Fostering Greyhounds

EFA's DOG DAYS FESTiVAL continues...

Fostering Greyhounds
Written by Jane from TheDoghouse

I Love Greyhounds
Kid's T-shirt by TheDogHouse

Owned by 2 retired greyhounds, Max & Molly, I am passionate about greyhound rescue. Overbred by the racing industry, most greyhounds' racing 'career' end after only a few years, once they stop bringing in money.

I can testify first hand that these dogs make wonderful pets & believe each one deserves their place in a loving home. Unable to provide a permanent place in my home for anymore myself, fostering means that I can help multiple dogs on their way to their forever homes.

Torres, our first foster dog who was with us for 6 months

My partner & I have been fostering greyhounds for several years now. It can be an emotional roller coaster of a journey, taking a dog that is often physically & emotionally damaged into your home & helping them work through their issues. You inevitably become attached to these dogs & it can be hard to say goodbye when the time comes.

But seeing them walk off all waggy-tailed & bright-eyed with their new family makes it all worth while. You know that they will remember your kindness forever, & the space that they leave means you can help yet another dog through that same special journey.

Tar, who was with us for a month before he went to his forever home

Fostering greyhounds wouldn't be possible if it weren't for my own well-adjusted dogs, Max & Molly, who welcome new dogs into our household without question & quickly 'show them the ropes'.

It is sometimes hard to believe that the dogs who had so many issues of their own when they first came to me (Max was depressed & Molly was full of anxieties) have changed so much over the years that they are now teaching other dogs how to enjoy life & behave appropriately!

Poppy, our current foster dog who is still waiting for her forever home

We are currently fostering beautiful black & white girl, Poppy, for Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary. Poppy arrived at SGS kennels shortly after having given birth to a litter of pups (sold to be racers). At only 4 years old & never having lived in a home before, she is still a mere puppy herself in a lot of ways.

SGS try to place as many of their dogs as possible in foster homes prior to re-homing. This is so that they can begin to adapt to life in a home environment (most will only ever have lived in outdoor kennels before), be cared for whilst recovered from their spaying or neutering operation (which is funded by SGS), & be assessed to see what sort of home will ultimately be suitable for their needs.

Poppy with a friend

Poppy has been with us for 6 weeks now & during that time we have learned a lot about her. She is very accepting of other dogs of all shapes & sizes but is not safe around cats, walks beautifully on the lead, is completely clean in the house, has no separation anxiety issues, loves to play (I think she thinks she is a retriever the way she plays with a ball!), is food motivated & very trainable with good recall potential, & is an extremely affectionate & loving girl.

It will be very difficult for us to say goodbye when her forever family comes along, but I will gladly be ready to open my heart & home to another dog in need...

***

Further Tails...

Read about Torres & Tar forever homes:
http://www.maxandmollydesigns.com/2009/12/13/happy-endings/


Learn about the Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary:
http://www.scottishgreyhoundsanctuary.com


See Poppy's photo portfolio:
https://www.facebook.com/maxandmollydesigns#!/media/set/?set=a.10150212220751430.315731.93604851429&type=1

Jasmine, the Mother Theresa Greyhound

from http://www.greatpetnet.com/630/jasmine-the-mother-theresa-greyhound/

In 2003, police in Warwickshire, England, opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog. It had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished, and had clearly been abused.



In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a Greyhound female, to the nearby Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, run by a man named Geoff Grewcock and known as a willing haven for Animals abandoned, orphaned or otherwise in need.

Geoff and the other sanctuary staff went to work with two aims to restore the dog to full health, and to win her trust. It took several weeks, but eventually both goals were achieved.

They named her Jasmine, and they started to think about finding her an adoptive home.

But Jasmine had other ideas. No-one remembers now how it began, but she started welcoming all Animal arrivals at the sanctuary. It wouldn’t matter if it was a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit or, any other lost or hurting Animal, Jasmine would peer into the box or cage and, where possible, deliver a welcoming lick.

Geoff relates one of the early incidents. “We had two puppies that had been abandoned by a nearby railway line. One was a Lakeland Terrier cross and another was a Jack Russell Doberman cross. They were tiny when they arrived at the centre and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee. Then she fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them.”

“But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits. She takes all the stress out of them and it helps them to not only feel close to her but to settle into their new surroundings.

“She has done the same with the fox and badger cubs, she licks the rabbits and guinea pigs and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose.”

Jasmine, the timid, abused, deserted waif, became the animal sanctuary’s resident surrogate mother, a role for which she might have been born. The list of orphaned and abandoned youngsters she has cared for comprises five fox cubs, four badger cubs, 15 chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies and 15 rabbits.



And one roe deer fawn. Tiny Bramble, 11 weeks old, was found semi-conscious in a field. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, Jasmine cuddled up to her to keep her warm, and then went into the full foster mum role. Jasmine the greyhound showers Bramble the Roe deer with affection and makes sure nothing is matted.



“They are inseparable,” says Geoff “Bramble walks between her legs and they keep kissing each other. They walk together round the sanctuary.



It’s a real treat to see them.”

Jasmine will continue to care for Bramble until she is old enough to be returned to woodland life. When that happens, Jasmine will not be lonely. She will be too busy showering love and affection on the next Orphan or victim of abuse.



From left, Toby, a stray Lakeland dog; Bramble, orphaned Roe deer; Buster, a stray Jack Russell; a dumped rabbit; Sky, an injured barn owl; and Jasmine with a Mothers heart doing best what a caring Mother would do… Such is the order of God’s Creation.

To make a Donation to Jasmine’s Home click here.

Link: http://www.warwickshirewildlifesanctuary.co.uk/index.htm

via David Wilson

Needed: Donations for Greyhound Rescue Auction

Greyhound Pets of America (GPA)-Tampa Bay is having both an auction and raffle on February 21, 2009 to support greyhound rescue.

The event will be held in conjunction with the "Parade of Greys" walkathon in Tampa Bay, Florida. The "Parade of Greys" is a cooperative event between GPA-Tampa Bay and GRreyhound Rescue & Adoptions-Tampa Bay.

Any and all donations are welcome. For more information, please contact Joe, vice-president of GPA-Tampa Bay, at JMuhrlin@intlsign.com.

If you'd like to donate an item, Joe asks that you please send the following with your item:
- A note to say that you are an Etsy for Animals member, and that the item is for the February auction.
- Business cards and/or your website links
- An approximate value for your donation item.
- An e-mail address where he can contact you about your donation.

Items may be sent to:

Joe Muhrlin
6980 Ulmerton Rd #2C
Largo, FL 33771

All donators will receive both a thank you letter and a 501c3 tax-exempt letter.

Monetary donations are also welcome since GPA-Tampa Bay has had unexpected veterinary expenses lately. You can donate directly by going to the GPA-Tampa Bay website and using the PayPal link on the left side of the home page.

GPA-Tampa Bay is dedicated to promoting and facilitating the adoption of greyhounds when their racing careers end, and to educate the public about greyhounds and what wonderful pets they can become. GPA cares for the animals from the track to their new homes, using our network of foster homes where loving volunteers help them learn the trials and tribulations of life after the track. GPA Tampa Bay is run entirely by volunteers and depends on fundraising and donations for its operating expenses.