The Home Stretch, September 2007

Louis Icart
painting by Diane Engel
wishing you a
Peaceful Autumn
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BOSTON, MASS
PERMIT NO. 50218
The Home St re tch
G R E Y H O U N D
F R I E N D S
N E W S L E T T E R ,
S E P T em b er
2 0 0 7
From the Director
Inside
From the Director • 1
Trip down Memory Lane • 2 - 5
Charity Shop • 5
Memories • 6 - 7
the Legacy of Paul Jepsen • 7
the Mail Bag • 8
Recollection by Dr. Jay Engel • 9
Greyhounds looking for a home • 10
Board of Directors, Wish List • 10
Membership • 11
Catalog On-Line
Greyhound Friends’ website www.greyhound.org
has a link to our catalog where you can
shop for dogs and people, or call
508-435-5969 to order.
Vol. 16, No. 1
The Home Stretch is a publication
of Greyhound Friends, Inc.
Address
Phone
Fax
Email
Web site
Editor Design
167 Saddle Hill Road
Hopkinton MA 01748
508.435.5969
508.435.0547
[email protected]
www.greyhound.org
Bill Meirs
[email protected]
Karen Meirs
Best Wishes...
The focus of this newsletter is 'where are they now' - the many dogs who have had
their lives - worlds - changed by being adopted into loving homes. On Mothers Day,
1983, almost twenty five years ago my son Nolan and I went to Wonderland and
brought Boston Boy in our Ford Pinto to our home in Harvard Square. What a long
time ago. Thinking about the dogs who have come to Greyhound Friends since then,
I was reminded of all the journeys I have made to pick up dogs and bring them to
the beginning of their new lives. This past summer I went to work at the Dublin
Horse Show with the Dublin SPCA. The purpose of my trip was to talk with show
visitors about greyhound welfare and adoption. Progress in Ireland has been
encouraging. I have been going to this show for eight years, and have secured private,
non-Greyhound Friends funding to do so.
Just before I left Boston for Ireland I had received an email from a woman in
Northern England. She described answering a free to good home ad at the behest of
her 15 year old daughter who insistently wanted a dog. The adopter and her daughter
said 'the bloke' - he didn't introduce himself - who gave them the dog said he had
been hurt and could no longer race. The shed the dog was kept in with other
greyhounds was 'disgusting'. The adopter was on benefits, her husband had been
deported, and she had five children. The smallest were boisterous, and tormented
the greyhound. The situation rapidly deteriorated. I found the dog's identity on
www.greyhound-data.com. His name is Bill and he last officially raced a year ago. I am
glad that Bill's owner put the ad in the paper, but he did not question this woman
at all about her ability to care for Bill. He didn't even ask her name. The adopter is
a good hearted, well meaning person who tried the best she could, but Bill was
anxious and afraid of the young children. He growled at them several times and the
adopter started putting him out in her back garden so he would not get in a situation
where he bit the young ones. She asked relatives if they could take him, all in all a
familiar story - a dog in vulnerable circumstances.
Between the end of the horse show and my next commitment, I had a few days. I
flew to England and met the adopter, her family, and Bill. He had the shut down,
withdrawn demeanor I have seen greyhounds at auctions demonstrate. Bill is a big,
black Irish male with a remarkable overbite, but nice. 'The bloke' hadn't called the
Retired Greyhound Trust to find Bill a home. Even though I know and trust several
people who work for the RGT, I felt skeptical of involving such a profoundly proracing group. Over the years it has become clear to me that there are some people
in both pro- and anti-racing camps who are trustworthy and others who are not,
regardless of their racing opinions. The RGT people I know were away, so it
seemed to me that to keep Bill's best interest foremost, and for the remaining dogs
in the shed, I should find an independent solution. Plus the RGT has a waiting list.
Luckily, an American couple who adopted greyhounds from Greyhound Friends is
in England because of their work. They brought their two greys to the U.K. with
them. Ken and Jane invited Bill and I to join them in Surrey. How to get Bill many
miles south was the next part of the puzzle. I was surprised to learn that Bill was
welcome to ride the train to London for free as long as he didn't take up a seat. We
got on at the back of the last car so that people wouldn't have to walk over him,
and except for when the door opened at stops, he lay down the whole way to King's
Cross. From there we went on to the train that took us to Surrey. Bill had a great
weekend walking in the woods and playing in the back garden; he noticeably relaxed.
Bill was taken into care by a private greyhound placement organization. I was
thoroughly impressed by their facility deep in the English countryside. The woods
looked like Robin Hood could show up any minute. I am sure he will find a good
home, and am grateful to all the people who helped Bill reach a safe place.
The Trip Down Memory Lane - Where Are They Now ?
For over two decades, thousands of hounds have
crossed the Greyhound Friends gate in their race from
tracks to home. Their stay at the kennel may be as little
as a few days or as long as a couple of years. For the
long-tenured residents, the transitory period turns out
longer than usual due to varying special needs. As
special as these hounds are, much can be said of the
people who eventually made commitments to them. It
takes a unique breed of owners who are willing to take
on the challenge of a headstrong dog, the potential havoc
of one with separation anxiety, the initial unrequited
love for a spooky pet, or the heartbreak of a possibly
abbreviated time with a new but older companion.
