february 18. 2000 • Jm t • * * ] 3 7
GROUPS
Top dogs
Rescued greyhounds
make affectionate pets—
and really big lap dogs
by
L
es Lewis had his heart set on adopting a
greyhound, hut he needed the right living
arrangements. So when he pulled up in
front of his just-purchased home, he
whipped out his cell phone and called Grey
hound Pets of America from his driveway.
“1 wanted a big lap dog,” Lewis says with a
smile as he strokes his beautiful, fawn-colored
Casey.
And Casey does manage to assemble all 75
pounds of his long-legged self into Lewis’ not-
so-ample lap, the adoptive dad adds.
The good news is greyhounds are very easy
to train. “They want so much to please,” Lewis
says, explaining that he and his partner “had to
establish dog-free zones for our 14-year-old cat,
and Casey has never crossed the threshold.”
Former racing greyhounds do need plenty of
exercise. Some still enjoy running— but a
fenced area is essential, since a greyhound can
reach top speed of 45 mph in three strides.
Others have no more interest in running and
simply enjoy long walks.
“Casey knows every squirrel in Mount
Tabor Park,” Lewis claims.
“1 would not have any other breed ever
again,” says Lewis, who quickly became an
advocate for the dogs.
Kevin Friends and his partner also adopted
a greyhound and are equally wild about their
tall, dark and handsome boy, Tex.
“As a pet they’re very loyal and shadow you
everywhere— the original Velcro dogs,” Friends
explains, adding that because they have a short
coat they also need to be kept warm and dry in
the Northwest’s moist climate.
“You don’t put them out in a back yard and
leave them," he says emphatically.
Because there is greyhound racing in the
Portland metro area, there is a never-ending
stream of retiring dogs looking for their first
real homes. They are generally from 3 to 5
years old at retirement, but dogs that didn’t
adapt well to the racing life may be put up for
adoption at a younger age. Their life expectan
cy is 12 to 15 years, so this is a great way to
give sanctuary to a fine breed of dog and enjoy
many good years with a new pal.
According to Jean Landers, chairwoman of
tbe foster program with the rescue organization
Greyhound Pets of America, these are easygo
ing, sociable dogs who are incredibly loyal. She
says the first challenge is to help them adjust to
living in a home environment, "teaching them
to be a real dog.”
Landers goes on to explain that “grey
hounds are not like other dogs— what they’ve
been through isn’t like what any other dog has
experienced— they’re special dogs."
The GPA places over 200 dogs a year, and
the organization currently has about 50 dogs
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available for adoption. Some still live in the
kennel out at the dog track, and the rest are in
temporary foster care while they wait for per
manent homes.
“I’m a failed foster parent, 1 kept five!” Lan
ders explains, adding that they do well with
other dogs and especially well with other grey
hounds, since that’s what they’re used to.
They can cohabit with certain cats, too: “I
have five greyhounds and a cat, and the cat has
an attitude,” Landers says with a hearty laugh.
In addition to providing a home for his own
dog, Tex, Friends also fosters greyhounds and is
currently caring for Okie (see photo), who is
eagerly searching for a new home. Because he’s
an alpha male, Okie needs to be an only dog,
and he would do best with a man who has a lot
of room for running, since that’s what he’s
accustomed to. Okie has been living on a
ranch in central Oregon, but his previous
owner died recently, so Okie’s hoping to live
out his years with another bighearted fella.
There is much to recommend about these
sleek living sculptures— they aren’t known as
chewers or diggers, they’re very playful and
affectionate. And since they’re carefully bred to
be good racing dogs, they avoid a lot of the
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Okie is looking for a man to love him
health problems, such as hip dysplasia, that
affect many other breeds.
One thing they’re not good at is guarding
the premises.
“They’d be very happy to show a thief
where the silver is,” Landers says with a laugh,
adding that they do have a big dog’s bark and
some can be quite chatty.
Though greyhounds are very good travelers,
one great advantage for folks who can’t take
Fido along is that there’s a dog-sitting coopera
tive among adoptive families so that these
greyhounds never have to see the inside of a
kennel again.
A good way to get to know the breed is to
visit the kennel at Multnomah Greyhound
Park, 944 N.E. 223rd Ave. in Wood Village.
Every Saturday, volunteers bathe and walk the
dogs from 9 to 10 a.m. Another option is to
watch the informal gathering and dog-run
every Sunday morning from 9 to 10 a.m. in the
soccer field at 617 N.E. Marine Drive. Twenty
or more dogs and their owners show up to exer
cise and socialize, and it’s a fine opportunity to
ask questions and watch these elegant animals
at their fleet-footed best.
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■ G reyhound P ets of A merica also brings
dogs ready fo r adoption to Portland'Ctrea pet stores
m ost Saturdays. For more inform ation or a sched -
ule o f store visits, call 1 '8 0 0 *3 6 6 '14 7 2 or visit
G P A ’s Internet site at ww iv.open.org/greyhnd.
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