August 2014

NEWS & NOTES

A monthly newsletter to keep you informed.

Adoption Results for July

We had 15 adoptions and 9 new arrivals from Mobile that entered the TGIE program. This brings our year-to-date totals to 60 adopted and 56 rescued!

Signs of Pain in Dogs

Check out this story from ilovedogssite.com.

Seeing our pets in pain is never a fun experience, and it's something every dog owner dreads. Whether it's a fresh injury or simply our aging elder-pups, we want nothing more than to help them. But it's important to remember that they can't always cry out to us when in need. Dogs aren't humans, so they don't speak our language. The best thing we can do to keep them comfortable is to learn theirs. Dogs display their pain in certain actions and behaviors that may seem subtle to us. Not everyone is a canine behavioral expert, but these five symptoms below will help you determine whether or not your loved one is in pain.

1. Excessive Grooming - It's normal for dogs to lick and groom themselves, but it's not normal for this to become an obsessive behavior. If you notice your pet tending to a localized area he's never noticed before, or has just recently started spending a lot more time there, it could be a sign that he's hurting. Pets will often groom places that are sources of pain in hopes to clean and care for the wound, even if there is no open wound present. Be sure to keep an eye on the area and inspect it gently.

2. Heavy Panting - Panting is normal behavior that shouldn't surprise any dog owner. Even when the panting is heavy, certain circumstances allow for it such as extra hot days and strenuous exercise. But if you notice heavy panting out of nowhere, it could be stress-induced. This stress could be caused by pain your pet is experiencing. For whatever reason it may be, unexplained heavy panting should result in a trip to your veterinarian.

3. Inappetence - Lack of appetite is often the result of some sort of discomfort. You don't feel like eating when you're not well, do you? Our dogs don't either. They simply just don't feel like eating, especially when it's painful to walk all the way over to the food bowl. If you notice any sort of inappetence in your pet, it's important to seek veterinary attention right away, as this could be a symptom of many dangerous ailments.

4. Shyness & Aggression - You may notice that your dog is starting to become more and more antisocial. He may stop running to the door to greet everyone and avoids petting. Or you may notice that your little one doesn't want you picking her up anymore, or cries when you do. If this happens suddenly, it's reasonable to suspect pain as a probable cause. In some cases, you'll find your normally overly friendly companion has become aggressive. If you notice your pup is hiding away and avoiding attention, be sure to check them for pain. It's best to have a veterinarian do this, and it's very important to remember not to take it personally if your dog does growl or snap at you. They aren't necessarily trying to hurt anyone, they just have no other way to tell anybody it hurts and they don't want to be touched.

5. General Behavior Changes - Besides shyness and aggression, you might notice that your pup doesn't want to walk up stairs anymore, avoids jumping and climbing, or doesn't want to chase after his beloved tennis ball. There are the obvious signs such as limping, but it's important to also watch out for stiffness or arched backs. Dogs in pain often lay only flat on their sides, rather than curled up in their beds. They might be slower moving, sleeping a lot more and seemingly disinterested in things they used to love. Another sign is unexplained accidents in the house. It's often very painful to get up from lying down (which you also might notice), and sometimes pets just aren't able to make it outside fast enough. Sometimes the squatting to urinate and defecate is avoided, and you'll notice that your pet will start leaving messes in her bed. All of these things can be attributed to pain - often in our older dogs, but sometimes in our younger ones as well.

Being able to identify early signs of pain can lead to a much more comfortable outcome for both you and your dog. With early veterinary care, you can often start treatment before the condition worsens, regardless of cause. If old age is the culprit, you'll be more aware and educated on keeping your loved one comfortable and happy through his latter years. By keeping our pets happy, we keep ourselves happy too. And there's nothing more important than sharing a peaceful, lighthearted life with our best friends.

Read more at http://theilovedogssite.com/5-signs-your-dog-is-in-pain/#tbhJcmApcDpTVc6H.99

Fostering Story

Being a foster mom is so rewarding. I have had 13 fosters in my home so

far. I personally own 2 greyhounds, one 7 year old male and a 6 year old

female, plus I have adopted a 2 year old lurcher male. They love having

new guests in the house and adjust pretty quickly to him/her. They think it's

a long play date!

