On June 27th five beautiful greyhounds arrived in Virginia. Rex & Linda graciously hosted adoption day at their house. We had lots of fun spending time with this loving group of greyhounds, before they moved on to their forever homes. All of them are doing greyt. It's hard to believe that they have only been here a week. It's amazing how quickly these dogs adapt to their new lifestyles! Congrats to the new families and thank you for giving these happy hounds a new chance at life.
Five happy greyhounds will be arriving in Virginia on Saturday, June 27th. It's too hot this time of year to bring them up in a hauler so they will be riding in style by personal vehicles. Volunteers from Florida will load up the hounds and drive all night. They will meet the VAGA volunteers in Wilson, NC at 7:00am. Once the switch is made the dogs will arrive in Virginia around 10:30. Please welcome RJ's Fred M, Kebo Karen, Laced Decal, Van's Chi Chi and Task Fifty Fifty. Thank you to all the people who worked together to make this happen. Have a safe trip!
How do you measure the success of an event? Is it the money you raise, the turnout of people, things going off without a hitch, the weather? Each is important by itself, but one must incorporate all the factors to some degree. We tend to focus on the money because it is called a fundraising event so let me start there. Sometimes I forget as to why we hold this event, it's about the dogs. Many of the players are VAGA members, the rest come out to support us but may not know what the money is for. Every penny we raise goes towards these dogs, from vetting to transportation, adoption, and everything in between. Those Mulligan packages and raffle tickets you purchased help us meet these goals. So let me thank you all for your tremendous support.
The turnout, well it was a sellout. Things going off without a hitch, almost.
The weather........if you were there last year......80 is better than 100.
For all of you who prayed to the weather gods, a BIG Thank You.
To our Sponsors and Donators, a thank you hardly seems adequate. You all are what drive the auction and raffle tables, and furnish the prizes. Without you we could not pull this off.
To the volunteers and those working behind the scenes: you all are simply the Best.
Greyhound folks ROCK.
Now to the winners:
First Place, with a score of 61: Anderson, Gordon, Kidd, Montemayor.
Second Place, with a score of 65: Corder, Kolak, Licklighter, Spano.
Third Place, also with a score of 65: Hardy, Joseph, Malloy, Shevitz.
Longest Drive: Hardy.
Closest to the Pin: Jones.
Congratulations to you all.
There is one more group that would like to thank you.
It is that group of greyhounds whose lifes you just changed.
A few weeks ago we welcomed four beautiful seniors as they arrived in our beautiful state of Virginia. Bunny, Doublecross and brothers Timmy & Tommy were all adopted into loving forever homes. They had been at a farm for many years.
We thought you would like to know that all four greyhounds are doing great. They are being spoiled and pampered. They are loved.
Thank you to everyone that worked together to make this happen.
All present and accounted for. Since I was unable to attend the arrival of the latest members joining VAGA, I will let the photos tell the story. After all, a picture is always worth a thousand words.
This Saturday ( May 16th) eight greyhounds will be arriving in Virginia! We look forward to every haul that we pull together but this one is extra special. Four of the greyhounds arriving have waited a very long time for a forever home. They have spent years at a breeding farm after they were retired from racing.
We would like to introduce you to brothers Timmy & Tommy. They will be 7 years old in August. The brothers will be living together in a wonderful home outside of Richmond. Their new family anxiously awaits the arrival of their handsome boys. Michelle will meet Pat, the hauler, in Richmond and do their adoption. She'll take lots of pictures to share with us all.
Next... meet Bold Breeze, better known as Bunny. She will be celebrating her 10th birthday on May 29th. Can you imagine how grand this birthday is going to be for her! She is being adopted by a very loving couple who plan to spoil Bunny everyday!
We also are happy to introduce you to Greyson ( formally known as Doublecross). Greyson just turned 9 in January. He is a perfect little boy. Greyson will have a greyhound sister in his forever home and his new mom is such a nice person. She has been waiting for over 4 weeks for Greyson's homecoming.
Finding fabulous homes for these four senior greyhounds has been a honor for VAGA. We know the senior greyhounds are the gems of the breed. We would like to thank the three kind families that are opening their hearts and homes to these beautiful hounds. You are special people and we wish you all the best.
Of course, we also are very excited to meet the other four greyhounds on this haul. Back Pay, Driven By Alomar, Mulberry Maxine and Beth Speller are all love bugs! They are gorgeous hounds with lots of love to give.
Please keep Pat and all the greyhounds in your thoughts as they make their way north. They will be leaving Orlando Friday evening and will arrive in Virginia very early Saturday morning. Thank you!
If you watched the CBS Morning Show clip on the left, you saw a 10 month old tripod named Knuckles. When asked about his missing leg, his owners were gracious in their response and said it was lost due to a blood infection. End of story? If you had heard of Knuckles back in September of 2008 you would say "Not hardly".
Knuckles was 14 weeks old when I first heard about him in September 2008. He and other puppies had been removed from a farm where they were being seriously neglected. The manager of the new farm reported that they were dehydrated, infested with worms, mal-nourished and some of them, injured. They had not had any vet care.
