Greyhound Gardens

And then came Mickey

February 9, 2012 Mickey 7 Comments

Mickey

I remember the day like it was yesterday. Nancy called and said “We have puppies! And we have something we haven’t had for a long time.” Nancy knew all about my secret love affair with the white and black dogs. Working in greyhound adoption it is so important not to fall in love with the color of the coat, it’s all about the dog, but still, there are those colors that make you turn your head and do a double take.

For me, it was the cow dogs, the white and black beauties.

We beat it up to the kennel as fast as we could and held little baby Mickey in the palm of our hands just a few days old. As he grew older, he became shy. Mickey is my example when people think the worst about why a greyhound is shy. It isn’t bad treatment, dogs are in many ways just like humans. Some are outgoing, some are shy.

Mickey went off to train and then to the track. When he arrived at the track Nancy called and told me to name my little man, they were gifting this gorgeous little cow dog to us.

Keeping with the theme, Mickey’s race name was KNT Wings O’ Fire.

Those wings weren’t on fire, Mickey only had the couch on his mind. I had already been down to Florida twice and Karen had never been. It was her turn to go. I always came home on such a high because it was so much fun and Karen needed to experience it too.

To this day, Karen still talks about the wonderful and fun time she had working in the kennels, playing with dogs and hand slipping the pups during their schooling races.

Mickey was shy when he came home, but it didn’t take him long to adjust to the acre. He has no problem flipping my hand off of the keyboard, grabbing treats out of our hands and walking in between our legs to get his ears scratched.

Mickey is one of our universal blood donors. He’s not crazy about going to clinic, but he’s a trooper.

Our beautiful cow dog, Mickey.

Innocent or guilty

November 15, 2011 Mickey 8 Comments

Mickey

Now, Ii realize you are looking at this face and saying to yourself, surely you jest.

A sweet face like this could never destroy a cushion in 30 seconds or less. He could run around a race track in 45 seconds. Or he could wolf down 2.5 cups of kibble in 60 seconds, but destroy a cushion?

You be the judge.

Just for the record

October 31, 2011 Mickey 7 Comments

Mickey

Mickey was completely misrepresented yesterday. He is not a scary dog. The whole story was not told and he has contacted an attorney.

It was slander, I tell you, slander.

Real estate is a premium at Greyhound Gardens. There is one cushion in the whole house, well OK, the house is wall to wall dog cushions. But the lake front with a view cushion is the cushion right beside my computer and they all want that one.

It’s a tough spot to score, and when they get it, they don’t give it up, not even for a treat.

See that big brown spot on the right hand side looming over Mickey’s butt? You guessed it, it’s the damn Flo Zone. Yes, she thought she should have the lake front with a view cushion. Mickey however, was not giving in. Not to Flo, not to anyone.

Now the fact that I always walk around with the camera like it is an extension of my face makes me a bit of a paparazzi. Some things are not meant to be published.

Shame, shame on me.

Sorry Mickey. but it really did make for a great howl-oween photo op.

Happy Howl-oween

October 30, 2011 Mickey 8 Comments

Mickey

Be safe and have fun. You never know what is lurking in the shadows.

Six already?

October 11, 2011 Mickey 10 Comments

Baby Mickey

I still remember that day. The day Nancy called and said “we have puppies!” I really loved visiting the farm, but when there were new puppies I could hardly wait for the week-end to come.

Knowing my secret love for cow dogs she teased me, she said they something they hadn’t had for a long time.

They had a cow dog.

We watched Mickey grow up, I put a sticky note on him him when he was only a few days old and I told him when he was done racing, he would be coming home to the gardens.

Racing just wasn’t his thing, He was clearly just a pretty boy and he grew into those giant puppy feet quite nicely.

Happy 6th birthday my sweet and handsome boy. I guess you can have rabbit for dinner.

And BTW Nancy, I really, really miss our puppy and coffee visits.

Celebrate good times

August 8, 2011 Mickey 4 Comments

Mickey

In 1980, Kool & the Gang released the song Celebration. And just what could cause such a celebration at the gardens you might ask?

Why of course, when cats fall out of the sky!

I found this beautiful stuffed kitty at the Goodwill months ago and I saved it for the perfect day. No rain, no sun… just a delightful cloud cover.

When I was really active in greyhound adoption, there were three kinds of greyhounds.

There is the, “oh kitty, kitty I want to be your furever friend.” Or better known as cat safe.

The greyhound that believes the kitty, kitty is an evening snack with a tail chaser for breakfast. Not cat safe.

Or the greyhound that sees every other animal as inferior and snackable. These are the guys that do best in a houseful of other greyhounds.

Sex, age and color were not issues.

When I brought this cat home from the Goodwill, I thought for sure I would title the post “Cat Testing.” These guys had so much fun with the stuffed kitty, it became a party.

And they all danced the night away.