Antics

Tutu, Colby, & Sophie

It's been six months since Tutu left us. Today would have been her 10th birthday.

This picture cracks me up.

Tutu & Sophie acting as Colby's bookend.

Tutu and Sophie, the divas, had their spots on the couch. Always nestled into the corner. There was an understanding between them. It's as if an imaginary line was drawn down the middle.

Colby on the other hand, was a different story all together. If there was a space anywhere on the couch, he had to occupy it. End cushion, middle cushion, even the arm. He always managed to squeeze his 80 pound body in. It didn't matter if it was 2 inches or 2 feet.

I miss their antics.

Colby

Colby

August 30, 2003 - June 16, 2011

Last summer, we lost our youngest pack member to cancer. Colby, was only 6. As an on the spot adoption in 2006, Colby captured our hearts. My husband & I had no intention of adopting a 4th hound. The universe had a different plan.

He was our easy going, love bug. His tail constantly wagged. Mornings were his thing & he felt that it was a mortal sin to sleep in 2 minutes passed dawn. As the official greyhound alarm clock of the family, no speck of the day was wasted by him. He loved to chastise us for sleeping in.

I always imagined that it would be years before Colby left us. He was supposed to be our long-term hound. The year that we adopted him, he was only three. Again, the universe had a different plan.

Love them while you can.

The time goes quickly between,

"There's nothing wrong"

&

"There's nothing that we can do".

Fresh Start (or Long Time No See)

Colby (Aug 31, 2003 - June 16, 2010)

A new year. A fresh start. Goodbye 2010 & Hello 2011!

Early in 2010, I started a non-profit organization to help greyhounds. I had volunteered for a local group since adopting, Sophie, in 2004. I met lots of wonderful people & hounds, and learned a lot about greyhounds. Although I enjoyed my time spent there, I wanted to help hounds outside my immediate reach.

The aim of True North Greyhounds (www.truenorthgreyhounds.ca) is to help raise funds for the Greyhound Health & Wellness Program at Ohio State University. Initially, I struggled with the focus of my project. After losing the youngest member of our pack, Colby, in June, the direction that I was supposed to take became apparent. I never imagined that Colby, at the age of six, would have cancer. This is becoming all too common in greyhounds as well as other dogs.

In order to get True North Greyhounds up & running, & care for Colby, my blog went on hiatus. Time to get back on track. My last post was in January of 2010, and talked about New Year's Resolutions.

What's on the agenda for this year? Helping more humans & hounds of course!

R.I.P. Colby's Nylabone

What you see above is the result of nearly 5 years dedication.  

Nylabone came into our lives in 2004 when we adopted Sophie.  Upon her arrival we bought an army of these chew toys in an assortment of shapes, sizes, & flavors.  She couldn't have cared less about them.  They sat alone in the toy bin.  Our hope was renewed several months later with the arrival of Cruce.  He didn't like them either.  The most action that they saw, was Cruce carrying them into his crate & back out.  Tutu didn't bother with them either.  Anytime we tried to coax her to chew them, we were met with a look as if to say, "Why do you keep thrusting this giant plastic toothpick into my face?"  

Life for a Nylabone in our home was a life of loneliness & neglect...until Colby.  Nearly 2 years after buying them, the fortune spent on these toys was appreciated!  They were carried from room to room, they went outside.  Some were buried in the snow, others had a tour of the dog run.  Nylabone was snuggled in bed & thrown into the air & pawed around the floor.  And alas, chewed.

After 2 years it is time to say goodbye.  Ends chewed off.  Discolored from mud & grass.  Scared from tooth marks.  You were a good bone.

    

Snow Days

Exhibit A:  Colby enjoying some fresh air. Loving the wind & snow in his face.  Bring it on Mother Nature.  I can take it.  Fresh powder is the best!

Exhibit B:  Tutu going into a depression.  I can't believe it's snowing again!  Is it ever going to stop?  Spring is nev-er coming!  I'm going to hibernate.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Rainy Days are for Sleeping

Colby's second career: mattress sales. I think that he could give the Serta Sheep a run for their money. No pun intended.

Happy 5th Birthday Colby!

Interesting Colby fact:
He was an on the spot adoption.

Neal & I were helping on Load Day (the day newly retired racers arrive from the track) and Colby was apparently giving Neal, "looks". At that time, we already had three greyhounds, & had no intentions of adding another.

Colby and Neal were together the entire day. When it came time to put Colby in his crate & leave, Neal hesitated. Do we have room for a 4th? Because we were going to California in a couple of days, it wasn't wise to bring a new greyhound home with us. After a couple of minutes deliberation, a decision was made. The person who was supposed to foster, was now a doggie sitter.

...Neal hasn't helped at Adoption Day since.