keiko

Today at ~11:30am, I received what seemed like a punch in the gut and the vet confirmed that Tag had Osteocarcoma. He's only 6 1/2 years old, he'll be 7 in November. I've only had him at home for 3 years, although I was fortunate enough to spend time with him in his racing kennel from the moment he came in at 18 months. I just can't believe it..... he is such a happy, outgoing hound..... I will wrap my mind around this and do what he needs me to do over the next several months but right now... today... my stomach hurts and all I want to do is cry. I know there are so many others out here that have dealt with this and I know that you guys are the best bunch there is. Thank you for letting my cry on your shoulders and for your support. Kelly

I haven't been able to contact my GH trainer friend and one of my greys appears to have torn a muscle in his rear leg. He is retired and was just running for fun when apparently this happend. There is swelling and brusing. I'm not sure whether to try to wrap it to help with the swelling or what to do. Any advice/suggestions from folks familiar with racing injuries would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!

Oh, Kathy, I am so very sorry. I know that nothing can help the pain go away right now but know that there are a lot of people that care about you and are thinking about you. I remember watching Dweebis run at the fun run in Abilene, what a beautiful sight. I lost Josh just a couple weeks ago to liver and kidney failure. I hope they are having a greyt party and watching over us. Big hugs to you my friend!

Mary, I am so very sorry for your loss. Freddie had a fantastic live with you and Bob. He was a very special hound and had a huge fan club both here and in Houston. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I am sure Shawn found Freddie and they are having a greyt time waiting to see us again. Hugs to you my friend.

Thank you! If you don't mind me asking, did she get this injury playing in the backyard?

One of my boys has a bowed tendon in his front leg. The x-rays show that the stopper is not involved, thank goodness, so this is just related to the tendon. I was hoping that some of the kennel owners or someone might have had this sport injury before and could offer some words of wisdom. What type of rehab regimen was followed? How long was the recovery? What shape was the grey in after having this type of injury? Any other advice and/or comments would be greytly appreciated! Thank you very much! Kelly and the boyz

Oh, Diane, I am so sorry....my thoughts and prayers are with you and your hounds. Godspeed sweet boy, you have a huge wonderful family waiting for you at the Rainbow bridge....

I'm so very sorry....

A beautiful tribute to your beautiful girl. I know your pain and I'm here if you need or want to talk. Take care, I'm thinking of all of you.

Oh, Kathy.... I am so very, very sorry for your loss. I know how much you love Girliekins and what a wonderful mom you are. Trust and know that you did the best by your darling girl. I know too well how you are feeling and my heart goes out to you. I hope Shawn and Girliekins are running together pain free at the bridge. Very big hugs, my friend. Kelly

I am so very sorry for your loss... You are certainly in my thoughts... Gentle hugs.

I hope you had a very happy birthday Shazam and that you found my sweet boy Shawn to join in your celebration. I miss him like your mommy misses you. You take care of yourself and keep watch over your mommy, let her know your okay. Gentle hugs Angie. You're doing fine, don't worry. Shazam will never be forgotten and you can talk enough about how special your girl is to you as much as you want, I'll be happy to listen as many others here.

Thank you...

