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A monthly newsletter to keep you informed.
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In April we had 13 new arrivals and 9 adoptions
9 entered TGIE and 3 went straight into foster care. They are all black dogs, and you'll be learning more about them later in this newsletter.
We also got a girl from the track in Florida. She is the Lucky Florida Dog the
foster family blogs about. Her name is Hasel and she already has a home!
This makes our year to date totals 40 arrivals and 34 adoptions.
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| 2016 Winning Hearts Not Races |
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On April 9th American Greyhound had an amazing night. Over 300 people attended the 6th Winning Hearts, Not Races benefit auction. The silent auction included over 250 items featuring everything from Cubs tickets to greyhound statues. The live program was filled with a gift card frenzy, sports tickets, trips and many more exciting items.
Overall we raised over $64,000! A new record for this event!!!
Additionally, American Greyhound President Jeff Coggins was surprised with a very generous estate gift of $30,000 present by AG supporter Patti Browall on behalf of her late cousin Paul "Skip" Strombeck.
We would like to extend a big thank you to our volunteers, donors and supporters for your generous contributions to this important fundraiser! Because of you, they will be here
tomorrow.
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| Black Dog Syndrome Believed to be a Myth |
 How do we choose which Greyhound to add to our family when there are so many great ones to choose from? Do we make choices solely on color? Is there something to Black Dog Syndrome - which suggests it takes longer for black pets to be adopted than their more colorful counterparts or that a black dog is less likely to be adopted solely due to color? While researching these questions, I was pleasantly surprised with a number of articles I ran across that provided insight on some of these questions.
Dr. Emily Weiss with the ASPCA has had several blog posts about Black Dog Syndrome and has been involved in research studies as well and her overall take seems to be that it is more a myth than a fact. A publication in Society and Animals in 2012 entitled "Give a Dog a Bad Name and Hang Him: Evaluating Big, Black Dog Syndrome" by Lucinda Woodward et al explored how friendly ratings of black poodles compared with white poodles and what they discovered was that black poodles were rated as significantly more friendly than white poodles. They then explored whether participants would rate the image of a large black dog breed (a black Lab) as more hostile, more dominant, less friendly, and less submissive than the dogs in other photos. Pictures of 8 breeds - border collie, boxer, German shepherd, golden retriever, black Lab, pit bull, standard poodle and Rottweiler were presented and the study revealed that participants' perceived personality
rating seemed to be impacted more by internalized stereotypes of breed than the color or size of the dog. The black Lab was perceived as less hostile, more friendly, less dominant and more submissive than the brown pit bull, the brindled boxer, the sable German Shepherd and the black and tan Rottweiler. The black Lab only consistently rated lower on these scores when compared to the golden retriever.
"Effects of Phenotypic Characteristics on the Length of Stay of Dogs at Two No Kill Animal Shelters" was published in 2013 in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. The researchers associated with this study looked at the impact of age, sex, size, breed group and coat color on the time (or length of stay) until adoption of dogs at Tompkins County SPCA and Humane Society of Yates County, both in New York State. The study results revealed that color did not have an impact at all but that medium-sized dogs had the longest length of stay and adult dogs experienced increased length of stay by approximately one day per year of age.
What was interesting to discover while reading "Why Did You Choose This Pet?: Adopters and Pet Selection Preferences in Five Animal Shelters in the United States" featured in Animals in 2012, was that physical appearance (which is a complex including color as well as size, breed, coat, body shape, face, looks), social behavior with the adopter, and personality were primary factors determining adoption of a specific animal (whether a dog or cat). Similarly, "What Influences a Dog's Length of Stay at a No-Kill Animal Shelter?" featured in Companion Animal Psychology in March 2013 revealed puppies and extra small dogs and small dogs were adopted most quickly. Medium-sized dogs actually had the longest stay and guarding breeds were noted to have longer stays as well. Coat color had no impact on adoption rates.
Also supporting the above research, a Companion Animal Psychology article from May 2014 entitled "What Do People Look for When Adopting?" revealed size of dog (small dogs were most likely to be adopted), age (puppies were more likely to be adopted), and pedigree dogs (being preferable over mix breed dogs) as well as behavioral characteristics (being friendly to children, to other dogs and other pets) were factors that impacted likelihood of adoption.
Researchers and behaviorists have suggested that maybe it seems like there is such a thing as Black Dog Syndrome due to there being more black dogs in the population? Interestingly, Dr Patricia McConnell pointed out in her blog, The Black Dog Syndrome - Fact Or Fiction?, that the AKC has noted the Labrador retriever (of which a primary color is black) the most popular breed in the US and Labrador retrievers have held that highest ranking for 25 years in succession. This next group of American Greyhound TGIE graduates will be a wonderful group of very handsome and strikingly beautiful black
Greyhounds and they will be eager to meet and become loved members of their new families - and they should hopefully prove to be myth busters too! Let's keep promoting all our Greys as best we can so we can help even MORE Greys!!
