Post by CampWhippet on Nov 11, 2005 20:55:03 GMT -5
The race is over
By Jennifer Best/Correspondent
Kathie Matsuyama's four adopted children snoozed contentedly on their beds on the dining room floor of her Nipomo home. They curled up in remarkably small bundles for such tall lads and lassies, and they peeked every now and again to make sure she was still nearby.
“What I get back from them is more than I give them,” she said. “It's so rewarding, so fulfilling. When they came here, they were afraid of everyday things: ball caps, the kitchen broom, men - period. To see them overcome those fears, to blossom, it's wonderful. It's hard to describe.”
Bred for speed, stamina and hopes for championship cups and cash, the greyhounds were tossed aside, some proven champions, some as also-rans. Today, Poko Leloa, Bandit, Bebe and Fallon serve as companions, entertainment and members of the family.
“They're like children,” Matsuyama said. “Each one has a different personality. Each is distinct. They can be goofy, funny, nervous, shy, assertive and, on occasion, aggressive. It depends upon the dog and the occasion.”
Matsuyama and her husband, Paul, have been involved in rescuing greyhounds since 1996, shortly after first laying eyes on a live specimen. Now they'd like to start a rescue group on the Central Coast.
“Like most people, I'd never seen one in person,” she said. “I was compelled by how beautiful they were - so elegant and regal looking - and by the stories about the Greyhound business.”
Jane Line of Nipomo has rescued Greyhounds since her son, Christopher, talked her into one in 1994.
“They're absolutely old souls,” Line said. “They're extremely intelligent, very gentle and so sweet. Though they tend to be tall, you don't get feeling you're living with a large dog. They curl into small wads.
“They're a very intellectually sophisticated dog,” she added. “There's just a quality of knowingness. I think it's a result of the antiquity of the breed.”
Greyhounds are the oldest-known breed of domesticated dog, according to Golden State Greyhound Adoption, one of a handful of California-based rescue organizations for the breed.
Greyhounds are mentioned in the Bible (Proverbs 30:29-31) and appear in ancient Egyptian writings.
“In ancient Egypt, greyhounds were mummified and buried along with their owners, who had their tombs decorated with greyhound figures,” the adoption organization reports on its Web site, www.goldenGreyhounds.com. “The greyhound has appeared in art and literature throughout history. Greyhounds have long been associated with royalty, a favorite of nobility, from pharaohs and Arabian sheiks to the kings and princes of Europe.”
The Matsuyama home is adorned with greyhound artifacts: sculptures, wall hangings, photographs. Some depict the hounds in their ancient hunting mode, bringing down pronghorn antelope and coyotes.
As members of the “sight hound” family, greyhounds are able to spot prey half a mile away, then run at speeds up to 45 mph to catch it. But their 40 mph short spurts quickly wear them down. Greyhounds spend most of their days lounging contentedly on any soft, warm spot they can find.
“We call them the world's fastest couch potatoes,” Matsuyama said.
Two of the Matsuyamas' original rescue dogs died within weeks of each other last spring at the ripe old ages of 14. A few months later, the Matsuyamas repopulated their household with Fallon, an abused, castoff champion show dog, and Bebe, a 2-year-old racing dog.
“There are so many dogs that need good homes, it seems pointless to me to buy a dog from a puppy mill or a pet store or a breeder rather than a shelter,” Matsuyama said.
An estimated 10,000 to 50,000 greyhounds are born every year, according to various animal rescue and breeding organizations. Most of those don't cut the mustard for the track. Many are euthanized or otherwise disposed of. Thousands of others are adopted through rescue groups around the world.
“We have the perfect demographics for these dogs: We have an aging baby-boom population with time on their hands,” Matsuyama said. “The greyhound is a perfect dog for that.
“A lot of dogs are high-energy and need lots of attention all the time,” she explained. “Greyhounds want to play for 15 minutes, and then they're happy to rest for the remainder of the day. They're happy, you're happy and you don't feel like you're neglecting them if you've only taken them out for one short blast.”
“It surprises the heck out of me there aren't more on the Central Coast,” she said.
Matsuyama is seeking volunteers interested in doing “show-and-tells,” educating the public about the breed, fostering dogs, adopting dogs and helping in any other fashion. She can be reached at 458-1604.