I foster because I love seeing the reward at the end, knowing a greyhound

gets a forever home and I'm part of that is an amazing feeling. I love

welcoming a new dog into my home, training him/her in obedience, and

giving them all the love and attention they need until they find a forever

home. American Greyhound pays for the foster's vet bills, heartworm pills,

and also supplies you with a crate. All you have to do is feed them, train

them and show them what the good retired life is all about, including lots of

love!

It's always such a bittersweet moment doing the adoption and seeing your

foster go to a forever home. I always think though, that I made a difference

in that greyhound's life, that I taught her/him what they needed to know to

go to that forever home.

I have fostered 8 TGIE graduates, 2 track dogs, and 3 lurchers. When the

TGIE greyhounds come into your home from prison, it's like they have

always been a part of your home. They adjust so quickly into a home

because they were in prison being trained and socialized already before

coming into my home. Lurchers and track dogs are a lot different to foster.

They are amazing to be able to foster, and they blossom more and more

each week that they are with me. They need more attention than, say, a

TGIE dog, but that's the fun part!! You can train them, you can work with

them, and you can teach them everything they need to know to be a family

dog.

If you are considering adopting another dog, but not sure how your current

dog(s) will do with another dog in the home, you can always foster and

see how it works out. If you want to foster and have no intention to adopt,

please don't hesitate to foster and help save more greyhounds by helping

them move onto a forever home. There are many foster families out there,

including me, that foster with no intention to adopt another, but still want to

help American Greyhound out, so we foster.

Fostering is a joy... knowing I make a huge impact in my fosters, is great!

Ashley Martin

Elkhart, IN

Picnic Committee Call-Out

It's that time of year again.

Time to start putting together a picnic committee, so they can put on a picnic.

This year's picnic will be held Saturday, September 6th, and once again our Chairperson is Loree McKinney.

Trust me when I tell you, putting together the picnic takes a lot of effort from a lot of people. So, if you are able, we'd sure appreciate your help in making this year's picnic even better than the last.

To be a part of this effort, please contact Loree at (219)241-5051 or e-mail her at

[email protected].

Polar Bear Plunge

Does the recent summer polar vortex have you thinking about the cooler weather ahead? Even if

it doesn't, it's time to start thinking about Freezin' for a Reason!

The 2015 Polar Plunge is a unique opportunity for brave people to support American Greyhound

in its mission to find homes for unwanted greyhounds all over the Midwest. As is our tradition, our plunge will occur in the morning on January 1, 2015 at North Avenue Beach, Chicago, IL.

This year, our plunge will have a new twist.

This year our plunge will feature three divisions of plungers:

Walruses: This division will feature our virtual plungers who would rather plunge into their warm wooly blankets instead of the icy cold lake.
Penguins: This division will showcase the plunging talents of our volunteers who want to participate but can't quite make themselves go all the way under the water.
Polar Bears: This is the traditional division in which a plunger head is entirely submersed in the icy cold water of Lake Michigan.

So if you're ready to make a big difference in the lives of some unwanted greyhounds, please register to build the easiest fundraising page ever. It makes it simple for others donate and easy for you to fundraise. Participants who raise at least $25 in donations from friends, family and co-workers get the privilege of receiving a commemorative Polar Bear Plunge long sleeve t-shirt and entrance into a Post-Plunge Warm Up Party, plus the chance to win additional prizes.

If you're not quite ready to freeze yet, you can also make a donation to one of the polar bears here. Any amount, no matter how large or small can go a long way to helping an unwanted greyhound find a forever home.

If you have any questions at all, please contact Sarah Gasienica, our Polar Plunge Coordinator at (219) 263-8742 or [email protected]

Do You Have a Story?

Do you have a story to share about your own experiences with greyhounds? Do you have something you want to see in an upcoming newsletter? Do you have a picture to share? Please feel free to contact me at [email protected]!

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