Greetings from my side of the computer!
If you are new to Greyhound Adoption Service,
welcome to the family. The Greytvine is our online newsletter intended
to to introduce new
features,
highlight news items, and basically keep you up to date on odds and
ends
that don't have or need a permanent place on the web site. By
clicking onto
this
feature whenever you visit the web site, you will find information on
recent
changes, additions, and all noteworthy events. You'll be glad you heard
it through The Greytvine.
*Please note that the photos above were staged for
artistic purposes. Please do not feed your dog grapes!*
Goodbye, Jake. In November of this
year, it will be 10 years since I started the GAS website. We
were one of the first on the web. Back then a digital camera
could only hold about 15 photos, and the quality wasn't the best.
But it was a big help to greyhound adoption. Since then I have
written untold numbers of greyhound biographies, articles and news
items. Even afer I moved to New Mexico in 2000, I continued as
GAS webmaster and still do today. (Marilyn has taken over the
photography and does an amazing job). In 2003 Jake, the first
greyhound my family adopted, died. I realized that I wanted and
needed a place to memorialize him. As a result I started Passages on our
website. The response to Passages has been amazing. I am
touched by each memorial that comes in, and empathize with the loss of
each of our beloved companions. I recently had my first children's book
- Goodbye, Jake
- published (under the pen name of Bam Schildkraut). It
concerns a little boy's first experience with death at the loss of his
beloved greyhound, Jake. The story is fictional but is based on
real events. This is an especially compassionate and reassuring
story for children with an uplifting ending. I hope that any of you who
have suffered the loss of an animal companion will find comfort in this
book. Althought it was written for children, adults can related
to the story as well. In Massachusetts, Banbury Cross
Children's Bookshop in Wenham, MA carries the book. Signed and dedicated
copies can be mail-ordered directly through me. A portion of
the proceeds from the sale of Goodbye, Jake goes to GAS.
Yours truly has just won a national award for a
two-part magazine series that I wrote on end of life concerns for our
dogs. The articles appeared in PETroglyphs Animal Resources
Magazine. I received the Dog Writers Association of America 2006
Award for Best Magazine Series. It was a thrill to win this
prestigious honor. Here are the links to the articles which are
important for all of us who have dogs: The
Last
Act of Love and A Resting
Place. If
you have any comments or questions, please do not hesitate to email me
at the GAS address at the end of this page
WOW! - Kris Metz of Kris
Koats
makes and sells coats for greyhounds. She donates
the money to greyhound rescue. Kris donates all of the profits
from her sales at our Reunions to GAS, as well as additional donations
from other sales throughout the year. Kris - we thank
you for being such a generous
friend to greyhounds. If you are at Dewey Beach, please visit
Kris and her fabulous coats!
Atlantic News Features GAS: The
Atlantic News has done a greyt article on GAS. To read the
article, click here.
We thank Liz Premo/Atlantic News, Hampton, NH for their
permission to post the article on our web site.
PASSAGES - No one who has a companion animal
as
part of her life is immune to the sadness and grief that comes with the
loss of that companion. In August 2003, I lost my greyhound
Jake.
He was my first greyhound, and he is responsible for my dedication to
helping
retired racers. To honor Jake and the other wonderful greyhounds
who have graced the lives of GAS adopters, a feature called PASSAGES
is now available which will carry brief notes on the passing of GAS
adoptees.
If your greyhound has passed on, you may send the dog's name along with
your family's name, your town & state and if you wish, a brief
comment
to me at webmaster@greycanine.com. Please visit Jake's
memorial page. I like to think that all of these
beautiful
greyhounds are chasing the ravens with Jake.
GAS
needs your help. The Dusty Fund
which
covers extraordinary medical expenses is empty once again. Thanks
to your past generosity, GAS has helped many greyhounds who
would
otherwise not have been given the opportunity for recovery and a new
life
with a loving family. Please consider a donation to the Dusty
Fund.
Celebration and memorial gifts can be designated for the Dusty
Fund.
Thanks in advance for your contributions.
Fleas & Ticks: We have had several inquiries regarding products that are safe for greyhounds. I checked with Marilyn to see what she uses in the kennel She replied,"I use Advantage which is 100% effective, and Frontline can be used if both fleas and ticks are present." As always, check with your vet if you have any questions regarding these products.
Periodically, I write in this column about newly surfaced issues which are important to potential greyhound adopters. I have taken those issues, and compiled them on a page in the Info-links section of the web site. I will continue to add tidbits to the page after they have served some time on the Greytvine. As of today, you can find information about dog allergies, condo restrictions and returned dogs on About...FAQs from the Greytvine. If you are a potential adopter, please read all of the articles on the introduction to the greyhounds available for adoption page before you call the kennel for an appointment. These articles will help you decide if a greyhound is the right dog for you and your family.
The Greyhound Adoption Service web site is copyrighted. This includes both photos and stories. Before using any photos or articles, please review the copyright policy. Thanks.
Mystery email: The web site email address has received many emails lately with strange attachments in pif and exe. It is suspected that these attachments contain viruses. I do not open these emails, rather, I delete them immediately. If you need to send an attachment, please email first without the attachment letting me know that you are sending something. Once you receive a confirmation email from me, you can safely send the attachment. Thanks for your cooperation in this matter.
About email: I receive many emails from our readers. When you email, please indicate your town and state. It helps me to better answer your inquiries. If you have adopted a dog from us, email us occasionally to let us know how you and your greyhound are doing. We LOVE hearing from you. When you write, please include your dog's former name as well as the new one if you have renamed him or her. Remember - we are always available either by email or phone to help you with any questions or problems which might arise. Stay in touch!
Deborah
Webmaster