FountainLady

I'm so sorry ....

Sending Prayers and well wishes that she will bounce back quickly. Your pack needs their fiesty little leader home.

WELCOME to the cult - I mean club!

Rainy is quite happy to have Gus with us. She finally started eating her meals good again, her appetite is back! They greeted each other with wagging tails when they met, and they have been 100% comfortable with each other since. Yes .... Doc lined him up before he even left us. He knew we would need help to heal our hearts, so he made sure it would happen before he left this world.

Many of you know that we lost our beloved DOC to Osteosarcoma cancer on May 11th. Rainy needed a new friend, and we needed another goofy boy in our home to help heal our hearts. We "found" Trigger - aka Solitary Trigger here on Greytalk. We had been following the thread on him for a couple months that Iris (cowpantslady) had posted here for Grateful Greyhounds, trying to find this handsome hound a forever home. Like Doc before him, he was on Long Island New York, being fostered until a forever home could be found for him. This is the picture of him that won my heart: We arranged to run a GUR over Memorial Day weekend. Iris and Donna (his foster mom) would bring him from New York to Danbury Ct, wherre they would meet up with Nancy (GreyWrangler) and a couple of her friends, and then they would meet us In Ohio at a La Quinta Inn. We planned on staying over Sunday night and driving the 5 1/2 hours back home to Michigan the next day. Here is a couple photos from when we met up at the La Quinta Inn. Nancy is on the Left in the photos, I wish I could remember the name of the gals that rode with her to deliver GUS to us .... but the excitement of the day was too much ... LOL. Myself and my husband Mike are on the Right, and that beautiful brindle girly is Rainy. Nancy and her two friends had presented GUS with a lovely American Flag martingale collar - so he was very stylish for the Memorial Day weekend! We changed "Trigger's" name to GUS - after GUS in the movie Lonesome Dove. Here are a couple photos of him in our yard - in the new Life Jacket we purchased for him. We live on a river, and so he is wearing his life jacket whenever he is loose in the yard - until we know for sure he won't walk off of the seawall into the 8' deep water just on the other side. He looks really cute in it - almost like a giant bumble bee. We took Gus with Rainy to the state championships of the Special Olympics on Saturday ( just after having him home 5 days!) so he could have his try at being a Therapy dog. We plan on training him and getting him certified throught TDI, like Rainy is. He did an outstanding job - and I'll post photos in another thread later today. He really impressed every one in my Therapy Dog group - they think he's a natural! He looked so nice in his new "Therapy Dog in Training" bandana.

I'm so sorry Robin. I hope the pain you are feeling now will soon be replaced with warm happy memories of the time you had together. Run Free Phene.

He was so young, I am so sorry. We just lost our Doc on May 11th to cancer, I understand how you are feeling right now. I hope the pain you are feeling now will soon be replaced with warm and happy memories of the time you had together.

What a lovely tribute to a much loved family member! It's the big guys that always steal our hearts in a special way. Warm wishes to your entire lovely family. I hope that Frosty is dealing with this okay . We had a terrible time getting Rainy to eat after we lost Doc on May 11th. I understand what you are going through, and send many hugs across the miles to you. I hope the pain you are feeling now, will soon be replaced with warm, happy memories of the time you had together. It seems to hurt even more when they are taken from us too soon.

Praying that it is just arthritis ... No Osteo for Phene! Sending warm thoughts and hugs!

Sending prayers, too!

We are so touched at the outpouring of love and kind words . We also want to thank the many people who have bought Hope for Hounds raffle tickets in Doc's honor. We hope that the money raised for the Ohio State Greyhound Program will help find a cure for this terrible cancer that not only took Docs life, but also our Pup's life, too. Too many precious lives have been lost to Osteocarcoma bone cancer. Our house feels so empty without Doc with us.

You need to have a heartworm test done on your dog before a vet will prescribe Interceptor. I had our prescriptions filled via Valley Vet Supply (Direct Pet Superstore) - they offered free shipping, and had the best price I found this spring. Their website is www.valleyvet.com . You won't be able to save on the cost of the test, but you can pay less for the actual preventive medicine by shopping around some. I paid $38.95 for a 6 month supply for each of my dogs.

I'm so sorry to hear of her passing. She was just so beautiful ! Run free sweetie - you were loved and will be missed.

