Post by CampWhippet on Apr 22, 2006 15:10:39 GMT -5
Agency finds new homes for retired racing breed
By Gina Delfavero
Blairsville Dispatch
Friday, March 31, 2006
INDIANA--Greyhound dogs are known for their superior racing ability. But what happens when their racing careers are over, usually when they are still very young?
That's when adoption agencies step in, taking the dogs in and finding suitable, loving homes for them.
One such adoption agency, Monica's Heart, will be on hand April 9 at Indiana Mall for a meet-and-greet program, where the public can see these dogs up close and learn what it takes to become the owner of a greyhound.
Frank and Mary Jalongo, and Hank Knerr and Burnell Hostetler have taken greyhounds into their Indiana households and have discovered why the breed has won hearts all over the country.
The Jalongos have had Cuddles, who turned four in January, for a little over a year.
Cuddles is the first greyhound the Jalongos have adopted, and it all stemmed from a trip to Indiana Mall.
Mary Jalongo, a professor in the IUP College of Education, walked out of a store and spotted about 10 greyhounds that were there as part of a meet-and-greet event.
She said, "I had been looking for a therapy dog," to accompany her on goodwill visits to such places as personal care homes. "I was just impressed with them. They were so gentle and sweet, quiet and calm, and I thought, 'Wow, you can get a dog like this?' "
She saw that the dogs didn't flinch or back away when several children wrapped their arms around the animals' necks.
Knerr and Hostetler have adopted their second greyhound, three-year-old Lexie, who joined their other two family members, Jill, a beagle, and Amanda, an English thingyer spaniel.
Both greyhounds were adopted through Monica's Heart, which is based in Altoona. The agency comes to the Indiana area about twice a year for meet-and-greet events.
"We've been doing this for 10 years now," said Kay McNelis, president of Monica's Heart.
In that time, an estimated 850 dogs have been adopted through the agency.
She noted the agency is small, but is far-reaching, with foster families in Johnstown, Shamokin and even two in New York.
"We do have feelers out there, but Altoona and Johnstown are really the hubs," she said.
Knerr and Hostetler picked up Lexie in Shamokin.
"They have a wide area of foster homes," Knerr noted.
Their first greyhound, Emma, was 11 when she died in October, of congenital heart failure.
"When she passed, we took a few weeks and decided to get another one," Knerr said.
So Hostetler checked out the Monica's Heart website, "And there she was," Knerr said.
"Lexie was fully housebroken, had been exposed to cats and she's smaller."
Hostetler said they saw their first greyhounds at Indiana's Pearce's Pet Place at a meet-and-greet in 1995.
"I had read a lot of about them," Hostetler remarked.
When they adopted Emma, "We were interested in a small house-trained, cat-trained dog ,and we got this big monster of a female," Knerr laughed.
Knerr said when they had put in their application for a greyhound, McNelis told them about Emma.
The adoption process took about two weeks.
All of Monica's Heart greyhounds come straight from racing tracks. Many of them come in groups in haulers; others are picked up right at the track.
Monica's Heart works with an agency out of Kansas City, Kan., called Greyhound Support. The latter group keeps in contact with racing tracks all around the country and sets up hauls for various greyhound adoption agencies.
"Primarily, we get our greyhounds from West Virginia and the Kansas hauls," noted McNelis.
One they arrive at the adoption agency, the greyhounds must be adapted to a completely different way of living.
Each trainer at the race track cares for around 40 dogs.
"So all they have time to do is take them out to race and relieve themselves, and feed and water them," Jalongo said.
Greyhounds live such sheltered lives during their racing careers that many have never experienced prolonged affection.
As Hostetler pointed out, "They were just a commodity until they're put up for adoption."
Once a greyhound is turned over for adoption, many times it is housed with an foster family. It's the foster family that has to housebreak the dogs, introduce them to other animals, and even instruct them in the simplest of things, such as climbing and descending stairs. Most have never seen a stairway in their lives.
Knerr said they had to teach Emma how to manage the stairs in their home. "But they learn quickly," he noted.
Neither one of the greyhounds that Knerr and Hostetler have adopted came directly from the track. Both had spent some time in foster homes, where they were house-broken and were able to adapt somewhat to their new lives.
