Showing posts with label Senior greyhounds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Senior greyhounds. Show all posts

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Pasha's 13 Reasons to Adopt a Senior Greyhound







If you have already adopted a senior greyhound, you totally ROCK!

If you're thinking about adopting a senior greyhound, you'll be rockin' soon.

And if you have never thought about adopting a senior greyhound, it's time to start thinking.

If you read all of the stories, you heard over and over again what wonderful, easily adaptable companions they make.

We could have posted a hundred stories about adopting a senior, but they would have been the same story, just theme and variation.

Our adopt a senior month ends today, but we will always have seniors available for adoption.

This is Rover Reporter Pasha, signing out after a whole month of special reports. I'll be back.

Good Night, and Good Luck.
Hugs and sloppy wet kisses, Pasha

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Pasha's 13 Reasons to Adopt a Senior Greyhound


The second best reason to adopt a senior greyhound is that they settle in so well with an already established pack.

They have already learned what it takes to get along with others and become part of the pack.

This is the Double-digit gang that I belong too.

Murphy, the big black boy was adopted when he was four years old, he'll be 11 years old June 10.

Roxy, the white and red female was adopted when she was nine years old, she'll be turning 13 in September.

Duncan, the white and red male was adopted when he was six years old. He just turned 10 in April.

Maddie, the red brindle female was adopted just shy of her eighth birthday, she'll be turning 14 next January.

Then there's me, Pasha, I was adopted at 12 1/2 years old and I just had my 13th birthday in April.

Last but not least is Buddy, the red fawn boy. He was 6 1/2 years old when he was adopted. In November he'll be turning 12.

And rumor has it next month there will be another girl turning 10 years old.

We also live with a couple of youngsters and we all do just fine. So if you are wondering about bringing home a new hound. Here is proof positive. Us seniors do great with other doggies.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Miss Oneco ala Bear, so what if I'm ten?


When one of our wonderful boys was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, we put in a call to our adoption rep and said that we would like a special needs greyhound.

Oneco was celebrating her 10th birthday at the adoption kennel after an impressive racing career and an even more impressive career as a mom with 21 babies. She was a very special girl, but there wasn't anything special needs about her.


Oneco waltzed into the house as if she had always been in a home, we were her first. She knew what a cushion was, turned her belly to the sky and we all knew it was the perfect fit.


Oneco instantly became mesmerized by the cats. She would sit by their door for hours, just hoping for a tasty morsel ala kitty. She never got her taste, but she proudly carried her membership card in the "United Federation of Cat Zappers" thanks to Thaw and Time who took her under their wings and taught her everything they knew about cats.


The pools were there for Oneco's delight. She loved the pools, especially in the heat of the summer. Fresh water daily was a must, and we did what we could to make sure she always had fresh water.


Oneco knew what the grassy acre was for, she was frequently seen leading the pack, a most impressive sight. This little girlie was supposed to be a senior. Just one more example of how age is only a number.


Oneco immediately joined ranks with our other senior girl Phoebe. The only two garden hounds that were in their golden years, they quickly decided that they were not going to called senior greyhounds.

Together, Oneco and Phoebe were the founding members of the "Double-digit Gang." They told everyone that is was an honor to be a member of the gang. To this day, we celebrate every dog when they become a member.


Oneco was quite the little social bug. If there had been a bingo parlour for greyhounds, I have no doubt that she would have been there every day.

Instead, Oneco started the charter for the lady greyhounds of the gardens and they call themselves the "Red Hot Houndies." Per tradition, the ladies over 10 wear red and purple, the ladies under 10 wear pink and lavender.


Oneco was 14 years and 4 months when her little body gave up on her spirit. She took a huge chunk out of our hearts, we loved her so. She was a favorite at the adoption kennel and I think a piece of everyone's heart that knew her was taken away too.

Oneco is just one more great example of why adopting a senior greyhound is such a great idea.

She was loving and fun and really quite spunky all the way to the end.

We will forever miss our little Oneco ala Bear

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Pasha's 13 Reasons to Adopt a Senior Greyhound


Senior greyhounds move in and are instant companions. They are ready for a walk or a ride or to snuggle all of the time.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Foxy Roxy, spunky, happy and perfect


Adopt a senior month is winding down and what a month we have had.

Three of our senior girls found forever homes and their families couldn't be happier.

Roxy tells the story we hear over and over again. Senior greyhounds adapt easy, they're loving and well, they are just perfect.

We still have five ladies waiting. Give us a call or send us an e-mail, it will be one of the best decisions you ever made.


In November we lost Edie 8 to a stroke and Phoebe 14 to cancer. We were devastated to lose our ladies but weren't really look to adopt again for awhile. And then, Roxy showed up on the Oregon Greyhound website.

One look at her cute little overbite and we knew she was ours. Roxy came home January 8, 2006, just a few months past her 9th birthday.