All of them will attest to the rewards of unconditionally
loving their dogs. None of them can imagine life without
them. These are the exceptional journeys of some of the
special hounds and the equally special people who now
lay claim to their hearts.
Remembering the Kennel Brat, Finn
Finn, one of the many Irish imports,
conquered the kennel within minutes of his
arrival. He was barely six months old, a blue
brindle greyhound-border collie mix with
adorable looks that masked the lovable ‘terror’
lurking inside. The other puppy that arrived
with him found a home within a week. Finn
was destined to leave his indelible mark at the
kennel for a while. True to his gypsy roots, he
was a free spirit. He was a bully, a rogue, an
uncouth and brazen little imp. The smallest dog in the
lot possessed the biggest personality – a complex of
Napoleonic proportions. He despised the crate, not
surprisingly because confinement cramped his style.
The kitchen became his kingdom, and the other dogs
served as his subjects. He vigorously greeted each
passerby and demanded attention along the way.
Compact as he is, he is capable of knocking down an
unsuspecting adult, let alone a child. His vertical leaps
were awesome. He flunked obedience training twice –
shades of Marley, the world’s worst dog. Food to him
was pirate’s treasure and heaven have mercy on
whoever gets in his way.
2
Finn, for all his obstinacy is a very smart dog that
volunteers who grew exasperated with his antics could
not help but begrudgingly admire him. For someone
with a stubborn streak, he finally passed obedience class
with flying colors with the right trainer. There was hope
after all for this diamond-in-the-rough (albeit very, very
rough). Still, the odds were stacked that he may just be
a permanent Greyhound Friends mascot for the rest of
his life. It was obvious that if an appropriate home exists
for him, it would have to be an extraordinary one.
Luckily, this home did exist. Laura and Gary Mease,
their six greyhounds and five cats were to become Finn’s
family.
The Meases are longtime volunteers to our sister chapter
in New Jersey. They have fostered nearly seventy-five
greyhounds over the years. They fell in love with their
friends’ lurchers and wished for one of their own. It was
only a matter of time before the legend of Finn caught
up with them.
Although the Meases’ level of experience and
commitment were impeccable, Louise had her own
reservations due to their number of dogs. It seemed to
be a recipe for dog fights for Finn, the instigator.
Undaunted, they turned in their application along with
pictures of their lovely home with a six-foot stockade
fence around the property. This was just perfect for this
canine pogo stick. They also assured her that he would
be returned to the kennel if things did not work out.
On October 29, 2005, Finn happily made the five-hour
trip to his Trenton New Jersey home escorted by his
new parents and new sibling Leaver. To this day, Finn’s
adoption remains a success due to established boundaries
and limitless love. While still a terror to strange dogs, he
cohabits peacefully (most of the time) with his canine
and feline siblings. He had traveled to Dewey and
attended the International Greyhound seminar, with
his own suitcase of treats, stuffies and change of
wardrobe. He was enrolled in refresher obedience
courses and is happiest when he snuggles with Laura
and Gary on their bed. With enough material to fill the
pages, Laura hopes to write a book about Finn someday.
After he left, the kennel kitchen was glaringly quiet,
although not permanently. Finn recently had a
homecoming when he attended the Greyhound Friends
Open house last May just after he turned three. He
came muzzled and announced his arrival by lunging and
snapping at every dog along the way. There was no
mistaking who it was even with your back turned. In
most ways, nothing has changed – once a brat, still a
brat and always will be a brat.
Remembering the Scaredy Cat
Cat (Tour of the Cat) was one
of the most retreating dogs to
cross the Greyhound Friends
threshold. Her eyes betrayed
the panic within, as captured
in her earlier mug shots. It was
painful to watch her quiver
uncontrollably. Little baby
steps at the kennel, and in time, she was somewhat
ready to be a pet.
Jean and Kathlyn LaFlamme of North Grafton mourned
the loss of their 18-year-old whippet about two years
ago. It was a matter of time for these passionate dog
lovers to fill the void in their home.
Having heard about greyhounds as pets, Jean started to
do a thorough research about the breed. He regularly
perused the website of Greyhound Friends and the
picture of Cat in the Spotlight section caught his eye.
They visited the kennel and expressed their interest in
adopting Cat. During their first encounter with her, she
struggled to be invisible and stayed glued to her wall.
They were advised that due to Cat’s personality, a home
with a fenced-in yard is required for her. During the
same visit, they fell in love with another beautiful
brindle girl, World Class Demi, who then came home
with them.
As happy as they were with Demi, the memory of Cat’s
soulful eyes haunted Jean. He proceeded to build a
sizable fence around his house and continued to
monitor the website. Imagine his distress when Cat
disappeared from the Available Dogs page. He
immediately contacted the kennel and to his relief,
learned that Cat was still there. Kathlyn encouraged him
to take Cat home. They invited Louise to come for a
home visit to prove their home worthy of Cat. The
LaFlammes were unwavering in their conviction that
this shy girl would do well in their care.
One afternoon in March 2006, their persistence paid
off as they waited for Louise to drop off their little girl.
Although she made great strides, Cat was still at risk of
bolting when frightened. The transport was very
carefully staged. She was crated before being carried to
her new home. After three days they gave her free rein
of the house. For about a month, Cat kept her distance
from her new owners. Jean would constantly talk gently
to her. In time, she allowed him to pet her and there
was no turning back. She was well on the road to being
Daddy’s little girl who now cockroaches and frantically
paws for tummy rubs and has fits of jealousy when her
sister gets more attention.
