by Tom McRorie
The Idaho track ceased live greyhound racing on December 17, 1995. The expected surplus of greyhounds that could potentially be destroyed did not occur. The combined efforts of the various adoption organizations, members of the racing industry and the track management resulted in all extra dogs being placed in adoption programs almost two weeks ahead of the track closure. The only dogs remaining at the track its last week of operation were those that were still racing. As each dog completed its last race, it left the track with either its owner or an adoption group. At the time of closure the only dogs left were those that had raced the night before and were awaiting pickup by the adoption organizations.
The track manager, Al May, was blown away by the support they received. They had expected the worst and got the best.
The track had anticipated 400 to 700 dogs (depending on who you spoke to) that would have to be cared for until they could be placed in adoption programs. They had to care for none. What a great Christmas story. Even nicer, all the dogs we received from Idaho spent their Christmas in a home, being loved.
You guys did it, you were great! Those of you that know or have the dogs with the group names starting with C or D have the Idaho dogs. They are the only ones lucky enough to have made it to California and into your loving care. Thanks to all the donors, volunteers, vets and companies that volunteered money, merchandise, services and help. It was a tremendous effort and it worked. What's more, I don't think I ever had more fun, or was more satisfied by anything I was involved in. Look into those brown eyes and you receive all the thanks and love one could ever expect to receive.
According to information received from the track, GPA/CA-Los Angeles was the only adoption group in California to receive any of the Idaho Greyhounds. Give yourself a pat on the back
ANDY AND ADAM -- CHAPTER II
In our last "Update" we had a story about two greyhounds with broken legs that we rescued from the Caliente track.
When we last heard from Adam, he was resting comfortably in Cindy and Joe Huahulu's home, recovering from hock surgery. Andy was doing the same at Tom and Joyce McRorie's.
After a month or so with Cindy and Joe, Adam was adopted by Mac and Becky McKenzie. He is living peacefully with three miniature schnauzers in Orange. (Or as peacefully as anyone can live with three miniature schnauzers.) Tom and Joyce, once again demonstrating that they are really not cut out for fostering greyhounds, adopted Andy.
Both dogs are waiting to have the screws removed from their legs and are on restricted activity.
DANTE'S CHRISTMAS GIFT
by Joyce McRorie
"Dante's a Grade A dog," they said when they called Roger from Couer d'Alene. "A real winner" they said, "with no place to go."
Dante was a Grade "A" dog alright, with a reputation as a fighter. He ran in the money all of his life and ended up at the end of his career, almost five years old, at Couer d'Alene. Seems as though Dante was a crowd pleaser in more ways than one; people loved him and he them. The only problem was that Dante could not get along with any other dogs. They turned him out alone and he ate alone. Now he really was alone. The other dogs were either going off to race elsewhere or on to become pets in homes for Christmas. Rescue groups contacted so far had been unable to take him because of his reputation.
Roger told the trainer down with our load of dogs and that he could stay on the farm if GPA/CA-Los Angeles couldn't find a place for him.
The search began to find a foster family, dog knowledgeable enough to handle Dante and having no other animals. Further, we hoped for an application from someone who would understand about Dante, was dog knowledgeable and had no other animals either.
About the same time that Dante was traveling from Couer d'Alene to Inyokern, Clarice and John Roeder were starting to hang around our Show and Tells. We laughingly called them "Greyhound Groupies". john was about to retire from the Air Force, they were dog knowledgeable, and had no animals at this time, They had to put off adopting a greyhound for a while, BUT THEY COULD FOSTER ONE.
Winnie and Doug Pomeroy happened to stop by at the Pet Care Company Show and Tell and mentioned to rend Dante that they were interested in a large male dog to replace their German Shepherd, only wanted one dog and didn't mind if that dog didn't get along with others of his kind. After hearing about Dante, ...THEY APPLIED!
Enter Dante, a big, self assured (but not arrogant), sweet, intelligent, wonderful, eager to please, dark brindle boy, who learned how to fetch a ball in fifteen minutes and not to growl at my dogs in two.
The Kodak Moment came as Clarice and john took off for their home with Dante and Clarice sharing an L.L. Bean dog bed in the back of their car. Clarice and john kept him in their apartment on the base for a little over a week. He never made a mistake. In fact, they say that he is "the perfect dog". Clarice took him for walks around other dogs and rewarded him when he acted appropriately . . . and he did all of the time. They did a wonderful job with this boy and we are forever in their debt.