DOC (CTW Fort Sumpter) 11/4/1999 – 5/11/11 Our beautiful boy Doc went to the bridge on Wednesday May 11th, after a valiant battle with Osteosarcoma Cancer. His was a life that was cut short way too early - he just started to really live when he was taken away from us. He was a dog that not only belonged to us, but also to all the other people whose lives he touched along the way. He was born at Clear The Way Kennels in Texas. Doc was a son of the famous Fortress, out of a Perceve daughter who was also a granddaughter of Dutch Bahama. He had royal breeding. Doc was a magnificent looking greyhound, with unlimited potential. He had a 9 race career at Wonderland, that was cut short by a career ending injury. He spent the next five years of his life in the bowels of the Animal Medical Center in New York - as a captive blood donor dog. He was caged like a lab rat, living 24/7 in a cold stainless steel crate, with just enough room to turn around and lay down, he was forced to defecate and urinate in this small space. The way he was kept was cruel - he didn't see sunlight for over 5 years, and had nothing but lonely hours that stretched into lonely days, into months, and ultimately into many years. During these 5 years, he was no more than a piece of medical equipment warehoused to be used by the doctors. He was never allowed to play or socialize with the dozen other greyhounds also caged there, Doc had no toys, he had no individual attention. His only value to them was through his precious blood that would pulse through the veins of hundreds of other dogs, saving their lives. The Photo of Doc that started it all When Doc turned 8 – and was too old to be of use to the Animal Medical Center – they held a "retirement" party for him, and invited local school children. It was a public relations move, no doubt. They presented him with a red bandana and the children had made Doc a lovely quilt – (that came with him) when they turned over to Grateful Greyhounds – Finally he would have a chance at a life outside of a cage! All the years of captivity had taken a toll on him. He had no muscle tone, had multiple corns on every foot – his feet were splayed out and deformed looking from years and years of standing on the metal grating that kept him out of his own excrement. He walked with a stride that did not resemble the proud carriage of how a greyhound should move. His eyes hurt when he went into sunlight. But they were not able to break his spirit or his loving soul. Despite what people had done to him over all these years, he still wanted to be loved and he wanted to trust. Grateful Greyhounds became his savior, and they found two very special ladies, Maureen and Laura to bring him into their home and be his foster moms. They showed him that he WAS loved, and they taught him how to live in a home. And he was a very happy boy! They put his picture up on their website and tried for several months to find him a forever home. But no one wanted to give this old boy a chance. DOC with his Foster Moms - Maureen & Laura It was a post looking for a home for him here on Greytalk that tugged at my heartstrings and compelled me to contact the adoption group and inquire about him. They had posted a photo of him in his AMC Bandana – and it took just ONE look at the photo and I knew that this was a photo of MY dog. It is hard to explain such things, but you just know …. I received a call from Lisa Sallie from Grateful Greyhounds. She told me that the group doesn't do out of state adoptions, but was willing to talk to me. I put her on speaker phone so my husband Mike could join in on the discussion. She told us that Doc had corns on all his feet, and he was thunder phobic. He was also the size of a small horse – the big galoot was well over 90#. We understood he came with a bit of baggage, and by the time the conversation ended it was decided that they would make an exception for us, and Doc would come to live with us in Michigan. Through the kindness of many people, and a thread on Greytalk we set up a GUR for him. He came to us on a February day in 2008, all the drivers who took turns on this GUR had to brave a snowstorm to get him to us. Doc's first night in his home - snuggled in the blanket the children made for him Doc learned to be a member of the family in no time flat. Rainy accepted him as her new brother, and he learned fast by watching her. If you sit you get a treat. He learned his new name, and they soon bonded. He learned to "speak" shortly after we adopted him. For once in his life he found that people would listen to him, and that his opinion on things mattered. I would ask him he needed to go "out", he would bark a YES to me … do you want a cookie? YES he would bark. If he wanted or needed anything, he could come to us, and we would ask him questions until we hit the right one, then he would bark and let us know that is what he wanted us to do. He was so very smart. He was without a doubt, the most vocal Greyhound I have ever met …. Once he learned that we listened to him, he would try to communicate with us on a very advanced level. You never had to wonder what was on Docs mind, he would let you know. If you rubbed his ears, he would moan with utter delight, having his own private "ear-gasm". He would settle into one of his beds with a contented "Harumph!", and wiggle and moan at how good it felt. Doc the Defender ... watching the river Doc loved living on the river, and he took having his own home as very serious business. He soon had the nickname of "Doc the Defender" as he proved to be a great watch dog, keeping rouge squirrels out of the yard, and chasing after boats and people on jet skis that dared go by the house too fast. He would run along the sea wall barking a warning at them - They were expected to go by slowly and respectfully, and not throw a wake. And heaven help any mouse that got into the house, this big galoot would watch for it, and hunt the mouse for days, until he caught it and took the vermin out. Enjoying a boat ride with Rainy & his Aunt Debbie Doc loved going for boat rides, and car rides. He was always ready to go and do things with us. We traveled a lot with him. He was a great meet and greet dog, and he even went along with Rainy a couple times doing Therapy dog things with her. Even though we never tried to certify him (we felt he deserved a real retirement), He enjoyed all sorts of events. The last event we took him to was last winter - when we went into a dorm at Central Michigan University for stress relief for the freshmen class during Mid-Term Finals. He thoroughly enjoyed having all those sweet young freshman girls fawning over him and loving him up. I think my husband was a bit jealous, He was holding the leash – but Doc was the one that got the attention. Doc & Rainy at a meet and great event at the Crystal Motor Speedway Doc had just the last three years of life with his own home and his own family. I know he left a lasting impression on everyone who met him. He never met a dog or kitty he didn't like, and when it came to people, Doc greeted everyone like they were his long lost friend. He had a bigger than life personality and a presence that filled a room. He was truly special, and we were so very lucky to be able to share our lives with him. Enjoying the life he so richly deserved!

