Meet and Greets will resume the second Saturday in November.

The first will be in Avondale, the next month in Scottsdale. They will alternate locations each month. Check the calendar for info.

As many of you know, most of our hounds are coming from the midwest now, due to lack of availability closer. They're coming from Oklahoma, Kansas, and Alabama. They're lovely dogs, but most of them are carrying hookworms which seems to be a fact of life back there. They don't seem to affect the dog much, but we must try to control them.

They are difficult to treat, there is no quick fix. The medications are rather expensive (about $100 for a 3-month supply), and the course of treatment must be conscientiously followed. The most highly-recommended product appears to be "Advantage Multi" given on day one, at two weeks, then at four weeks, and then monthly thereafter. This drug is also a heartworm preventive and it or a similar product should be given to all our dogs anyway. This will prevent your personal dogs from possibly picking up hooks from the new dogs. I just did fecal exams on our own dogs and they tested negative, so it's working!

Yard hygiene is also very important. Fecal material should be removed at least once daily! There is a public health aspect in that hookworm larvae can penetrate intact skin...so don’t go out barefoot in 110 degree weather and step in the feces!

Best wishes,

Leah Cole, B.S., D.V.M.

Rachel Hogue's photo essay of life at a Greyhound track. A "behind the scenes" view.

Here's what she says about it:

"This is a collection of images I've taken from 2006 on. I've designed this set as an educational tool for greyhound people (much like myself) who have an interest in what their dog's life was like before retirement. I've done my best to represent things as accurately as possible, and I plan to continue updating the set in the future. Please enjoy, and feel free to comment and ask questions!

One of our foster family members has this to say: "I'm very happy for [my recent foster]. After all he has been through; no dog deserves a good home more than he does. To live his life out, and be with a family that values his company and love and accept him as a member of their group. It's why we all do what we do.

That's the greatest joy and satisfaction available doing this kind of volunteer work. You love them all, but like we all know, "you can't keep them all". So you care for them, and you teach them and most important of all, you constantly remind yourself that they are going to leave, and your reward is getting them to that destination. It's not about your feelings or selfish wants. It's about the dog, and what is in its best interest.

And for the most part, that works. I've really gotten pretty good at the good-bye thing. I have, for the most part, learned to feel personally satisfied when a foster goes to their permanent home. I'm not losing a dog, I got a good dog into a good home, and I did a good thing. And that's the biggest reason I do this; the personal satisfaction of working to that successful end. Because it is about the dogs.

But every so often, [when] a foster leaves to go to [their home] they take a little piece of you with them. I truly enjoyed working with this foster, and he will be missed."

From Greg Hogue:

"In honor of Adopt a Greyhound Month, I was "promoted" to the spokesperson for Greyhound Pets of Arizona today and appeared on Sonoran Living on the ABC affiliate here in Phoenix. I had my goof Ballistic, along with the floozy Rumor in here showgirl outfit and Rocky the Red. And I'll be damned if TV doesn't add 20lbs to ya..lol"

Watch the video here

In America, Greyhounds can be traced back to the 1500s, brought in by
Spanish explorers to "guard, hunt, intimidate and punish their
enemies—in this case, the Indians".

During the American Revolution, a huge Greyhound named Azor always accompanied George Washington.

Greyhounds were among the first dogs recorded at American dog shows,
with an entry of 18 exhibited at the Westminster Kennel Club show in
1877. They were in the second edition of the AKC Stud Book in 1885 with
listings of three males and five bitches.

Today the breed's most valued trait is companionship—a lovely dog with a lively personality.

An excerpt from a 1998 seminar given by Kathleen Gilley

A must read for new Greyhound owners and pretty good for anyone else too...

"What is your new adoptive greyhound thinking?"

This is a group in Alabama, but we share the same mission.