Jean progressively
socialized Cat
with people and
other dogs. Play
times with the
LaFlamme’s
grandchildren,
Cat & Demi
their son’s pit bull
puppy and their daughter’s labs are regular appointments
for Cat and Demi. The pretty pair enjoy their regular
walks around the neighborhood and have done their
parts to promote the good attributes of their breed. Cat
is intrigued by birds and chipmunks and eats like a
horse. She loves playing catch with a hard rubber ball.
Like any self-respecting girl, she loves shopping at Petco.
During their visits to the kennel, those who knew her
marvel at how much Cat has blossomed. Seeing Cat
today is like looking at a completely different dog. Time
healed the scars of the past and kindness won her over.
If the eyes are the windows to the soul, what used to
mirror dread has been replaced with the twinkle of
content & happiness.
Listening to Jean talk wistfully about his girls provides insight to
the root cause of her amazing transformation. He adores them
and can’t wait to come home to them everyday. He researched
their lineages and found a common ancestor in Oswald
Cobblepath. When I first contacted him about Cat’s story, he
admitted to worrying that Greyhound Friends may have wanted
Cat back. I assured this gracious man that she’s not going anywhere – she already belongs to the best home that she deserves.
Remembering the Clingy Rory
At first glance, Rory is a stunning visceral
sight and simply drop dead handsome.
This predominantly white hound has one
vivid blue eye and another that is hazel
brown. A blue patch of fur accentuates his
brown eye. He is extremely friendly, very
loving and affectionate to people, great with
other dogs, small animal safe, with middle
of the road temperament. All the elements
of a slam-dunk, attractive package for most adopters?
Not so fast.
Alas, Rory has a special need for perpetual company. His
separation anxiety already cost him his first home. He was put
in a mild dosage of Clomicalm to manage his angst and the
results were very encouraging. In the meantime, he quickly
became a kennel favorite as he waited patiently for his perfect
home. Then, along came the Landers of Medway and Rory’s
fortunes took a welcome turn for the better.
Cliff and Rachel were visiting the kennel in February 2005
looking to adopt their first greyhound. As they were about to
leave after walking just about all the dogs in the kennel, they
spied upon Rory. They decided to stick around and walk this
last dog. Rory was just too happy to oblige. He glanced at them
with those mesmerizing eyes and the Landers were hooked, line
and sinker. With Rachel working from home, the situation
seemed ideal and the adoption became official.
His first night away from the familiar confines of the kennel
was traumatic. He was trembling non-stop and was petrified of
this strange new place. Rachel ended up sleeping on the floor
next to Rory’s bed and this had an immediate calming effect on
him. This also cemented his special bond with Rachel. To this
day, Rory never strays from her side. He is attached to her hip
and treasures his walks with her.
Rory’s adjustment was gradual. When left to himself at first,
he would whine incessantly and desperately try to escape.
Occasionally, he would leave accidental residues. He developed
thunder phobia. The basement became his hiding place, or as
an alternative, he would squeeze his 80-pound frame under his
parent’s bed where he often got stuck. He became more relaxed
after he was permanently weaned from his crate. In lieu of
Clomicalm, Rachel opted to use an all-natural calming mix that
mitigated his episodes. Within a year, he finally realized that his
family will always come home to him and his symptoms subsided.
He sometimes stays at the Flying Fur doggie day care as needed,
where he made his parents proud by winning the best
Halloween costume contest as the Batdog. He discovered the
joys of frolicking in the snow.
continued on page 4
3
Where Are They Now...
continued from page 3
A year after they adopted Rory, the Landers welcomed
their first child. Rory didn’t know what to make of
Daddy’s mini-me at first, but he caught on and warmed
up to his little brother. He is as gentle to the baby as he
is to every living thing. This silly boy makes a game out
of stealing cookies from Luke’s hand, just as he once
stole a slice of pizza from one young guest during a
party. He habitually waits for Luke to finish his meal to
partake of the leftover scraps on his highchair. Rachel
suspects that a secret pact exists between the two
regarding food. Rory will never be a dog brimming with
confidence. He likely will always contend with some
insecurity. But in the Lander’s home he finally found
his safe haven. In Cliff and Rachel, he has a relationship
that is for keeps, for better or for worse. As difficult as
it was at first, this family, driven by the bond and love
for each other, figured out a way to make it work. And
they continue to live happily ever after.
Fretful Littermates Jackpot & Faye
Good things happen to those who
wait and wait and wait. The twins
Jackpot and Faye (aptly named
Fear Factor) languished what
seemed to be an eternity waiting
for their forever homes due to
their phobia of strangers. The two
of them huddled together in the
one of the back cages was a regular
sight for kennel visitors. They are
both great lookers – Jackpot, a
striking fawn and white boy with
amber eyes and Faye, a pretty black
and white cow girl with incredible markings. Jackpot
possessed an ounce of courage more than his sister, as
he was capable of venturing to the door to selectively
greet a chosen few. Faye was just plain petrified of
everything. Together, they found solace in each other.