"One of the really neat things about having a greyhound is you get to introduce them to the finer things in life," Jalongo noted.
Because so many racing greyhounds rarely were given the chance to play with toys, the joy when introduced to their first squeaky toy can be boundless.
Every potential adoption requires an application, veterinarian and/or personal references, and a visit by Monica's Heart representatives to ensure that the home is suitable for greyhound living.
"It was like adopting a child," Jalongo said of her experience with the process.
She was worried that Cuddles might not get along with the Jalongos' other dog, Babe, a husky mix.
Arrangements were made for the two canines to meet in a neutral environment, where neither would feel the need to be protective of their territory.
"Babe wasn't overly aggressive," Jalongo had observed, which alleviated her fears about the match.
It was late December by the time the adoption papers were approved and Cuddles became an official member of the Jalongo family. It was too cold then to begin any sort of therapy training.
"We didn't start until the spring," Jalongo said, noting that they worked on simpler tasks, such as walking on a leash and heeling.
After six months of training, Cuddles was brought in for her Canine Good Citizen test and Therapy Dogs International test, both of which she passed.
Jalongo since has introduced Cuddles to others at personal care homes, libraries and schools. "You really have to have a lot of confidence in your dog to do that," she noted. "She reads people," Jalongo said of Cuddles. "If someone seems reluctant, she'll hang back."
"Cuddles was the perfect dog for what Mary wanted to do," said McNelis. "It worked out well."
Jalongo and Cuddles work with D.R. P.E.T., which is the local chapter of Therapy Dogs International, Inc.
Together, they conduct visits at Rayne Elementary during the school year, as well as working with its summer school program.
D.R. P.E.T. also leads school programs on responsible dog care and safety around dogs. They also visit personal care and nursing homes.
Jalongo said she's already been on two dozen visits this year. "I try to go at least once a week," she noted.
Jalongo, who authored the book The World's Children and Their Companion Animals: Developmental and Educational Implications of the Child/Pet Bond, recently spoke before a science methods class for education majors at IUP. She brought along Cuddles as an aide in the topic she was to discuss--the importance of animals in a child's life.
"I talked with them about that concept," Jalongo said, in addition to specifics of the greyhound breed.
Anytime Jalongo brings Cuddles to a public event, she almost always is approached with questions concerning many of the misconceptions about the breed.
She said the biggest misconceptions are that greyhounds are hyper, unhealthy, older and already worn out, and that they are in constant need of exercise.
A greyhound is no more hyper than any other breed of dog--in fact, they sometimes can be even more laid back, Jalongo said.
"They're not the demonstrative type breed," she stated. "I'm not saying they're not affectionate, but they're very subdued."
In fact, Cuddles often shows her love and appreciation for her new owners.
"She is just so affectionate," Jalongo said. "She's very sweet, very easygoing, subdued."
"They tend to be very affectionate," Hostetler said.
All greyhounds up for adoption through Monica's Heart are healthy, though some may have had previous injuries from their racing days. Some may suffer from joint problems, but nothing that is life-threatening.
Cuddles walks with a slight limp, the result of a soft tissue problem in one of her front legs, believed to be related to her racing career.
Greyhounds put up for adoption can range in age from two to 10, but the older ones typically were placed in homes before and brought back to the adoption agency for one reason or another.
Some of the older dogs may have been brood mothers, which are kept by racing organizations longer than the average racer. The average lifespan of a greyhound is 12 to 14 years.
Jalongo pointed out greyhounds don't need nearly the amount of exercise as most people think.
Of her Cuddles, Jalongo said, "She's quite comfortable going on a couple walks a day."
An adopted greyhound must always be kept inside a fenced yard or on a leash, because once a greyhound catches sight of any small, moving thing, it will take off, with little chance of a human being able to catch it.
"They'll chase anything," Jalongo cautioned. "It's just their instinct. They're just not designed to be let loose."
A member of the sight hounds group of breeds, a greyhound has 20/20 vision for up to a mile.
"Once they get going, they can reach speeds of 40 miles per hour," Jalongo stated, adding that the only land animal faster than a greyhound is a cheetah.
