Foster Dog Sam

This is a photo of our foster dog Sam.

We've had Sam for about a month. He is so gentle and quiet and sweet, and rambunctious when it comes to seeing a leash or "Mom" or "Dad" coming home. He's big, too! 80 pounds! Interested in adopting? He is a foster dog with ReGAP here in southeast Michigan.

Last week Sam bit Quasar, kind of shredding his ear. They were doing that dog dance where they both get worked up over a passing dog, then spin in circles and growl and snap at each other. Sam's snap connected with Quasar's ear. However, I think this was provoked by Mr. Q.

Quasar's ear wouldn't stop bleeding after an hour (ear is filled with veins!) so we took him down the street to the emergency vet. WHOA! The vet wanted $622.00 for Plan A. umm, show me Plan B. That was just under $400. So I said, I'll pay the office visit and the antibiotic -- $150 and twice what our vet would charge. Luckily I had some Tramadol (pain med) left over from Star's illness.

So we returned home and spent hours trying to stop the bleeding and finally got Quasar's ear bandaged and gave him the antibiotic. The next morning we were able to remove the bandage and flush it out with water, hydrogen peroxide, then a final flush with the antiseptic Chlorhexiderm. Then bandaged again. It's been almost a week, and we've done a lot of cleaning, bandaging, giving Tramadol and antibiotic. Mr. Q is recovering, but he still yelps if we touch his ears.

So there went our long weekend away.... We didn't want to bloody up where we'd be staying.

Sam really is a sweetheart.

It's A Girl!

After 7 months of fostering Star is Rising, we've decided to adopt her! Star is a quirky girly-girl, and a real sweetie-pie. She's a big 75-lb. girl, and we suspect is not all greyhound -- she's just too atypical. Star is very vocal, loves to jump into and lay in the water and in the driveway and mud. I think she'd be greyt for camping! And, she loves to sniff and smell everything and everyone very thoroughly. Silly girl!

More Greyt Photos

I just had to post these photos. The top is Mr. Q in the hole he dug up against our new neighbor's house. He's staying nice and cool (and so is the neighbor). The bottom photo is our foster girl Star, just cooling off, lying in the driveway.

Dog Friendly In Southwest Michigan - Photos

.

This week we went our favorite dog-friendly place, Sweethaven Resort in Union Pier, Michigan. While there, we went to our favorite dog-friendly beach, at Warren Dunes State Park (2 miles of dog-friendly beach!)

Dairyland Greyhounds Found Beheaded in Creek?

 UPDATED 2/12/2010

NO! Greyhounds were not found in the creek. Thanks to readers/commenters JCP, Pam, and Anonymous.

Actually, it was coyote carcasses that were found. (Still a drag, me thinks.) Coyote hunting is legal.

Please see Comments on this post for links to news articles updating this story.

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This is why Greyhound racing should be banned. They usually just lop off the ears (that are tattooed); this time, they lopped off the entire heads.

Can you tell I'm angry?

It seems to me that these may very well be dogs from a kennel at Wisconsin's Dairyland Greyhound Racetrack, which closed Dec. 31, 2009. However, any kennels that still had dogs remaining by the first weekend in February (today) would not receive a $5,000 bonus. Looks like someone cared more about that bonus than finding the dogs homes. The Greyhound Alliance has been working feverishly for months to be sure all the dogs were place; Michigan ReGAP took in a large number of them just a few weeks back.

ugh.



From WTHR.com

Beheaded dogs found in creek

Updated: Feb 05, 2010 6:08 AM

David MacAnally/Eyewitness News

Madison County - What police and animal control saw in the Fall Creek in Madison County, you may not want to see.

Sheriff Ron Richardson says, "Possibly Greyhounds. There are eight animals in the water. It looks like none have heads. Heads have been removed. We'll know more once we get them out of the water."

They were spotted when Joe Riley was on his way home about 5 p.m. Thursday.  He pulled over, got out and looked into the creek for rocks for his pond at home.

