Today I ran Sylvie and Nacho to the vet to get ready for homes. All the dogs who were vetted this week came through with flying colors. On the way home I dropped off Sylvie and picked up Dori for babysitting while Tripps are on the road with the rest of the gang. We did the last worming and every one is ready to head out. Tripps have worked their buns off this week to get everything pulled together. My hat is off to them!! Hopefully we will get pictures of the dogs going into new homes.

Tomorrow is homecoming for more than just hounds. It is also Homecoming for the U-of-M Griz...which means hounds will be parading with the best of them in Missoula. If you have the inclination to show off your hound (and who doesn't) get your tennies on and grab your leash!! For more info go to http://www.gparockymountain.org/Homecoming%20Parade.html
Last year was a blast!!! The chili was to die for! Unfortunately I won't be able to strut with the rest of you this year...sigh...dumb leg. HOWEVER....on Oct 13th it is Apple Days in Hamilton. The gals at http://www.collarcrazy.com/ have a booth down there and have suggested that perhaps the greyhounds need to put in an appearance. It will be the last hurrah for the Farmers Market in addition to other events. So you can order your custom collar now and pick it up then. Be sure to check out their many fabric samples...but Irene and Amber always have fabrics that aren't on the the pages. Last collar I bought for Tava a periwinkle blue with glow in the dark lime spots...so cool!! They are very accommodating and will help you find the perfect collar for every occasion and every pet.

I wonder why they ever named this regal beast

S C A M P E R

Today brought a little rain and a little sad news. My dear friend Lynn who adopted Gigi (HH Real Live Girl) called to report that Gigi's periodic limp has been diagnosed as bone cancer. Gigi arrived in Missoula last November. She rode the bus with Trish's Birdie, My Tava and Waldo. It seems so unfair...After racing 162 times and producing 15 pups she should entitled to many months of gentle retirement. While we were discussing the unfairness and all Gigi had done in her life we started talking about riches. For dogs...riches are not held in a bank account or in fancy collars. Dogs count riches in the love they are given, the fullness of their tummies, the softness of their bed and the kindness of their owners touch. To a dog, richness is finding the perfect sunny spot to nap or sharing a ice cream cone with their person. Although her time may not be bountiful...Gigi is wealthy in other ways. For now we will focus on giving her a preview of heaven.

HAPPY DAY!!! Kissie finally met her match today. She is now home with an experienced greyhound home in Frenchtown. She will have a couple of greyhound brothers and a collie sister. Clarissa and Angel both are hitting the road tomorrow AM. So within 24 hours all three of the girls who have been fostered for weeks are going to be in their HOMES!! I am very excited.

There are 12...count them 12 greyhounds who will board the bus on Friday and start the trek to Montana. Most of them are spoken for!! They will first head to Tripps and be vetted. The following week end they many of them will make the trip to Billings area for placement. Bek has a crazy placement agenda set up. Bek's snowball of enthusiasm has ended up in a avalanche of placements!! I wonder if the paper in Billings would be interested in doing a follow story...hmmm I hope others will take Bek up on her offer to supply info...if anyone wants to get a similar story in the paper in THEIR area. It worked once lets do it again!!

I smiled the other day listening to Dan Tripp tell me about his foster dogs. Tripps are fostering Angel and Clarissa. Angel is doing wonderful and has relaxed and left her baggage behind her. Little Clarissa is a pretty, petite and young black female. She is really sweet but has no confidence and is on the shy side. Tripps have been letting her hang out with their own pack in the house so she can learn how to be a real dog. Dan was telling me how after a month she is just now willing to approach him but only for a moment and she recently started taking cookies from Carol's hand. He than said "You know, a dog like Clarissa can't just go anywhere. She needs a REALLY good home that will help her grow up and be patient with her." I could tell by the protective edge in his voice that he was well into "foster dad" mode. It is a interesting phenomena how protective you can feel about your foster dogs. You want them to be happy and you want them to have owners that are really committed. You want the best home for each dog. I have often been asked, "How can you let go?" For me, I let go to make room for others. I have certainly fostered many dogs I would have loved to kept. Often when the right home happens it just feels right. It isn't a matter of letting go it is just letting things happen the way they should. Fostering is hard work. It can be very emotional both in heartbreak and joy. But aside from the personal inconvenience....fostering saves lives. It is the first critical step towards a forever home. Foster families get to see that dog blossom. Showing the world to that innocent greyhound is wonderful. That foster dog will always remember you...The relationship is kind of like you have with a favorite aunt. Fostering can change your world. Pictured above are two of my three lovely greyhound girls...once upon a time they were just foster dogs.

Angel has a home waiting for her. Robert and his greyhound, Jack, have offered to transport her next week. Kissie is healing and anxious to find a home. And anyone interested in Clarissa will have to meet with foster dad, Dan Tripp's approval. He may be as picky as a daddy on prom night.

About the time I was making real progress with Kissie's owie healing she ran through the door and busted it all open. At first I thought it would be OK but by Saturday is looked ugly and she made a trip to the vet to have it fixed up. She has a drain and I got the chance to learn how a drain works. The gunk doesn't go through the tube it travels along the tube and out. So you have to keep the area where the skin meets the tube cleared off....no scabs. Turns out Kissie is a bleeder which means she has a low clotting factor. Not a big deal on a day to day level but certainly something to know should she require surgery in the future. Now I am looking at her long toe nails wishing for some other brave soul to cut them. The vet remarked about what a super nice dog she is. Kissie is liked by everyone who meets her. I am amazed she is still here in foster care. How can she be over looked for this long?

Asta (formerly AMF Asp) came out to stay for a few days. She looks faboo!! I had no idea she could be so white and man is she happy and willing to tell you all about it...."Roo roo roo rooooo!!" There is something especially wonderful about seeing these old brood girls make the leap from used up and discarded by the industry to cherished family member. Funny thing about the older dogs, sometimes it is like pulling teeth to get people to cast them a serious look. But it seems their love is sweeter and more addictive than any other. Homes who have taken retired brood girls always want another.

Due to the placement boom going on in Billings more dogs are getting a ticket to ride the big bus to Montana. A couple more weeks should have the foster blog hoppin' again.

Yesterday we were on the verge of canceling the dogs who are headed to Montana in a couple of weeks. Now because of some of our hard working reps we have light in the tunnel again!!!

Today greyhound rescue got a shot in the arm with a wonderful article in the Billings Gazette. Please check it out
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/09/04/news/local/23-greyhounds.txt
Great job to those who helped get it in the paper. I called Bek to tell her I saw the story. She was busy on the phone, swamped with calls related to the article. I do hope some of these calls will bring us some worthy homes for our pups!! Bek said if someone wanted to pursue a similar story in their area she would be happy to share the research and stats she came up with. One of the things about rescue is how easily some one's enthusiasm can be spread. Today the wind under our sails is named, BEK!!

Kissie is on the injured list. She now sports a 5 inch owie on her side that required stitching. two weeks and hopefully she will be as good as new. Always something.