New family member

[jziegler]

On Sunday, LOML and I went to a Greyhound adoption rescue organization and adopted a greyhound. She's almost 5 years old, and had a racing career that lasted for 74 races. Her racing name was Alderon Wind, the shelter called her Windy. We are renaming her Zephyr, after the Greek god of the west wind, the gentlest of the Greek winds, which suits her laid back personality. After a rough first night of barking (which caused our jerk of a neighbor to call the cops), she's been just great. She just wants to be with us and to be loved.

She joins our 4 cats (a whole litter we rescued 4 years ago), and the cats and dog are mostly ignoring each other for now. The cats are all named from mythology as well (but not all greek).

Jim

I'll add more picture later, if anyone wants to see them. LOML took the camera that has the better pictures on it tonight, and I couldn't get her to stand still in the yard, and she's sleeping now.

[gwyneth]

Congrats...Zephyr is a beautiful name. She's a beautiful dog.

My rescue Samoyed says he'll munch a pig ear for her!

[Hellrazor]

(which caused our jerk of a neighbor to call the cops)

I know what I would deposit on his front porch...

[bigstick509]

Congratulations

[Ed62]

Congratulations on the new family member. Zephyr will make a great companion for the family. They are really nice dogs, and if we ever get another dog, there's a real good chance we'll adopt one too. More pics please.

Ed

[SARGE..g-47]

Evening J Z...

I have the highest regard for anyone that reachs out to save an animal! That's "all I had to say" and that "says it all" IMO!

Highest regards to you and Zephyr...

PS.. She may have had 74 races.. but I betcha she can still out-run you to the chow-line.

[crokett]

Congratulations. She is a beautiful dog.

[Tom Slick]

Congratulations.
We just rescued a great dog named rocky about 6 weeks ago.

[gerti]

Great name! Friends of ours adopted a Greyhound. Was quite shy at first, but with some patience came around nicely. I hope she'll be a great addition to your family!

[gwyneth]

In honor of Zephyr, this genuine Gustav Stickley-designed dog house, full plans for which may be found at

http://books.google.com/books?id=oxQ...rr=1#PPA725,M1

Or, page 725-6 of "The Craftsman", by Stickley, which can be found in full text view on Google Books. You can view the book there, or download the entire thing as a PDF (lots of plans). The full text view books are not all in the public domain, but copyright is not an issue if you're not going to reprint and sell them, unlike the limited view books there.

[lrogers]

That's a fine looking member of the family. We "rescued" Cooper about 1 1/2 years ago (he's a golden retriever) and it was the smartest thing we ever did.

[jziegler]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I can probably post some more pics on Sunday, tonight and tomorrow are both busy.

After just a few days, she already really become part of the family. She just wants to spend time with us. And when she goes for her walks, there are always people asking about her. Her first morning walk gets her lots of attention, it's generally while kids are walking to school, and we live in the block between the middle school and elementary school in town.

Gwyneth, those are nice plans for a dog house. And you couldn't have even known that I have a craftsman style house. Of course, greyhounds are indoor dogs, they don't have enough fat to be outside without a sweater when it's below 40.

Sarge, she sure could outrun us all. They say greyhounds can get up to 40-45 mph in just a couple strides, and I can beleive it. When she wants to move on walks, I have to start jogging, and shes just getting started.

Jim

[TheRic]

....... They say greyhounds can get up to 40-45 mph in just a couple strides, and I can beleive it. When she wants to move on walks, I have to start jogging, and shes just getting started.

Jim

Get some roller blades, and have her pull you. Just make sure to keep the speed down in case you take a tumble.

By the way beautiful dog. It's great to hear of people saving dogs like this.

[gwyneth]

Gwyneth, those are nice plans for a dog house. And you couldn't have even known that I have a craftsman style house. Of course, greyhounds are indoor dogs, they don't have enough fat to be outside without a sweater when it's below 40.

Sarge, she sure could outrun us all. They say greyhounds can get up to 40-45 mph in just a couple strides, and I can beleive it. When she wants to move on walks, I have to start jogging, and shes just getting started.

Oh, I think all dogs should be indoor dogs (wouldn't make a kid sleep outside, would we?)--even my Samoyed (whose wool I have knitted into sweaters for less winter-equipped dogs. The yarn makes stuff that's too warm to wear indoors.).

But I just loved the idea of the genuine Stickley dog house and how furniture snobs (nobody here) would react. It's even better since you have a Craftsman house--I'm imagining saying to prospective buyers, "oh yes, it's a real Stickley design..."

Anyway, Zephyr might like a shady place to nap in the summer.

Re the running: I have engaged high school track and cross-country youth as dog 'runners'--they like the money, the dog likes the exercise.

[gerti]

By the way beautiful dog. It's great to hear of people saving dogs like this.

Probably not a good idea, a Greyhound's hips aren't built for pulling.