Joe Riley says, "Found something I sure wasn't looking for. I still can't believe what I saw. It's crazy."

It's unclear how long the dogs were in the water. Blood still appears to be around the carcasses. And there may be more dog carcasses downstream.

Sheriff Richardson says, "If anybody knows anything about any group or persons that may be involved doing this type of thing to animals, contact the Sheriff's Department in Madison County."

"I've got two dogs that sleep with me. I love them very much. I just can't imagine this," said Joe Riley.

Greyhound Health and Wellness Conference For Greyhound Owners and Veterinarians

Greyhound Health and Wellness
March 6, 2010

Course Description: The First Annual OSU Greyhound Health and Wellness Conference will present valuable medical and surgical information for Greyhound owners, adopters, trainers, and for veterinarians involved in the care of Greyhounds. Topics will include idiosyncrasies in Greyhound lab work and imaging (X-rays and ultrasound), anesthesia, and bone cancer (both from the owners' and oncologists' perspectives), among others. There will be a joint morning session for the whole group; the afternoon sessions will be separate for owners/adopters and for veterinarians.
Cost: $100 Veterinarians, $75 Non-veterinarians
CE Hours: 7

The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Office of Continuing Education - A Greyhound Health and Wellness Conference.

Wow!

Star Is Rising - Our Latest Foster Girl From Michigan ReGAP

This is a photograph of our new foster girl Star Is Rising. She's 71 lbs. and currently up for adoption by Michigan Retired Greyhounds As Pets.

We've had her about 3 weeks now. She's a truly wonderful girl, and deserves a real forever home. She knows hand signals for "sit" and "down." She knows her name very well, loves to go for walks, is very playful and loving, and has just learned to go up and down stairs quickly yet carefully. She's a dream to have in the car, and she walks great on leash! She's just a very loving girl -- and she's very well adjusted.

Unfortunately, as you'll notice in the photo, her tail has been amputated (bit by another dog). So she wags her butt! She's a very happy girl.

Please Rescue A Greyhound NOW! Foster or Adopt a Greyhound! Dairyland Track Closing.

'm sure you have all been following the story with the Dairyland track. Although it is a very happy occasion when a track closes permanently, this one is coming with a very sad ending for many dogs. Starting on 1/1/2010, the kennel owners will be responsible for moving all dogs and they will not be paid to do it. They will have to provide food and staff until all dogs are gone which must completed by 2/5/2010. NO adoption groups are allowed on the premises after 12/31.

Dogs that are not removed by the end of the year will probably be shipped to Mexico or sent back to the farms to be euthanized (if they are lucky).

I know the holidays are suppose to be a joyous time, but for many families, this economy is making this a very difficult time. People are unemployed, salaries have been cut and more and more families are having a hard time making ends meet. This is the worst time for all of this to happen at Dairyland.

Regap is a rescue organization and this is what we do. We take dogs that are at risk of being destroyed or worse. I can't think of a better example than these Diaryland dogs. I would not ask for your help if it wasn't absolutely necessary. This is an emergency situation. We need to pull together every resource we have to get out as many dogs as possible.

Regap volunteers are the hardest working in greyhound rescue. Your generosity is unmatched. Our foster homes are always full and every single volunteers gives their heart and soul everyday for these dogs. I really wish I didn't have to ask for just a little bit more at this time. If you can open your home for just a few weeks during this holiday to help save one of these greyhounds, PLEASE contact Jennifer at Jen4greyrescue@yahoo.ca as soon as possible.

We are on a very tight time frame here and only have a few weeks to move all those dogs. It has been a few years since we have had an emergency like this one and we need every person to spread the word on what is happening and how these dogs are being treated. We need every person to go the extra mile this time because we are certain that dogs that are not moved will be killed or worse. That is a fact.

If you know of a boarding kennel that still has space available for the holidays, please contact Suzanne atxmerlin@prodigy.net.