Noted Knerr, "The dog will tend to stay with you, but if they see something, they'll take off."
"No matter how much you bond with the dog, they'll take off," added Hostetler.
For homeowners looking for a watchdog, a greyhound is not the choice for them. The breed is notably laid-back. "They're not barkers," Hostetler said.
Greyhounds also are not suited at all for outdoor living and must be kept indoors. "They don't tolerate extremes of temperature because they don't have a lot of body fat," Hostetler said. "In the winter, if we board Lexie, we have to make sure she is supervised when going outdoors."
Greyhounds are believed to be one of the oldest dog breeds, and can be traced as far back as ancient Egypt.
They also are the only canine mentioned by name in the King James Bible, in Proverbs 30:29-31.
There are several other breeds which are closely related to the racing greyhound, including the American Kennel Club greyhound, the smaller Italian greyhound and the whippet.
Monica's Heart maintains an adoption fee of around $200 for each greyhound, but that price includes much more than just the dog.
All greyhounds adopted through Monica's Heart have already been spayed or neutered when they arrive at their new home. Crates designed for use by greyhounds will be loaned for a month.
The greyhounds also are provided a thorough examination by a veterinarian, vaccinations, heartworm prevention and a flea and tick treatment.
New owners are given: a coat for the greyhound to use in colder weather; a favorite toy, if the dog has one; a harness and leash; and a brush.
The amount of time for an adoption to be approved depends on several factors, McNelis acknowledged.
"If everything is in line, it can be a week or two," she said. It may take longer if the greyhound requires a fenced yard, giving the new owners time to install the barrier.
A new owner of an adopted greyhound can send in for information on its life leading up to that point, including what race track it came from, what its racing record was, and its bloodline. A tattoo found inside the ear of all racing greyhounds serves as an identification number and indicates into which litter that particular dog was born.
Knerr and Hostetler had the opportunity to speak with Emma's original owner, who sent them a tape of her racing.
They discovered that Lexie had been a winning racer at a track in Charleston, S.C.
Even if a racer has a great winning record, they will only race for a maximum of about three years, and many go up for adoption between the ages of two and four.
"They used to destroy them" when their racing careers were over, Jalongo said.
One of the things that sets greyhounds apart from many other breeds is their long, sleek appearance. Their thin bodies are covered with a very short coat of fur, another reason that makes them suited for indoor living. "Greyhounds are bred for vigor, not for appearance," Jalongo remarked. "Many breeds are bred for the right look."
She said there are 18 different color combinations for greyhounds that are recognized. Cuddles is considered white with brindle (the mottled brown and black areas on her coat) with ticking (the dots on her undercoat that resemble freckles).
McNelis is hoping that the upcoming meet-and-greet at Indiana Mall will produce a few more greyhound owners who will fall in love with the breed.
"One of the greatest endorsements for a greyhound is the fact that most owners have more than one," Jalongo commented.
"Most of them are wonderful with kids and other pets," Hostetler pointed out. "You just have to be careful at first," as with any newly introduced pet.
Knerr and Hostetler couldn't be happier with Lexie, and both are pleased that they discovered the greyhound breed.
"It's just the idea that they were a breed of dog that has had a hard life, and went straight from a puppy to a racer, their lives lived in a crate at the race track--just the idea of giving one of those dogs a good home," Hostetler said.
III
Monica's Heart, a greyhound adoption agency based in Altoona, will invite the public to meet-and-greet some members of that breed April 9 at Indiana Mall. The event will take place from 1 to 3 p.m., next to the Easter Bunny at the center of the mall.
Kay McNelis, president of Monica's Heart, noted the event serves as an informational gathering.
"Meet-and-greets are intended to let people meet the dogs, see how nice and gentle they are and talk about what it's like to have a greyhound in the home," she said.
She added that the events are nice for those who have already adopted greyhounds to come and meet other members, and for Monica's Heart representatives to follow up with dogs that have been happily adopted.
Another local greyhound adoption agency is Going Home Greyhounds, based in Wexford. That agency actually rents a kennel from a veterinarian clinic, where potential new owners may visit the dogs.