Prior to Dante's move to Fort MacArthur, Winnie had stopped by my house to meet Dante, get a greyhound sweater pattern, a pattern for a jacket, and take a look at the beds my dogs sleep on. It was love at first sight and pictures were taken all around. Armed with these pictures, Doug and Winnie proceeded to Utah for Christmas and Dante moved in with john and Clarice to share Christmas with them. Doggie treats, doggie toys and doggie kisses made for the best Christmas of all.
On December 30th Dante left the Fort and cried all the way to the Pomeroy's ...he really wanted to join the Air Force. Upon arrival, Dante was greeted with hugs, kisses, new toys, and Doug's repeated comment, "Gee, he's big!" Dante moved right in. His water dish, bed and toys were in just the right place and he investigated everything. He went for a walk that night in his new green jacket and slept until the dogs next door woke him up in the morning.
Dante has a wonderful home thanks from the beginning to a caring trainer who made the call to Roger, to Roger who gave him a place to go, and to the Roeder's and Pomeroy's who gave him a second chance at life. Best of all, Dante lives just a few blocks from us in Huntington Beach and we will get to see him often. He's truly a special dog.
SPECIAL THANKS
GPA/CA-LA would like to express its sincere thanks to the following for their help in our efforts to find homes for ex-racing greyhounds.
Aliso Animal Hospital 24038 Aliso Creek Road Laguna Niguel, CA (714)643-0437
Dr. Robert Rooks All Care Animal Ref 18440 Amistad Fountain Valley, (714) 963-0909
Back Bay Veterinary Hospital 4263 Birch Street Newport Beach, CA (714) 756-0554
Brea Veterinary Hospital 675 S. Brea Boulevard Brea, CA (714)529-4988
Brook-Ellis Pet Hospital 18452 Brookhurst Fountain Valley (714)963-0440
Central Orange Emergency Animal Clinic 3720 Campus Drive Newport Beach, CA
Garden Park Pet Clinic 12453 Valley View Garden Grove, CA (714) 898-637
GRAPHIX Printing & Design 7209-C Arlington Ave. Riverside, CA (909)351-8193
Dr. L.L. Novy & Associates Valley Veterinary Clinic 845 Los Angeles Avenue Simi Valley, CA 93065 (805) 526-0917 (818) 884-1533
Bruna Palmatier of Operation Greyhound (619) 588-6611
Superior Mini Storage 1600 Superior Avenue Costa Mesa, CA (714)631-3930
Mr. George Venti Community Feed Store 5916 Los Angeles Avenue Simi Valley, CA 93963 (805) 526-1364
An extra special thank you goes to : Dr. Heidi Mischler, Dr. Jennifer Burke, Dr. Andrea Glasser, the entire staff, and especially Cookie at VCA Rossmoor El Dorado.
We would also like to thank the many others who gave us their financial support and those who volunteered their time and efforts. You made it I possible to find homes for 35 greyhounds and provide care for the 33 now in foster homes and at the farm.
BOARD ELECTIONS
As you may or may not know, the present board of GPA/CA-Los Angeles is an interim one. We had agreed at our first meeting to come together after the new year and select a permanent board.
Our next Board meeting will be February 11, 1996 at 1:00 p.m. Call Karen at (310) 496-1873 for the location. At that time a permanent board will be elected.
On February 11, 1996 we will have the following board positions available: President, Vice President, Second Vice President, Executive Secretary, Treasurer, and Directors (number can vary).
If you are interested in joining the board (714) 962-0789 and she will place your name on the ballot.
Our large group of volunteers is growing fast. Interest in finding homes for our greyhounds is high. The importance of having all of you participate in some way cannot be over emphasized. Please join us on the board.
TWELVE LESS DOGS. . .A STORY
by Lynda Adame (printed by permission)
I had the opportunity to join GPA/CA-LA on a trip to rescue some greyhounds. It was an experience that will stay with me forever. I thought I'd share the story with you. ! wrote this as I was driving home that night (literally). It could use some serious editing, but I thought I'd leave it in the original form.
