Post by CampWhippet on Mar 31, 2006 21:12:14 GMT -5
Stewart's greyhounds retire to Richmond
Local families overjoyed to have NASCAR star's dog in their lives
By Don Fasnacht
Staff writer
Three members of Tony Stewart's racing team have retired to Richmond. None of them know anything about stock cars. They are all greyhounds.
Stewart, who races the NASCAR circuit, maintained a "stall" of 62 racing greyhounds. He decided one form of racing was enough, so he disbanded his dog racing team. Instead of selling the dogs, he put them up for adoption through greyhound adoption agencies.
"When we have responsible greyhound owners, they do the responsible thing," Tammy Rhoades said. "What Tony Stewart did was incredibly responsible."
Rhoades and her husband, Randy Wisehart, got Maggie as the result of Stewart dissolving his racing team.
Her racing name was Abby, but Rhoades and Wisehart's long-time greyhound companion was already named Abby.
When the new greyhound arrived a month ago, she was called Abby Also for a while, then the moniker was changed to Maggie. Both the dog and the owners adapted quickly to the new name.
Another of Stewart's dogs also went to experienced local greyhound rescuers, Linda Przybysz and her family.
Their Stewart dog came with the name TSR Gooch (the TSR stood for Tony Stewart Racers), but he's now known simply as Gooch. He joins Smart Sybil in the Przybysz household.
Sharon and David Kaiser are new to the network of greyhound rescuers. Their new friend is named Daisy.
But they are not new "dog people."
"We had just adopted one of the 'Kinsey Street dogs' when we got word that Daisy was on the way," Linda Kaiser said. "They're good friends now." The "Kinsey Street dog" is one of 42 taken from a home on Kinsey Street in an animal abuse investigation.
Dog lovers are attracted into greyhound rescue because all owners are not as responsible as Stewart.
The lean and lank animals are bred and trained as athletes. When their racing days are done at a relatively early age, even in dog years, they are too often destroyed or shunted to miserable lives of isolation.
The fate of many greyhounds has been documented in videotapes.
"It brings tears to your eyes," Sharon Kaiser said.
But greyhounds are more than speed machines. They are gentle companions with large brown eyes and an enormous ability to give and receive affection.
"There are sweet," Linda Przybysz said.
A quick check of the Internet is proof Przybysz isn't alone in that belief. There is a network of greyhound rescuers around the country.
They are "like a family." The Przybysz family met Gooch while they were attending a picnic for greyhound adopters in Lafayette.
"My son got attached to this one," Linda Przybysz said.
Adopting a greyhound isn't just a matter of saying "yes." The placement services check out the new owners. The Kaisers visited Daisy at a foster home in southern Indiana before she came to stay with them.
Linda Kaiser came to greyhound rescue in a roundabout way. Several years ago, she was making a choice where her contribution to the federal employees Combined Federal Campaign should go. One choice was greyhound rescue. She checked the box because she likes dogs.
A group in Florida contacted her to thank her for the gift. They sent along more information. She thought about it.
Then Kaiser, a NASCAR fan, was standing in line to get an autograph when Tony Stewart appeared in Richmond several months ago. A car pulled up with a greyhound inside. It was Gooch.
Przybysz was in line, too. She's not a NASCAR fan, but she thought in would be fun to get Stewart's autograph on a collar for the dog. She and Stewart had a chat about Gooch. He's named after one of Stewart's friends. Stewart told Przybysz his mom wanted to keep all 62 dogs when he got out of the racing business.
Kaiser didn't know about Stewart's connection with greyhound then, but she did know there was someone in Richmond who had adopted.
Kaiser got in touch with Przybysz and then she got Daisy.
Having more than one greyhound doesn't seem to be a problem.
"They're very accepting of other greyhounds," Rhoades said. She adopted Maggie in part to give Abby, who is 9 and a bit arthritic, a companion to romp with in order to stay young and lithe.
Most of Stewart's dogs have found new homes. Rhoades said only one remains. Her name is TSR Betsy.
If she comes to Richmond, she can join her sisters in Sunday afternoon runs at the FOP baseball field. Greyhound people like to get together regularly.