Our Doc went to the bridge yesterday afternoon - I'm sure he met your beautiful Lottie with a play bow & wagging tail. I hope they are doing Zoomies together! I'm so very sorry for your loss We are sending you a hug today via the internet, and we will deliver a BIG one in person in a couple weeks. Cory, Mike & Rainy

I trained Rainy to sit by luring her UP from a down ! Get in front of him with a treat when he's laying dow, put the treat infront of his nose and raise it up ... he get up on his front legs first - stop him there (and it's a SIT!) tell him GOOD boy & treat , treat, treat. That worked perfectly to teach Rainy to sit. Once she figured that the treats come with a sit, she learned to park it like a proper lady.

I'm glad the reports came back good - I am another one of Charlie's fans! We continue to pull for him at this end.

I would be less worried about your Greyhound around the German Shepherd than your cats. I've known several German Shepherd dogs ( and owned one) that were extremely high prey drive and cat killers. They are real rough and tumble dogs as puppies, so you will need to watch it like a hawk. My father in law used to raise Shepherds.

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I'm so sorry. Sending hugs across the miles .................. I hope the sorrow you feel in your heart will soon be replaced with the warm and happy memories of the years you had together.

She sounds like a dog that could benefit greatly from being worked with with the TTOUCH methods of Linda Tellington-Jones! If you google up Linda Tellington-Jones you can find TTOUCH practioners in your area that can work with you and your dog. Reactive and unpredictable dogs do so very well with her no stress methods.

THANKS to Robinw for posting the greyhound article. This is really important that you read this several times! The dog you just adopted came right from the track, he did not live in a foster home (unless Donna is doing things differently now and has many more volunteers than she used to have). He went from the track, to being in a kennel - to being with you. Print out a copy of this and post it on your refrigerator - read it every day for the first couple weeks. EVERYTHING is new to him - kitties and even being around any other breed of dog that is not a Greyhound. He honestly doesn't know what he is supposed to do, how he is supposed to act, etc. Muzzles are your best choice right now, please get another one, so both dogs will have them. A Greyhound's skin will tear very easily, and he can be injured if the dogs get into a tiff. You need LOTS of understanding and love to help him through the adjustment period of learning to live as a "pet" dog in a home. The good thing is, that Greyhounds are very smart and he will learn at lightning speed if you can teach him without stressing him out. These dogs tend to close down when stressed, and then they just stop taking on information. They thrive on a schedule, and it is amazing how fast they will learn how things are to be in the house. But you have to understand - Phaeton has no idea of what is expected of him right now. Please look at things from his point of view. Please let him settle in before you put these kitties in his face again! Don't force him to interact with him, let him get used to them from a safe distance for all involved. When I look back at what he is going though, my heart goes out for him. He must be so confused, and stressed out. Getting a dog fresh off of the track is much different than adopting a hound that has lived in a foster home for a few months and knows the ropes of living in a home.

Give Donna a call at the Greyhound Adoption Kennel in North Ft Myers - she can point you in the right direction for a good vet in the area! (239) 731-3187 I adopted my first Greyhound, Pup - from her many years ago. She is a wonderful lady & I'm sure she'll be glad to help! And .... if you ever think of adding another Greyhound, she always has some nice hounds looking for a home! GREYHOUND ADOPTION KENNEL

Words completely fail me. My heart dropped when I saw his name in remembrance this morning. I sit here with tears streaming down my face. I was so pulling for him, and for you not to lose him. All I can do is send hugs to you. We are here for you, and many will feel this loss today. Harley was a special, special boy.