Has anyone ever told you about rescuing greyhounds! Not just adopting them out, but actually rescuing them on a Saturday from a sure death on Monday!
Have they ever told you about getting up while it is still dark outside! Earlier than they have ever gotten up before. What about the hour long drive just to connect up with the seven other volunteers! Tired-eyed and shivering in the cold air, they meet to plan out the next 14 hours. The smell of coffee drifts !II among them; each person holds a huge steaming cup.
Have they told you about the three hour drive South! How excitement and nervousness rise with the sun. How their palms begin to sweat and their hearts race as they cross the International border. Armed guards in dark sunglasses wave them through. They drive the narrow twisting streets; the patchwork of Tijuana life passing just outside the window. Finally they reach Caliente. The sienna colored race track towers above a small grouping of dog kennels that seem to crouch submissively.
Have they told you that the smell is what hits them first! The stink of urine and feces is nauseating so early in the morning. As they approach the cinder block kennels, the dogs begin to howl and bark as if on cue. Some of the volunteers struggle to communicate with the kennel help, while others gather at the end of the building. Just beyond the track's tote-board, camels, zebras and lions can be seen roaming around. It is a surreal experience. Will they be allowed to take dogs back with them! "No" says one man, "No dogs today". The volunteers have come too
far to leave empty handed. Quiet huddled conversations begin. Voices become louder, sentences punctuated by sharp rapid arm movements. After what seems an eternity, the gates yawn open and the trucks are allowed in.
What about the feeling they get as the dogs are finally led out! Did they tell you about that! How special each dog seems. One walks just like Tice.... one is the color of Remi...one wags his tail as much as Cody. The group of volunteers have come for nine dogs. Can they take more! Do they have room! Yes, two more. Load them up.
Have you heard about the "nice" dog handler? The shy one that idly pets his dogs, calming them. How he walks up at the last minute carrying a small red brindle female. "Just one more", he pleads with his eyes. This one is hurt bad. A horribly swollen rear leg--a broken hock. The man, clutching the tiny dog to his chest, is not budging. The volunteers look at the dog's exquisite face, and her amber colored eyes hold theirs in a steady gaze. Yes...they will take this dog also. They'll worry about the cost of the surgery later. It is the third broken hock they have taken in as many months. The handler beams. "Gracias" he says quietly.
Have they told you about re-crossing the border! How they wonder if the dogs at Caliente don't actually live better than some of the residents of that city! It is a three hour drive home. The female with the broken hock cries steadily for an hour, and then mercifully falls asleep. The dogs are unloaded, medicated, cat tested, bathed. The volunteers are wet and hungry. Their backs ache.
Have they told you that they won't reach home until 6 pm that night! Dead tired, but still glowing with the quiet pleasure they felt as each dog was led away to start its new life. How they fondly greet their own greyhounds. Such lucky dogs . . . such very lucky dogs.
Has anyone ever told you that twelve less dogs will die this Monday!
THE TWELFTH DOG
by Joyce McRorie
Trips to Caliente are always full of unpredictable events and Saturday, January 13th was no exception. We had made arrangements to meet Bruna Palmatier of Operation Greyhound, in the track parking lot. She was facilitating our contact this time, and had arranged for the dogs both groups would be picking up.
After a few wrong turns by some us, a mix up about the dogs, and a few assorted delays, we loaded our eleven charges into three vehicles and were I just about to start off when one of the kennel workers carried Emily out. She is a beautiful, little faced, red brindle girl all of 22 months of age. Her right leg hung below his arms, swinging as he walked toward us. Leaving a dog like this behind would be very difficult for anyone, but those of you who know little Ruthie and crazy Andy, know that for Tom and me, it is impossible. Needless to say, Emily was loaded into the Suburban and transported to All Care Animal Referral for surgery. The dogs from Caliente join those we trucked in on Friday from Colorado. These dogs came from a dog farm which was going out of business. It will take quite a few weeks for them to recover from their experiences. In the meantime, dogs were transported from the farm to Devon's garage for shots and Karen's back yard for baths. Actually, we are getting quite good at this procedure. More and more people are helping out as foster homes, dog bathers, transporters, etc. And that makes the task much easier. Thanks to the efforts of some twenty people, we now have twelve dogs in foster care and twenty-one on the farm. By the way, Emily's leg was repaired on Tuesday, and she is currently staying with Dan Sullivan and his girls, Bambi and Tinker Bell. That tail never stopped wagging from the time she was picked up at the hospital to the time she met Dan and his dogs.