She walked in the house, looked around, rolled over on her back and knew she was forever home. Talk about an easy dog to adapt. Roxy has never given us any problems. She's had a couple of dentals and has a slight heart murmer, but even it has not changed in three years.

Roxy has 75 races under her belt and upon retiring entered her second career having 15 beautiful babies.


Roxy has always been a very social greyhound and immediately joined the Red Hot Houndies and is a card carrying member in the Double-Digit Gang.


Roxy is always the happiest with her family, but second best is the fenced acre where she can roam and sniff the air for hours.


Roxy has been a complete delight. She loves to go for car rides and is actually quite a little trooper when it comes to a nice long hike in the woods. She keeps right up with us and never shows any hesitation.


Roxy will be 13 in September, but she's spunky and happy and well, Roxy is absolutely perfect.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Pasha's 13 Reasons to Adopt a Senior Greyhound


They look pretty in pink.

Doesn't matter which color you surround a senior greyhound in, they look greyt.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

One week left for adopt a senior month


One week to go for adopt a senior month!

The ladies have their goodie bags packed and ready to go home with them.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Madeline sweet girl of mine


Maddie came to stay with us as a house guest just shy of her 8th birthday. I met another volunteer in a parking lot to pick her up. I remember reaching down to pet her and feeling how soft her coat was. She was just like petting a rabbit, I'm pretty sure my fingers got lost in her coat and it was somewhere between her shoulder blades and her tail that I instantly knew "house guest" meant for the rest of her life.

Maddie walked in the house, looked and around said "OK, I'll take that bed." She did and nearly 5 years later, it is still her bed or at least a new one in that very same place.


Maddie is on the downhill side to 14 now, but you would never know it by looking at her. Her face is a little whiter, but it looks very natural. Only her hairdresser knows for sure.


She is still as spunky as the day we brought her home, maybe even more so now because she knows the world is truly her oyster.


She had a short racing career and then went back into the workforce with a litter of pups. When she entered retirement, she wrapped all four paws around it and enjoyed it to the fullest.

She was pure puppy when she came home. Shredding toilet paper was a daily adventure. But as I recall, the chewed shoes, cell phone and wallet were all an eye-opening experience.


We laughed as we quickly learned to change our behavior because our almost 8 year old puppy was going to test the limits.

Maddie remained a foster for about a month, it quickly became clear to us that she didn't want to go anywhere and we didn't want her going anywhere.


We never really thought of her as a senior, we still don't. Age is only a number.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Pasha's 13 Reasons to Adopt a Senior Greyhound

Senior greyhounds are never too old to roll in the grass and just be silly.

Picker was 12 1/2 years old when we took this picture. He loved the cool grass.

There are only 10 days left for our adopt a senior month. We still have five ladies-a- waiting.

These ladies have so much joy and love to give, give us a call... come and meet these beautiful girls.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Huggable, lovable, gentle, spunky, sweet and charming girl

Is ready for her forever home!


I think it is time we had a little talk. Ma petite amie, Sassy is looking for a forever home.

Now I know she is wonderful, but I just thought I would ask a few of her other friends what they think about her.

Debra Sassy has the most wonderfully rich and soft fur, she is irresistible to touch and hug!

Vicki Just look into my eyes, all I'm asking for is a loving home, and I'll return tenfold all the love you give me

Rosanna Sassy is a sweet, gentle lady with an outgoing personality. She melts your heart when she tilts that little face to look up at you with her beautiful brown eyes.

Jeff She's a pistol! At almost 11 years old Sassy has the spunk of a much younger lady. She's waited patiently for her home and is EVER so good that she's even decided that she will live with feline roommates as long as she gets a couch!

Carolyn Sassy is sweetness!

Karen Sassy is specially mellowed with age (vintage charmer), but still has plenty of energy and love to give to someone special.

Christine Moon face. I don’t know why…that’s what just popped into my head. Her face is very round, as are her deep brown eyes.

“Did it take long to find me
I ask the faithful light

Ooh did it take long to find me

And are you going to stay the night

I'm being followed by a moon shadow

moon shadow - moon shadow

leaping and hopping on a moon shadow

moon shadow - moon shadow”

Yusuf (formerly Cat Stevens)

Je t'aime, ma chérie

Monday, May 18, 2009

Pasha's 13 Reasons to Adopt a Senior Greyhound


It was a beautiful day on Saturday and Petopia was an awesome host, but we still brought all of our ladies back to the kennel.

Give us a call or shoot us an e-mail, we'll be happy to work with you to find a time to meet one of our lovely senior ladies. Senior greyhound adoption goes the whole month of May, well we do it all year around, what am I talking about?

