April is Adopt A Greyhound month ... and it's never too late!

The CBS Early Show did a feature yesterday morning about greyhounds! As it turns out, April is Adopt A Greyhound Month. Check out the video and then try not to fall in love with one of these pups! Whether it's April or some other month, it's always a good good time to adopt a greyhound.

Needle Noses

Elly demonstrates how greyhounds got the nickname "Needle Nose."

New name!

It's official - our previously unnamed greyhound rescue group now has an official name! We are Prison Greyhounds Inc. Exciting, I know. But it's to the point and we are ready to get to work. We have a few more things to do before we can start getting dogs, fostering them in prisons and adopting them out to their forever homes. I won't bore you with the details, but we have to be sure to dot all our i's and cross all our t's.

Keep an eye on our blog for updates. In the meantime, hug your greyhounds. If don't have one, hug someone else's and then consider adopting one!

Jasmine

I don't normally pay attention to things like this, but this "story" (or truth) touched my heart. I guess it doesn't matter if it moves you, right? Enjoy!

Jasmine

In 2003, police in Warwickshire, England, opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog. It had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished, and had clearly been abused.

In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a Greyhound female, to the nearby Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, run by a man named Geoff Grewcock and known as a willing haven for animals abandoned, orphaned or otherwise in need.

Geoff and the other sanctuary staff went to work with two aims to restore the dog to full health, and to win her trust. It took several weeks, but eventually both goals were achieved.

They named her Jasmine, and they started to think about finding her an adoptive home.

But Jasmine had other ideas. No one remembers now how it began, but she started welcoming all animal arrivals at the sanctuary. It wouldn't matter if it was a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit or, any other lost or hurting animal, Jasmine would peer into the box or cage and, where possible, deliver a welcoming lick.

Geoff relates one of the early incidents. "We had two puppies that had been abandoned by a nearby railway line. One was a Lakeland Terrier cross and another was a Jack Russell Doberman cross. They were tiny when they arrived at the centre and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee. Then she fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them."

"But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits. She takes all the stress out of them and it helps them to not only feel close to her but to settle into their new surroundings.

"She has done the same with the fox and badger cubs, she licks the rabbits and guinea pigs and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose."

Jasmine, the timid, abused, deserted waif, became the animal sanctuary's resident surrogate mother, a role for which she might have been born. The list of orphaned and abandoned youngsters she has cared for comprises five fox cubs, four badger cubs, 15 chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies and 15 rabbits.

And one roe deer fawn. Tiny Bramble, 11 weeks old, was found semi-conscious in a field. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, Jasmine cuddled up to her to keep her warm, and then went into the full foster mum role. Jasmine the greyhound showers Bramble the Roe deer with affection and makes sure nothing is matted.

"They are inseparable," says Geoff "Bramble walks between her legs and they keep kissing each other. They walk together round the sanctuary.

It's a real treat to see them."

Jasmine will continue to care for Bramble until she is old enough to be returned to woodland life. When that happens, Jasmine will not be lonely. She will be too busy showering love and affection on the next orphan or victim of abuse.

The Pet, Health Connection

It is no surprise to animal lovers the benefits of owning a pet. Especially in these difficult times, anything we can do to bring joy into our lives is welcome. I know that with my family spending more time at home, the joy of our two dogs and their companionship is even more important. Walking with and playing with your dogs is free. It gets you both moving. It will make you both happy. See this article from CBS news regarding the benefits of pet ownership. Rescue a life - it might make yours longer.

Greyt Tunes!

One of my greyhound friends from Cincinnati sent me a link to the video below. Besides having some wonderful greyhound photos - including rarely seen greyhound puppies, the song and lyrics are really touching. If this doesn't make you want to adopt one of these sweet dogs, I don't know what will.

The Recession's Effect on Dogs

I have been reading more and more articles about people giving up their dogs due to the recession. I realize I might be a bit wacky about my animals, but really? Would you dump your kid at a shelter when times got tough?

Most of the articles say that downsizing into a home or apartment that doesn't allow pets is the #1 reason. Consequently, shelters are overcrowded, recieving less donations and the sweet souls of dogs pay the price. Adopting a dog is a HUGE responsibility. Not one to take lightly, and certainly not one to not consider over the long haul. There will always be something in life that makes us "uncomfortable."

Instead of ditching the first thing we see, how about appreciating the comfort and joy a pet can bring. If you choose to adopt a dog (or any animal for that matter), really look into your heart. If you can't promise to love and cherish that pet forever, don't do it.