BEING A PLACEMENT REPRESENTATIVE IS A FIRST RATE JOB
by Richard & Beverly Strissel
Being a Placement Rep for GPA/CA-LA puts one in an extreme position. It can be extremely hard and extremely rewarding and both at once. The responsibility of placing a loving trusting greyhound into a new situation is a big one. As Placement Reps, we feel it is our responsibility to choose carefully because the dog can not. However, there are many tools to assist us in doing so. We try to use our intuition to ask the right questions of a prospective adopter. We try to emphasize, in an initial phone interview, the special needs of a greyhound (i.e.: I being on lead and being an indoor dog) as well as the joy they bring. We then set up a home visit if it sounds like a potentially good home. The home visit serves several purposes. We have the opportunity to see how the family members react to our dogs and how our dogs react to them. Sometimes dogs are a better judge of human character than we could ever be. We also have a chance to observe the environment and any potential physical hazards. Many times a few boards on a fence or a doggie door will turn a questionable home into an acceptable one. We also have a chance to find out the life-style of the adopting family. Greyhounds, like people, all have individual personalities. Is the family physically active! Do they have small children or other pets! Are they social with people in and out of their house constantly! Most of you already know that all of these situations can handle a greyhound but we need to find the right dog for each situation. Our rule of thumb is that everyone is qualified to have a dog if there is no good reason not to place an animal in that home. We try to keep in mind that everyone has an individual life-style (that might be different from ours), but if they can show that the greyhound will be a loved member of their family, we have saved another dog.
Finding a home and placing a dog are usually the easiest part of being a Rep. We tell our new adopters that we are available around the clock for assistance. We leave them with both of our work numbers as well as our home number in case they run into difficulty. Most of the follow-up calls we get are questions that we have simple solutions for and many we have seen over and over. We feel it is extremely important to have a "lifeline" for the new adopters so that a small problem does not become an eventual bounce-back. I Getting the dog settled in a home can be a traumatic adjustment for both greyhound and adopter. Still, the majority of our placements have smooth sailing within a couple of days. It is essential for the success of a placement to provide initial constant contact.
The joys always seem to outweigh the responsibilities. To get a phone call from an adopter who just wanted to say "thanks for giving me something that has changed my life" or seeing a dog relaxed and loved at an event makes it all worth it. To hear wonderful stories of a shy dog who is now the mascot of the neighborhood or a very thin dog who has filled out and no longer has a eating problem are all signs of a successful placement. We would like to take the credit, but attribute most of the success to these gentle, loving creatures who adapt so easily.
If you feel you would like to join us in creating "life after racing" for greyhounds, we invite you to come to one of the Placement Rep training sessions GPA/CA-LA conducts. It's a first rate job!
ADOPTIONS
October 19th, 1995, marked the date of the first adoption of a greyhound through our new sub-chapter. Our foster program is going great guns, and we have been able to find wonderful homes for quite a few wonderful dogs. One problem we did have, however, was keeping those beautiful, brown eyed dogs in foster I homes over the holidays. Who could resist that LOOK coming from those FACES at Christmas time! Well, folks, not many foster families could.
