What day is it? What town are we in and how did we end up with all these wonderful dogs? It has been a long day of running from tornado's...I don't know how Kansas folks live like this. Nah, just kidding April fools...my husband nor Trish thought I was funny either. Sunday night we stayed in Wichita. In the morning we headed out to the Nitro Kennel. This was a big deal for me personally as this is where my Tava came from. Last year Tava won a lure course and I brought her first ribbon with me to give to them. Tammy said she couldn't wait to show her son so he could take it to show and tell. We got to meet dogs including a girl who is near whelping. I got to put my hands on her and could feel the pups moving. Of course we met a few dogs who were available for adoption. One little girl was named Post Time aka Tosha. She will make the trip to Montana with the next load in May. She is a pretty red girl, she retired early after a break in one of the small bones in her hock. Then we helped load up the dogs who were headed to schooling. As Alan headed north with them we had lunch with Tammy and headed south to Tulsa. Carol's son lives in Tulsa and is going to school. It worked out that we arrived on his birthday and were able to share the evening with him. Erin (greyhound rescue person) invited us to her home and turtle sanctuary. She made Ethan a wonderful rich chocolate cake. That night we rolled into Teddy's just as a rather impressive thunderstorm rolled in behind us. Teddy has headed up a team of greyhound devotees who have been responsible for moving dogs all over the country. She is a networking master. Her team includes farms, owners, adopters, rescue groups, trainers, haulers and her number one support her husband of 40+ years, Russ. We got acquainted as it was pouring rain and everyone was visiting - all I could think of was meeting the dogs. Finally I could take it no longer. I blurted out "Can we finally go see the dogs?" Judy and Carol rolled their eyes as this has been a reoccurring thing with me. Teddy grinned and, rain or no we headed out. Nutmeg was the only one of our dogs that was there, the others are a few hours away at another farm. There were only about a dozen dogs in the kennel, most spoken for.
The next day we fell right into step in the kennel, feeding, cleaning and loving on the dogs. A handsome brindle with a black mask and velvet ears started to stand out to us, Chevron. During the course of the day we visited with Teddy about him. She said "Well, he isn't cat tested". We said "We don't care". She agreed that he could head our way on the May haul. Later we were surprised to flip open his ear and see that he is 8 years old....but still we didn't care....we had already made the decision that he was ours. We had many long visits with Teddy and soaked in as much information as possible about dog's, their people, rescue miracles and heartbreaks. The afternoon was spent trimming nails, taking pictures and more loving on the dogs. Carol and Judy had a lively time poop scooping. I was inside doing some chores and could hear them out there giggling like lunatics. Soon Carol came in and insisted I come help them...dubiously I followed her outside where the silliness continued and dare I confess got worse.

As our visit went on Chevron seemed to sense a change, he became more excited every time we came into the kennel. It was if he knew he was with us now and we were falling more in love with him. Wednesday came and the morning agenda was a quick trip to Tulsa to see a woman who made collars. Well, no souvenir seemed more appropriate that a beautiful sighthound collar or two. We all had to indulge...just a little. Before we knew it the time had come to pack up and say good bye. The truck was repacked, crates set up to receive the 2 girls who would be traveling with us and we headed to the kennel to say "see ya soon" to Chevron and to take Nutmeg with us. Well that didn't go exactly as we planned. As soon as we came through the door Mr. Chevron started doing the monkey..."oooo oooo roooo" begging us to notice him. We of course being experts in dog speak knew he was ready to make the trip. Soon we were using our hands to count the dogs traveling with us and trying to find a reason he could not make the trip NOW. Teddy came into the kennel about that time and we caught her off guard when we asked to take him now. She gasped and broke into tears. When she regained her composure she said, "This isn't just any old boy you know. He was much loved by his trainer and I have seen Chevron every time I visited this farm for over four years." She paused and started to tear up again "I would stroke his ears and promise him that I would help him find something wonderful in his old age....I can't believe that the promise is happening today." Chevron jumped up and he shared one last hug with Teddy. He thanked her and she let go of him and entrusted her dear old friend to us. Socks arrived with Erin fresh from her foster home to join the group. She is a cute little bitty black girl with white bobby socks. Tonight we are in Abilene again. We have appointments at farm in the morning and the Nitro Kennel invited us to join them for schooling in the early afternoon. Then we push on to Colorado...hoping to get near to Nunn so we can get there a good time on Friday and maybe help with some chores and be reunited with the rest of our traveling party. Nutmeg has claimed my bed...I do hope she will share.