I'm now a GPA volunteer!!

katspixiedust · Mar 20, 2005

I have LOVED Greyhounds for some time now and have read up on them and been able to learn about what sweet, loving, wonderful pets they make. Well, since I'm applying to grad schools this summer I thought having volunteer experience OUTSIDE of my major might help to show that I have diverse interests and blah blah blah...all that junk. So anyway, I went down to the Greyhound Pets of America of Greater Orlando today (hence the GPA in the title) and am their newest volunteer! I'm so excited and kind of nervous at the same time. My duties will range from office type work to socializing the dogs to checking out potential adoption homes! I plan to have one one day and thought this experience would serve me well as I would know how to handle them when the time came that I could get one.

But anyway, I just wanted to share my new duty with you all.

Since I'm still in school this semester and have my other 2 jobs I'll probably only be able to make it there on Saturday's for a while, so next Saturday will be my first "hands on" day. YAY! I really hope this works out well for me!!

pinkdaisy226 · Mar 20, 2005

Oooh how exciting!

Congrats! Hope it works out for you!

momofmany · Mar 20, 2005

Congratulations!! You will have to tell us how it goes. I had some involvement with Racer's Recycled in Houston and REGAP (retired greyhounds as pets) in Kansas City.

I adoped 2 greyhounds many years ago through Racer's Recycled. Doug was a huge boy about 95 pounds and Tyler was a lanky 75 pounder. I actually adopted Tyler when he was about 6 months old (Doug was 22 months old when adopted).

Greyhounds are stunning dogs. The ultimate couch potatoes - they lounge most of the day and love to do a big run a couple times a day. It was hysterical - they would go out to poop then run like crazy afterwards. We mowed a race track in our back field (10 acres) for them to run on.

What I remember most about my boys is while they loved to sleep stretched out, Doug would sometimes curl up and actually fit into a cat bed. We gave both of them a sofa and eventually gave Tyler the queen sized waterbed in the guest room (after Doug crossed). Tyler was my chatter box. If you haven't seen a greyhound chatter yet, just wait - you'll recognize it immediately when you see it.

We lost Doug about 6 years ago and Tyler about 3 years ago - both to bone cancer. It is common in greyhounds with their long bones. But what wonderful dogs!!

katspixiedust · Mar 20, 2005

I'm glad you had such nice experiences with them Amy! I can't wait to have a bunch of stories of my own. Thanks for sharing your experience with them!

Thanks Ari!! I really hope it goes well too. The lady I was talking to today was VERY nice and so helpful. I think it should be a great experience!

stormy · Mar 20, 2005

Congratulations!!! It sounds like a wonderful opportunity!!

Good luck!!!

vi04 · Mar 20, 2005

Hope you have a great time

ugaimes · Mar 20, 2005

Oh Katherine that is so awesome, congrats!

What a great organization to be involved in. Those poor dogs are treated so badly when they're racing; you will really be doing some wonderful things for some great pups. Keep us posted- I'm sure you'll be a great addition!

jugen · Mar 20, 2005

Congratulations! I hope you have lots of fun and soon bring us lots of tails(excuse the pun!)

and adventures!

katspixiedust · Mar 26, 2005

Hey guys! I started my volunteering today from 11-4 so I just thought I'd let you all know how it went! I had a great time, though I was stuck with some of the yucky work since I'm a new volunteer. The people were lovely and the dogs are just SO sweet! They generally keep a few of them in the office during the day so potential adopters can see how sweet they are without having to walk back to the kennel. I would have been able to help in the kennel, but the weather was so crappy that I didn't get to. The kennel lady said that next week though if it's sunny, she'd love to have me help her back there! So I'll be hoping it's sunny so I can be surrounded by the whole lot of them all day!

There was one dog in the office all day that I wanted SO badly. I felt so awful for this dog. She was a gorgeous creamy color, had just a BEAUTIFUL coat, and was probably around the 50-60pd range (on the smaller end of the greyhound spectrum). She had the SWEETEST disposition but was a nervous WRECK the whole time! The poor thing was shaking uncontrollably. Come to find out, she had been someone's dog for SEVEN YEARS when these people decided they didn't want her anymore!! The poor sweetie (her name is Shiny) was so traumatized that she gets really nervous and jerky around bigger groups of people. I swear if I had the money and was ready to adopt now, that would have been the one! Elder greyhounds deserve great homes too.