Listed below are the families and their dogs who came together since our subchapter began:
Aaron --Harold and Cindy Collins from Point Mugu
Abby --Robert and Carol Vinnacombe from Long Beach
Adam --Mac and Becky McKenzie from Orange
Alex --Cheri and Mike Heyer from Newport Beach
Alice --Mark and Mindy Benson from Harbor City
Andy --Tom and Joyce McRorie from Huntington Beach
Ariel --Sharron Moore and Robert Johnson from Hawthorne
Ashley --Juliette and Thomas Olson from Huntington Beach
Axel --Herb and Beryle Hintzke from Seal Beach
Billy --Paula and Robert Huggins from Monarch Beach
Bogie --Marilyn Moore and Mike Tyner from Lake Forest
Bonnie --John and Barbara Guthrie from Chatsworth
Brett --Wayne and Carol Simpson from Huntington Beach
Buster --Lisa and Tony Lavin from Westlake Village
Cagney --Judith and lack Brody from Long Beach
Camille --Ed and Marjorie Doyle from Tustin
Carmen --Jara Lewin and Bob Buckner from Irvine
Catherine --Tom and Joyce McRorie from Huntington Beach
Chase --Gayle and Gary Stephan from La Habra
China --Mark Van Alstyne from Los Angeles
Chip --Barbara and Dick Peterson from Huntington Beach
Chuck --Chuck and Debbie Moore from Thousand Oaks
Cleo --Verna Everhart from Long Beach
Cody --Linda and Matt Adame from San Pedro
Dante --Doug and Winnie Pomeroy from Huntington Beach
Daphne --Jara Lewin and Bob Buckner from Irvine
Dash --Christine Boysen from Los Angeles
Dixie --Anne Voytilla from Santa Ana
Dreamer --Ron and Debra Bingham from Arcadia
Duke --John Shipley from Los Angeles
Dustin --Dr. Betty Kazan from Long Beach
Dylan --Steve Goldberg from South Pasadena
Flicka --Joe and Renee Nevins from Huntington Beach
Kern --Kevin and Stephanie Donavan from Laguna Beach
Zeus --Jeannie and David Killoran from Los Angeles
GET YOUR VCRS READY
Watch for the 2 hour National Geographic Special "Greyhounds: Running for their Lives" on TBS. Times are Sunday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, March 11 at 11:05 p.m., and Saturday, March 16 at 7pm (PST).
SHOW your greyhounds & TELL the world how great they are
On the back page of every issue the "UPDATE" we offer a list of Show & Tells held by volunteers to SHOW what great pets retired racing greyhounds are and TELL everyone what they are missing if they don't own a greyhound.
If you own a greyhound, we would like you and your greyhound(s) to join us at one of the many Show & Tells we have. If you would like more information, call Pat at (310) 547-9470. Everyone is welcome unless a limited number of greyhounds is specified on the events calendar.
I'M BEGGING YOU, PLEASE -- DOG FOOD NEEDED
One of our greatest needs at the moment, other than money, is dry kibble (a premium dog food). We have the opportunity to purchase 50 pound bags of premium kibble at cost. However, to get that price we have to purchase a pallet of dog food. Many of the greyhounds we get need to add a few extra pounds to get them ready for their new life of retirement. Right now we have 21 greyhounds to feed up at Roger's farm. This doesn't include the 12 greyhounds in foster homes, where the foster families often supply the food themselves.
If you would like to make a donation to help us purchase a pallet of dog food, send a check to:
GPA/CA-LA
9642 Bay Meadow Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92646
with a note or notation on the check that it is for the "Kibble Fund". ANY amount you can give would be greatly appreciated. If everyone we mailed this newsletter to sent in just one dollar, we would have enough money to buy a pallet of food plus some extra money for treats!
DOOR PRIZES / RAFFLE PRIZES
With our Valentine Benefit Dinner right around the corner (February 17th) and our picnic coming in May or early June, we need door prizes and raffle items to help us raise money. If you would like to donate an item, please call Pat at (310) 547-9470 or Joyce at (714) 962-0789.
Possible ideas are gift certificates, tickets, gift baskets, dog related items, or anything you would enjoy receiving as a prize. Prizes can be large or small, practical or frivolous, worth $1 or $100, or for humans or canines. You don't have to buy the item yourself either. Ask local businesses, friends or employers if they would be willing to donate an item to GPA/CA-LA. And when you ask, be sure to take your greyhound along so he/she can look up at the person with those big brown eyes. How could anyone refuse!
Donation receipts are available upon request.
TICK DISEASE: REALITY OR HYSTERIA
by Lynda Adame
By now, most Greyhound owners have heard something about the tick diseases. The term "tick disease" is a general way of referring to any of the tick-borne diseases. In this article, we will be specifically talking about: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis, and Babesiosis. Depending on who you have talked to, this is either a plague, or it is simply hype & hysteria. I believe the truth lies somewhere between these two extremes.
Greyhounds, as a breed, are not uniquely susceptible to tick disease. These diseases can, and do, infect: dogs, cats, horses, cattle, and humans. They have the potential to infect any mammal that has exposure to ticks. It is the kennel atmosphere of track life that is to blame for the Greyhound breed's high exposure rate to the tick diseases. Racing Greyhounds live in cramped quarters and spend a large part of their day in their kennels. This, coupled with a high rate of tick infestation, contributes to the continual exposure of Greyhounds to feeding ticks.
