queenwinniesmom

Glad she seems to be doing well with the chemo! And eating. I've heard that it doesn't affect dogs like it does humans, with extreme nausea. Is that right?

Thanks, everyone! Yes, I felt we had to see a vet today, and this morning, we got into the walk-in appointments at a vet we don't go to, but had seen many years ago. Kiva seemed a little better, but Angie was still liquid, and we were really worried. We got stool samples (such as they were), and they were sent out. They'd just been tested and negative in June, but I guess anything is possible. So they got Metronidisol, Panacur and Fortiflora. Some canned ID, but I doubt that they'll eat it. We actually had the vet help pill them before we left, since Angie has become a real pistol, and hard to do anything to! This is going to be a battle, and very frustrating to get the meds into both of them, since the panacur and fortiflora have to be sprinkled on food. Any suggestions? We've wracked our brains trying to find anything in the apartment that could have contributed to this, but haven't come up with anything. It could be partially stress, which makes me feel VERY guilty for not being there. I've been doing live in jobs for years, and it's never caused this reaction, but Angie has become more easily stressed as she aged. My poor girls. I hope this will help them!

Both Angie and Kiva have had diarrhea for a couple days, but today it is liquid, and orange colored. They were getting ground beef and rice, but today, we didn't give them anything. We did give them an immodium this afternoon.I didn't know if this warranted going to the ER, so I feel like I'll wait till tomorrow, and call several vets to see who can see them the fastest. Our vet is great, but it is a clinic, and you have to leave a message, so it probably won't be them the girls see. I see from a website that the orange color is sometimes caused by stress, and there has been some! As a pet sitter, I do lots of live in jobs, and Doug is home with the girls while I stay in clients homes. I went from a 4 day job last week to (2 days later) a 10 day job I'm in the middle of right now. Coming home full time is not an option. Plus, Angie fell on our 23 outside steps---we live on the second and third floors---and we are afraid that she will fall again and really hurt herself. She is 13, and is an anesthesia risk. So for her safety and our peace of mind, we moved her down to the first floor this week, where we used to have a tenant. He is gone, but the apartment has not been really livable for quite a while. Doug is gradually changing that, and is staying down there with both dogs most of the time. But I can understand why this would be stressful for all of them! At this point, we are all stressed and worried.

So glad to hear this positive report! I know you can't wait to get your girl home.

Oh, the sweet girl. Yep, she's got this, she's telling you so. You've got this too. We'll be sending good thoughts and white light and will be backanforfing for Willa and Richard.

I'm so very sorry you are going through this. It's an agonizing time, when all you can think about is what you're going to do. And her being so young....Please know that you are in the hearts of so many as you struggle through this most difficult time, now and whatever you decide. It's pretty raw with me right now, but I sure hate that @%^*# monster disease in whatever form it takes.

Osteo. I'm so sorry, Irene. Thank-you for remembering my sweet girl. She was, and is, indeed an angel.

