|
A monthly newsletter to keep you informed.
|
|
|
Rescue Results for February
|
In February there were 10 adoptions and 14 new arrivals - 9 entering TGIE 3 off the track from Mobile. The other two are untattooed greyhounds from Mishawaka
This makes our year to date totals 27 arrivals and 18 adoptions.
|
| We will be participating in the Michigan City St. Patrick's Day Parade again this year! It will be held March 12 at 10th and Franklin St Michigan City, IN 46360. Parade line up is at 11:45- judging at Noon, and parade starts at 1. Make sure you and your greys come decked out in your best greens! Check out our Facebook page for more information as it becomes available. |
|
Christina Robbins- Winning Hearts, Not Races, Auction Co-chair
|
Last month we introduced you to Nicole Roth who is instrumental in putting together American Greyhound's biggest fund raising event of the year, the "Winning Hearts, Not Races" Benefit Auction. This month we will introduce you to her Co-Chair and someone who has been a part of this event since we kicked it off in 2010, Christina Robbins-Someone You Should Know!
I met Christina and her husband, Chris in August of 2009 when they adopted Buckwheat. Other than recalling that they also had her daughter, Hillary and just born son, Carter with them, nothing really stood out.
Fast forward about a year and American Greyhound was in the midst of preparing for our first annual auction. I was in Detroit, Michigan to catch a ball game with my father when I received a call from Christina. She had been experiencing some trouble with Buckwheat and his interaction with her year old son. I told her to keep them apart and I would run by their home early next week and drop off a muzzle (we had not yet begun sending each adoptive family home with a muzzle, though this a couple other cases got us doing just that shortly thereafter). While dropping off the muzzle, Christina asked about the auction and if there was anything she could do to help out. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to hand off some of the burden and bring more people into the fold.
Sometimes you do a nice job selecting just the right person for a job, identifying their strengths and weaknesses and matching them to a particular task, but often you misread them and make a huge mess of it. That is why it is always best to be lucky, like I was with Christina, and have a gem drop right in your lap. I had no idea how helpful she would be that first year or how dedicated. She handled, among other things, the attendees and their meal and seating choices. Around that time, her young son had demolished her computer, causing her to make lists of attendees by hand. And, since she needed to get me an update of attendees each week, she wrote out an additional copy for me (in fact, each letter was so perfectly written and her penmanship so nice, that I began referring to her as a monk, in reference to the monks who transcribed books in the middle ages). And, every week for the eight or nine weeks leading up to the auction, there was that immaculate list of attendees.
In addition to her duties tracking the attendees, she also became very active in cataloging the auction items and other task associated with the auction. In 2014, it was determined that Nicole would begin to need some assistance putting the show together and we discussed taking on a Co-Chair. Of course, the only name that came into my head was Christina's.
Since that time, Christina has taken on more and more of the load of the auction preparation, and the more work she takes on, the more work it seems she wants. I recognized her at the auction in 2014, for all the hard work she had put in and for being with me on this from the very beginning. And, though it surprised her and caused her to cry (I didn't mean for that to happen) I really meant what I said, as she has been the heart and soul of this auction from the very start.
Additionally, in 2015 Christina took on additional duties as an Adoption Coordinator, as we moved to a three person committee of Adoption Coordinators, and has been doing a very nice job in that capacity as well.
As our 6th annual auction draws nearer, Christina is once again hard at it, though this time, in addition to her auction duties; she also has to find time to move from Northwest Indiana to Fort Wayne, Indiana. While she won't be right in our back yard anymore, she plans to continue her work as the auction Co-Chair and Adoption Coordinator. And, just maybe, she'll be helping to stretch our backyard all the way over on that side of the state.
Now, while Christina is in the middle of moving and helping to put together the auction, you should make plans to attend this wonderful event. Get your seats now through our website: http://www.americangreyhound.org/save-the-date/
|
| 2016 Winning Hearts Not Races-Reserve Your Spot Today! |
On
April 9, 2016 American Greyhound will host our 6th Winning Hearts, Not Races benefit auction. The funds raised from this event are critical to the continued success of our organization's mission. Tickets are $60 per person which includes an open bar, champagne fountain, dinner and dessert, as well as an exciting silent and live auction program. Reserve your spot by
ordering your ticket on our website - Winning Hearts Not Races.