The downside of their togetherness was that they might
have fed on each other’s anxieties. Still, it was sad to
think of prying them apart. Much as it would have been
tempting to keep them together, the best thing for them
to grow socially was to find them separate homes with
hopefully confident hounds to ease their individual
transition. For over a year, Louise searched far and wide
for their elusive homes. As it turned out, there was no
need to venture outside of the kennel after all. In due
time, the twins hit the lottery – big time.
4
Pat Hall sadly lost her first chip Toby in February 2007.
He spent a wonderful decade with her, and as most first
chips are meant to do, introduced her to the most
empathetic cult of dog owners in the world. He was the
catalyst that started her own involvement with
greyhound rescue through Greyhound Friends. After a
few weeks of mourning, Pat and her husband Howard
decided to honor Toby’s memory by continuing the cycle
of opening their home and hearts to another hound.
With the credentials of successfully homing the
previously unadoptable Tally under their belt, they
chose little Faye to live with them and their surviving
greys Tally and the effervescent Chick. They exercised
the same patience and method that worked with Tally –
no demands for her interaction, at
the same time allowing her the space
she needed to be comfortable with
them. Not surprisingly, she bonded
with Tally quickly. Soon, despite
momentary lapses of trepidation, she
decided it was tolerable to hang out
with her human parents. She even
joined her new pack for her first
Greyhound Adventures walk.
Although Faye’s leash occasionally
got entangled with her leg as she tried to hide from the
big bad rowdy GA crowd, the proud mama bragged
that Faye otherwise did very well.
At about the same time, Jackpot hit his own jackpot
(every pun intended) when our tireless kennel manager
Sandy Jepsen decided that with Faye’s adoption, she
couldn’t bear the thought of permanently separating the
two. Besides, he lingered long enough that she couldn’t
ignore the calling anymore. She was meant to be
Jackpot’s mom. Initially intended as a foster (whatever
you say, Sandy), he went to live with her, her husband
Allen and their four dogs. Jackpot gravitated to Duke
and Willie immediately and became attached to Seneca
and Penny soon after.
Jackpot spent the first
three weeks huddled
behind the recliner in the
living room. He slept, ate
his treats and meals in the
same spot. He gradually
expanded his comfort
zone and began joining
the pack as they waited for
Sandy to prepare their
dinner. Daddy became
not so scary anymore.
After mastering the stairs, Jackpot also started to sleep
with the rest of the crew in the masters’ bedroom.
While dependent on the lead of the other dogs, he also
discovered the joys of exploring the yard. Sudden noises
still petrify him, but the progress continues in the right
direction. He is not quite Dewey-ready, but may be
primed for an Open House debut soon.
With Pat and Sandy as their mommies, the two were
assured regular visitation and play times with each
other. In fact, a few weeks after they went to their
respective homes, Faye and Jackpot had their first play
date, with more to come. With that, their lives will
forever be entwined.
the Senior Bouncebacks - Bridget & Dream
The returnees, without fail, always elicit a lump in your
throat. Mostly due to changes in family circumstances
and not any fault of their own, these terrific pets
suddenly find their lives in shambles. While some are
able to adjust fairly well, some exhibit confusion and
depression for feeling abandoned and displaced. They
are perfect in any way other than the fact that they are
typically older and therefore, less appealing to most
adopters who tend to choose younger dogs with more
favorable odds of longer life expectancy.
She broke her hip and was diagnosed with an advanced cancerous
tumor. With great sadness, Cindy ushered her to the bridge, where
Dream joined her first owner. Bridget, the beta dog, while quieter
shortly after Dream’s passing, became even more affectionate as she
greeted Cindy with more enthusiasm and louder rooing when she
came home from school. Since she was a few months away from
retirement, and with plans to travel after the school year, Cindy had
no intention of adopting another hound soon. That resolute decision
lasted all but a couple of months when she met Ty, an eleven-year-old
cow dog who was returned after being in a home for seven years.
Bridget and Dream had fairy tale lives after retirement.
They were loved and doted on by Elmina Sewall, one of
the staunchest supporters of Greyhound Friends. They
shared a sprawling residence in Maine with her. Life was
good. Fate struck them a raw deal when their beloved
owner passed in April 2005. Mrs. Sewall’s daughter
from California cared for them until August of the
same year. In honor of Mrs. Sewell’s devotion to the
rescue, Greyhound Friends made every effort to keep
them together.
A few weeks before her retirement, Cindy brought Ty home as a buddy
for Bridget. She acknowledges that time with the golden hounds may
be short but she found her calling in providing the best care and love
for these gentle creatures in their twilight years. She doesn’t count their
years. Instead she counts the fringe benefits - the leans, the play bows
and the kisses – and there’s plenty left in the gas tank.
Cindy Sorensen, a special education teacher from
Cambridge, became a volunteer for Meets and Greets
and Open House events after she adopted Spinnaker in
1992. In the course of volunteering, she recognized that
older hounds had more difficulty in finding homes.
After Spinnaker passed away at the ripe old age of
thirteen, Cindy sought to adopt an older hound. Cain
came home at the age of seven and lived with her until
she lost him to cancer at nine during the early part of
2005. Joyce Wasson later mentioned the plight of the
girls to Cindy. Not having owned multiple dogs in the
past, she admitted to some qualms about adopting two
hounds. She realized it was an all or nothing proposition
after meeting Bridget and Dream, two eleven-year olds
who spent much of their pet life together. They were
affectionate to each other, would groom each other
with licks to the ears and face, and enjoyed playing
with each other.