Jennifer Best is an Orcutt-based freelance writer. She can be reached at outdoor411@aol.com or 938-1307
By Jennifer Best/Correspondent
Kathie Matsuyama's four adopted children snoozed contentedly on their beds on the dining room floor of her Nipomo home. They curled up in remarkably small bundles for such tall lads and lassies, and they peeked every now and again to make sure she was still nearby.
“What I get back from them is more than I give them,” she said. “It's so rewarding, so fulfilling. When they came here, they were afraid of everyday things: ball caps, the kitchen broom, men - period. To see them overcome those fears, to blossom, it's wonderful. It's hard to describe.”
Bred for speed, stamina and hopes for championship cups and cash, the greyhounds were tossed aside, some proven champions, some as also-rans. Today, Poko Leloa, Bandit, Bebe and Fallon serve as companions, entertainment and members of the family.
“They're like children,” Matsuyama said. “Each one has a different personality. Each is distinct. They can be goofy, funny, nervous, shy, assertive and, on occasion, aggressive. It depends upon the dog and the occasion.”
Matsuyama and her husband, Paul, have been involved in rescuing greyhounds since 1996, shortly after first laying eyes on a live specimen. Now they'd like to start a rescue group on the Central Coast.
“Like most people, I'd never seen one in person,” she said. “I was compelled by how beautiful they were - so elegant and regal looking - and by the stories about the Greyhound business.”
Jane Line of Nipomo has rescued Greyhounds since her son, Christopher, talked her into one in 1994.
“They're absolutely old souls,” Line said. “They're extremely intelligent, very gentle and so sweet. Though they tend to be tall, you don't get feeling you're living with a large dog. They curl into small wads.
“They're a very intellectually sophisticated dog,” she added. “There's just a quality of knowingness. I think it's a result of the antiquity of the breed.”
Greyhounds are the oldest-known breed of domesticated dog, according to Golden State Greyhound Adoption, one of a handful of California-based rescue organizations for the breed.
Greyhounds are mentioned in the Bible (Proverbs 30:29-31) and appear in ancient Egyptian writings.
“In ancient Egypt, greyhounds were mummified and buried along with their owners, who had their tombs decorated with greyhound figures,” the adoption organization reports on its Web site, www.goldenGreyhounds.com. “The greyhound has appeared in art and literature throughout history. Greyhounds have long been associated with royalty, a favorite of nobility, from pharaohs and Arabian sheiks to the kings and princes of Europe.”
The Matsuyama home is adorned with greyhound artifacts: sculptures, wall hangings, photographs. Some depict the hounds in their ancient hunting mode, bringing down pronghorn antelope and coyotes.
As members of the “sight hound” family, greyhounds are able to spot prey half a mile away, then run at speeds up to 45 mph to catch it. But their 40 mph short spurts quickly wear them down. Greyhounds spend most of their days lounging contentedly on any soft, warm spot they can find.
“We call them the world's fastest couch potatoes,” Matsuyama said.
Two of the Matsuyamas' original rescue dogs died within weeks of each other last spring at the ripe old ages of 14. A few months later, the Matsuyamas repopulated their household with Fallon, an abused, castoff champion show dog, and Bebe, a 2-year-old racing dog.
“There are so many dogs that need good homes, it seems pointless to me to buy a dog from a puppy mill or a pet store or a breeder rather than a shelter,” Matsuyama said.
An estimated 10,000 to 50,000 greyhounds are born every year, according to various animal rescue and breeding organizations. Most of those don't cut the mustard for the track. Many are euthanized or otherwise disposed of. Thousands of others are adopted through rescue groups around the world.
“We have the perfect demographics for these dogs: We have an aging baby-boom population with time on their hands,” Matsuyama said. “The greyhound is a perfect dog for that.
“A lot of dogs are high-energy and need lots of attention all the time,” she explained. “Greyhounds want to play for 15 minutes, and then they're happy to rest for the remainder of the day. They're happy, you're happy and you don't feel like you're neglecting them if you've only taken them out for one short blast.”
“It surprises the heck out of me there aren't more on the Central Coast,” she said.
Matsuyama is seeking volunteers interested in doing “show-and-tells,” educating the public about the breed, fostering dogs, adopting dogs and helping in any other fashion. She can be reached at 458-1604.
Jennifer Best is an Orcutt-based freelance writer. She can be reached at outdoor411@aol.com or 938-1307
