Our greyhound organization (GPA/OK) has a foster program for greyhounds awaiting homes. We had Whitney about 8 months before we began participating in the program. I was unsure about bringing any other animals into our home--we already had 5 cats (one that was FIV+)and a another mixed breed dog. One Sunday at Petsmart, during the meet & greet for greyhounds that we do each week, I was listening to another volunteer talk about her foster greys. After talking with her for several minutes, I was sold. The next week we became a foster family for greyhounds.
Our first foster was named Maria. She had come from a track in Florida, and had never lived in a house before. She was a light brindle, about 2 years old. She was so sweet and inquisitive about everything! There were many things about living in a house that she did not understand. One of the first things we noticed was her problem with glass doors. We have an enclosed deck, and the door leading to the outside is glass. Maria tried to walk right through it! Fortunately, she was not going fast when she did this, so she wasn't hurt. I used duct tape and made a big T on the door. I then held her nose to the door so that she could feel that it was solid. We had no more trouble with that door after that.
Most greyhounds love to play with stuffed animals; they carry them around like babies. Whitney doesn't chew hers up, but if Pongo, our non-grey, gets it he will chew! Maria did not know how to play at all with anything. It was so interesting watching her look at the stuffed animals--then look at Whitney and Pongo with a puzzled look on her face. Yes, we could actually see the puzzled expression--greyhounds have very expressive faces! The first time she picked up a stuffed animal, we were really tickled. She did not actually play, but she carried it from one spot to another spot. Then she started throwing it up in the air and trying to catch it. She still wasn't interacting with the other dogs, but that was the next thing to come. When we let the dogs out into the back yard, Whitney and Pongo would run around in a circle, chasing one another. Of course, Pongo could never catch Whitney, but they still had fun. It wasn't long before Maria was joining right in with these races. Then we saw actual communication between Whitney and Maria. They would gang up on Pongo--one on Pongo's left, and the other on his right--then they would bark and bark at him. Pete and I could just imagine them saying something like "we are big and you are small! Ha Ha Ha!!" Pongo would look at me with pitiful eyes, and I would tell the greys to leave the little guy alone! There was one incident that occurred after Maria's second week with us that I will never forget. I was bringing in groceries and had the door open (the dogs were in the back yard) I let them in before closing the door, and Maria was gone before I knew what had happened! Pete & I both ran out and started calling her--she was already at the end of our block by this time. Pete jumped in his truck, and I got in the car and away we went! Pete saw her first--running like a streak on a busy street!! I'll never know why Maria didn't make it as a racer--she surely could have beat anyone that day! He chased her in the truck with her beating him by a length! Finally some people walking were able to stop her, and Pete put her safely in the truck. One of the most important things we teach our adopters is that you NEVER let a greyhound off lead in an unfenced area--their instinct to run takes control of them, and you could very easily lose your beloved dog to a terrible accident. I was so grateful that we were able to get Maria home without injury. Believe me, the door was never left open again. When Maria was adopted, I was happy and sad at the same time. I knew we were not ready for a second greyhound of our own, but I sure had grown to love her.
Go To Page: 1 2