Cindy brought Dream, a petite brindle girl, and
Bridget, a dainty fawn girl home. They adapted quickly
to the change from the relative quiet of the countryside
to the hustle and bustle of city life. They were fascinated
with the sights and sounds outside their window. Daily
walks around the neighborhood became part of their
routine. Gregarious Dream would walk up to people
during their walks. The more introverted Bridget
would timidly stand back and let her sister check out
strangers. In time, she became more outgoing in social
encounters. They enjoyed rides and visits to an artist
studio that Mommy frequented. With those graceful,
photogenic lines, they provided perfect subjects for
Cindy’s watercolor paintings. They also had fun
socializing while negotiating senior shortcuts of
Greyhound Adventures walks.
In April of 2007, Dream became increasingly frail.
Researched and written by Naty Sayler
A Charity Shop for Greyhound Friends?
I was pleasantly surprised when Marion Fitzgibbon, Chairperson,
Limerick Animal Welfare, explained to me how her group's charity
shop works. Marion said that the shop is well located so that it is easy
for donors to drop off gently used clothing, books, china. The location
also makes it accessible to people who don't have much money for
clothing, etc. The Irish have an open immigration policy, many newly
arrived people come to the shop to buy suitable clothing and household
goods. Plus, the local citizenry is also on the hunt for bargains. Seeing
the Limerick shop in action... (I always buy things when I am there),
I got to wondering if such a shop would be viable for Greyhound
Friends. I think a shop east of Hopkinton would be ideal. It would
need to have low overhead, good accessibility for people dropping off
items and also for customers. We would need volunteers who are
experienced in retail, low-end retail in this case, and we would hope
that GHF adopters and supporters would bring their donations by.
One other positive aspect - since our adoption kennel is in Hopkinton
we don't really have a base of operations more in the urban areas. If we
had a charity shop we could bring in dogs for Meet and Greets, and
just in general have the adoptable dogs be more in the public eye.
Any suggestions from our readers?
Please call me at 508-435-5969, or email [email protected].
Thanks, Louise Coleman
5
Memories
I had suggested a collage for the newsletter—a collage
of memorable dogs (of course, they are all memorable).
I wanted to include information about their current
whereabouts. Although I consulted our database, I had
difficulty finding enough pictures.
I wasn’t certain how to proceed, and then Pat Hall,
our outstanding secretary, found two albums of some of
the dogs from 1999 through 2006. And so, I decided to
take my own walk down “Memory Lane.”
What beautiful faces!
Rummy
Rummy reminded me of my Pops. Pops was my first
greyhound, and introduced me to the breed and
Greyhound Friends. He was black with a graying face,
and he was huge! He was my “precious gentleman and
sweet inspiration.” Rummy and I would often sit in the
back of my van together. He was adopted, returned, and
then adopted-forever-in May, 2002.
Flo
Flo was an “office” dog in the old kennel. I became
quite attached to her; I think we all did. I remember
that her gums were red and raised. She died in
December of 2002 after a teeth cleaning. It was a shock.
We were all saddened that she didn’t live to be adopted.
Along our front walkway, there is a beautiful stone
engraved with her name.
Haggard
Haggard was at the old kennel on the first day I began
volunteering. I remember him because I thought that
Haggard was not a good name for such a beautiful dog.
He was adopted by Diane Henning in April, 2001.
Popeye
Popeye came to us from Seabrook in July of 2004. One
of his eyes was the size of a golfball and must have been
incredibly painful. I truly don’t know which came first his name or his glaucoma. Louise immediately arranged
for surgery with Dr. Bachrach, the premier canine eye
doctor, and his eye was removed. I picked him up from
there and brought him to Vescone (Veterinary
Emergency and Specialty Center of New England) in
Waltham. There he received around the clock care for
two days. I then brought him back to Greyhound
Friends. Not long after, despite having only one eye,
Popeye was adopted. A great deal of time, love, and
money was invested in Popeye, and it was all worth it.
Rachel
Rachel lives with Jean Schoenfeld at the end of my
street - Longfellow Road in Wellesley. I see them
walking almost everyday, even though Rachel is at least
thirteen. It warms my heart. I remember exactly which
crate Rachel was in at the old kennel. She has a perfectly
centered line down her snout with different markings
on each side. That is how I recognized Rachel the first
time I saw Jean walking her. I stopped my van and ran
out calling Rachel - I was so surprised to see her on my
street! Everyone thought I meant the woman, but I was
calling after the dog. Now all my neighbors know Jean
and Rachel and look for them each day.
Zeke
I remember Loman because he had the most beautiful
complexion and the most gorgeous “Maybelline” eyes
(beautifully outlined). He was in the cage closest to the
back door in the old kennel. He was adopted in May of
2002.
I dearly loved Zeke and really thought that I should
adopt him. However, I already had too many dogs. He
was eventually adopted, at age ten, by Katrina Schuh,
our long time staff member and friend. For a while,
Zeke had a wonderful life, but then he was diagnosed
with hemangiosarcoma - cancer of the lining of the
blood vessels. Katrina had a difficult road ahead. I tried
to help with vet visits and medical expenses. When Zeke
died, Katrina and I were both there with him.