And thank you to all who have already stepped forward to help with this emergency. Thank you in advance to those of you who are going to. We really need you at a time like this!!

My sincere thoughts and wishes to all of you!

Leslie Forys

Founder

Rescue Wisconsin Dairyland Park Greyhounds! Foster a Greyhound!

Wisconsin's Dairyland Greyhound Racetrack is scheduled to close at the end of 2009. This fact has been known for a while. 


Now, in a vindictive move by the track-, kennel-, and dog-owners, the dogs have been abandoned. PLEASE, help save a greyhound -- even if you can only foster a dog temporarily. There are a list of Michigan greyhound rescues in this blog's sidebar; I happen to volunteer with Michigan ReGAP (Rescued Greyhounds As Pets).


Following is the notice that I received this morning from MI ReGAP:


Neither the State of Wisconsin Division of Gaming, nor Dairyland Greyhound
Park have or will take responsibility or assist in the placement of pets at
Dairyland. Roy Berger, of DGP corporate management, stated that their
"contract with the State of Wisconsin terminates at midnight on 12/31/09;
{they} have no further responsibility or obligation." The Division of Gaming
today stated that it is the responsibility of DGP.

The dogs have no protection - they have been abandoned. Please go to the
website www.greyhoundalliance.org <http://ce.org/> where we will post
updates to the now upon us crisis.

If any groups can take dogs in the next 3 weeks, please let us know asap -
we will try to get every dog out of Dairyland that we can; we have been
denied access to the compound to cat test dogs, so that information is not
available.

Time is running out for the hounds

HOW CAN YOU HELP THESE DOGS? EITHER ADOPT OR FOSTER OR HELP SPREAD THE
WORD TO THOSE THAT WILL.
If you are able to foster a dog please contact Jennifer at
jen4greyrescue@yahoo.ca
If you are interested in adopting please visit our website at
www.rescuedgreyhounds.org and submit an application.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

For speaking for those that cannot -
MI REGAP 

Tucson Greyhound Racing Park & Tucson Dog Protection Act

Both, apparently, a sham.

Read the story at The Tucson Weekly.

TigerLily Finds Her Forever Home

Dana (TigerLily) comfy with a new toy in her new home.

Our foster greyhound TigerLily (racing name Stormy Dana, aka Shanna) was adopted this past weekend by a wonderful family. We will miss her big floppy ears and her incredibly long waggy tail, and her gentle demeanor.

Last Sunday we heard from Michigan ReGAP that a family was interested in meeting Dana, so we called them on Monday and set up a time for them to meet Dana on Tuesday.

MP and wife PP and 9 year old son RP stopped by our house last Tuesday evening to visit with Dana for close to an hour. We talked about her - and them - and then went outside to play with her, then AR and Quasar went for a walk around the neighborhood with Dana and the family. It was a wonderful visit, and I must say that I was impressed by the family. Dana is their first dog, but they've been looking for well over 6 months, and have been researching the breed, and were just very conscientious that the adoption was the right thing for all concerned -- dog and human.

We liked the family and they liked Dana, so paperwork was taken care of, and on Saturday the P family stopped by to pick up Dana and take her home. We packed some treats, her blankie, and a few toys she'd come to like, as well as her vet and racing records, gave her a kiss and said goodbye. We were a little teary-eyed.

Dana has moved pretty far north of here (there's still snow), but she's with a wonderful and loving family in a very big home, with four acres (!) to romp, and a little boy with lots of love. We should all be so lucky!

We wish all the best for Dana and her Forever Family.

Introducing TigerLily

A day or two before New Year's I received an email from ReGAP, asking if AR and I could take in a foster dog. I responded that I thought we couldn't unless it was a real emergency, and then it would have to be a female (still a few dominance issues with Quasar). Well, ReGAP responded that it was indeed an emergency.

