most complete all-in-one parasite protection for cats and dogs, protecting against common internal and external parasites. Available from your vet without consultation. Comprehensive parasite protection aids in the control. Advocate® is a registered trademark of Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany. Advocate® for Dogs is registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A9119. * worth of prizes in our Caption Competition Kindly sponsored by Petware Last edition’s caption winner is Caroline Tyrrell from Palmerston North, with the caption: “Give us a Y!” Thank you for your entry, you will receive a $40 Farmers voucher and a 7.5kg bag of Nutrience, generously donated by Petware. We’d like your caption for this entry on the right of Rusty, owned by Meredith Thorpe, who has won a 7.5kg bag of Nutrience and a $40 Farmers voucher for entering this pic into the competition. n www.GreyhoundsAsPets.org.nz 19 www.fourflax.co.nz Fave Foto Contact Us (03)Foto 308 3345 Fourflax is sponsoring our P Fave Competition with E [email protected] a prize of two 1-litre bottles of Flax Seed Oil valued at $45! This valuable supplement contains 60% omega-3 for inner health and super glossy coats. For more information see their advertisement on page 4. Grown and produced Our Fave Foto this time is of Blue and Lili the chihuahua, adopted by Gitti Asadyari-Lupo of east Auckland – who says greyhounds don’t get along with small fluffies?! Two 1-litre bottles of Flax Seed Oil valued at $45 will be sent to Gitti courtesy of FourFlax. Congratulations! Don’t forget to send in your pics for our next issue. n Thank you To the following companies and people for their ongoing support Petware for supplying GAP kennels and foster carers with Nutrience Active dog food. Bayer for providing Advocate to all dogs going through the programme. Lincoln Sharp of Campbell Tyson Cooper White for providing accounting services. Les Foy and Henry McClintock of WHK for providing audit services. P&C Insurance for providing Public Liability insurance. Paul Wieland and Cei Kelly our kennel sponsors. Wanganui Veterinary Services for Malcolm Jansen’s services as Trustee. Brenda Goddard for looking after our accounts and helping with administration. Sheila Duke and family for doing an amazing job running the GAP shop. Regan Sharp for moderating the GAP Chat group. Lauren Pringle for collecting the myriad of scribblings and photos and putting them into some sort of order, and Christine Miller (& magic wand) for typesetting FastFriends. Marketing Impact and Rachel Ah Kit for discounted mailing services for FastFriends. Nicola Randle for advertising space on her fence. Last but not least, thank you to all our Area Co-ordinators, Home Checkers, Foster Carers and Steadfast Friends – your help is invaluable! n 20 Mixed Sources, this paper is from well-managed forests and other controlled sources Spring 2012 In this edition we’d also like to thank: Falyn Edlin for Loud Sounds and Your Hound. Claire Dawe for Living with an Older Hound. Rachel Rae for Paws High! Jan Curran for Craik’s kennels visit article. Dave Angove for Vet’s Corner. Liz Gillet and Jonny Robertson for Steadfast Friends article. Lucy for her bit in Senior Spot. Meredith Thorpe for her beautifully hand-drawn illustration for Kid’s Spot. n ADVERTISING Advertising is now available, so for more information or to submit an Ad, email Lauren at fastfriends@ greyhoundsaspets.org.nz with “advertising request” in the subject line. File requirements and rates are as follows: Size Price Width (mm) Depth (mm) Full page $250 216 303 Half page $149 210 148 Quarter page $95 105 148 Eighth page $49 105 74 Small $29 52 74 All prices are for full colour, and exclude GST. Files must be CMYK, 300dpi JPEG or PDF (all fonts outlined or embedded). Prices valid from 1 September 2009. Greyhounds As Pets is a Registered Charity ISSN 1177-7869