Today we had a greyhound come back to us for re-homing. It was a real heart breaker for his owner to let go of him as she dearly loves him. After almost 2 years in his home Chopin started to show unhealthy interest in the family cats. When he hurt one of the cat his owner tearfully decided to put him up for adoption again. As much as we really hate for any dog to lose its home we are very grateful when that home calls us and returns the dog to us. It is our policy to take in any greyhound which we place...regardless of circumstances. I will get some pictures of this handsome 7 year old brindle grey-boy soon.


Speaking of dogs being returned to us....many of you will be getting a letter in the mail about the "Belle Toll". If you don't get a letter and want one....please contact a rep and we will get one out to you pronto!! Belle was a senior girl who was returned to us 4 years ago (pictured above). Although I am glad her owners called us at all...I do wish they had called us a little sooner. I would have been thrilled to have more time with her. Belle was amazing. In her hour of need we all bonded and came together for her cause. I was the lucky one who got to share her last days. I deeply treasure those days. Belle was what we all hope to be as old ladies, brave, curious, and loving. She had zest for life even when she was dying. What a life lesson it was to see her shining and sweet even on her last day. The Belle Toll is a fund raiser which Trish tends to every Valentines day. It is a special fund which is funneled directly to special needs dogs and circumstances. I will never forget Belle. I am sure she is racing with many of our beloved dogs over the rainbow bridge, waiting for us. I hope each of you will consider donating to the Belle Toll to help celebrate the life of a wonderful old girl-hound.

Didn't I tell you Fizzy Bug had eyes to die for? I was gone most of today so Darrin was in charge. Tonight I needed to wrap Fizz's tail and trim up her nails. As soon as I put her on the table I noticed a knot under her right eye. That side of her face feels warm but I don't see any marks on her and her teeth look normal. I will watch it closely and perhaps take her to the vet tomorrow. I have a pretty full day so I hope it is better by morning.

Fizz Bug with a toy, Waldo sad he is muzzled and Roman a Afghan Hound boy checking out the action.

Here is the gang at the gate.
Lead On, Waldo and Fizz. My Tava is the pretty brindle passing through.

On this nice warm Saturday the dogs got to spend several hours outside playing. I even ventured out to get pictures. The first order of business was to worm the dogs who had not been wormed for tapeworms. Tapeworm is closely associated with fleas....since they almost all arrive with fleas we try to worm everyone with a general wormer and the wormer that kills tapes. Now all the vet stuff should be done.

Ms. Fizz has been claimed and will head for home next week end. She is a doll...teeny tiny and so sweet. She has liquid pools for eyes. Her planned new name will be Bug. so I have started calling her Fizz Bug. I can hardly wait for her new mom to meet her. I cross my fingers her new dog family will love her. As we all know the dog family gets the final vote.

Here is Waldo. My friend Lynn stopped up today to see the gang. She hasn't seen Waldo for a while and remarked how much he has grown up. He is turning out to be such a nice dog. Personality AND looks, what a combo!!!

We had our first diagnosed case of blog-withdrawal. I am over due for a update. I will try to get pictures tomorrow. The sun is out now but the paddocks are mud holes. I have resisted the urge to let the dogs get muddy up to their eyeballs and have been playing with them in the training room. Fizz is getting confidant and loves toys. She has happy tail and I am keeping her tail under wraps. Last night when she came in she had a flag waving behind her as her wrap had come undone and was hanging in ribbons. It stayed that way for a couple of hours and made me laugh every time I saw it. I will need to re-wrap her this eve. Lead On is WONDERFUL. She grins and loves it when you grin back and make funny noises at her while she grins. When she gets really excited her grin takes over and she gets her whole body involved, twisting and gyrating. Then she really gets into it she will even snap her jaws a little. There is probably no way to capture her silliness on film but I think we should try. I envy the lucky home that gets her. Waldo has been very good. He has mostly given up on mouthing my hands. He was so exuberant he often left marks so that is a behavior I am glad is fading. Between me and the girls, Fizz and Lead On, Waldo will learn not to be so rough. Fizz in particular is happy to set limits with him, which is something he needs. It has been really fun to see Waldo growing up. He is turning out to be one heck of a dog.

