teri_d

Oh my - sending many good thoughts and wishes your way --

Beautiful tribute to Zander who fought the brave fight -- a hearty roo in his memory and a big hug for you

Thank you - you've been missed!

Woody is quite a handsome guy - welcome from Oklahoma

What a doll - welcome from Oklahoma -- don't forget to charge the camera batteries- we all like pictures. Teri with ronee, Jill and phog

Hugs to you Diane- the heart hurts so bad

I'm so sorry - Broodies are always the best.....hugs

My sympathy and a big hug

Hard isn't it????

Thanks for sharing, dick!! Yes, beware of phog was a good racer - and one of Ariel battles best offspring. When we brought phog home I hung his muzzle on the coathook by the back door. When I leashed him up for his first walk here he wanted his muzzle and was nuzzling it like he was gonna get to put it on and go race. Edited to add - phogs leg is doing great! He has been taking walks with Jill twice a day and it has really done well - can't even tell he was injured. Ronee is 10 years old and doesn't like to go on walks very often anymore. He had a place on his side when he came to us and it was surgically removed on Thursday at our vets. We await path report.

Now that Phog has been home a few weeks I thought I'd post some of the things we learned during our w& w process. Not that we are experts by any means, but maybe this will help somebody somehow. For those of you who don't know our story -- we were honored by teddy Palmer and our halfway home greyhounds group to name two unraced puppies several years ago. One of them we named beware of phog - dh and I both being ku alumni and huge basketball fans. Phog ran his entire career at derby lane and we loved watching his races/results on line thru track info and greyhound data sites. We picked up Phog at derby lane on January 20 and brought him back to Oklahoma to join rollover ronee and rowdy Jill. 1. Gather as much info as you can. Use greyhound data, track info, your adoption group, track pr person (if available) track adoption group (if possible) and you can even check with nga office in Abilene to gather info and contact numbers/email For owner, trainer, kennel, adoption contacts, etc. this thread is helpful as well! 2. Cover your bases. Contact all involved and don't expect any one person to remember that you have your eye on a specific dog. We contacted his owner, trainer, our adoption group and track pr person when Vera was employed at derby lane - so numerous folks knew we Were interested in phog. We were lucky that dawn bladen, phogs owner, was fabulous. So nice to return my email and she did remember when the time came that we wanted him. In fact, We received an email the evening of his injury that his career was over and he could be ours - so after months of not knowing/hearing anything when the time came she did remember! 3. Don't be a bother!!!! These people are all very busy folks! Phogs owner was a greyhound farm owner, these people are busy. We learned so much from the Abilene greyhound gathering about greyhound farms, breeding, training and I have so much respect for all of these folks and how hard they work. I have not been to anywhere but derby lane track wise on our trip - but phogs trainer was amazing. If you have any doubts pm me and I'll elaborate. So don't expect prompt answers or to be kept up to date. And don't think you will be kept informed or in the loop - we seldom contacted owner/trainer and most times they went unanswered 4. Patience. There were months when we had no idea what was happening with Phog. He had been injured and there were long stretches of time when we were sure he would never be ours. Then he would turn up in a schooling race. We were not owed explanations of his rehab nor expect them. Even after we got the email that his racing career was over and he could retire at our house we were not kept informed and were not sure he would ever truly be ours, w& w is not for the demanding or nervous! Just gotta hang and believe it will all work out someway somehow. 5. Know that they may come available when it is not 'convenient' for you. We always thought that Phog would race till four years old or so, then probably be a daddy since he was pretty good and out of a good litter. Nope - injury ended his racing early. Three dogs at once were not on my short list. So be aware that timing is not yours when w & w. 6. Open your mind. We saw that Phog loved his trainer and the kennel worker. guddy (the worker) cried when he left. I have so much respect for all of these people who cared for him before we knew him. They work so hard! 7. Cat safe? Small animal safe? Will he get along with our two current greyhound girls? The grand baby? All questions that couldn't be answered as well as if we had just done an adoption thru our group but you need to take into consideration. 8. Logistics - we told dawn that we would drive to Florida and pick him up since he was injured - which we did. Gave me great appreciation for all of our groups hauls! And all of the work others have done to bring our previous dogs to us . So how you gonna get them home? 9. We did pay to have an off track vet look at phogs leg - we were so blessed that his trainer transported him for us, etc. also he had to be neutered before we picked him up and we were able to arrange this thru Gpa Tampa bay - they also gave him a bath for us before his big car ride home -- so just a few more things to think about. 10. All this being said I feel more attached to him earlier than I have to any of our other greyhounds. I have this huge appreciation for things I knew nothing about before we watched Phogs races on line. And also seeing the track and the kennel and meeting all the wonderful folks there that I didn't give a thought to before that cared for Phog before we knew him. Thank you so much for keeping this thread going - and try to just enjoy the ride if this is the path you choose to take. If this offends anyone mods please delete as it was not meant to in any way.

