Post by CampWhippet on Feb 21, 2006 13:45:01 GMT -5
www.therecordherald.com/articles/2006/02/20/local_news/news01.txt
WAYNESBORO - Nichole Zurgable never expected to fall in love during a quick stop at a local pet store to pick up some cat good.
But once she spotted the dogs at a Greyhound Welfare open house, there was no turning back.
“I had always wanted a greyhound. They're so easy - very calm ... very laid back,” said Zurgable as she nuzzled Kiaba, the nearly 4-year-old she adopted in November 2004.
“I walked over and talked to the dogs, and two weeks later I adopted him.”
Now Zurgable is an active volunteer with the organization.
Adoption is the only option for these quiet companions from Greyhound Welfare, whose life experience consists of dog races and the four walls of a crate.
“If you don't (adopt them), they will be euthanized,” said Zurgable, who also has heard horror stories about dog racing tracks that have closed and left hundreds of the animals to starve to death.
“They're like my kids,” added Zurgable, who adopted Kiaba's sister, Tehya, in July 2005. The brindle-colored dogs, part of a litter of 10, were named by her 12-year-old son, Grant, for characters in the Japanese cartoon, Yu Gi Oh.
The organization
Zurgable provides foster care, as well as helping with the Greyhound Welfare's open houses, which are held the third Sunday of every month in Hagerstown at Pet Smart in Hagerstown and the fourth Sunday at the Frederick Pet Smart store.
The organization has chapters in Takoma Park, Md., and Boston and places dogs in homes in the Maryland and Washington, D.C., areas, south-central Pennsylvania and the panhandle of West Virginia.
Greyhound Welfare's dogs come from East Coast racetracks in New Hampshire, Connecticut and Florida and are transported to the area by truck. Volunteers pick up the dogs and take them to foster homes.
“We don't place them with families who have children younger than 6. They're not a rough and tumble dog. They don't know what they (young children) are,” noted Zurgable.
Most of the dogs retiring from the race track are between 2 and 6 years old.
Dogs placed by Greyhound Welfare are spayed or neutered, treated for parasites and tested for heartworm. The dogs are inoculated for rabies and distemper and given flea and tick preventive.
While applications are available on-line, a home visit is a required part of the adoption process.
‘Wonderful companions'
Zurgable said her dogs have brought joy and happiness to her life.
“They're wonderful companions. Nothing bothers them.”
Greyhounds are not aggressive dogs, Zurgable noted.
“They are not watch dogs,” she added.
“They're known for not barking. Sometimes mine bark when they're outside playing. They can be taught to sit, too.”
Greyhounds are very affectionate and like to cuddle, added Zurgable as Kiaba padded into his crate carrying a stuffed animal - a basket in the corner nearby was filled with dozens more.
The crate is a place of safety to the greyhounds.
“Everything is new to them, and until they get used to their surroundings, it's the best place for them.”
Greyhounds make excellent pets, even for apartment dwellers, Zurgable stressed.
“They are very intelligent, don't shed and don't have an odor, even when they're wet.”
Greyhounds sleep between 18 and 20 hours a day.
“They don't require a lot of exercise, about an hour a day walk, or a fenced-in yard to run.”
“They can run 40 to 45 miles per hour. They're a ‘sight hound.' They go after their target, and that's why they must be on a lead or in a fenced-in yard at all times when they're outside. It's for their own protection.”
The retired racers are usually in extremely good physical condition because they are athletes.
Greyhounds have few health problems and live to be 12 to 14.
Greyhounds are thin because their bodies are not made for a lot of weight.
“They need a very high protein, low-fat dog food,”
Zurgable explained.
The average male weighs about 75 pounds and the female, about 63 pounds.
Zurgable said the open houses are a good way for prospective owners to find out if a greyhound is for them.
“Our Web site has pictures and bios of the dogs and says ‘come meet me.'”
For more information, visit www.greyhoundwelfare.org or call (301) 949-0615.
WAYNESBORO - Nichole Zurgable never expected to fall in love during a quick stop at a local pet store to pick up some cat good.
But once she spotted the dogs at a Greyhound Welfare open house, there was no turning back.
“I had always wanted a greyhound. They're so easy - very calm ... very laid back,” said Zurgable as she nuzzled Kiaba, the nearly 4-year-old she adopted in November 2004.
“I walked over and talked to the dogs, and two weeks later I adopted him.”
Now Zurgable is an active volunteer with the organization.
Adoption is the only option for these quiet companions from Greyhound Welfare, whose life experience consists of dog races and the four walls of a crate.
“If you don't (adopt them), they will be euthanized,” said Zurgable, who also has heard horror stories about dog racing tracks that have closed and left hundreds of the animals to starve to death.
“They're like my kids,” added Zurgable, who adopted Kiaba's sister, Tehya, in July 2005. The brindle-colored dogs, part of a litter of 10, were named by her 12-year-old son, Grant, for characters in the Japanese cartoon, Yu Gi Oh.
The organization
Zurgable provides foster care, as well as helping with the Greyhound Welfare's open houses, which are held the third Sunday of every month in Hagerstown at Pet Smart in Hagerstown and the fourth Sunday at the Frederick Pet Smart store.
The organization has chapters in Takoma Park, Md., and Boston and places dogs in homes in the Maryland and Washington, D.C., areas, south-central Pennsylvania and the panhandle of West Virginia.
Greyhound Welfare's dogs come from East Coast racetracks in New Hampshire, Connecticut and Florida and are transported to the area by truck. Volunteers pick up the dogs and take them to foster homes.
“We don't place them with families who have children younger than 6. They're not a rough and tumble dog. They don't know what they (young children) are,” noted Zurgable.
Most of the dogs retiring from the race track are between 2 and 6 years old.
Dogs placed by Greyhound Welfare are spayed or neutered, treated for parasites and tested for heartworm. The dogs are inoculated for rabies and distemper and given flea and tick preventive.
While applications are available on-line, a home visit is a required part of the adoption process.
‘Wonderful companions'
Zurgable said her dogs have brought joy and happiness to her life.
“They're wonderful companions. Nothing bothers them.”
Greyhounds are not aggressive dogs, Zurgable noted.
“They are not watch dogs,” she added.
“They're known for not barking. Sometimes mine bark when they're outside playing. They can be taught to sit, too.”
Greyhounds are very affectionate and like to cuddle, added Zurgable as Kiaba padded into his crate carrying a stuffed animal - a basket in the corner nearby was filled with dozens more.
The crate is a place of safety to the greyhounds.
“Everything is new to them, and until they get used to their surroundings, it's the best place for them.”
Greyhounds make excellent pets, even for apartment dwellers, Zurgable stressed.
“They are very intelligent, don't shed and don't have an odor, even when they're wet.”
Greyhounds sleep between 18 and 20 hours a day.
“They don't require a lot of exercise, about an hour a day walk, or a fenced-in yard to run.”
“They can run 40 to 45 miles per hour. They're a ‘sight hound.' They go after their target, and that's why they must be on a lead or in a fenced-in yard at all times when they're outside. It's for their own protection.”
The retired racers are usually in extremely good physical condition because they are athletes.
Greyhounds have few health problems and live to be 12 to 14.
Greyhounds are thin because their bodies are not made for a lot of weight.
“They need a very high protein, low-fat dog food,”
Zurgable explained.
The average male weighs about 75 pounds and the female, about 63 pounds.
Zurgable said the open houses are a good way for prospective owners to find out if a greyhound is for them.
“Our Web site has pictures and bios of the dogs and says ‘come meet me.'”
For more information, visit www.greyhoundwelfare.org or call (301) 949-0615.
