Greyhound Rescue Tests Volunteers' Resolve

"Greyhound rescue is a life of long days, endless chores and often agonizing choices about who will live and who will die. For now, the joy of watching survivors arrive at a save haven must suffice to ward off the haunting images of those left behind."

Susan Netboy

Greyhound Friends for Life

While those images vex dozens of volunteers in the four major greyhound rescue organizations in the Puget Sound area, logistics, politics and burnout take their toll, too.

As one woman recently organized a new group, a dedicated couple prepared to pare the activities of its once-bustling 3-year-old organization.

Puget Sound Greyhound Adoption, headed by Linda Hendrix of Lynnwood, began operation in July after the former Greyhound Pets of America member became tired of the constant travel to the Puyallup/Tacoma area for board-of-directors meetings and other activities.

As a GPA member for 2 1/2 years, she established a dedicated core of volunteers in the Lynnwood, Everett, North Seattle area. Adoption funds, records and reports went to the GPA chapter 40 miles south, but her hard-working team handled its own placements and organized public-relations and fund-raising activities in North King County and South Snohomish County.

Finally she had enough of dealing with the logistics - there were still board meetings and other fund-raisers that required her to travel to Pierce County - and formed Puget Sound Greyhound Adoption.

Her volunteers are high-visibility front-liners and others content to operate behind the scenes. "It's an excellent balance," says Hendrix.

Equally important is the support and reduced immunization and sterilization fees offered by three veterinarians in the area. "The success of a small organization like this is dependent on teamwork," stresses Hendrix.

PSGA has found homes for 20 dogs, all from a Tucson, Ariz., track.

Anyone interested in adopting a retired racer is given an application and information handout. "Then we talk specifics after receiving the form," says Hendrix. "For starters, the applicants must have a fenced yard and be willing to keep the dog inside. In some cases, families with small children are not good candidates."

Greyhound Friends Northwest, founded by Karen and Hal Hawley, of Issaquah, in July 1995, receives dogs primarily from tracks in Florida and Oregon.

Upon arrival at their home, the animals are bathed, wormed and external parasites are removed before they are placed in foster homes.

Within days, each is sterilized, vaccinated and undergoes a teeth cleaning.

Then it's back to the same foster home, where it is acclimated to becoming a household pet and taught a few basic manners in the process. This is the protocol for all area groups.

"Socialization, housebreaking and introduction to stairs and glass doors are critical," says Hal Hawley. "Keep in mind, most of these dogs have seen nothing other than a race-track environment. They're in an entirely new world when they come to us."

GFN's adoption process takes only a few days. It includes completion of an adoption form, a home visit and required reading about retired greyhound racers by the applicants.

"We emphasize education," Hawley adds. When a dog is adopted the new owner(s) undergo a two-hour class. They are given a 106-page manual that provides detailed information regarding the breed's health, behavior, general information and an extensive list of additional resources.

An intense workload almost overtook the Hawleys in June, however. They notified the board of directors of their intent to resign as officers and board members.

"This was prompted by several factors," says Hawley, "but primarily to allow us (he and his wife) time to revitalize our personal relationship. We also felt that we had lost our objectivity and that new leadership was needed to reinvigorate GFN."

The board was presented with two options - disband GFN or transfer its functions to another group. Neither seemed acceptable, however.

Eventually, the board opted to keep GFN running, and the Hawleys chose to remain involved "but only if a way could be found to reduce the stress and workload, not just on Karen and myself, but for all volunteers who had worked so hard and long on behalf of GFN," says Hawley.

"It became a matter or prioritizing our needs and objectives," he continues, "so we wrote a new set of principles."

One summed it up: "People are more important than dogs of any breed, and volunteering for GFN should not unduly interfere with the ability of any of its volunteers to live normal lives, with time for work, family, recreation, spiritual pursuits and other interests unrelated to greyhound rescue and adoption."

In other words, get a life.

"Like those in the other groups, our people are extremely dedicated," says Hawley, "but we have come to realize that we can't save every dog."

It's been a psychological wake-up call of sorts, admits Hawley.

"GFN will accept only as many dogs as can be conveniently handled with available foster homes."

He characterizes GFN as "people-centric" rather than "dog-centric." The potential for burnout is there, Hawley concedes.

Historically, greyhound-rescue volunteers stay involved for two to three years. It takes its toll on marriages, work and sometimes health.

"These dogs can consume your life if you let them," says Hawley. "And I don't mean that negatively. They are sweet, friendly animals just pleading for a second chance in life. We've become their saviors and executioners."

Greyhound Pets of America Emerald Pacific Chapter is based in Lakewood (Pierce County), with members all about Pierce and King counties.

"Our chief requirement is for adopters to have a fenced yard," says Stephanie Johnson, a member of the board of directors.

All GPA animals are from the Multnomah Greyhound Park, a no-kill, seasonal facility in Gresham, Ore.

GPA's usual adoption procedure begins when an interested party contacts the organization by phone or at an information booth in a pet supermarket or fair.