A boy and his monkey ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Hugs for your hurting heart

I remember -- and I'm so sorry. I guess it hurts so bad because we love them so much.....at least we're all "doggie people" here and get it - hugs to bevd

Hoping you find a way to start healing your heart soon -- been there done that - gt friends that 'get it' help

Welcome from Oklahoma -- and welcome to the cult

The walk is truly never long enough -- hugs

Thanks Rachel for posting his greyhound data page !!! His kennel or Vera when she was at derby lane did that for him - wish I could take credit . If I was smart enough to do that, I'd be able to post pictures - I did have a few and loaded some pics on to photobucket today - just haven't gotten them resized and posted - I never have enough hours in my day!

I was honored to get a phone call several years ago from Teddy Palmer offering to let my dh and I name two unraced puppies from Monica Crowley/Ariel battle litter. We named one pup Beware of Phog. We were excited for him when he was good enough to head to derby lane capable kennel. He was a finalist in the fall juvenile race there. As some of you who follow the "watching and waiting" thread on gt my dh and I followed his career cheering his many victories.......beware of Phog is a university of Kansas basketball "thing" us being alumni -- and the alum association did a couple stories/blogs about Phog in the magazine. He had an injury and there were long stretches of time we didn't know how or even where he was - but we reached out to his owner, dawn bladen, who graciously said when he retired he could race to our house. We ventured to derby lane last October and got to meet Phog, his trainers Henry and Belinda Parker and wonderful guddy - our first trip to a greyhound track.. His last injury proved to be career ending and I am thrilled to report that January 20th at 9:30am we picked up Phog from derby lane and started back to Oklahoma with him. We are so grateful to all of those who loved and cared for him before we knew him - just as we know they are thrilled for him to have a new family now. So joining rollover ronee and rowdy Jill, the Phog is home. I do know the rules - and I have lots of pictures - but I just am not tech enough to get it all figured out -- I have put off the intro thinking I'll have time to get this all figured out - but it has not climbed to the top of the list quite yet - hopefully soon - u till then take my word that this big black fella is beautiful!

Hugs -- I know your heart hurts

Bleu had ear sensitivity - we wondered if it was something to do with muzzling at the track - hadn't thought about the checking of tattoos

To locket re: Donna nobles. I talked to teddy today and it sounds like the owner plans to breed Donna nobles. Looks like she'll have some pups to raise before she will be available. I told her I would let you know - she is busy planning two hauls....she is amazing

Love the update - know your heart is beating normally again

Thanks all! A bit crazy here between being gone for a week, laundry, getting everybody adjusted to everybody and phog getting acquainted with retirement. He is HUGE! Makes ronee look small and jill tiny...lol. He is very gentle and sweet. 21 hours in the car and he was a real trooper - couldn't have been any better. His only vice so far is that he would really prefer water from the toilet than his water dish - lids down for awhile here. He found toys a bit ago and is in heaven deciding what to play with -pretty hilarious - my girls are just laying looking at him like he's crazy. It's cold here - when we put a coat on him this morning, his muzzle was still hooked there by it from unloading (we don't muzzle here) and he wanted it - I know he thought he was entered today...poor guy. We spent the night in Tupelo, ms on the way home - in the morning there was a white pickup packing up - he started pulling that way and trying to run toward it - we noticed at his kennel the trainer drove a white pick up - know he thought Henry was there too. I have pictures but am still quite unskilled at posting so it will take me a little time to get them loaded and I don't have that right now - bear with me! soon.......thanks all for your interest!!!!

Beware of phog is home!!!!! We picked him up at derby lane Wednesday morning and started the drive back - arrived home to oklahoma this evening -- more to come very soon........ Locket - I will talk to teddy and see if she got your email - She is amazing and is always on the go for sure - more on this soon as well -