Greyhound Angels

Jake

I didn't really want you,
I wasn't really sure,
And I'll admit I had my doubts,
When you came through that door.
Not small, or cute, or fluffy,
With big, soft puppy eyes,
But tall, and thin, and bony,
With bald, pink, bulging thighs.
You weren't the kind I had in mind,
Not in any way,
"Perhaps it would be better if I took you back today,
Before we know each other,
It really won't be kind,
To keep you here for one more day,
And then to change my mind."

But against my better judgment, I decide you could stay,
And quickly I discovered you were kind in every way,
Your gentleness and patience, they really stole the show,
"Why these dogs are wonderful, I must let others know!"
For you're my gentle giant,
Who just needed the chance,
To show us all what you could be,
To wipe away that history,
And dispel our preconceptions, which put us all to shame,
And so we come to know and love,
What lies beneath that frame.
And now I've come to understand,
What I missed right at the start,
That greyhounds need that big deep chest,
To house their generous heart.

By Denise Dubarbier, Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare, London

We are doing an eBay auction for Boston and Nessie. We have some very nice items up for sale. All proceeds (less ebay and paypal fees) will go toward there vet bills.

Please check out our items. Bid high and often.
http://tinyurl.com/o79bx
The Seller is RHGA2004

Boston

In need of Angels at this time.
Please fill out an Application to sponsor Boston.

Boston is an seizure dog from Pima Animal Care and Control, weighing 51 lbs. He is a 3 year old, light fawn with a black blended face. He has gained 20 pounds since 8/9 and he still needs to gain weight. He is a fun loving boy who enjoys playing with stuffies. He is currently under doctors care and is not up for adoption until he gains more weight and the vet gives him an all clear.

Update: 8/16/06

Boston he is doing wonderful. He is so adorable! Let me tell you what has been going on in my household since he has arrived. He had a minor cut on his tail that broke open and he got happy tail. If I have a crime scene investigator come in my house and they spray luminol I will probably get arrested. I had blood splatter all over my kitchen, family room, my bedroom and the computer room.

He managed to rip his declaw so I had to wrap his paw for a week.

He has gotten into the sealed dog food not once, not twice, not three times but FOUR times. The first time I moved the food to a chair that I thought would deter him from getting into it. WRONG! On this night Eric actually tattle taled on him! I got home and sat down on my computer Eric walked over and then walked over this his dog dish. He did that twice, I turned and saw all the dog food all over the floor. The other time I put the food on the counter in the kitchen, Boston is a "closet" counter surfer; he only does it when no one is looking. He also sings for his food. I told him he doesn't need to sing for his supper, that we promise he will be fed every single day for the rest of his life. He still has the mentality of eat as much as you can where ever you can get it. He tries to take over the others food bowls. I am trying to teach him not to do that. But what he has gone thru I can understand why he does it.

Overall he is a good boy and is learning to play with stuffies.

Update: 8/18/06

Boston is doing very well and still on meds. He will have his final check up next week. Hopefully he will get the all clear from the vet and can be placed up for adoption. He is such a goofy boy! He has a bark that is so demanding and melts your heart at the same time! Tonight I heard Boston barking and apparently Hammer one of the fosters was too close to the stuffie. Hammer moved and all of the sudden Boston is flying thru the air and pounced on the stuffed teddy bear! It made me laugh!

Nessie (Vo Nessliquick)

In need of Angels at this time.
Please fill out an Application to sponsor Nessie.

As you all know we picked Nessie up Sunday from Tucson Arizona Greyhound Park because she broke her leg while racing on Saturday. We took her to the vet the next morning to mend her broken leg. She had surgery that did not require any pins but needed internal stitches to put her bones back into place. When I picked her up on Tuesday the vet showed me the x-rays and her leg was nice and straight.

Today I noticed her bandaging had drainage coming thru it. I took her to the vet this afternoon just to have it checked and make sure there was nothing to be concerned about. Well, unfortunetly this is not the case. We need to be very concerned.

As the vet was removing the bandages I could see her leg was not good shape. I had to turn away and I can pretty much tolerate anything. It was pretty disgusting. He made the comment that what he saw was not good and he was very concerned about her leg . He stated her foot/ankle have stopped receiving blood flow (loss of circulation) Her foot/ankle is extremely swollen and black and blue in color. The vet called it "sluffing"(sp?) basically dead tissue. It appears she also may have some gangrene on the side of her foot.

I inquired if she was going to have to have her leg amputated and he could not say at the moment. He wanted to see what he could do for her now.

She will be spending the weekend at the vets office. I will call him on Monday for a status of her condition. I will keep you all updated on what the vet says.

RHGA asks that you please keep Nessie in your prayers. Nessie needs them more then anything right now!