Please contact
Nicole Roth by clicking on the link if you have any questions about the event, or if you are interested in volunteering or donating.
Don't miss your chance to make a big difference in the lives of our rescued greyhounds.
|
I'm assuming you do, otherwise, why would you be reading this newsletter? Of course, you know that what we're talking about is Facebook, right?
I'm sure that many of you who use Facebook already do "Like" us. In fact, right now, we have very nearly 2400 "Likes". With our "Winning Hearts, Not Races" auction right around the corner, we'd really like to make a push to increase our number of "Likes" and by doing so, increase awareness of our organization, it's mission, and our auction. For those who use Facebook and don't yet "Like" us, could we please ask if you would? And, if we could ask just one more favor, could we ask that you invite all of your Facebook friends to "Like" us as well. If you have any questions or need some help in "Liking" us or in getting your friends invited to "Like" us, please contact our Communication Coordinator, Annette Martin at (219)771-1054 or e-mail her at [email protected].
Let's all see what we can do in the next few weeks to spread the word by "Liking" us. Thanks!
|
|
American Greyhound Adoption Fees to Rise
|
|
In 2009, we raised the cost to adopt one of our dogs from $185 to $195, which was used to cover the $10 cost of the micro-chips we began installing in all of our dogs. In 2010, as we began participating with the prison program, we were told that adoption costs for all prison trained dogs must be kept uniform with the other groups participating. So, our prison trained dogs have always been available for adoption at $300.
Unfortunately, as time has marched on and costs continue to rise, we are finding ourselves in the uncomfortable position of having to raise these fees. And, while adoption fees only cover a small part of American Greyhound's costs, these fees are still very much below the costs we incur to prepare a dog for adoption.
Beginning in April, adoption fees will be as follows:
Young dogs (5 ½ years and under) directly from racetracks, farms, shelters, etc: $225
TGIE (prison trained racing greyhounds):
$325
Special Needs (older dogs, dogs with special health related issues):
Varies
However, if you are currently thinking about adding a dog to your home, we will honor the old rates if you submit an adoption application from our web site and adopt within six months.
We regret having to make these fee changes and appreciate your understanding.
|
What a great month for adoptions and fosters! Thank you to all the fosters that opened their home to a hound this month.
Because of you, FOURTEEN dogs are safe and sound. So far, 2016 has been off to a great start with welcoming new foster homes to American Greyhound. Four new families took the leap and applied to be foster homes since we started the new year.
As a new addition to the monthly news, I'd like to start recognizing those who have decided to open their home to a hound for the very first time. In January, our new foster applicants were Brooke Artley & Anthony Gouin and the Taxhet family. February brought us Kelly Fidei and Jessica & Scott Fischer. Welcome aboard!
Upcoming Fostering Opportunities: We are hoping to send the hauler south during the month of March. Hopefully we will be able to accommodate a load full of dogs and welcome them into retirement. April 21 is the next TGIE parole date. We always need additional homes for these hounds. If anyone you know would be interested in fostering one of these hounds, don't hesitate to pass along my information.
January and February were both great months for retired greyhounds. I hope we can make March and April even more successful. Let's keep this momentum going all year!
Nicole Graves
|
Very often (certainly more often than I'd care for), we will be contacted about a dog being
returned. And, when we inquire as to the cause of the return, much of the time we'll hear about behavioral issues that had been going on for quite some time, often years. When situations like these come up, I often think, "we need to do something about getting the word out to our adopters that we are available to help."
I know we emphasize at adoption time to please call us if anything were to come up, but many times we never hear about issues until the dog is coming back. Many times when behavior has been out of control for an extended period of time, the chances of saving the relationship between dog and owner are greatly reduced, for a couple of reasons. First, the owner often develops a sort of resentment towards the dog for all the messes, lost sleep and damaged property. And, second, obviously this pattern of behavior has become second nature to the dog.
However, this doesn't have to be the case. While we are not professional dog trainers,
American Greyhound does have a number of people who can help you correct some of the more common behavioral issues that are common with the greyhound breed. And, we have had a good deal of success in these matters.