Kiley
Dana
Loman
I had just returned from a visit to my closest friend’s
home in Suffield, CT. We had found a coon hound on
her property that had been severely injured. We named
her Shiloh, and arranged for her veterinary care. She
was soon adopted. I was at the kennel right after my
return when Louise told me about Kiley’s terrible
intestinal problems and large medical bill. And so, I
added another vet charge to my credit card. Happily,
Kiley recovered, was adopted, and moved to Canada.
Rubio
6
refuge in Spain. I remember him because it made me sad
to see him looking so tired and old. He was ten. He was
with us for a long time. However, once he was adopted,
he rallied and began to thrive.
Rubio was one of the first galgos that I encountered at
Greyhound Friends. He had come from the SCOOBY
Dana is my greyhound. He is an eight and a half year
old male named after Dana Barrows, the Celtics player.
I’ve had five dogs from Greyhound Friends; Dana and
my lurcher, Ailie, are currently with me. I recently visited
www.greyhound-data.com. I was so interested to learn
that Dana’s racing name was Cranbrook and that his
record was quite good. When I was looking for pictures
on the Greyhound Friends database, I discovered that
Dana’s call name was Boch. I thought it had been Dart.
He had been returned in June of 2003, because of
“doggie odor”, and I adopted him a few days later. While
I was going through Pat Hall’s albums, there was a picture
of Boch - my Dana!! Seeing him at a completely different
phase of his life brought tears to my eyes. He is now
resting on the sun porch couch of my new home in
Chatham, MA. He is the most purely sweet of all my
dogs, and I adore him.
Dana, now
Lurch
I have had quite a long relationship with Lurch. Lurch came to us
from Ohio, and we think he may have been involved in hunting. He
is definitely a sighthound mix, and so he is a lurcher; hence, the name
Lurch. Early on, it was clear that Lurch needed “boot camp.” I arranged
for him to attend residency training at K-9 University with Ken
Terrell. I consider Ken to be the most outstanding dog trainer - my
lurcher, Ailie, recently spent time with him, and he worked wonders
with Lurch. However, because Lurch remained unadopted, his training
was not reinforced. And so began the circuitous route of finding him
permanent care. It took a long time & a few moves! Now, Lurch resides
at Rivendell Rescue and Respite in Francestown, NH. He is in “long
term” foster care, provided by Geoff Tupper and Monica Derr. Louise
and I check in regularly, and it is clear that he is well cared for and loved!
Lurch
Kathy Mahoney
President, Greyhound Friends
Dana, before
Rachel
The Legacy of Paul Jepsen
I met Paul at Greyhound Friends two weeks before
Christmas in 1999. I had brought our first greyhound,
Seneca, to the kennel to run in the fenced field. While I
was talking to some of the volunteers, I felt this nose
trying to get into my pockets. When I looked down,
there was this fawn and white greyhound with big
brown eyes looking up at me. His name was Paul.
Louise had mentioned to me that he was a bounce-back
many times and was considered un-adoptable. I looked
through Paul’s history and I felt so bad for him that I
said I would take him home for the weekend to see
how he did with our other animals.
Paul had personality issues as well as behavioral issues,
and severe separation anxiety. He stayed with me for a
week and seemed okay in our home, so I kept him over
the Christmas holidays. I ended up adopting Paul on
January 1, 2000. During the first year Paul showed me
all of his nasty habits, but I still gave him benefit of the
doubt. I put him on Clomicalm to help him with his
anxiety. As I worked with him it seemed to be helping.
After a year of being on Clomicalm, acting out all his
issues, and finally realizing he was still with his family
and not displaced, he made a big turn around. Paul was
friendly with the other animals and with people.
He loved small children. I decided to try a meet and greet with him at
the PETCO in Shrewsbury. We did not live that far away from the
store, so I could take Paul home right away if it didn't work out. In the
end it worked out fine.
I began doing regular meet and greets with Paul. I met Bob Rau who
was then the manager of the Shrewsbury PETCO, and he was so
impressed with Paul’s good nature and disposition, he encouraged
PETCO to start a national fundraiser each year for greyhound
adoption. That fundraiser has become an essential part of Greyhound
Planet Day and has resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in
donations for greyhound adoption throughout the country. In addition,
each PETCO store can choose an animal shelter/rescue adoption
group and sponsor them for their Tree of Hope and Spring-a-Pet
fundraisers. Greyhound Friends became that adoption group for the
Shrewsbury PETCO, and still is - all due to Paul.
We recently let our beloved Paul go.
His many health problems escalated
and he was no longer enjoying life.
We do miss Paul terribly, each and
every day. But we know that
through his wonderful example
and the fundraising he inspired, he
will be remembered by many for
years to come.
Sandy Jepsen
7
the Mail Bag
Dear Greyhound Friends:
It is with a great deal of sadness that we inform you that
our stalwart friend of over 10 years had to be put down
suddenly this morning. Our big, beautiful, and loving
Cigar was found to be with bone cancer in his left foot
and with cancer in his right shoulder, with no hope for
a cure. We caught it early enough so that he did not
suffer long, for which we are grateful.