The most important information that I can pass on to you is the fact that these diseases are more often than not left out of the clinical index of suspicion that Veterinarians use when diagnosing illnesses. This means they are frequently misdiagnosed. ANY Greyhound experiencing a vague, unexplainable, or undiagnosed illness should be tested for the tick diseases. Some important symptoms to look for: hemorrhaging (which can occur anywhere in the dog's body, even if the blood work is "normal, joint pain, lethargy, intermittent fever, lack of appetite, swelling, open sores, hyper-reflective eyes, neurological signs (repetitive obsessive licking, palsy, or un-coordination), anemia, kidney problems, auto-immune disorders, and irreversible bone marrow suppression/ damage. Please do not allow your Greyhound to donate blood until it has been tested for all of the tick diseases.
Recent testing performed by Greyhound Rescue groups nationwide shows infection rates, in a select set of 600+ retired hounds, to be: 40 50% positive to Babesia canis, 25 30% positive to Ehrlichia canis, and 12-15% positive to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. There are also small percentages of infections to Lyme, as well as dogs having multiple infections. While this was certainly NOT a definitive scientific study, these numbers are something we should all take very seriously. Remember that these diseases are not Greyhound-only diseases; they are being recognized in the pet population in almost every state in the U.S.
The most widely recognized vector for these diseases is the Brown Dog Tick, although the Deer Tick can infect as well. It is believed that a tick must feed for 48 72 hours to pass these diseases on to a host organism. A single tick can pass one or all of these diseases on to a host in a single feeding.
The IFA (Indirect Fluorescent Antibody) test is currently the most reliable for determining exposure to any of the tick diseases. The IFA test detects the presence of antibodies to the disease in a dog's blood serum. If your dog tests positive to any one of the diseases, a titer count will be delivered to your Vet along with the diagnosis from the Lab. This titer level will help determine the best course of action to take in treating the particular disease. The Geimsa Smear is another test used to detect infection. This test attempts to Locate the actual organism in the dog's blood, and is considered highly unreliable.
Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Lyme are all treated with varying doses of Tetracycline or Doxycycline. The exact dosage and length of treatment depends on the Parasite level in the dog's system.
Babesia canis research on the Subclinical and Chronic infected dog is sorely lacking. The most successful, and least toxic, of the anti-babesial drugs is Imidocarb Dipropionate. (Often referred to as Imidocarb or Imizol). Unfortunately, this drug is not yet approved by the FDA for general use on dogs in the United States. Prior to December 31, 1995, Vets in the U.S. were able to obtain Imidocarb for experimental use on Babesia infected dogs. Many Greyhounds were treated during this time, and few showed any lasting side effects to this drug. We are currently waiting for post-treatment test results on these Greyhounds, but the initial signs are good. Some rescue groups are beginning to experiment with Doxycycline and Clindmycin to try and treat/contain the Babesia infection. No real results are reported back so far.
My own Greyhound, Tice, was recently diagnosed with Babesia canis and has an exposure level to Ehrlichia canis. When my Veterinarian admitted to me (quite honestly I might add) that he knew little about Ehrlichia and even less about Babesia, my tick disease investigation began. In the past four months I have assembled a library of 50+ research papers and articles, I have logged many hours speaking with "experts" and other affected owners, and I began a tick-disease mailing list on the Internet.
Much of the documented research on Ehrlichia canis and Babesia canis that I have found is not only out of date, but focuses on the Acute phase of the diseases. Most of the Greyhounds in adoptive homes that tested positive were past the Acute phase and are into the Subclinical and Chronic phases.
The research on these last two phases, during which the diseases can lie dormant for months or years, is minimal. The tick-disease mailing list provides the most current information available, and the Internet itself gives us a good forum to lobby of more research on these diseases.
For more information on tick disease or Labs that perform the IFA test, you can contact joyce McRorie of GPA/CA/LA at (714) 962-0789 or myself (Lynda Adame) or on the Internet at adame@venice.sedd.trw.com.