It has been a busy week with the dogs this week. Janelle was spayed yesterday. Turns out she was in season so her spay was a little tougher. I requested extra pain meds for her to help her. By bedtime she looked reasonably awake and comfortable. Janelle has really pretty eyes...big roundish pools you can almost drowned in. She is very sweet. Rebecca is going to have a heck of a time fostering her. I can't imagine not falling head over heels in love with Janelle.

This morning I had to finish up the vetting. I gave DHLPP (the combo shot) to the 4 dogs who needed it and wormed all 5 foster greyhounds. I offered breakfast to Mission and Janelle, since she only got a small dinner after her surgery. Then I had to come in and get the paperwork ready. Around noon I went out and turned greyhounds into the paddocks so when Tripps came to get them the dogs would be ready for a nap. I gave Janelle a dose of pain killer for her trip. Tripps just left with the dogs. They will drop them off in Missoula and Vicki and Cliff with do the bulk of the transport arriving in Billings late tonight. Mission will at last be in the arms of his new family. I can't wait to hear how it goes.

Taking a picture of Falcon is much more like taking a picture of another type of bird....a duck. I swear! I took several picture of him and at the last moment he always ducked or looked away. I will spare you the failures and share with you this one of him meeting Carol's mini horse, Star. You tell me who is the most handsome. Falcon is very striking with his black mask and tall stature. Right now he is a little aloof but poor guy has had a lot going on in the last week. I am sure he feels a little over whelmed. It will be fun to see who he becomes. He is very passive and accepting with her dogs. Carol noted that he likes to be with the dogs, so a home with other dogs might be best. Falcon was neutered earlier this week and is ready to start shopping for the perfect home. Need more info on this drop dead gorgeous boy? Call Carol and Dan Tripp.

Waldo wants to be just like Mission when he grows up!! First Waldo followed Mission this way.....

Then he followed him that way. But good ol' Mission just took it in stride. He is much to good natured to object.

So this morning while I was out on poop patrol trying to figure out the source of tape worms I noticed blood on Waldo....then I noticed blood on Fizz and then another dog. All mysteries were solved. Waldo will be wormed for tapeworms and Fizz will be treated for "happy tail" (a split in the end of her thin skinned tail). In the morning Mission heads in for his vet work. I may have Janelle ride along just in case I get lucky and they can take her too. I will also let Waldo ride along so I can get his weight and pick up some wormer. Then I can come home and start wiping down all my walls that are now spattered with blood from Fizz's tail. Falcon got his vet work done today....he also had happy tail and it was bad enough they took the last bone of his tail out so they could close the end and it can heal. I sure hope Fizz can be treated with just wrapping. It will take at least two weeks for her tail to heal if the wraps will stay on.

Today I got to meet the new kids. What a nice bunch of dogs!!! I brought home the 2 dogs heading to Billings (Mission and Janelle) and 2 foster girls for here (Lead On and Fizz). Falcon stayed at Carol and Dan's for fostering. I doubt we will have any of these dogs in foster care very long. It is impossible to pick a favorite. I can't believe we still have Waldo available. He is so much fun and such a love bug. Today I put Waldo and Mission out together for a while. They were stunning together, the two of them are marked similar just different shades of red. Waldo adored having a older greyhound boy to follow around. It made me think of the 10 year old boy who is in awe of the 17 year old boy. I am pretty sure when Waldo grows up he wants to be cool just like Mission.

The Girls

I was anxious to get a report on the new dogs from both Carol and Judy. Sounds like everything went well. The new meeting spot worked out and the communication was great. The only question left is; Why when I go pick up dogs is it alway the middle of the night?? But I have to admit I could really get spoiled bringing home clean dogs. I conned Judy into writing a bit for the blog.....in her own words.....here's Judy.....

It couldn't have been easier. The hauler that left Halfway Home for Hounds in Tulsa, OK on Saturday about 11:30 arrived at Missoula mid afternoon on Sunday, dropped off the five dogs we'd asked for and headed on down the road drop off dogs to two more groups. The dogs were shivery when they arrived but Carol and Dan quickly wrapped them in five brand new coats Carol made and they entered Montana life in fine style.