But he will be missed forever, along with our other
departed beauties, seven of whom suffered from some
type of cancer. We have lost nine Greys over the years
and only two have escaped this curse. To say that Cigar
was special would be misleading because we have yet to
meet, foster, or adopt a Greyhound who was not special
in some way. Suffice it to say that I worked with Ciggie
for five months at Greyhound Friends before I was able
to bring him home to our other five Greyhounds. He
was a willing and excited partner for many of our
adventures, was always happy to greet me and never
held a grudge. To my co-workers and friends, he was the
ultimate Greyhound, big, fast, bright, and friendly. He
will be missed by all who knew him. A part of me
perishes with each Greyhound we lose, and a big part of
me has left today. Annette and I will continue to share
our lives with our remaining and future rescued Greys
for many reasons, two of which are paramount: we have
never found a breed that gives as much back; and more
importantly, if we don't give them a chance at the good
life they deserve, who will?
Bless all Greyhounds and those who love and care for
them.
Jeff and Annette Beach
Marlboro, MA
Dear Greyhound Friends,
Banjo "Legs" Sullivan was an amazing dog. He was
making his mark on the world long before he ever came
to share our lives. After retiring from the racing scene in
his native Ireland, he served selflessly as a Blood Donor
Dog at the Dublin Vet School. When Louise brought
him back to the United States he immediately settled
into his role as a Greyhound ambassador. Within weeks
of his arrival he gracefully strutted in a New York City
Fashion Show, and with his gentle demeanor and
people-loving attitude he became a fixture at
greyhound outreach activities.
8
At this time we were living outside Boston and
volunteering at Greyhound Friends on the weekends.
Amidst the multitudes of beautiful hounds, Banjo
managed to stand out each week. His big brown eyes
and scooped nose gave him a beautiful and striking
dignity, and his large size kept him haunch and
shoulders above the crowd. Because he was so personable
he was allowed to roam about as an office dog, freeing
up valuable cage space for other hounds. Every week we
saw him and doted on him, and it wasn’t long before he
started whining behind us whenever we were paying
attention to someone else.
Fortunately this growing mutual attachment coincided
with our moving into a new home, and we were finally
able to adopt Banjo. We were
anticipating a transition
period as he adjusted to his
new living accommodations
in a quiet family environment
without other dogs; but
within 10 minutes he was
master of his new domain
and had settled in to fully
enjoy his retirement.
Our next seven years with
Banjo were wonderful. Every summer he would enjoy a
week’s vacation in Maine, and every fall he’d take the
ferry with us to Long Island. He went on several hikes
in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and he
enjoyed a ridiculously spoiled home life. Countless
nights one of us would be rudely awakened by staccato
kicks delivered by this 80-pound dog in our bed as he
enjoyed one of his (in)famous "running dreams".
Near the end of his 14-year life Banjo remained ever
dignified and stoic in the face of increasing physical
discomfort. Earlier this summer Banjo passed away in
the comfort of his home, surrounded by those who
loved him. While this was understandably heartbreaking,
we have been comforted to remember how wonderful
and fulfilling his time with us was. He always remained
an amazing friend and companion, a gentle soul who
would listen attentively to everything you told him, and
who would paw at you to continue petting him
whenever you tried to stop.
It may be that Banjo’s greatest legacy is that throughout
all his days he never relinquished his role as an
ambassador for greyhound adoption. We know of
several greyhounds that found homes because people
met and were touched by Banjo. He also demonstrated
that the system can work the other way: by adopting us,
he gave us a life better than anything we had ever
dreamed of.
We send our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to
Louise Coleman and the entire staff of Greyhound
Friends for their hard work and continued effort on
behalf of Greyhounds from around the world, and for
providing us with the opportunity to share our lives
with Banjo.
Shaun and Lauren Sullivan
Northwood, NH
This recollection was written by Professor Jay Engel...
a wonderful writer and true greyhound friend.
He has since passed away.
It was first printed in the Greyhound Friends'
newsletter in December, 1992.
"I do not bite my nails
over the difficulties if I meet any
in my reading?"
(Montaigne, "On Books")
It is a truth universally acknowledged that (not to put a
too Teutonic point to it) Greyhounds are THE master
breed of canines. The world of art has visually confirmed
this assertion, from the tombs of the pharaohs to both
medieval and Renaissance portraiture. (Indeed, one
could construct an entire course around the theme of
"Greyhounds in Western Painting".)
The evidence of Greyhound preeminence is somewhat
less immediately apparent in literature (though I think
you will find that in the second book of the ODYSSEY,
when Telemachus appears before the council of elders,
he is accompanied by two greyhounds. I am not sure
that even the most hoary-bearded Homeric scholars
have ever before noted this point).
That literature as well as painting and sculpture has
much to say about the greyhound came home forcefully
to me recently when, upon entering my living room, I
found our huge black greyhound, Louis Icart, reclining
regally on his LL Bean-bag with a copy of MACBETH
neatly resting between his two front paws. (Sir Francis
Bacon observed that some books are meant to be
chewed over and devoured - advice which Louis
subsequently followed to the chagrin of Heinrich
Harrer: but obviously Shakespeare was to be treated
more reverentially. The Greyhound knows a hawk from
a handsaw!). Now why, I ask myself, would Louis have
chosen MACBETH to ponder over: why not
HAMLET, THE TAMING OF THE SHEW (or as
he might put it: 'The Taming of the Bitch"); why not
JULIUS CEASAR wherein "the dogs of war" are
unleashed: now there's some real macho p.r.