Gina Delfavero can be reached at gdelfavero@tribweb.com.
www.pittsburghlive.com/x/blairsvilledispatch/s_438509.html
By Gina Delfavero
Blairsville Dispatch
Friday, March 31, 2006
INDIANA--Greyhound dogs are known for their superior racing ability. But what happens when their racing careers are over, usually when they are still very young?
That's when adoption agencies step in, taking the dogs in and finding suitable, loving homes for them.
One such adoption agency, Monica's Heart, will be on hand April 9 at Indiana Mall for a meet-and-greet program, where the public can see these dogs up close and learn what it takes to become the owner of a greyhound.
Frank and Mary Jalongo, and Hank Knerr and Burnell Hostetler have taken greyhounds into their Indiana households and have discovered why the breed has won hearts all over the country.
The Jalongos have had Cuddles, who turned four in January, for a little over a year.
Cuddles is the first greyhound the Jalongos have adopted, and it all stemmed from a trip to Indiana Mall.
Mary Jalongo, a professor in the IUP College of Education, walked out of a store and spotted about 10 greyhounds that were there as part of a meet-and-greet event.
She said, "I had been looking for a therapy dog," to accompany her on goodwill visits to such places as personal care homes. "I was just impressed with them. They were so gentle and sweet, quiet and calm, and I thought, 'Wow, you can get a dog like this?' "
She saw that the dogs didn't flinch or back away when several children wrapped their arms around the animals' necks.
Knerr and Hostetler have adopted their second greyhound, three-year-old Lexie, who joined their other two family members, Jill, a beagle, and Amanda, an English thingyer spaniel.
Both greyhounds were adopted through Monica's Heart, which is based in Altoona. The agency comes to the Indiana area about twice a year for meet-and-greet events.
"We've been doing this for 10 years now," said Kay McNelis, president of Monica's Heart.
In that time, an estimated 850 dogs have been adopted through the agency.
She noted the agency is small, but is far-reaching, with foster families in Johnstown, Shamokin and even two in New York.
"We do have feelers out there, but Altoona and Johnstown are really the hubs," she said.
Knerr and Hostetler picked up Lexie in Shamokin.
"They have a wide area of foster homes," Knerr noted.
Their first greyhound, Emma, was 11 when she died in October, of congenital heart failure.
"When she passed, we took a few weeks and decided to get another one," Knerr said.
So Hostetler checked out the Monica's Heart website, "And there she was," Knerr said.
"Lexie was fully housebroken, had been exposed to cats and she's smaller."
Hostetler said they saw their first greyhounds at Indiana's Pearce's Pet Place at a meet-and-greet in 1995.
"I had read a lot of about them," Hostetler remarked.
When they adopted Emma, "We were interested in a small house-trained, cat-trained dog ,and we got this big monster of a female," Knerr laughed.
Knerr said when they had put in their application for a greyhound, McNelis told them about Emma.
The adoption process took about two weeks.
All of Monica's Heart greyhounds come straight from racing tracks. Many of them come in groups in haulers; others are picked up right at the track.
Monica's Heart works with an agency out of Kansas City, Kan., called Greyhound Support. The latter group keeps in contact with racing tracks all around the country and sets up hauls for various greyhound adoption agencies.
"Primarily, we get our greyhounds from West Virginia and the Kansas hauls," noted McNelis.
One they arrive at the adoption agency, the greyhounds must be adapted to a completely different way of living.
Each trainer at the race track cares for around 40 dogs.
"So all they have time to do is take them out to race and relieve themselves, and feed and water them," Jalongo said.
Greyhounds live such sheltered lives during their racing careers that many have never experienced prolonged affection.
As Hostetler pointed out, "They were just a commodity until they're put up for adoption."
Once a greyhound is turned over for adoption, many times it is housed with an foster family. It's the foster family that has to housebreak the dogs, introduce them to other animals, and even instruct them in the simplest of things, such as climbing and descending stairs. Most have never seen a stairway in their lives.
Knerr said they had to teach Emma how to manage the stairs in their home. "But they learn quickly," he noted.
Neither one of the greyhounds that Knerr and Hostetler have adopted came directly from the track. Both had spent some time in foster homes, where they were house-broken and were able to adapt somewhat to their new lives.