For more insight on this topic, please check out the articles and blogs utilized for this feature.
https://www.petfinder.com/pet-adoption/dog- adoption/black-dog- syndrome/
https://www.petfinder.com/less-adoptable- pet-week/
http://www.aspcapro.org/syndrome-myth- fact
http://aspcapro.org/blog/2014/06/18/black-new- white
http://aspcapro.org/hmm%25e2%2580%25a6-it- really-ain%25e2%2580%2599t- so-black- and-white
http://aspcapro.org/and-the- research-says%25e2%2580%25a6yep- it-still- ain%25e2%2580%2599t-so- black-and- white
http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/the-black- dog-syndrome- fact-or- fiction
Why Did You Choose This Pet? Adopters and Pet Selection Preferences in Five Animal Shelters in the United States Emily Weiss, Katherine Miller, Heather Mohan-Gibbons and Carla Vela Animals 2012, 2(2), 144-159; doi:10.3390/ani2020144 available at
http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/2/2/144/htm
http://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2013/03/what-influences- dogs-length- of-stay- at.html
http://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2014/05/what-do- people-look- for-when- adopting.html
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I'm sure you have all heard numerous times about our relationship with TGIE, The Greyhound Inmate Experience. Here's a quick rundown on how the program works:
Every ten weeks, a hauler heads north from Mobile Alabama with twenty dogs ready to enter the program, nine dogs for American Greyhound and the other eleven are split between the other two groups participating in the program. Each dog has been selected to participate in the program based on health and temperament. About a week prior to the trip, each dog sees a veterinarian and is spayed/neutered, had dental, and had shots brought up to date. When they arrive in Coldwater, Michigan (the location of the prison), they are unloaded and sent into the facility and we bring out the recent graduates and load them in our vehicles for the trip back to Northwest Indiana.
Also part of the selection process is color. The adoption kennel in Mobile (the folks in charge of getting the 20 dogs lined up to travel) tries their best to select a wide range of colors, so that the pups in the program at any given time reflect that range of colors and is more pleasing to the average person viewing it.
Unfortunately, in this day and age, there still seems to be some bias against black greyhounds. In fact there still exist organizations that do all they can to avoid taking black dogs. And, it doesn't just affect greyhounds, as most shelter operators will tell you that the black dogs, of any breed, are the hardest ones to find a home for. Fortunately, there are groups that go the extra mile to take in more than their share of black dogs. YOUR ORGANIZATION, American Greyhound, happens to be one of those groups. For years we have made an effort to take in more than our share of black dogs. And, while I know of no count to find the proportion of black we have taken over the years, it certainly does
reflect a bias, TOWARD not against, black greyhounds.
At dinner the evening before pick up of our December 2015 graduating class, it was discussed that the adoption kennel in Mobile was drowning in black dogs. In fact, black dogs made up over 50% of their population of adoptable dogs. A representative of another group suggested that we proposition Ron and Gaye Ann (the folks who run TGIE) to take in an all-black class of dogs in the near future. While American Greyhound had suggested it in the past, the time was not right to pull something like that off.
So, you can imagine our surprise when we suggested it that Gaye Ann interrupted us to tell us that she and Ron had been discussing it. She said she knew that American Greyhound would go for it, but weren't sure about the other two groups. After some discussion with the other groups and with the inmate-handlers, it was decided to give it a try with the hounds entering the prison in April.
So, on April 28th , as each door was opened on the haul trailer, out stepped a black greyhound. A total of 20 black hounds entered the program that morning, along with five additional black dogs coming off the hauler and going directly into American Greyhound and GEM's (Greythounds of Eastern Michigan) respective fostering programs. What a sight it was, and it was especially gratifying to know that we were doing our part to assure that those black greyhounds weren't going to have to wait quite as long to find their forever home.
Another factor that gives us at American Greyhound a very good feeling, is the knowledge that we are giving the handlers in the program an opportunity to feel that they likewise are doing something more to help. They are fully aware of the "Black Dog Syndrome" and were eager to take a class of all-black dogs. And, while there is very likely to be some confusion for the first couple weeks identifying which black dog is which, this minor inconvenience pales in comparison to the good they'll be doing.
These twenty black dogs are currently scheduled to graduate on Thursday, July 7 th . Nine of those twenty will be coming to American Greyhound. If you've been thinking about adding a new dog to the family, why not help us give one of these guys or gals a new home. Or, maybe you'd be interested in fostering one of these black beauties when they graduate. You'll be part of a very special graduating class. For more information on the black TGIE dogs, other TGIE dogs, or any American Greyhound dog, please contact one of our Adoption Coordinators at [email protected] or our Foster
Coordinator at [email protected].
*All black dogs are beautiful. However, no black dog, in my humble opinion, looks better than a black greyhound.
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It is so exciting that AG's next group of TGIE hounds will all be black. I have heard that black dogs, especially black males, are the hardest to place. Quite often they never make it to adoption groups. I personally think there is nothing prettier than a shiny black dog. We've adopted two.