There is an answer: I refer you to Act three, scene one,
starting at line 91. Macbeth here is addressing the two
desperadoes who, later on, will assassinate the
unfortunate Bonquo. Macbeth appeals to their
manliness, boldness, and courage; and how does he do
so? He invokes the comparison with GREYHOUNDS!
Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men;
As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs,
Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves
clept
All by the name of dog: the valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the
subtle,
The housekeeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous
nature
Hath in him closed; whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the file
That write them all alike; and so of men...
(A few notes: "Catalogue" is a list; a "shough" is a shaggy
dog; a demi-wolf " is a cross-breed; "clept" is called or
named; "housekeeper" is a watchdog; and "valued file" is
a graded list, a ranking according to individual qualities
or virtues).
In short, Shakespeare, through Macbeth, is invoking
the ancient idea of the "Great Chain of Being", that
everything in Creation, from rocks and plants and
sea-creatures and birds right on "up" to animals and
men and women and even angels, has a niche in the
order of creation, with the "noblest" at the top: for
example, the rose being the "noblest" of flowers, the
kind being "noblest" of men, the sun being "noblest of
stars - and, of course, the greyhound being noblest of
dogs! (Shakespeare - and probably all Elizabethans had
a sovereign contempt for "spaniels" - but that's the
subject of another essay).
And so, we find that Louis Icart knew exactly what he
was up to: he was meditating, obviously with serene
approbation, on the celebration of his nobility in the
poetry of our planet's noblest literary genius,
Shakespeare. A true meeting of the minds.
Jay G. Engel, Jr., English Department,
St. Mark's School, Southborough, MA
There is an exciting new program for any Greyhound Friends supporter who is thinking of buying or selling a home.
The program allows you to save thousands on real estate commissions - and support Greyhound Friends - simply by
registering on our web site before you hire a real estate agent. There is no cost to join the program, you can use any agent
and you get a tax deduction for any amount of your savings you choose to donate to Greyhound Friends. The program is
available through a partnership with HomeGift Realty Inc., a Massachusetts real estate company that operates similar
programs for dozens of non profit organizations around the country.
Please visit our web site at www.greyhoundrealtyrewards.com for more details or call HomeGift at 508 655-0318.
9
Greyhounds looking for a Special Home
Board Members
Louise Coleman
Executive Director
Cyndy Curley
Assistant Treasurer
Pat Hall
Secretary
Kathy Mahoney
President
Lynne O'Neil
Veronica Zolina
Treasurer
PT is a big, 70 lb active boy. He is three years
old, very outgoing and friendly with just the
right balance of playfulness and cuddliness.
He's fun to play with outside, but settles down
quickly and just wants to be with you when
inside. He is fine with dogs, but may not be ok
with cats. PT is enjoying his life at the kennel
but knows that there is someone out there who
will be his forever home.
Kennel Wish List
Bandages
Bird Seed/Feed
Blankets & Towels, Comforters
Cleaning Supplies
Carpet & Carpet Cutters we use for
lining the dogs’ kennels
Dog Food Quality dry & canned:
Iams, Eukanauba, & Pro Plan especially
Laundry Detergent & Bleach
Liquid Dish Soap & Pine Cleaner
Office Supplies copy paper, pens,
large & padded envelopes, tape, etc.
Olive Oil & Rice
Paper Towels
Shampoo flea & tick for dogs
Vet Supplies
Visitors
Hugo is a gorgeous greyhound or Saluki mix.
He has the beautiful cinnamon flowing coat and ears of an Irish Setter, the size of a
Whippet, (45 lbs) and the Greyhound's languid eyes. Quite a neat package, as you
may discover. Hugo is full of energy and will do
best with an experienced owner who knows how
to channel his pep. He enjoys playing in the
kiddie pool on hot days! Hugo will need a home
with a high fence. Other dogs do not seem to like
him, so he should be an only dog. Hugo gets
along well with small dogs and may be okay with
cats. He is a friendly boy, but is a bit leary of men.
Tomasa is a beautiful 70 lb fawn girl with a great
personality, once you get to know her. She's a shy
girl, though, so it will take some time and patience
to get to see that spark of personality that she has.
Tomasa is four years old.
She is better with adults, and it's not clear if she is
cat safe. She can live with canine companions, and
would make a nice addition to the right home
where she can be nurtured & thrive.
If you would like to know more about any of our special greyhounds
that need a caring home, please contact the kennel at 508-435-5969.
Would you like to receive your Greyhound Friends Newsletter
(and other mailings from Greyhound Friends) via email?
If so, please send your request to: [email protected] with a subject line of "Email Request"
Many Thanks to Couches to Candlesticks!
Do you live on the Cape and wish to donate items to Greyhound Friends?
Visit Couches to Candlesticks in West Yarmouth! Owners Maureen and Karen
are pleased to accept your donations on behalf of Greyhound Friends
Couches to Candlesticks 594 Main Street (Route 28) West Yarmouth, MA 02673 (508) 862-2332
Thank you, Maureen and Karen, for your generous support of Greyhound Friends.
10
Become a Member or Renew Your
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greyhounds every year. Part of the proceeds also pay for publicity to bring in a steady
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