After we let our precious Laila go, yesterday morning, I posted her remembrance on Facebook. I know some of you are not there, so I wanted to post here as well. We are trying to adjust to a new normal, without the bright light that Laila brought to us every day---I see her everywhere, miss her in ways I couldn't even imagine. It's so, so hard. But we were so lucky that we were able to say goodbye in a peaceful, compassionate way. She wasn't afraid as I held her in my arms. Our vet was remarkable in his kindness, patience, understanding. They did something that I had never seen, with any of the many dogs and cats I have said goodbye to. They brought in a basket of all kinds of treats---biscuits, peanut butter, canned meat, squirty cheese, sweets---and we could pick anything for her to enjoy. She loved cheese---we gave her the daily pills in Pub Cheese. We called it Pup Cheese. So she had lots of cheese, as well as her steak for breakfast. We had as much time with her as we wanted, and they gave us a buzzer to press when we were ready for them to come back to continue with letting her go. This meant the world to us, and I'm so grateful. Laila Mariposa. Could there have been a more perfect name for her? When we first met at Scooby 7 years ago, she was Linda, which means pretty in Spanish. But she was more than pretty, she was beautiful, in every way---her lovely little face, her kind eyes, her tail that never stopped wagging, the asymmetrical ears that usually made her look like she was making a left turn, and her gentle, loving, innocent spirit that charmed everyone she met. She became Laila even before we brought her home, after Laila Ali, because she was a tiny fighter. She tried so hard to be brave at first, but didn't always succeed. The other Galgos at Scooby must have perceived her as weaker and submissive, so when I met her, she was living with just a few other shy dogs for her own protection. She understandably didn't trust other dogs, but she absolutely adored people! She charmed me immediately, but when the vet said she was probably only 3 years old (we think now she may have been a bit older), I decided to try and find an older female (even 7 years ago, I wasn't exactly young). Well, I did find Kiva, who turned out to be only about 3 as well, but Kiva picked me. Irrevocably. And I really had no choice (of course, I'm forever grateful for that because everything turned out exactly like it was supposed to). But "Linda" was so sweet, so innocent, so very special, that I couldn't stop thinking about her. I kept a virtual eye on her from the US with the help of the wonderful Ana, who told me she was having a difficult time. I couldn't bear the thought of something happening to this dear soul, so I contacted Debbie, who moved mountains to get her on the next transport as my Kiva. I was over-joyed! Even if I couldn't adopt her, she would find a great home in the US. Except she didn't. She waited in foster for about 3 months, and I thought about her every day, coaxing Doug to admit that we really could have 4 dogs, and telling him how perfect this little girl was. He finally said the fateful words---"Why don't we just adopt her?" And we did. And she spent the next 7 years precisely where she was meant to be. And she grew into exactly the dog she was meant to become---beautiful, sweet, smart, strong and brave. That's what I used to tell her in Spanish all the time (I figured she needed to hear some loving words in her native language ). I told her that almost every day, and especially the day we said good-bye. She effortlessly embodied everything good that a dog should be. She was our social butterfly, and her middle name became Mariposa, Spanish for butterfly. She took smoozing to another level---she made total strangers feel that she was somehow deeply in love with them, she stood patiently while young children gathered around her, petting her gently, she actually searched for people to meet and captivate. We didn't think she would be the first one to leave us---we couldn't bear the thought. But 2 years ago, she was diagnosed with bladder cancer, not uncommon in dogs, and a virulent cancer that has a prognosis without hope. The survival rate is about 6-12 months. We prayed for as much time as possible, and treated her with daily Piroxicam (a pain med with cancer fighting properties). She had regular ultrasounds, and we monitored the tumors growth. I can only say that we were lucky, or we were blessed, or she was fighting in her own quiet way, because the tumor grew slowly, and she maintained her active, seemingly healthy lifestyle. But just a few weeks ago, we started noticing worrisome changes---labored breathing, groaning when she got up or down, weakness in her hind legs, some spots of blood. We feared the cancer was finally fighting back, and we were right. The monster had moved into her lungs, and the time when she could be pain free was coming to an end. Today, her wonderful vet at the Animal Friends Wellness Clinic, so compassionately and patiently helped us let her go. I can't say enough good things about the quality of care she received, the understanding and love she felt (and we felt as well) from everyone there. We will be forever grateful that she was able to leave in such a safe, peaceful, and respectful way. We will miss her enormously. For such a tiny girl, she brought a huge and loving presence to our home and our hearts every single day---her innocence, her gentleness, her quirkiness, her pure love. In her quiet way, she was a force---she could turn ripples on a pond into a giant wave. And I believe she did that, brightening peoples days, spreading Galgo love---who knows how far her power could reach? And weren't we blessed to have her in our lives for the time she was here? I told her this always, I will tell her this forever, till we meet again. Te amo, mi pequeña mariposa. Tu eres una buena Galga. Tu eres muy hermosa, muy cariñosa, muy lista, muy fuerte y muy valiente. Tu eres siempre en mi corazon. I love you, my little butterfly. You are a good Galga. You are very beautiful, very sweet, very smart, very strong, and very brave. You are always in my heart.

Hi! I'm glad you're interested in another dog, and are considering your options. We've had 9 ex-racers (and 70 fosters) since 1999. We now have 3 Galgos, and I've volunteered at Scooby shelter in Spain, where I met my Galgo girls. While there are certain traits that are common to Greys (Irish and NGA) or Galgos, I really feel like it's best not to make generalizations. Ducky had some good advice. I think the groups know their individual dogs, and can help you decide which one is best for you and your requirements and lifestyle. There are questions they will ask you. For instance, do you have a fenced yard? How high is your fence? Most Galgos do require a 6 foot fence, but I know some groups will place a Galgo with owners who have no fence, if they plan to walk their dog several times a day (never off leash, of course). Most Greys and Galgos are cat tested---I know all of my ex-racer fosters were, and I cat tested my Galgos myself at the shelter. There are hundreds of Galgos at Scooby, and some of them are not cat safe. I fell in love with one older, seemingly mellow female, and in her cat test, she literally tried to attack the cat! Well, I had to look for another dog. My girls were all fine, and all our Greys were fine too. We knew that because they were fosters first, and we had cats back then. My Galgos are really similar to my angel Greys in most ways. But unlike ex-racers, Galgos have never been crated. And they are endurance runners---coursing for hare---while ex-racers are very fast for a much shorter period of time. Some Galgos have not had much positive human interaction---the Spanish galgueros are mostly interested in the honor the Galgos bring them by being good hunters. They are useless to them otherwise, and are disposed of in huge numbers on a regular basis. When you say you're not up for a lot of exercise, what do you mean? Some dogs have a much higher activity level, and of course, an older dog may tend to be more settled. But again, it's best not to generalize. My 13 year old Galgo has more energy than her younger sisters! But all of them are going to require a certain amount of exercise, and you would need to commit to that. There are LOTS of Galgos who need homes! Of course, there are some challenges---getting flight patrons to add the dog to their plane ticket, all the necessary requirements to bring a dog into the country---unfortunately, it's become more complicated---and the cost. There are several really good groups in the US who work with different shelters and rescues in Spain. They are doing a wonderful job of navigating all steps, and as long as they are committed to helping the Galgos find good homes in this country, there will always be Galgos available.