And if you're looking for my 8th great reason to adopt a greyhound, here you go:


Daily yoga keeps them in great shape.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Staci • The Gwyneth Paltrow of Greyhounds



Staci

We can hardly believe that Staci is already a ten-year-old senior. She certainly doesn’t act old. We adopted her just before she turned three. She is a very beautiful red and white greyhound, but we didn’t select her for that reason.

We had gone to a GPA picnic with our greyhounds Trixie and Sam, and had been thinking about adding a third grey. There were adoptable dogs in a large pen, and Trixie kept pulling us over to be near the red and white greyhound. It seemed that they made a connection with each other. Shortly after that Staci came to our home.

She was too pretty and sweet to keep her track name “State Law”, and we renamed her Staci. Being very smart, she watched what Trixie did and did the same. They always got along and Staci and Trixie were a harmonious trio with our gentle giant Sam.

Although Staci is comfortable with all greyhounds, she is particular about which humans she likes. She was quite shy in the beginning, but has gotten more accepting and relaxed over the years. She is still very playful and loves to vocalize. It doesn’t take much encouragement to get her to roo, and she has a pretty soprano which matches her girly looks.


Staci has always been a willing model for the dog coats I make, and she shows them off well. Our neighbor even says that her graceful beauty reminds him of Gwyneth Paltrow!


Just as Trixie picked out Staci for our family, Staci selected Trey. We went to the OGA kennel with her and walked around with many male greyhounds. His sweet playfulness appealed to her and made the choice easy. Even though Trey is four years younger, they are great playmates. They have the best fun running in our backyard. As a senior, she doesn’t match his stamina, but you’d never guess her age!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Today, Saturday May 16


The sun will come out today and so will our 5 senior ladies. They are ready to meet you, charm you and steal your heart.

See you at Petopia Natural Pet Supplies
16101 SE Mcloughlin Blvd, Milwaukie, OR 97267
503.607.0111

Friday, May 15, 2009

Breaking News • Part deux!


Holey Schmoley Portland! Looks like our third senior lady has a home. The news doesn't get much better than this. Corvallis (I did a little 'net search, her name is a Latin phrase meaning "Heart of the Valley") just stuck her little paws into the hearts of a potential adopter and it worked.

Way to go Corvallis. You be rockin' girlie.

Breaking News


Looks like this little heart breaker just might have a home! You go girlfriend!



That would be two beautiful ladies into a home for adopt a senior month.

Only six seniors left to find homes. Better hurry, they're going fast!

See you tomorrow from 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Petopia Natural Pet Supplies
16101 SE Mcloughlin Blvd
Milwaukie, OR 97267
503.607.0111

Pasha hits the jackpot... twice


OK, I'd like to see a show of paws, how many of you from Internet-land are coming to meet one of my lovely lady friends on Saturday? You know, we have seven lovely ladies looking for their forever home.

Trust me, this will be one of those decisions that you look back on and two things will happen:
1.) you'll wonder why you waited so cotton-pickin' long to adopt a greyhound and
2.) you'll know in your heart of hearts that adopting a senior greyhound was the best decision you have ever made.

So keep those paws in the air and we'll see you on Saturday.

What's that? You want to know my story, gosh, I thought you would never ask.

When I was just a young pup, I knew I wanted to be a writer. All of my littermates were running and playing tug-o'-war and I was devouring every book I could get a hold of.

When it was time to go to the track, I didn't want to run, I wanted to write. I wanted to tell the stories of the greyhounds winning their races, I wanted to talk about the dogs going into adoption groups...

Oh, that isn't the story you want to hear, you want to hear about my adoption story.

I was originally adopted as a two year old racetrack drop-out. I was adopted in Las Vegas. I hit the jackpot. My family loved me very, very much. They took me everywhere, family reunions, vacations, long walks and even to work. We moved around and I ended up in Portland for my golden years.

Last fall the announcement was made that another move was coming up and we were going to California. Sadly for me, at 12 1/2 years old, my body was not keeping up with my mind. I was getting weak in the hind end, stairs were not negotiable anymore and long walks, even around the block were difficult.

My family had to make some decisions.

That's where my new moms come in. Their lifestyle has completely gone to the dogs, so to speak. I could either move to California, where my walks might be painful and on concrete or I could go to the gardens, where I have a fenced acre of nothing but lush green grass to squish between my toes. I have a ramp that makes it easy for me to go in and out, and I have a million brothers and sisters to boss around.

My family loved me so much, that they knew I would be much better off if I stayed with my new moms. And I hit the jackpot for a second time.

Now, I don't run as fast as some of the youngsters, but I can still work up a head of steam.


I love nothing more than to lay in the grass and wander around the acre taking in all of the smells.


And when the evening comes, we all pile into the living room and I turn my tootsies to the air and relax.


I might mention that this is one of the big positives of greyhound adoption. We hope that every greyhound that is adopted goes to their forever home, but sometimes life happens. It only takes one phone call to an adoption group and you will have all of the support you need. And in my case, I had a new home to go to.