This past Sunday, there was a kennel closure at the Dairyland Racetrack in Wisconsin. About 16 dogs were transported from the track to the Michigan Welcome Center at the Indiana state line, and the dogs were distributed to several rescue groups. ReGAP took 5 of the dogs and their great volunteers drove (about a 6-hour round trip, and in an ice storm!) that day to pick them up and bring them back here, where they were treated to baths and grooming by Dapper Dog Wash.

AR instantly fell for a sweet brindle girl, one of two females. She came home with us. Her track name is RJ's Stormy Dana, but the workers on the track called her Shana (and it was inscribed on her muzzle). So for a few days we called her Shana or Dana.

She's a sweetheart, with thick fur (really unusual) that is gold with tiger-stripes. So on Wednesday, AR says "We should call her TigerLily." O.K. Then yesterday, the dear hubby says "We could call her Lily." O.K.

See where this is going?

This is a photo of TigerLily & Quasar yesterday in the snow. That's me in the background, dressed to slum (or for the cold).
AR was holding the camera and called them.

Here are Quasar and TigerLily with their Wiggly-Giggly ball.

Here's Quasar reasserting his maleness, in a playful way.
Lucky that TigerLily is mellow, and is being vetted next week.

TigerLily is a sweetie. She's taken a few days to figure out what toys are for and what a treat is. She's very affectionate. And she has thick fur and feels very soft. Perhaps we should call her "Fluffy." She's taught herself how to climb up and down stairs, and knows how to jump into a car (we still have to lift Quasar). She loves her crate.

Dana/Shana/TigerLily is a good girl, and will make some family a loving pet - though it will be a couple of weeks before she's fully "assessed" and put up on the ReGAP site.

In the meantime, she's one of our family.

Quasar!

It's A Boy!

We didn't know we were expecting, so imagine our surprise when we fell in love with "Quasar."

He's now the brightness at the center of our galaxy!

Quasar is keeping his racing name; he knows it, answers to it, and it suits his quirkiness. He's nothing like our dear departed Bastet --in looks or temperament; we didn't think we could ever find another girl like her and, indeed, we did not. He is all boy. He's 66.7 lbs. of love, and dressed in a tux! He loves to fart and burp (it's a love fest with Dad), he barks (unusual for a greyhound), loves to "roughhouse," plays fetch with his squeaky hedgehog, chases squirrels, loves to be outside, and is quite the extrovert. At 4 years of age, he's still his puppy-self, but very well-mannered -- especially with "sit, stay" (treats help).

This past summer, we thought about the possibilities of adopting, but still weren't sure. In August, we received an email from Michigan ReGAP asking for additional foster families for some greyhounds coming out of the Second Chance At Life Greyhound & Inmate Prison Partnership Program. AR & I decided that we would foster as a way to figure out if we were ready for a dog. We completed our foster paperwork, and the next day I showed up at Dapper Dog Wash to pick up a dog. Quasar was assigned to me, and off we went.

I'll have to post more photos soon, and there is lots more to tell (his father was an Australian champion, he's an IVF baby, and he has over 5,400 siblings), but in the meantime, here is the letter Quasar will be mailing to his former handlers at the prison in Coldwater:


Hi,

I am writing to tell you that I have just been adopted! It is a case of "foster failure"; that is, after all these weeks my foster parents decided that I must be their forever dog. They tell me that is so because I am such a good-looking and well-behaved dog and there is probably not another one like me out there and they feel so lucky that they just can't believe it! (And did I mention because I'm good-looking?)

So let me tell you about my new digs and my new family.

I am just crazy about my new Dad; he is my best buddy. We go for 2-mile walks almost every day, and he is a firm believer that life is not worth living without peanut butter treats. I like to race up and down the driveway when he gets home from work. I love to play with Mom, and if I bark at her, she will roughhouse with me. Mom and Dad do not have kids, so I am an only child. They are creative types, though, and come and go throughout the day, so there is almost always someone home with me.