We're definitely going! Thanks, Ducky, for letting us know that the GIG Facebook page had info on the changes at the Western Inn Motel. It had really terrible reviews, but it's now under new ownership, and the rooms have been newly remodeled. The owner gave the organizers his personal phone number. This motel is basically what we were looking for---no steps for both Doug and Laila, and the ability to walk right out the door to the outside for Laila, so she can go out to pee often (because of her bladder cancer). And it's right down the street from the Eisenhower. It's also very reasonable. The 1 bed rooms are $75, the 2 bed rooms are $120. There is no pet fee at all. I talked to Mark for quite a while a few days ago, and he seems like a really nice guy. They still have some rooms available. He's trying to get some positive reviews so people know it has changed. So hopefully, it's as nice as he says, and I'll be able to leave him a positive review. The only thing---he just takes cash, since he's not been open long enough to be set up for credit cards yet. That's no problem for us, since he gave me a couple weeks notice. It will be a lot quieter for us this year. We used to do so much, from vending years ago, to walking the battlefields, and doing event activities. But Doug is really limited in the distance he can walk, so we'll probably be sitting around somewhere! We'd love to see folks we haven't seen for a while.

After many years of being absent, we might go this year! I know we may not be able to find rooms at this late date, but I'm hoping maybe there will be some people cancelling. We really couldn't plan farther in advance---Doug had surgery on the 10th to remove a cancerous tumor from his lung, and we just didn't know what would happen. All went well, and it hadn't spread! So, as he's getting better, he feels like he'd like to take a road trip, Gettysburg is only 4 hours from us, and about a month should be good, recovery wise. I was looking at the lodging section of the website, and some of the places have really bad reviews. The nicer ones are probably booked. I guess I could start calling them, right? I don't remember the procedure---do I call the places myself and mention GIG? Do they have rooms blocked at an event price? I guess we'd stay anywhere decent, but for Doug, and also Laila, who has bladder cancer, a ground floor would be best. I don't ask for TOO much, do I? Any info would be great. Thanks!

I think I'm going to do that his year. My adoption group, Going Home Greyhounds, in Pittsburgh, has their annual picnic (formerly the reunion picnic) to coincide with the Great Global Greyhound Walk. This is from their email---the event will be on Sunday, September 25 from 12 noon until 4:00 pm (arrive at 11:30 for the Great Global Greyhound Walk) at the South Park Museum Building, 2100 Brownsville Road, South Park, PA 15129 (If you plug this in to your GPS, please make sure to use South Park, PA and not Pittsburgh, PA. If you use Pittsburgh, you will not be directed to the park.) If there is anyone near Pittsburgh, and you'd like to join us, please do! We will walk a level ½ mile around the track beginning promptly at noon. It's a really nice venue. And if you'd like, you can stick around after Noon for the Going Home Greyhound event inside the building, with a silent and basket auction, vendors, and food. And lots of Greyhounds.

If you do decide to go with a harness, we've always used the ones from Houndstown. Our 3 Galgo girls from Scooby came with the spook harnesses from Houndstown. The have an extra strap which makes them really secure for a scared dog who might balk, which they all did when they first came home. I've felt really confident with these, and they still use them, even though they probably don't need them at this point. It's just that if Kiva especially, got away, I'd never get her back!

Congratulations on your gorgeous Doolin. He is a lucky boy.

Thanks for remembering Batman, Ducky.

Good girl, Sweep. And what a lovely, thoughtful gift.

Oh, Annette, I'm just seeing this now! I didn't know that Lee had passed away (don't know how I missed that on Facebook), and I'm so sad to hear that. I liked her so much. She was a lovely person, and one of the first people I met at GRTB from the old Dewey Message Board. I remember sitting on a bench in town someplace, and saying to the person next to me, "I'm looking for Mother Bunny." And she replied, "You're talking to her." She was always so warm and generous. And sooo talented. She did the most exquisite bunnies for a lot of hounds in "The Kingdom". And I treasure the one she made of Queen Winnie, with her crown and scepter, with a cow on it because Winnie raced at Dairyland.

So happy for you and Mooney! What a wonderful gift for you both.

Well, that REALLY sounds fabulous! Hopefully next year.

We love the GBBS, and were thrilled to see the Greyhound in the family! Shebas Mom, you have a friend who looks like Paul Hollywood? Lucky you!

Oh, Annette, how terrible! I'm so sorry this happened!

Wicasso! I love the step by step. Most important being, wake up the artist. This is so clever!

Great progress! Keep it up, sweet girl.

Hope to see you, Tricia! Safe travels!

We are! And we're arriving on Monday---yikes, just 2 days---and staying till Monday. We're at Sned Acres Campground again, in one of their awesome rental trailers. We'll be taking it easy. Will anyone else be there? After all our alone time the past year, it would be great to see some friends in person. We're vaccinated!