Sunday, August 24, 2008

ALERT
Kiki McDonald has escaped from her home while the family was away on Aug. 20th. This is every one's worst nightmare. Posters, and walkers have canvased her home turf in the Missoula University area. Please keep your ears and eyes open. If you happen to spot her or hear of a sighting please call Mary and Brian immediately. Kiki is timid and it is unlikely she will approach anyone unfamiliar. If you see her just keep track of her until her family can get there. She is greatly missed. If you are too far away to help in the search please send one up for our little lost girl that she may be safe until she can be found.

Kiki

Mary and Brian McDonald

493-0312

Monday, August 18, 2008

We all get busy. Summer whips by in the blink of an eye and soon fall will be in the air. It won't be long before we are scratching our heads and wondering where 2008 went. One thing I really love about dogs is their ability to live in the the moment. No whining about what happened to them in the past and not a lot of worrying about how things will work out. If they have trust in a good owner then they are happy. I love sharing my life with them. I love when my old girl, Izzy, bumps my hand during the night for a gentle caress. I see it as love but it may be her way of telling me to roll over and stop snoring. I love when my dogs jump up to greet me and I even love it when they lay there and watch me knowing they are secure enough not to have to greet me. Dogs are wonderful....and our retired racers are some of the best. Not only are greyhounds wonderful soulful companions they are like living with art. Those sculptured muscles and flowing lines....breath taking! Although I am not technically a placement rep this last week or so I have been able to help out in that respect. It is so rewarding to hear the stories of how a new dog is settling in. Talking to that first time adopter is really magic. Where those magic moments start is at places like Pet Fest and the other public events we participate in. This important link in the chain of making a placement happen is really weak...weak to the point of breaking. Public appearances seem to fall onto the shoulders of the same 4-6 families. Some of those families have invested years in these events and need a break from it to recharge their batteries. If you have thought you would like to get more involved even if it is just once a year please do. We have a lot of fun when we get together. It is a rare opportunity to share ideas and stories. For example at PetFest we talked a lot about the new dog food we are trying out at the foster kennels. You find out the best place to buy new collars and beds and sometimes tricks for making life with dogs easier. We share laughs and can talk openly about how much we love our dogs without feeling the least bit strange. These public moments are some sort of therapy. But one of the best things that happens is watching someone meet a greyhound for the first time. You can see the light in the new person's eyes as they swoop down to their knees to get a closer look and maybe a hug. Sharing your beautiful loved greyhound in this fashion is incredible. When that person ends up adopting a greyhound of their own you will feel the satisfaction of knowing YOU helped that happen by taking the time to sharing your greyhound. People always remember the first greyhound they meet. Let it be yours.

Right now there are many opportunities to help. We are in desperate need of fresh faces and ideas. One of the things that is coming up is the U of M home coming parade. Unless we get people committed to making it happen it may go by the way side. We are open to ideas and new ways to do it. If you are willing to be on a committee to please contact us immediately. Elaine is also anxious to get more going on in the Kalispell area but needs help. It doesn't mean you have to tackle a giant task....if everyone does a small bit we can have the best group ever....and the real winners will be the greyhounds!!!

In Missoula contact Laura at lhenning@RMEF.ORG or
Judy at jpfaff@bresnan.net
In Kalispell contact Elaine at elaine@travelguidebook.com

Friday, August 15, 2008

Looks like Teddy Bear will head to Great Falls this week end. He has been claimed!! What a great week this has been for moving dogs!! After weeks of dogs waiting finally a break. Remember Pet Fest is this week end. You don't have to sign up to come down and visit. Of course it is nice if you sign up so we know that we have coverage. But if you suddenly have a chunk of time on Saturday please come down to show off your pup. We will have some of the foster dogs there. So even if you don't want to bring your dog...bring your people skills and help spread the word about retired racing greyhounds.

Thursday, August 14, 2008


Yesterday was Ducky's birthday. You will all be pleased to hear that Ducky got her birthday wish. A home of her own!! early in the week Carol mentioned to me that Vicki K. was thinking of adding another greyhound after the loss of her dear old pup, CJ. I immediately was on the phone to Vicki and asked her to consider Ducky. Vicki said "Funny you should call I have been thinking about this very thing!" Last evening Vicki and Cliff of Missoula brought their two greyhound girls, Abby and Jaz, out to meet their new sister Ducky. Things went very well. Cliff laughed when Ducky started playing with a toy. He already is calling her MD (short for Mama Ducky). HURRAY!!! I will take Ducky into Missoula on Saturday and turn her over to Vicki. Ducky will officially join the red headed pack of the Klein family.
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Pizzazz has been spoken for and is searching for a ride to the Kalispell area. Anyone going to the lake soon?
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Shannon also is in a new spot. It is technically a foster home but it has lots of potential to firm up into an adoption.
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That leaves Miss Skipper here at my place. Skipper gets cuter every day. She takes a while to relax but is one of the sweetest and easiest foster dogs. Comes when I call and never causes any trouble. I don't think I would put her in a home with a busy family just because of the chaos level would overwhelm her...but she would shine in a settled routine home.

Tripps are fostering the boys, Juan, Jack and Teddy Bear. If things keep moving along this way maybe we will be able to help some more greyhounds. Next haul is Sept.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Summer is whipping by me at the speed of a greyhound. I can't believe we are already to the middle of August. This summer has been a blur of company. Darrin's nieces came and stayed a couple of weeks and a few days later my nieces came and stayed for 3 weeks. While it is nice not to have teenagers to keep track of I do miss them. There is no one to watch late night movies with.
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We have several nice greyhounds that need homes. I have 3 wonderful greyhound ladies in waiting here. Mama Ducky is still waiting and waiting and waiting....where on earth is her family? She has so much going for her I just can't believe she is still here waiting. Skipper is doing wonderfully. When she arrived she was pretty stressed her little world had been turned upside down. She is settling in but I can't wait to see how much she really blossoms in a home of her own. She is so elegant, the picture of grace and the sweet personality to match. Then there is Pizazz who is cute and fun. We had a serious nibble on her from a home up north but nothing has happened so far so she is still waiting. In the mean time we did help an Afghan Hound find a home in Billings. Best wishes to Roman in his new home with Cindy! Bold Speed went home with Stacy a couple weeks ago. He is such a baby Huey....but reports are he is settling right in and loving his new life. His new name will be Bodie and he will live in Missoula. We will see if he can learn to walk on a lead in his new home.
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At Tripps there are 6 greyhounds waiting. Intrepid and Oliver have been spoken for but they have 3 handsome boys and one darling senior girl who are waiting for homes of their own. This week end is Pet Fest in Missoula if anyone would like to take one of the foster dogs in to meet folks we can arrange it.

Friday, August 1, 2008

When Jack first bound out into the yard to have his picture taken I thought "Oh boy he is too much!" But soon everyone was laughing out loud watching his funny antics. He is big, beautiful and silly. In 2 minutes he ran like a wild thing, played fetch, cooled off by wading and then looked drop dead gorgeous for pictures. He squeezed more living into those two short minutes than most dogs do in a whole day. If Jack was a person he would be the guy EVERYONE knows and wants to know better. What a great dog!!

Jack will turn three years old in Sept. and he sure would love to celebrate his birthday in his own home. He likes all people and plays well with other dogs....although he may overwhelm the meek. With Jack in the house you will never be bored or lonely. Unlike many active dogs Jack will settle and is a honey.