Reporter Don Fasnacht: (765) 973-4483 or dfasnacht@pal-item.com
Originally published March 29, 2006
Original story here: www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060329/NEWS01/603290301/1008
Local families overjoyed to have NASCAR star's dog in their lives
By Don Fasnacht
Staff writer
Three members of Tony Stewart's racing team have retired to Richmond. None of them know anything about stock cars. They are all greyhounds.
Stewart, who races the NASCAR circuit, maintained a "stall" of 62 racing greyhounds. He decided one form of racing was enough, so he disbanded his dog racing team. Instead of selling the dogs, he put them up for adoption through greyhound adoption agencies.
"When we have responsible greyhound owners, they do the responsible thing," Tammy Rhoades said. "What Tony Stewart did was incredibly responsible."
Rhoades and her husband, Randy Wisehart, got Maggie as the result of Stewart dissolving his racing team.
Her racing name was Abby, but Rhoades and Wisehart's long-time greyhound companion was already named Abby.
When the new greyhound arrived a month ago, she was called Abby Also for a while, then the moniker was changed to Maggie. Both the dog and the owners adapted quickly to the new name.
Another of Stewart's dogs also went to experienced local greyhound rescuers, Linda Przybysz and her family.
Their Stewart dog came with the name TSR Gooch (the TSR stood for Tony Stewart Racers), but he's now known simply as Gooch. He joins Smart Sybil in the Przybysz household.
Sharon and David Kaiser are new to the network of greyhound rescuers. Their new friend is named Daisy.
But they are not new "dog people."
"We had just adopted one of the 'Kinsey Street dogs' when we got word that Daisy was on the way," Linda Kaiser said. "They're good friends now." The "Kinsey Street dog" is one of 42 taken from a home on Kinsey Street in an animal abuse investigation.
Dog lovers are attracted into greyhound rescue because all owners are not as responsible as Stewart.
The lean and lank animals are bred and trained as athletes. When their racing days are done at a relatively early age, even in dog years, they are too often destroyed or shunted to miserable lives of isolation.
The fate of many greyhounds has been documented in videotapes.
"It brings tears to your eyes," Sharon Kaiser said.
But greyhounds are more than speed machines. They are gentle companions with large brown eyes and an enormous ability to give and receive affection.
"There are sweet," Linda Przybysz said.
A quick check of the Internet is proof Przybysz isn't alone in that belief. There is a network of greyhound rescuers around the country.
They are "like a family." The Przybysz family met Gooch while they were attending a picnic for greyhound adopters in Lafayette.
"My son got attached to this one," Linda Przybysz said.
Adopting a greyhound isn't just a matter of saying "yes." The placement services check out the new owners. The Kaisers visited Daisy at a foster home in southern Indiana before she came to stay with them.
Linda Kaiser came to greyhound rescue in a roundabout way. Several years ago, she was making a choice where her contribution to the federal employees Combined Federal Campaign should go. One choice was greyhound rescue. She checked the box because she likes dogs.
A group in Florida contacted her to thank her for the gift. They sent along more information. She thought about it.
Then Kaiser, a NASCAR fan, was standing in line to get an autograph when Tony Stewart appeared in Richmond several months ago. A car pulled up with a greyhound inside. It was Gooch.
Przybysz was in line, too. She's not a NASCAR fan, but she thought in would be fun to get Stewart's autograph on a collar for the dog. She and Stewart had a chat about Gooch. He's named after one of Stewart's friends. Stewart told Przybysz his mom wanted to keep all 62 dogs when he got out of the racing business.
Kaiser didn't know about Stewart's connection with greyhound then, but she did know there was someone in Richmond who had adopted.
Kaiser got in touch with Przybysz and then she got Daisy.
Having more than one greyhound doesn't seem to be a problem.
"They're very accepting of other greyhounds," Rhoades said. She adopted Maggie in part to give Abby, who is 9 and a bit arthritic, a companion to romp with in order to stay young and lithe.
Most of Stewart's dogs have found new homes. Rhoades said only one remains. Her name is TSR Betsy.
If she comes to Richmond, she can join her sisters in Sunday afternoon runs at the FOP baseball field. Greyhound people like to get together regularly.
Reporter Don Fasnacht: (765) 973-4483 or dfasnacht@pal-item.com
Originally published March 29, 2006
Original story here: www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060329/NEWS01/603290301/1008
