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Let it rip and go CRAZY! |
The incredible, amazing adventures of a girl and her two greyhounds living in a small town in the boon-docks of Maine.
Showing posts with label Lady Flame. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lady Flame. Show all posts
4.28.2014
4.27.2014
11.12.2013
Five Little Known Facts About Greyhounds
In the interests of public education I thought I would share
with you some little known facts about greyhounds.
Fact 1: Greyhounds
have no stomachs. Yes it’s true. Greyhounds have black holes where stomachs would
be on ordinary dogs. Don’t believe
me? Feed a greyhound until it’s
full. It will never happen. It also explains why most greyhounds simply
open their mouths and their food disappears.
I assume that the event horizon beyond which there is no turning back
from the massive gravity of a black hole is right at the end of
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Sometimes, if you catch the light just right, you can see and photograph the black hole as seen here with Girly Girl. Luckily, I did manage to avoid the even horizon. |
Fact 2: All greyhounds carry some human genetic
material. Again, totally true. It is believed that somewhere in the distant
past, greyhound DNA somehow mixed with the DNA of the Van Winkle family. This family was made famous by one of its
patriarchs, Rip Van Winkle known to have slept for decades straight. This trait was passed down to his progeny and
also became a key characteristic of the breed we know and love today.
Fact 3: Greyhounds are responsible for the marketing
phenomena known as “product placement” in modern TV, Film and Literature. Greyhounds were the first to organize a great
lobbying and marketing firm with eventual success in placing the greyhound name
in the most popular book of all time, the Bible. They created a stir when they were able to
lock down the only canine mention in the whole book. You’ll see Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Dre’s Beats
Speakers or Audi’s in the movies but greyhounds did it first and they did it
best.
Subsequently they scored a second
coup when in the early 80’s they rallied one of the largest nations on the
planet to their cause and became the most well known breed with its own rescue
organization surpassing all other breed rescues with respect to public
relations savvy. (Oh boy, another bonus fact!)
Fact 4: Greyhounds have an innate ability for macramé. Put any greyhound at the end of a reasonably
long string (such as a leash) and he or she will automatically begin weaving
that string into a lovely piece of macramé.
If two or more greyhounds are together they will braid and knot their
strings into complex creations. If it is
a single greyhound they will incorporate items from their environment into their
designs such as your legs, sign poles, trees, bushes etc.
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Here is a good example of greyhounds Lady Flame, Jester, Blue and Skye in the beginning stages of their creative macrame process |
Fact 5: Greyhounds have near-complete command of The
Force. With little more than a look
greyhounds can move most animate objects and bend them to their will. Want to go out? Want a treat? Want a walk or a ride? They use The Force and humans are powerless
to resist. Use of The Force has been
handed down through the ages from mother to litter. There isn’t a greyhound that ever existed who
didn’t work his or her way into a soft cushy place, good food, fancy collars,
painted masterpieces and all the luxuries they could imagine through use of The
Force. Wonder why greyhounds have been
the breed of nobility? Wonder no
more. The fact that greyhounds even know
what The Force is could be an indicator of interstellar origins for this
breed. Did the first greyhound arrive on
a meteor? Maybe!
Labels:
Blue,
Girly Girl,
Greyhound Facts,
Jester,
Lady Flame,
Skye
12.05.2012
11.28.2012
10.03.2012
7.22.2012
I Remember When....
The beginning of their lives as a trio very much reminds me of my Saturdays at MGPS when I brought home each of my babies, Girly Girl, Blue and then Bettina. I think it's universal (at least it is with all the greyhound people I've spoken with), you just never forget your first day with any of the hounds that share your life. I remember so well the excitement of that morning when you get up and get ready for your appointment at the kennel. Then you get there and start meeting greyhounds. As each one comes out you think, "Is this the one? Is this my baby?" And sometimes there is a little disappointment when that one wasn't your baby but then the next one comes out. But finally you meet THE one and it clicks. You know it, the hound knows it and you open your mouth and make that lifetime commitment. Then, while the paperwork is being completed, you are beside yourself with excitement to get that leash into your hand for good, but also a little fearful. What have you gotten into? Will it work out? Did I make the right decision? Still, your heart knows you made the exact right decision.
Lady's parents spent a great deal of time preparing for her arrival. They did a ton of research on greyhounds in general and on the specific greyhounds at the MGPS. It helped that they had been dog caretakers before, though greyhounds were a new breed for them. They read a number of "raising greyhound" type books. They attended numerous meet and greets as well as the MGPS Open House. They carefully researched food choices and veterinarians. They shopped for all the necessities they would need before she arrived. They even held off on making their adoption appointment so they could get their yard fenced in for their new adoptee.
I remember that I had conducted a lot of research before adopting Girly Girl. I read every book on greyhound care that I could put my hands on. I attended meet and greets. I got my supplies in order before GG's arrival. But Laurie and Drew eclipsed my level of preparedness by far. It makes so much sense to know what you are getting into before you jump in. If everyone who adopted a greyhound put in half the time that Lady's mom and dad did to learn about the breed before bringing one home, I think there would be a zero percent bounce back rate.
We are so thrilled for Lady Flame. She doesn't really know it yet, but she picked herself a first rate mom and dad. Lady is now busy learning about stairs, houses, treats, soft beds, human furniture and all the other things that civilian life brings. She's in culture shock but she's already on the path to becoming a loving family member. In the meantime, the greater greyhound family is rejoicing that another hound has found a forever home, cheering Lady's family on and fondly remembering those days when we each brought our needlenose kids home.
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Lady Flame and her dad, Drew, on her adoption day (Photo courtesy of MND Family Blog) |
There are so many great things about the adoption of a greyhound. Some friends of ours brought their first greyhound home on Saturday. Lady Flame has now begun her transformation from retired racing greyhound to beloved family member. Lady's new mom, Laurie, has been keeping us apprised of her adventures via email and their blog, Maine Nature Diary Family Blog.
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Girly Girl on her adoption day |
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Blue on his adoption day |
Lady's parents spent a great deal of time preparing for her arrival. They did a ton of research on greyhounds in general and on the specific greyhounds at the MGPS. It helped that they had been dog caretakers before, though greyhounds were a new breed for them. They read a number of "raising greyhound" type books. They attended numerous meet and greets as well as the MGPS Open House. They carefully researched food choices and veterinarians. They shopped for all the necessities they would need before she arrived. They even held off on making their adoption appointment so they could get their yard fenced in for their new adoptee.
I remember that I had conducted a lot of research before adopting Girly Girl. I read every book on greyhound care that I could put my hands on. I attended meet and greets. I got my supplies in order before GG's arrival. But Laurie and Drew eclipsed my level of preparedness by far. It makes so much sense to know what you are getting into before you jump in. If everyone who adopted a greyhound put in half the time that Lady's mom and dad did to learn about the breed before bringing one home, I think there would be a zero percent bounce back rate.
Bettina on her adoption day |
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