A Lifelong Underdog Finally Goes Home A Winner.
––by Cate Bronson A
At seven o’clock one dark November evening, I faced my first volunteer shift at a Greyhound rescue kennel. What awaited me overwhelmed me in more ways than I can detail.
the rescue and made a new life with adoptive families. But too many remained, and endured routine caged life for months, even years. I adored them all but had my darlings, the underdogs, the
black males no one wanted. For whatever reason, black dogs are harder to place, their color less desirable to many potential adopters. In empathy, I wanted to adopt them all—an unreason- able option. So, my husband and I did the next best thing. We fostered dogs to get them on the adoption list. One foster dog in particular made a lasting impression. The first time I saw Charly he was curled into a tiny ball in
the back corner of his crate. Once a proud racer standing tall, he’d become a shadow of his former self. When he met my gaze with sorrowful eyes, I knew I had to do something. That notion solidified when I learned his tragic story. At the early age of three, Charly retired from racing.
Without a career, purpose, or home, he took up residency in a greyhound rescue. He remained with them for more than a year, but spent half of that time on loan to a college veterinary school, being probed and prodded. Like other loaned out grey- hounds, he became a training instrument and test subject for students to learn their craft, in return for medical treatment. Yet, it was not a pleasant experience. Between nerves and neglect, Charly lost significant weight and most of his fur. Saved a sec- ond time, he returned to the adoption facility, exhibiting signs of kennel stress while waiting to be fostered. So, with eyes like saucers, Charly padded through our front
door and into our lives. I realized the demanding and difficult task he faced as a first time pet. A greyhound’s transition from track to home is rarely seamless. They know only kennel life and nothing about houses or their pitfalls. After a few weeks of fos- tering, greyhounds learn that glass is solid, swimming pools are not, and stairs are maneuverable. Like puppies, retired racers have so much to absorb, and respond best to exercise, positive- reinforced discipline, and loads of love. Within 48 hours, he’d learned a great deal and settled com-
Approaching a dull, block building, I heard the shrill cries of sixty wailing animals—a sound that echoes in my memory. I was not prepared for what greeted me as I walked through the door. Lining the walls and running the length of the building, stood wire crates stacked two-high, brimming with wriggling crea- tures. Expectant eyes peered at me from between metal bars, and excited yips and yaps rose in pitch as I completed my rounds and first kennel turnout (taking the dogs outside). In the course of my volunteer work, several retired grey-
hounds came and went. Some moved into foster homes. Some left for medical treatment. Some injured racers were loaned to veterinary clinics as blood donors (saving lives with a universal blood type that all dogs can tolerate), and in most cases, received medical treatment in return. Some greyhounds, a small few, left
34 THE NEW BARKER
fortably into domestic living. In reward for good behavior, he graduated from his crate to a doggy bed in the hallway, and eventually to the floor at the foot of our bed. A gentle soul with a big heart, Charly’s magnetic appeal was
unmistakable. At a pet store “Meet and Greet,” he stood proud with athletic stature restored and sleek coat shining like his spir- it. He greeted shoppers with a greyhound grin and wagging tail. In response, they showered him with compliments and praise. He lapped it up, and wriggled even more when kids passed within hand-licking reach, making it obvious how much he loved people and adored children. As much as we came to love him, we were unable to keep
Charly. We parted ways with our foster pup, thankful for the chance to know him and put him on a path for adoption.
www.TheNewBarker.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104