Teri Rogo and Jody Brown (President)
Racing Home Greyhound Adoption

Update: 8/13/06

Nessie's leg currently has some blood flow but there is dead tissue that will have to be surgically removed. Nothing can be done until the swelling goes down. Her foot is swollen 3 times it's normal size. She will remain at the vet's office the remainder of this week.

Update: 8/16/06

I saw Nessie this morning. The vet said that her leg is not healing like he was hoping and feels she needs to remain hospitalized for another week and a half. Again I asked if she could lose her leg. He again said he does not think she will. He states he had a similiar case such as this and it takes awhile for this injury to heal. He has to wait for the swelling to go down before he does anything. He does not know how much tissue she will lose and if she will have to lose a toe or toes. He states her broken leg is still straight which is positive. She is on heavy anti-biotics. He states her healing will take a very long time.

The vet allowed me to go back into her kennel. She was glad to see me but you could tell she was depressed. I gave her her stuffie and she took two treats from me and nuzzled me as I sat on the floor with her. I told her you were all praying for her and wanting her to get better. When it was time to go, it broke my heart, the sadness in her eyes just crushed me. Jody and I will be seeing her again on Friday.

Please keep her in your prayers. She needs them so much!

Update: 8/18/06

Jody Brown and I saw Nessie this AM. Jody brought her more cookies and a flannel blanket to snuggle with. She was happy to see us. She got hugs and kisses from both of us. If one would let go she would go to the other and back and forth. She knows that we love and are praying for her recovery. Her spirits seemed to be up today.

The vet came in and gave another update on Nessie. He discussed her weight loss which appears to be about 10 lbs. Her hip bones are protruding. The vet says she is eating which was obvious when I was there last Wednesday but she is not gaining weight. (she does not have worms) He feels she has an underlying problem and has conducted a complete blood panel. As some of you know Arizona has a regional disease called Valley Fever which is a fungus that can lay dormant in the body until it is disturbed. Because she sustained a broken leg, this could have caused a disturbance of the fungus if she has Valley Fever. One of the symptoms of Valley Fever is weight loss. Valley Fever is a life long treatable disease (if caught in time) and as of today their is no cure for Valley Fever. She could also have a tick borne disease that is preventing her from gaining weight. We will know the results of her blood work next week. I will be going down to the vet Monday to see Nessie.

Her foot below the ankle is leathery and her paw is still very swollen. We are expecting the worst but are hoping for the best. We are preparing ourselves for the dreaded amputation, though the vet continues to see if he can save her leg. We know that tri-pods do very well and are confident if this does occur that she will be in a very loving home.

I am going to set up another eBay auction this weekend and this will be geared for Nessie only.

We are still looking for tangible and monetary donations. If you would like to donate an item for Nessie's eBay auction please mail it to Teri Rogo 115 W Runion Dr. Phoenix, AZ 85027. Please put on package "FOR NESSIE" monetary donations can be done on the Angel Sponsor page: http://racinghome.info/greyhoundangelsponsorapplication.html and you can sponsor Nessie for any dollar amount.

If you would like to learn more about Valley Fever go to this link http://www.vfce.arizona.edu/ and click on Valley Fever in Dogs. We want to continue to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and donations. We are so proud to be a part of the greyhound world!

Teri Rogo
Jody Brown (President)
Racing Home Greyhound Adoption

Update: 8/24/06

I saw Nessie today and she was so happy and upbeat! It brought a huge smile to my face. I brought her fat balls which she gobbled up and, as a Thank You,she burped twice. Her paw showed some reduction of swelling. The vet has switched her diet to help her gain weight. I am going to bring a batch of fat balls to them tomorrow to add to her diet. The blood work showed no underlying issues. The vet told us we need to continue to be patient.

Teri Rogo

Thanks Debbie and Jim Krasne

Thanks Karen Marion

Thanks Jennifer Lord

Thanks Lana Moussa

Dog Dayz Boutique
Thanks Trish

Suzann Ledbetter's website
Thanks Suzann

Duds 4 Buds
coats, collars and jammies for hard to fit dogs
Thanks Sami & Angie

Heisman & His Greyhound Art Store
Thanks Heisman

Black Tux & Blue Party Designs
handmade collars & leads
email for catalogue & more info
Thanks Joan

Tiny Art Jewelry
Thanks Karen

Pet Food Depot
17645 N Cave Creek Rd
Phoenix, AZ
Thank you for your continuous food donations.

Sunburst Pet Supply
Thanks for helping to feed our greyhounds, Todd!

Brass 'n More
The leading wholesale distributor of greyhound items in the United States.
Thank You, Tom!

In The Raw
a healthy place to hang out with your dog in Scottsdale
Thank You, Brenda, for hosting the Greyt Love Celebration!

Fast Jack!
Greyhound inspired sportswear
Thanks Scott & Kim

Thanks Howard and Lori Hirsch

Thanks George and Rocky (Greyhounds) and their Dad, Scott Vining

Thanks Homestead Kennels
and owners, Steve and Marcie