After the individual completes an application form, there is a cooling-off period of several days to two weeks, allowing GPA to make certain the applicant is still interested and that the decision wasn't a quick emotional one after meeting one of these dogs up close and personal.

An in-home screening follows, where a GPA volunteer brings one or two dogs, to verify the environment is safe and gauge the potential adopter's ability to manage the animal.

If the home visit proves satisfactory, GPA volunteers check the organization's inventory for an animal that will match the potential owners' desires and personalities.

GPA has placed approximately 50 animals this year.

The oldest local group is Greyhound Pets Inc., headquartered in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, but with numerous volunteers in the Greater Seattle area.

Founded in 1985 by John Hern of Coeur d'Alene, it has placed approximately 3,000 dogs, most from a nearby track in Post Falls, Idaho, which closed its doors several years ago.

"Most of our dogs come from Tucson and Denver today," says Hern.

GPI boasts a cadre of almost 200 volunteers in four Northwest states and British Columbia and targets the adoption of 500 animals annually, according to Cathy Hanshaw of Bothell, who estimates the number of dogs returned to be only 7 percent.

"Education and good match-ups are the priorities in placing these dogs," says Hanshaw.

Before any of the Tucson dogs reach Puget Sound, they're trucked to Hern's Coeur d'Alene kennel and nearby veterinary hospitals for basics such as bathing, deticking, vaccinations, sterilization, nail trimming and teeth cleaning.

Next, some are shipped to foster homes in this area for pre-adoption household training and manners.

Hern concluded, "These dogs are family, and become a way of life. Sure, it gets frustrating with the numbers involved, but it's very rewarding, too. Once you've owned a greyhound, it's hard to stop at one. They literally grow on you." Greyhound info

Here are phone numbers for reaching each of the area organizations. Adoption prices range from $150-$170:

Puget Sound Greyhound Adoption: 425-672-0902, 425-339-9230 or 253-841-7186.

Greyhound Friends Northwest: 425-392-9114, 360-354-2600 or in British Columbia, 250-652-1610.

Greyhound Pets of America Emerald Pacific Chapter: 800-366-1472.

Greyhound Pets Inc.: 425-483-6583 or 253-839-6301. PAWSwalk on tap

While plenty of big dawgs will be romping about Husky Stadium Sept. 19 against Brigham Young University, Progressive Animal Welfare staffers are anticipating a turnout of 3,000 of the four-legged variety - and their significant others - that day at the seventh PAWSwalk at Woodland Park.

The walk will actually be three - a six-miler beginning at 11 a.m., a 3.5-mile trek at 11:30 and a one-mile stroll at noon.

Entrants can participate with or without a dog. The registration fee of $15 includes a free doggy bandana, if you register by Sept. 11.

More than 20 booths featuring pet products and services will be set up at the site.

Information is available by phoning 425-787-2500, Ext. 870. Hot books

Beginning today, this column will include a monthly update of best-selling dog and cat books, provided by Direct Book Service in Wenatchee, a nationwide pet-book catalog firm.

Dog books:

1. "Give Your Dog a Bone," Dr. Ian Billinghurst, self-published, $27.95. Designed for those who want easy-to-read, common-sense guidance on feeding for maximum health, low-cost and low-environmental impact.

2. "Culture Clash," Jean Donaldson, James & Kenneth, $17.95. Addresses the role psychological conditioning plays in dog behavior.

3. "Don't Shoot the Dog," Karen Pryor, Bantam, $6.50. Outlines eight methods for putting an end to many types of undesirable behavior without yelling, threats, force, punishment, guilt trips - or shooting the dog.

4. "On Talking Terms with Dogs," Turid Rugaas, Legacy by Mail, $9.95. Details dogs' international language of communication with each other.

5. "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats," Dr. Richard and Susan Pitcairn, St. Martin's Press, $16.95. Dozens of recipes, with tables, charts and nutritional guidelines; how to give your pet a checkup; what's really in pet foods.

Cat books:

1. "New Natural Cat," Anitra Frazier, Penguin, $16.95. Covers holistic care for your cat, grooming tips and tools, complete with illustrations, solutions to common and "impossible" problems, dangers in the home.

2. "101 Training Tips For Your Cat," Carin Smith, Bantam, $9.95. How to work with your cat's inborn abilities and characteristics to have a happy, well-behaved pet.

3. "Twisted Whiskers," Pam Johnson, Crossing Press, $12.95. Guides frustrated owners through step-by-step behavior-modification techniques for just about every behavior problem.

4. "Very Healthy Cat," Wendell Belfield, Orthomolecular Specialities, $18.95. One of the first books to recognize the value of vitamins and minerals in a cat's life cycles. This is a 1983 paperback.

5. "Body Language and Emotions of Cats," Dr. Myrna Milani,Quill/William Morrow, $13. What is your cat trying to tell you and what does your response tell your cat? This is the first book to discuss the feline in light of new scientific evidence on human and animal bonding. This is a 1987 paperback.

Direct Book Service specializes in both new and used pet-book titles and videos. To order, phone 800-776-2665. Web site: www.dogandcatbooks.com; e-mail address: comments@mail.dogandcatbooks.com