Chad joined our family and changed our lives in the best way possible. We are so proud of him! He has obtained his AKC Canine Good Citizen, Good Citizen Advanced and Urban Canine Good Citizen certificates. He is also a therapy dog with Alliance of Therapy Dogs and brings comfort to many. We decided that Chad is so amazing, maybe we should get another.
Silver, or Doctor Silverman was the second addition to our family. I just love the looks on people's faces when they ask his name. Nobody expects a big, black guy like him to have the name Silver. He was a senior return to AG, but he's found his forever with us. He is our lover boy, and has turned into a great ambassador promoting greyhound adoption...when he's not napping on the couch.
When adopting, color has never been important to us, being the right "fit" is. We are so glad both of our boys came to AG and then to us. There is an additional black dog bonus. They coordinate well with my collar addiction...everything looks greyt on black!!!!
Thanks American Greyhound for our two black boys!
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| Callout for Picnic Committee |
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The weather is starting to warm up and the days are getting longer. That can only mean one thing:
That's right; it's time to start thinking about our annual picnic and putting together a picnic committee!
For the last eight years Loree McKinney has headed up our picnic, and what a wonderful job she has done. In fact, not only has she put on a wonderful event, but she's also gotten Mother Nature to cooperate as well. We've only had rain two of those eight years, and neither time was the rain a real deal breaker.
But, to make everything come together, Loree is going to need some help. That's where you come in. We need you to volunteer to help Loree pull another one off. Maybe you can help with set-up, maybe clean-up, or maybe you'd like to help during the event with parking, cooking, or some other task that will assure a good day for everyone. Or, maybe you'd like to help out with all three tasks.
The picnic is slated for Saturday, September 10th (of course that is subject to change). To be a part of Loree's committee, just give her a ring at (219)241-5051 or drop her an email at [email protected] .
You'll have a good time helping out and an even better time seeing what happiness you bring to all of our hounds, and their people too.
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| A Word to Our Foster Families |
Two new foster families have joined the ranks since our last newsletter. Scott & Jessica Fisher, and Steve Schifko & Carrie Kolb. Thank you for saving a hound this month!
With the summer months approaching, it will be a busy time for everyone. Don't forget that our foster home network will be there for you when you need them! Don't let your summer vacation plans stand in the way of bringing a foster home. All I ask for is about two weeks notice (if possible) and I will reach out for a sitter while you are away.
April was a great month to be a retired greyhound thanks to our wonderful foster homes! THIRTEEN dogs were able to start their journey to forever homes thanks to American Greyhound. Let's keep up the momentum!
Nicole Graves
Foster Coordinator
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American Greyhound has had a Facebook page for several years now. In the beginning, when we first created it, we recognized that there was a great deal of potential in Facebook. However, it seemed that we weren't reaching a lot of people that weren't already, in some way, a part of American greyhound. The part we were missing was in getting our message out beyond that first layer of people.
If you had adopted from us, fostered for us, or volunteered in some other way, you already were aware of who we are and what we do. We needed to get beyond that first layer and get our message to folks who weren't aware.
In the past, we had used a couple campaigns, mostly amongst the Board of Directors, to push our message out, but unfortunately, we just didn't do a good job of it. That is, until earlier this year. We began with our Directors and between January first and the present, we have added over 400 new "likes", including 222 new "likes" between February 14 h and March 9th. In that period of time, we have begun to see more and more positive response come from our Facebook page. We received more inquiries about our Winning Hearts, Not races benefit auction from Facebook this year than all other years combined. A couple weeks ago, we auctioned a couple Blackhawks playoff tickets on our Facebook page, raising $750 for our rescue programs. And, while reviewing adoption applications, the answer we see to the question "How did you find out about American Greyhound?" is Facebook.
Those are the positive results we knew were possible with Facebook. These results help us raise more funds and locate more potential adoptive homes, both of which result in more unwanted greyhounds finding themselves wanted!
Now, we'd like to ask a small favor of you. We need your help in getting our message out
beyond that first layer of people, beyond the second and third layer of people. It's kind of like an old shampoo ad from the 80's, where Heather Locklear told two friends and they told two friends and so on and so on and so on. The growth becomes exponential and more greyhounds find homes.
Here's what we need you to do:
1. Sign in to your Facebook page.
2. Go to American Greyhound's Facebook page (if you haven't yet "liked" us, do so).
3. On the left side of the page you will find a link that says" Invite friends to like this Page," click this.
4. A menu will appear with all of your friends which you can scroll through and click on a box to invite them.
A personal invitation will go out to each of your Facebook friends inviting them to like American Greyhound and providing a link to do so. This is a much more reliable means of inviting friends to "like" us than just sending out a post on your page.
American Greyhound stands at 2610 "likes" as we put this newsletter together. Let's see what we can do to raise that number to even greater heights, and reach out to those folks beyond the first layer. And, more importantly, let's make some unwanted greyhounds, wanted!
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Do You Have a Story or Photo?
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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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I'd be happy to include pictures of your dog and share your adoption story. American Greyhound is YOUR group and I'd love to feature your story.
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