There are lots of beds here! I have one in the basement so I can be with Dad while he practices guitar, and a bed on the first floor so I can just hang out (usually looking out the front door at the neighborhood), and another really comfy bed upstairs. At night I like to sleep on my back with my legs up in the air. We go on day trips, and I've already been to the cider mill and to State Parks. I've come to love car rides, and yesterday Dad took me around the block just for fun. It was a blast!

We have a small but nice home, and the yard is fenced so I can run free to chase the squirrels. I have a favorite tree which I will stand under for long periods of time just waiting to see those squirrels come out of their nest. We have discovered that I am quite the watchdog -- a real surprise to all of us. I patrol the house and windows, and I bark at squirrels, people, and strange sounds at night.

When I first came to live here, I really missed you guys, so much that I didn't eat for a few days and really worried everyone. But they got the idea to mix some canned food with my dry food, and now I eat two big meals a day.

Mom and Dad want me to give you a special "Thank You" for having spent your time and energy training me and letting me know what love is all about. It's a big exciting world out here, and I really appreciate your having prepared me, and I will remember you always for it. I hope there are other lucky dogs out there that will get to know you, too.

Best wishes forever,

Quasar

Michigan ReGAP Greyhounds at Waterford Oaks

Join Michigan ReGAP (Rescued Greyhounds As Pets) this Sunday afternoon for a greyt time!

There'll be lots of greyt dogs there, and it will be a wonderful opportunity to meet many available for adoption. To see them via the internet, and/or find out more about this and other upcoming ReGAP events, click on this link.


September 28

MI - REGAP's 12th Annual Walk For Life Pledge Drive Fundraiser

What: FUNdraiser
When: Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m..
Where: Waterford Oaks, an Oakland County Park. 2800 Watkins Lake Rd., Waterford, MI. (Between Pontiac Lake Rd. and Dixe Hwy, just west of Telegraph
Park Info: 248.858.0906

Pledge Drive & Hike/walk to help save greyhound lives! Ask friends, family and co-workers to help greyhounds find their way from the track to the safety of REGAP and sponsor your "Hound Hike" in Waterford Oaks'

NO PARK ENTRY FEE! Greyt trails- wooded or paved! All walker-hiker hounds completing their route receive a memento greyhound pin.

FALL FUN! 2 Hike routes: Let your hound sniff til heart's content on the Nature Trail in the woods & over bridges or on a Paved Path along-side marshes, ponds and the woods. Large Playscape for the human kids! Relax under the large gazebo shelter, nibble on a Hotdog fresh off the grill. Annual Greyt Fall Raffle, Vendors, and some special guests to be announced at a later date!

Kansas City's Woodlands Greyhound Track Closes

Kansas City's Woodlands Greyhound Track has announced it will close August 23.

The Woodlands track manager Jayme LaRocca estimates there are about 900 dogs at the track (14 kennels have the capacity for 66 dogs each.) As with most track closings, some of the dogs will move on to other tracks, some will go to greyhound rescue groups, and the remaining dogs will return to the custody of their owners (as pets or, more likely, to be put down).

The good news is that the track is closing. The bad news is that there will be a great strain on rescue/adoption groups around the country: 1) to arrange for relay transportation of the dogs to other parts of the country; 2) to find additional foster/adoptive homes during these difficult economic times; 3) to raise the funds necessary to provide medical care for dogs coming off thee track (spaying/neutering, and in many cases acute-need veterinary care).

Here's a link to the story Greyhounds Need Homes After Woodlands Shutdown @ KMBC-TV in Kansas City.

I'll be updating this post today with more information and greyhound rescue group links.

Greyhound Protection at Tucson, Arizona, Dog Track

The following is from an email I received this morning from my pals at Michigan ReGAP (Rescued Greyhounds as Pets) about both the current status of dog racing in Colorado, and a ballot initiative in Tucson, Arizona, seeking to improve the lives of greyhound dogs at the track:

This appears to be one of those good news/bad news situations. The good news
is that the racing industry in Colorado is losing so much money that they
are having to close their tracks early -- some are afraid permanently (gee,
that would be horrible, wouldn't it?). The bad news is, that when this type
of thing happens, hundreds of dogs are at risk.