Obviously, most often people just don't want to bother us. And, I would assume that with most shelters and multi-breed rescues, providing "service after the sale" just isn't something that is expected or done, so I assume that is a reason we don't hear from them. However, as we DO want to assure that everything is peaceful and happy in the new home, we need to do a better job of communicating our willingness to help out. And, we mean it. We work hard bringing these dogs into our organization, fostering them, vetting them, finding them homes and the million other things that are a part of the process. So, it's just as important to us that we assure that they and their owners are happy and everything is going smoothly in their new home.
So, whether you have only recently adopted your hound, or if you've been a proud member of the greyhound cult for some time, if you are having some behavioral issue, PLEASE, contact American Greyhound as soon as you can. Often, the bad behavior will require something very simple to correct it (I think many people are amazed) and the correction will occur almost immediately (they are amazed about that too). At our web site, www.americangreyhound.org, click on the "Contact Us" tab and a pre-formatted e-mail contact form will pop up. Fill it out and submit it. You will be contacted in short order.
If you need faster assistance, please contact Jeff Coggins at (219)771-0892.
We want all of our dogs to live happy and fulfilling lives. Bad behavior is often a sign they are not. Likewise, we want happy adopters who spread the word about what wonderful companions greyhounds make (we receive a lot of messages from people looking to adopt who have heard great things about their friend's greyhounds). Adopters enduring bad behavior from their hounds aren't spreading the same message.
Note: As we state in our adoption contract, American Greyhound will always accept adopted greyhounds that need to be returned. This article is in no way intended to dissuade adopters intent on returning a hound from doing so nor is it any way passing judgment on anyone for any decisions made regarding these issues.
|
|
Greyhound Guardians: Helping AG Help More Greyhounds
|
A few years ago, we rolled out "Greyhound Guardians", a monthly giving program geared
toward assuring the long term sustainability of American Greyhound. Our plan was to create a means of funding our efforts well into the future, so there would never come a day when American Greyhound had to say, "We can't afford to help that dog."
The way it works is at sign up, you provide us with your credit card or checking account and each month, a preset amount of money is withdrawn from your account and credited to American Greyhound's "Greyhound Guardians" program. You receive the satisfaction of knowing that your hard earned dollars are making a difference in the lives of unwanted greyhounds, our hounds receive the love and care that they need to prepare for life as a pet in a loving home.
But, there are additional benefits that come with your membership:
- American Greyhound Membership
- Your name listed on every American Greyhound event program
- Discount tickets to "Winning Hearts, Not Races" annual auction
- Custom designed Greyhound Guardians t-shirt
- $25 discount on any American Greyhound adoption
In addition, anyone joining at $100 or more per month will receive:
- Up to 4 complimentary tickets to "Winning Hearts, Not Races" annual auction
In addition, anyone joining at $250 or more per month will receive
- Up to $500 in "Auction Bucks" for use at "Winning Hearts, Not Races" annual auction
Our annual "Winning Hearts, Not Races" benefit auction is right around the corner, and with all the benefits you'll receive, there is no better time than now to commit to the future of American Greyhound by joining Greyhound Guardians.
If you have any questions about Greyhound Guardians, please don't hesitate to contact me at (219)771-0892 or [email protected]. I'd love to speak with you about how, together, we can help more hounds.
|
|
Don't Forget to Check Out the Store
|
It has been mentioned that we have a new shirt coming to the store.... Well HERE IT IS!!!! This t-shirt is called Code V Sand Digital and is now available at the American Greyhound Store. So it is just a click away.
http://americangreyhoundstore.org/
If you should have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me
Sheri
[email protected]
|
|
Recycling for American Greyhound
|
American Greyhound has partnered with Funding Factory. This means that you can help save greyhounds and the environment at the same time!
Please drop off your cartridges at our various programs to help raise funds for American Greyhound. If you have large amounts you can send them in yourself. Ask your work would be willing to donate their cartridges to our cause!
Contact Karen Marshall at [email protected] for information and to receive pre-paid postatge mailing labels.
Accepted toner cartridges include the brands: Brother, Canon, HP and Lexmark.
Accepted Inkjet Cartridges include the brands: Cannon, Epson, Hasler, HP, Lexmark and Neo.
Thanks for helping American Greyhound!
|
|
|