"One of the really neat things about having a greyhound is you get to introduce them to the finer things in life," Jalongo noted.
Because so many racing greyhounds rarely were given the chance to play with toys, the joy when introduced to their first squeaky toy can be boundless.
Every potential adoption requires an application, veterinarian and/or personal references, and a visit by Monica's Heart representatives to ensure that the home is suitable for greyhound living.
"It was like adopting a child," Jalongo said of her experience with the process.
She was worried that Cuddles might not get along with the Jalongos' other dog, Babe, a husky mix.
Arrangements were made for the two canines to meet in a neutral environment, where neither would feel the need to be protective of their territory.
"Babe wasn't overly aggressive," Jalongo had observed, which alleviated her fears about the match.
It was late December by the time the adoption papers were approved and Cuddles became an official member of the Jalongo family. It was too cold then to begin any sort of therapy training.
"We didn't start until the spring," Jalongo said, noting that they worked on simpler tasks, such as walking on a leash and heeling.
After six months of training, Cuddles was brought in for her Canine Good Citizen test and Therapy Dogs International test, both of which she passed.
Jalongo since has introduced Cuddles to others at personal care homes, libraries and schools. "You really have to have a lot of confidence in your dog to do that," she noted. "She reads people," Jalongo said of Cuddles. "If someone seems reluctant, she'll hang back."
"Cuddles was the perfect dog for what Mary wanted to do," said McNelis. "It worked out well."
Jalongo and Cuddles work with D.R. P.E.T., which is the local chapter of Therapy Dogs International, Inc.
Together, they conduct visits at Rayne Elementary during the school year, as well as working with its summer school program.
D.R. P.E.T. also leads school programs on responsible dog care and safety around dogs. They also visit personal care and nursing homes.
Jalongo said she's already been on two dozen visits this year. "I try to go at least once a week," she noted.
Jalongo, who authored the book The World's Children and Their Companion Animals: Developmental and Educational Implications of the Child/Pet Bond, recently spoke before a science methods class for education majors at IUP. She brought along Cuddles as an aide in the topic she was to discuss--the importance of animals in a child's life.
"I talked with them about that concept," Jalongo said, in addition to specifics of the greyhound breed.
Anytime Jalongo brings Cuddles to a public event, she almost always is approached with questions concerning many of the misconceptions about the breed.
She said the biggest misconceptions are that greyhounds are hyper, unhealthy, older and already worn out, and that they are in constant need of exercise.
A greyhound is no more hyper than any other breed of dog--in fact, they sometimes can be even more laid back, Jalongo said.
"They're not the demonstrative type breed," she stated. "I'm not saying they're not affectionate, but they're very subdued."
In fact, Cuddles often shows her love and appreciation for her new owners.
"She is just so affectionate," Jalongo said. "She's very sweet, very easygoing, subdued."
"They tend to be very affectionate," Hostetler said.
All greyhounds up for adoption through Monica's Heart are healthy, though some may have had previous injuries from their racing days. Some may suffer from joint problems, but nothing that is life-threatening.
Cuddles walks with a slight limp, the result of a soft tissue problem in one of her front legs, believed to be related to her racing career.
Greyhounds put up for adoption can range in age from two to 10, but the older ones typically were placed in homes before and brought back to the adoption agency for one reason or another.
Some of the older dogs may have been brood mothers, which are kept by racing organizations longer than the average racer. The average lifespan of a greyhound is 12 to 14 years.
Jalongo pointed out greyhounds don't need nearly the amount of exercise as most people think.
Of her Cuddles, Jalongo said, "She's quite comfortable going on a couple walks a day."
An adopted greyhound must always be kept inside a fenced yard or on a leash, because once a greyhound catches sight of any small, moving thing, it will take off, with little chance of a human being able to catch it.
"They'll chase anything," Jalongo cautioned. "It's just their instinct. They're just not designed to be let loose."
A member of the sight hounds group of breeds, a greyhound has 20/20 vision for up to a mile.
"Once they get going, they can reach speeds of 40 miles per hour," Jalongo stated, adding that the only land animal faster than a greyhound is a cheetah.
Noted Knerr, "The dog will tend to stay with you, but if they see something, they'll take off."