Shawn passed just over a week ago and I haven't been able to bring myself to post here about his passing. I'm still having a very difficult time. I thought I could do this and yet as soon as I begin tears start streaming down my face. Shawn was the most striking brindle with his beautiful white blaze, white tip on his furry tail, and that little adorable triangle on his top of his nose. I met him at the track one day after he raced and there was an immediate connection. I talked to his owner the very next day and when Shawn retired, he would come home with me. He was almost 5 then. He had "heart" is what I was told. He had broken his hock when he was a couple years old racing and had 2 screws in his hock. After 6 months of rehab, he came back and while he wasn't quite the stakes racer he had been he was still an A/AA racer. He LOVED to race. He was grading off when I met him and mysteriously the next race after I talked to his owner, he graded himself all the way back up to A and raced for another 3 months before John decided to go ahead and pull him because he had a home waiting. We did everything together, he was my best friend. When I cooked in the kitchen he would lay on the rug behind me.... just to be close and be with me. He wasn't a velcro dog at all, he just loved me. He loved his toys, this big orange gorilla that I bought in Abilene was his favorite. It sits in my bed now. He was always happy and made me smile every day no matter what had happened or what the circumstances were. When I bought my house, it was Shawn who came over here with me to bring boxes and unpack. He was always easy going, he was perfect. If there were nights that I couldn't sleep or that my heart was beating too hard for me to sleep, I would lay on the floor next to him and put my arm over him. He was always there. When I went to the emergency room unexpectedly because of extremely low blood pressure, the doctors said that the reason I never lost consciousness was because I was constantly thinking about my hounds. Shawn was my only roo'er, my only talker, and my only snuggler. One night it was obvious that he wanted in bed with me and I told him it was okay. Up on the bed he came, did the circle thing, and then laid down where he could put his head on my chest and would put on leg over my stomach. I miss him terribly... Before he went into surgery, we talked and I asked him to promise me that he would fight and come back home to me. He lifted his front leg and gave me his paw as if he was shaking on it. I never expected this to happen. They started the surgery that Thursday morning and found the tumor they were removing but it was MUCH larger than they expected. It was 6 1/2 pounds and completely encompassed his spleen. He was a 75 pound boy basically carrying a new born child at the back of his rib cage under his diaphram causing most of his organs to be pushed backwards towards his hind end. They removed the tumor and had everything tied off, the surgery was within 15 minutes or so of being over and all had gone well. It is believed that when they removed the tumor some toxins were released causing his heart to stop. They tried Dopram, Epi, and even did mouth to mouth but couldn't revive him. He promised me he would fight and I know that he wouldn't have left me if he could have prevented it but the toxins were too strong and he couldn't fight them. I heard Garth Brooks's song, The Dance on the radio the other day and it was very poignant. I don't remember the words exactly but it's something like, "I could have missed the pain but then I would have missed the Dance". Shawn, I wouldn't have missed a day with you. I wish more than anything you could have been with me longer but you gave me the best 26 months of my life and what a dance we had. I love you, Shawn, and I miss you so very much. I will see you again one day. Until then, please be my sweet special angel and watch over me. I love you my sweet wonderful boy.... Run free and play at the bridge until it's time for us to be together again.

Run free sweet Sonny boy.... Thank you for posting about this wonderful boy, I never met Sonny but he touched our lives as well. He was my Andy-man's half brother. You can tell in his pictures what a sweet, happy boy he was and I know his forever foster dad gave him that security and joy. God bless...

Diane, I'm so sorry for your loss. You gave Solomon the most precious gift of all; a home full of love and a mom who loved him completely. Godspeed Solomon.....

Oh, Cheryl, what a beautiful tribute to an amazing boy. As Lynn mentioned, I was one of those groupies who took pictures of Old Fella at Majic's b-day party and I cherish those pictures greytly. I am so honored that I was able to meet him and love on him for a little while ( I had shrimp ). I wish I was closer to give you a big Texas hug! Take care, Kelly & the brindle boys

I so very sorry for your loss... A beautiful tribute to your love for Strider and his for you. Godspeed Strider...

Julie, When I saw the name Starla in Rememberance I was afraid to look... I am so very sorry for your loss. I know how much you loved her and how much she loved you. Godspeed Starla....

Cheryl, I am so sorry for your loss. Old Fella was such a wonderful boy. I will treasure meeting him at Majic's birthday party and feeding him shrimp! Along with the several pictures I took of him that day. What a wonderful soul who touched so many in his short time with us. God speed Old Fella.....

I am so very sorry for your loss. :f white Thank you for letting me be one of Cody's secret santa's. God bless.

That was beautiful... A very Merry Christmas to you, Frank, and your whole famly.

I'm so very sorry for your loss. You're in our thoughts and prayers... God bless.

I'm so very sorry Nina and I do understand perfectly what you wrote and feel. I had a very special cat in my life, Pepper, and he taught me very similar things. You both were blessed to have each other. Kelly

Hi Rockingship, that is too funny about Fluff, one of Josh's (Great Contender's) relatives as Josh is also a big (92#) dark brindle who is not extremely bright but I believe a pretty good racer. He ran the 3/8 mile and boy when he kicked in those after burners.... look out! He was retired due to a tear in his shoulder muscle and he never could pick back up his endurance. I can't wait to read what you know about my boys' ancestory! Thanks again!