So anyway, that was pretty much my first day. When better stories come along I'll be sure to keep you guys updated! Right now though I'm dirty and sweaty and in serious need of a shower!

HAPPY EASTER!

pinkdaisy226 · Mar 26, 2005

Yay thanks for the update! Go take that shower stinky! I'm glad things went well, even if you got stuck with the yucky jobs! And that poor dog... what a sad story.

vespacat · Mar 26, 2005

That's great, Katherine.

I'm sure you'll be a really asset there and they'll love you in no time!

momofmany · Mar 26, 2005

It's so sad to see greys returned after being adopted for many years. As much as you want to take them all home, make sure they are cat friendly. They have been bred to run down and kill small furry animals for the last 1000 years and that instinct is very strong in them.

Have you noticed the "lean" or the "chatter" yet?

halfpint · Mar 26, 2005

Oh what a great thing to do

good for you

momofmany · Mar 26, 2005

Here's a picture of Doug (the larger of the 2) with Bogart when he was a tiny kitten. Doug would actually let Bogart eat out of the bowl with him. Bogart woke up Doug out of a sound sleep once and wound up in Doug mouth. I was sitting in the room, screamed and Doug just gave me the sheepish grin and set him down gently. None of the cats ever walked by his head while he was sleeping after that.

sashacat421 · Mar 26, 2005

Originally Posted by vespacat

That's great, Katherine.

I'm sure you'll be a really asset there and they'll love you in no time!

Kat, I couldn't have said it better myself. I sense you're such a deeply caring animal lover and it will be great!

katspixiedust · Mar 26, 2005

Originally Posted by Momofmany

It's so sad to see greys returned after being adopted for many years. As much as you want to take them all home, make sure they are cat friendly. They have been bred to run down and kill small furry animals for the last 1000 years and that instinct is very strong in them.

Have you noticed the "lean" or the "chatter" yet?

Luckily all of the dogs at GPA are "cat tested" to see whether they will be ok with kitts or whether not. Most are ok with them, some even scared! But of course there are those who would do what is instinctual. It will be a few years before I actually get one as I want to have a house with a nice fence before I do.

Yes! I have noticed both of those things though! The way they lean is just SO cute!! What sweetie pies they are.

And oh my goodness that pic of your kitty and grey is ADORABLE! What beauties they both are. I guess the kitts learned a valuable lesson after ending up in your grey's mouth! EEK! I plan on getting one that they label as being completely neutral to cats (when that day comes) as I don't want to risk it. It seems like your Dougy is a great friend to your little kitties though overall.

katspixiedust · Mar 26, 2005

Originally Posted by sashacat421

Kat, I couldn't have said it better myself. I sense you're such a deeply caring animal lover and it will be great!

Aww thank you Eddie and everyone else for your encouragement! I really love getting to spend time with them and enjoy watching them get adopted. You guys are making me feel so good though!!!! Thank you all, really!!

coolcat · Apr 4, 2005

Hey Kath, good luck with this awesome opportunity that you have!

howÂ´s going now?

Is not jealous Waffle with you?

( I mean, you not keep the greyhound smell and she make you hiss????? ) ...

...

katspixiedust · Apr 4, 2005

Originally Posted by CoolCat

Hey Kath, good luck with this awesome opportunity that you have!

howÂ´s going now?

Is not jealous Waffle with you?

( I mean, you not keep the greyhound smell and she make you hiss????? ) ...

...

Thanks Rigel! It's been going great. I think that they really like me there and I feel good knowing that I'm helping in some small way.

Waffle is actually great about it! Everytime I come home from volunteering she'll give me a good full minute sniff, probably wondering what in the heck I smell likem but never hisses or gets upset! I think it's because she has no problem with dogs, but cats are another story. Now, if I volunteered with lots of cats she would probably be pretty mad at me. I might get a reaction from her like this: ::censor::censor::censor::

.

ugaimes · Apr 4, 2005

Sounds like Waffle is ready to give you the go-ahead to bring one of those sweet pups home one day

Glad it's going so well; what a great cause!!!

I'm now a GPA volunteer!!

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member