"No matter how much you bond with the dog, they'll take off," added Hostetler.
For homeowners looking for a watchdog, a greyhound is not the choice for them. The breed is notably laid-back. "They're not barkers," Hostetler said.
Greyhounds also are not suited at all for outdoor living and must be kept indoors. "They don't tolerate extremes of temperature because they don't have a lot of body fat," Hostetler said. "In the winter, if we board Lexie, we have to make sure she is supervised when going outdoors."
Greyhounds are believed to be one of the oldest dog breeds, and can be traced as far back as ancient Egypt.
They also are the only canine mentioned by name in the King James Bible, in Proverbs 30:29-31.
There are several other breeds which are closely related to the racing greyhound, including the American Kennel Club greyhound, the smaller Italian greyhound and the whippet.
Monica's Heart maintains an adoption fee of around $200 for each greyhound, but that price includes much more than just the dog.
All greyhounds adopted through Monica's Heart have already been spayed or neutered when they arrive at their new home. Crates designed for use by greyhounds will be loaned for a month.
The greyhounds also are provided a thorough examination by a veterinarian, vaccinations, heartworm prevention and a flea and tick treatment.
New owners are given: a coat for the greyhound to use in colder weather; a favorite toy, if the dog has one; a harness and leash; and a brush.
The amount of time for an adoption to be approved depends on several factors, McNelis acknowledged.
"If everything is in line, it can be a week or two," she said. It may take longer if the greyhound requires a fenced yard, giving the new owners time to install the barrier.
A new owner of an adopted greyhound can send in for information on its life leading up to that point, including what race track it came from, what its racing record was, and its bloodline. A tattoo found inside the ear of all racing greyhounds serves as an identification number and indicates into which litter that particular dog was born.
Knerr and Hostetler had the opportunity to speak with Emma's original owner, who sent them a tape of her racing.
They discovered that Lexie had been a winning racer at a track in Charleston, S.C.
Even if a racer has a great winning record, they will only race for a maximum of about three years, and many go up for adoption between the ages of two and four.
"They used to destroy them" when their racing careers were over, Jalongo said.
One of the things that sets greyhounds apart from many other breeds is their long, sleek appearance. Their thin bodies are covered with a very short coat of fur, another reason that makes them suited for indoor living. "Greyhounds are bred for vigor, not for appearance," Jalongo remarked. "Many breeds are bred for the right look."
She said there are 18 different color combinations for greyhounds that are recognized. Cuddles is considered white with brindle (the mottled brown and black areas on her coat) with ticking (the dots on her undercoat that resemble freckles).
McNelis is hoping that the upcoming meet-and-greet at Indiana Mall will produce a few more greyhound owners who will fall in love with the breed.
"One of the greatest endorsements for a greyhound is the fact that most owners have more than one," Jalongo commented.
"Most of them are wonderful with kids and other pets," Hostetler pointed out. "You just have to be careful at first," as with any newly introduced pet.
Knerr and Hostetler couldn't be happier with Lexie, and both are pleased that they discovered the greyhound breed.
"It's just the idea that they were a breed of dog that has had a hard life, and went straight from a puppy to a racer, their lives lived in a crate at the race track--just the idea of giving one of those dogs a good home," Hostetler said.
III
Monica's Heart, a greyhound adoption agency based in Altoona, will invite the public to meet-and-greet some members of that breed April 9 at Indiana Mall. The event will take place from 1 to 3 p.m., next to the Easter Bunny at the center of the mall.
Kay McNelis, president of Monica's Heart, noted the event serves as an informational gathering.
"Meet-and-greets are intended to let people meet the dogs, see how nice and gentle they are and talk about what it's like to have a greyhound in the home," she said.
She added that the events are nice for those who have already adopted greyhounds to come and meet other members, and for Monica's Heart representatives to follow up with dogs that have been happily adopted.
Another local greyhound adoption agency is Going Home Greyhounds, based in Wexford. That agency actually rents a kennel from a veterinarian clinic, where potential new owners may visit the dogs.
Gina Delfavero can be reached at gdelfavero@tribweb.com.
www.pittsburghlive.com/x/blairsvilledispatch/s_438509.html