According to the Denver Post, the 2008 Colorado dog racing season will come
to an end this month after the Colorado Racing Commission and the Colorado
Greyhound Kennel Association could not agree on kennel contracts. Racing
will stop on June 28. It was scheduled to go until Sept. 1. The governing
bodies said they will work with area kennels and adoption agencies to
relocate the dogs. Bruce Seymore, director of operations for Mile High Dog
Track, says they will be reaching out to rescue groups to help place the
dogs. While that is commendable on his part, it certainly highlights the
fact that the industry has no plan in place for finding homes for the
hundreds of dogs that are continually displaced when they are no longer
profitable.

There is some speculation (Colorado's Channel 2 News) that this may be a
tactic by international investors to bring video gaming and satellite racing
to the Colorado tracks, something that is currently illegal in Colorado, but
has become a popular plan in other states.

This is definitely a situation that merits watching...

ALSO -

This article is too important for us to edit. Please click on the link and
read the entire piece. We all know that Arizona is one of the worst states
for greyhounds -- remember the 150 dogs that got "lost" on their way to
adoption groups, or the little girl that was put down while a rescue group
was en route to get her because the track didn't want to be bothered?
Arizona is also often the last stop on the way to Juarez Mexico tracks
where, believe it or not, conditions are even worse. The Tucson Dog
Protection group has proposed a ballot initiative that would mandate basic
protections for the dogs at the tracks. We need to write everyone we can to
help support this legislation.

Read the guest Op-Ed Greyhounds need the protection offered by South Tucson initiative by local veterinarian Janet Forrer.

Find out more about Tucson Dog Protection.

Racing Horses and Greyhounds

Another interesting blog/article in today's New York Times' The Rail, titled Injured Horses You Didn't See, by T.D. Thornton. Thornton questions whether a televised fatality will in fact impact positive change on the track, especially in light of "...15 horses at 39 North American tracks who failed to finish a race Saturday," the same day that Eight Belles was euthanized on the Kentucky Derby track. Speaking of another horse, Thornton says, "Unlike Eight Belles, whose tale will be told for decades to come, the only historical record of the gelding’s misstep will be a cryptic footnote, a dozen-year thoroughbred career distilled into a single line of agate type that reads nothing more than “trailed, pulled up ½.”

You really must read the article to better understand the frequency, severity, and sadness of the demise of many horses on the racetrack. It really draws into focus the "out of sight, out of mind" mentality of which most of us humans are prone to, and a trait which leaves many of us unaware of the same and equally distressing plight of racing greyhounds.

Read my May 3 post about Eight Belles euthanized on the track (and photos), and my May 4 post about ethics and morals of horse racing, with many links to outside stories and opinions.

Greyhound Event: Dog Day Afternoon - ReGAP, Harley Davidson, & Ann Arbor American HOG join to rescue greyhounds

Michigan ReGAP (Retired Greyhounds as Pets) has partnered with American Harley Davidson and the Ann Arbor American Hog Chapter to sponsor a police escorted motorcycle ride to raise awareness about working and service dogs, and raise funds to rescue former racing greyhounds.

On Sunday, May 18, Washtenaw County Sheriff motorcycle police will escort participating motorcyclists on a 50-plus mile countryside ride, starting in Ann Arbor and finishing at Willow Run Airport just outside Ypsilanti. Please join us for Dog Day Afternoon.

Food and entertainment – including an aircraft display by Yankee Air Force – will follow the ride. Wolverine K-9 Search and Rescue will give demonstrations; as will be ReGAP’s Second Chance at Life Prison Program greyhounds.

For more information and to register as a motorcyclist participant, please visit the ReGAP web site.

3/12/2008, #3