LEASHES, COLLARS & JACKETS
If you are interested in information or in placing an order for a Premier collar, leash or jacket for your greyhound, call Rich or Bev Strissel at (805) 526-0752. Collars are $8 and leashes are $7 plus shipping and handling. Polar fleece jackets are available in hunter green or red for $26 plus $4 shipping and handling.
GREYHOUNDS LOVE A PARADE
by Paula Otteson
![[parade]](/file/19552/KOM_97_1.ISO/dyreweb/greyhund/wwwfas~1.org/newsle~1/jan-pa~2.jpg)
Image: Redlands parade participants with their greyhounds
Have you ever wondered what it would be.like to walk your greyhound in a parade! What about two parades in one day! On December 2, 1995, GPA/CA-LA was invited to participate in two Christmas parades one in Redlands (the 45 MPH Couch Potato entry annually placed by Redlands resident and greyhound owner Warren Stobaugh) and the other in Belmont Shores (an invitation by Friends of the Long Beach Animal Shelter to be an addition to their group). So Joanne Kally, JaVae Ferrier and I decided to take on the challenge. Luckily the Redlands parade began at 9:30 a.m. and the Belmont Shores parade began at 5:30 pm.
What a great time we had! Joanne took her two greyhounds Indiana Bones and Dreamer, JaVae took her foster dog Bogie, and I took my greyhound Tinsel. We piled into Joanne's Explorer and off we went to Redlands. We arrived at our parade position at 9:30 but had to wait around for our section to begin walking. We had a chance to talk with the other greyhound owners and meet their greyhounds. Most were from Redlands and walk their greyhounds in the parade every year. Everyone was really excited to be able to show off our greyhounds to such a large group of people at one time. Most dogs were festively dressed in antlers, bows or bells. The parade route was about a mile and a half long but was a fairly easy walk since the pace was slow, and there were times we had to stop because of congestion. My husband Mike and I had made of banner to be carried in the parade and we found out that if two people carrying it were the same height, it looked much better than if one person carrying it was five feet tall and the other person was six feet two inches tall. The parade went very well except for the fact that we were directly behind a tractor with no smog controls. Once they got far enough ahead of us we were able to breathe a little easier. By the end of the parade it had started to warm up and the dogs were hot and thirsty, so we took a few pictures of the group and then headed out.
![[parade]](/file/19552/KOM_97_1.ISO/dyreweb/greyhund/wwwfas~1.org/newsle~1/jan-pa~1.jpg)
Image: Everyone's ready to march in the Belmont Shores parade
Joanne, JaVae and I decided to grab a bite to eat (and our greyhounds got hamburgers for a job well done) and when we noticed that we had a bit of time left until the next parade, we decided to go shopping (what else could we do) We found a place that had the cutest little Santa hats that fit perfectly on greyhound heads, so we bought some for the Belmont Shores parade (we couldn't have the dogs wearing the same thing to two parades now could we?). Back on the road, we headed to Joanne's house to rest for a little while, meet her two Yorkshire Terriers, Button and Augie, and then it was off to the next parade.
We arrived in Belmont Shores and met other greyhound owners at Tom Pollack's house (he's the manager of the Signal Hill PetSmart where we do Show and Tells). We also met up with the Friends of the Long Beach Animal Shelter volunteers and their dogs. They were the ones who invited us to be in the parade with them. We found out that to get to the parade route, we would have to walk about a mile and a half. So we bundled the dogs in their dog jackets and new hats and headed out. There were lots of bands practicing and unfortunately one of the greyhounds dropped out because it was just too noisy for her. Luckily, we were placed toward the front of the parade so we didn't have to wait around for very to start walking. We had our own personal photographer (Nathan Lopez -- a greyhound owner also) capturing us in all our glory. By the time the parade was over, we were ready to go home and crash. On the ride home the dogs were pooped out. We noticed Tinsel had found a boyfriend, Bogie. They were laying side by side with her arm (front leg) around him.
Some of the best memories of those two parades were of people shouting "Good for you", "What you guys are doing is wonderful" and clapping for us as we went by. We all adopted our greyhounds because we love them, but to have these people recognize our efforts was really heartwarming. And maybe seeing these beautiful greyhounds calmly walking down the street and going over to meet the crowds when the parade stopped (everyone wanted to pet them), will mak