Tripps took the dogs to their home (since Joni had to be out of town this weekend) and began a long afternoon of bathing, feeding, pottying and bedding. All dogs slept soundly the first night and are very rapidly adjusting to "the good life".

Today, Judy and Carol spent several hours admiring, coddling and photographing our new arrivals. This is one fine group of hounds. Mal's Lead On and and Fizz came to us already vetted so they will be ready for homes quickly. The others have their vet appointments scheduled for this week and then Janelle and Mission will depart for Billings.

Check out the crazy grin on this girl. Mal's Lead On. I think she is happy to have her big trip behind her!!!

The new boys...Misson and Falcon.

The word for the day is COLD!!!!!! With temps dipping way down into the single digits the poor pups barely got any real play time. I did put them out for a hour a couple of times....which is probably about 58 minutes longer than they wanted to be out. But the skinny hairless types were bundled up and they were moving around. I Watch them and when they stop moving and stand by the gate I go bring them in. Me on the other hand I am fighting with frozen buckets, frozen hands and frozen lungs. When it is this cold everything is so much more complicated. Dogs need extra water when it is this cold. When I put dogs in the paddocks I like to give them warm water. They are more willing to drink it...ice water when it is this cold isn't great for anyone.

Carol is busy preparing for the arrival of the new dogs. I will be away for the week end. I hate to miss out on the fun of meeting the new dogs immediately. But there are some perks to being away. With any luck the dogs will be bathed and flea-less before I meet them.

I have been getting wonderful updates on all the dogs who were placed in Dec. Sounds like they are all doing wonderful. HURRAY!!! Julie reports that Babe didn't want her coat put on...turns out she had gotten a little zap due to static. Of course washing everything with fabric softener is a good idea but another quick fix is to rub a dab of hair conditioner on your hands then rub it into your dog's coat.

After a full race career AND a full mothering career this girl is ready to retire!! Here is Legs Janelle, born 2-98. She is cat trainable and ready to be a cherished member of someone's family. After this pretty brindle girl is spayed she will move to Billings for fostering with Rebecca & Ryan. Janelle will be joined in her journey to Missoula by 2 more girls. Mal's Lead On and Fearless Fizz.

Lead On was born 7-98 and raised some pups. She was so doted on by her breeder that he spayed her to increase her chances of being placed quickly. We don't have a picture of her but we do know she is black. She is cat safe and was described as a LOVE BUG!! She will be fostered here with me.

Fearless Fizz was born 1-05. She had a few races and just wasn't fast enough. Fizz is a little red head. The report is that she loves people and is cat safe. She will be fostered her with me.

This is Mission Minded who is heading from Oklahoma right into the waiting arms of his forever family Barb and Kerry. Don't fall in love with this one...he is spoken for!!!

Who is this handsome boy? Why is it Falcon, who is packing his bags for Montana. He will be offered for adoption after his vet work is completed. Carol and Dan Tripp will be fostering this boy. He just turned 3 years old and is reported to be cat safe. He raced 57 times and won some B races. He is the son of Craigie Whistler and a dead ringer for his father. We are hoping for some pictures of some of the others who are heading this way. We are getting a total of 5 dogs, some of which are already spoken for.

I am about to head out and build a fire in the kennel and go keep the dogs company for a while. It is way to ugly outside with snow blowing around.

BRRRRR We have some snow and although the temps are not that cold the winds have picked up and it is dang cold!! It was too chilly for much more than a quick romp in the paddocks today. All of my smaller dogs had to stay in and be satisfied with a session on the grooming table. Not that they minded.

Looks like things are shaping up for some greyhounds to arrive in Montana soon. These will be coming from Oklahoma. Details to follow.

Between the new year and my computer being down a day I haven't written. Not a whole lot to report on the dogs here. With the mild temps the dogs got to be outside a lot today. Many of my boarding dogs are going home so I should be able to get caught up on baths and what not.

A dear friend of mine in Oregon, is fostering a greyhound girl with the hopes of adopting her. This will be her second greyhound. She and I have had a lot of fun comparing bloodlines and notes on settling in our new girls. For some reason greyhounds seem to be almost more bonding than blood. I loved chatting with Pam about Blu and meeting Jan this past fall. It always seems that greyhound folks seem to be instant friends...and if they hang around long enough they get to be like family.