This is when a dedicated group of volunteers at Greyhound Rescue and Rehab stepped in. Knuckles (who was believed to have a fractured leg) and four other pups were GURed on a 15 hour trip to Katonah-Bedford Veterinary Center in Bedford, NY.
Without the care of Dr. Robert Hart, his staff and the many dedicated volunteers, you would not have seen the dog Knuckles has become on that CBS morning Show clip. Against all odds, the little grey that thought he could, got himself that forever home he deserved in Connecticut. Without ever stepping a paw on a track he became a winner. Way to go Knuckles.
To read about Knuckles full story CLICK HERE
See his Photo Gallery HERE
Editors Note: There are days when I get up and wonder, as you may have, if what I do makes any difference. With so many greys and so limited resources it seems such an uphill battle. Then along comes a Knuckles and a Samson back in '05 and you get involved again, the picture clears up a bit and you say to yourself yes. This is why we do it, this is the satisfaction we receive. I have long ago resigned myself that saving them all is unrealistic. It is these stories that rights the ship, that energizes my soul. This is what changes the world for that one greyhound.
"Attention Greyhound shoppers"
If you didn't hear that calling you were probably not in Gettysburg for the annual
GIG festivities. Vendors from Canada to Florida and points west were there. Items of use to items of pure vanity were available for greys as well as humans. There were seminars and shows to go along with the shopping. At the VAGA tent, sales were brisk but the nail trimming seemed to have no end. Grey after grey, a galgos or two and a few (non-greys) that showed up just to join the party. If there was any downside it was the warm temperatures that left a few canines and humans mildly distressed. All in all it was a greyt time. So if you missed this one, mark your calendar next April and come on down.
As always, a big thank you to all the volunteers who came out to help.
Articulate, captivating, intelligent, down to earth, just a few of the accolades I will use to describe a man who can mesmerize a room full of people. He is the man I call the "Ultimate Buckeye". The near mention of his name in the greyhound community opens a floodgate of responses from "what can I do to help", to "where can I hear him speak". Over 60 people on an Easter weekend, and donated items from around the country and aboard, helped make the "Lick Canine Cancer" event a most memorable evening. This man who works with greyhounds, this man who touches so many of us, because of what he represents to us "HOPE" is Dr. Guillermo Couto. This is my third opportunity to hear Dr. Couto speak. Each time he comes back with new information on different programs and studies, relevant on some level, to every greyhound owner. You cannot leave one of his presentations without asking yourself "when does this man sleep". From blood studies, cancer research, teaching, travelling and everything in between, it would be hard to find a more dedicated individual.
On behalf of myself, the VAGA membership, and guests, thank you Dr. Couto for all you do. Thank you for inviting us to take a look into the world of the "Greyhound Health and Wellness Program". Most of all, thank you for gracing us with your attendance at this event.
For more information on the Ohio State University Greyhound Health and Wellness Program, as well as Dr. Couto and his Hound Team, links are available for you in the left sidebar. 100% of the proceeds from this event goes to support this program.
In closing, as with any event, none of this would have been possible without an outstanding group of volunteers. Their time, support, efforts, and dedication are what made this evening what it was. Thanks to you all.
Well the troops didn't get enough of the greyt weather on Saturday, so out they trekked to Petco on Sunday for a Meet and Greet. They wrapped up a spectacular weekend with yet another busy day in Warrenton. During the Meet they even managed some time to do a little nail trimming at the sidewalk salon. The things our greyhounds will endure to focus attention to themselves. Lots of pets, a few kisses, and hopefully a new home or two.
It's starting to get a little busy around VAGA. Lots is going on. This is to let you know that registration is now open for our 4th annual "A Round for the Hounds" golf tournament. There is a sign up gadget for you in the left sidebar which will take you directly to our golf site or you can click HERE. This event sold out early last year, so don't be left out in the cold. We are limited to 72 participants. There is information available for golfers as well as volunteers for the event at the site so please check it over. While we can't promise you sub 100 degree temperatures, we can promise you a fun time for all. Also, don't forget to register for our "LICK CANINE CANCER" event on April 11th. This is something you don't want to miss.
It looked and felt like we should have been preparing for a picnic rather than adoption day. The weather was spectacular and the guests of honor revelled in the festivities. The crowd was large and well behaved. There was excitement and enthusiasm abound. Adopters, volunteers, passers-by, and a few guest greys on their way to a Meet and Greet, seemed caught up in the events. Who could have asked for more. Spring was in the air and everyone enjoyed it. Perfect day, perfect trip, welcome to VAGA Perfect "TEN".
The show is a little long (40 slides). I hope you will enjoy it as much as we enjoyed being there.
Thanks to everyone who came out and pitched in on what turned out to be a GREYT day.
On March 7th we will welcome the 10 newest VAGA additions. The group of photo's we had were too small to put their names on individually. They appear below in alphabetical order: Bev's Periwinkle, Blue Moon Red, Diamond Studded, Flying Kathy, JNB Aulani, Kiowa Jax Jay, Mulberry Emmy, Ramrod, Toba, Yahoo Jill. Let's wish them a safe journey to their new forever homes.
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