December 23

It was time to go off to school and Cinderella wanted nothing to do with it.

I found myself crawling through a blackberry bush tunnel to catch her. Karen took one look and said, she'll be a garden hound.

Off to the races she went, but she really was only interested in playing and charming the socks off of everyone who stopped by to greet her. She retired and Karen flew down to sunny Florida to play in the kennels and bring her back to the frozen tundra of Oregon.

Welcome home Miss Cinderella.

December 22

It was a phone call. We're moving to California and we don't think our 12.5 year old greyhound is strong enough to make the move. If we can't find a home for him...

'Nuff said, Pasha came to the gardens and he is such a delight. We really were the lucky ones to have him adopt us. He's not an old man, he just got a new lease on life.



She's back! Crystal started out in the gardens as a foster in 2004. When she was listed on Craigslist looking for a home, we stopped at nothing until we got her back. She's our 47 lb. bundle of joy.

December 21

Lucee the Basset Hound was here before all of the greyhounds. Slow and steady she has accepted all of the greyhounds that have invaded her world.


I always tease that Emma and Lucee are the anti-greys. But really, they were here first. We have come into their world. Emma the Weimaraner has more energy than all of the greyhounds put together. She and Lucee are polar opposites.

December 20

It is not a secret. I have a huge physical attraction to white and black greyhounds. I remember the day Mickey was born. He was going to be ours. Mickey was our third racer, but he wanted nothing to do with it. Shortly after he started his racing career, he retired. Karen flew to Florida for her first time at the racing kennel to bring him home.



On one of my trips down to the kennel, I met Moose. He is just a very cool dog. I knew immediately that he was a Greyhound Garden hound and that he was coming home. He came home with Mickey. The two are best friends and are known as the "Fly Boys.:"

December 19

I was in Florida at the race kennel to bring Minnie home when I met Flo. She had broken her leg in a race. She was such a little trooper and so adorable. Minnie and I got home, but I never stopped thinking about Flo.

When I went down to bring Flocko home, Flo came home too.

December 18

Another call came. A ten year old girl was being bounced through no fault of her own. Sadly, Gracie had just been diagnosed with osteosarcoma and we didn't feel we could take another greyhound.

We lost Gracie a few weeks later. In Gracie's honor I called to see if Cleo still needed a home and sure enough, she was waiting. She came as an only child and soon adapted to a big family. She was a true delight.



Barbie was another one of the Humane Society calls. Her family had left her off to be put-to-sleep. She was way to wonderful for that, even at ten years old, so home she came.

December 17

Shortly after we lost Phoebe and Edie, Roxy came into the adoption kennel. She was senior brood mom.

Karen opened her kennel door and Roxy buried her head in her chest. She was coming home with us.

December 15

A call from the Humane Society came on a Monday afternoon. A boy was brought in after his owner was sent to jail and the owner didn't come back to retrieve him after he was released.

Adam came home and he's still with us. He's probably one of the happiest boys I know.



Duncan was returned because he could be a little grumpy. He started out at the gardens as a foster, never gave us a minute of trouble and ended up staying as a Greyhound Garden hound.

December 16

Next to seniors, I love the shy dogs. Jori was one of those. She came home as one of the very first foster dogs. Her big brown eyes and gentle nature quickly won the heart of my oldest daughter.

Jori stayed.

December 14

Rumors quickly spread that a wonderful senior boy had arrived at the kennel. A few months later, we got a call, would we take Picker. Two heartbeats later we loaded him up and brought him home.

Seniors have always had a special place in our hearts. Picker quickly moved in and took over.

December 13

First came Fonzi's adoption, then came volunteering and then fostering. After having from 50 to 60 greyhounds through our home, I realized that these dogs were very special. Maybe racing wasn't so bad.

We went in search of our racer and Flocko was our boy.

On our first visit to the greyhound farm, adorable puppies surrounded us. But one, captured my attention. A blue and white three month bundle of energy was playing in the field.

Minnie became our second racer.

December 12

Gracie joined us after having a few house-breaking issues. We brought her home and were quite surprised when on the ride home she pee'd in the backseat. We never had another problem after that, she was the perfect dog.

December 10

Danny came over to spend a month or so for a little socializing, housebreaking issues and some fun on the acre. We became attached at the hips and he never left.

December 9

A flurry of activity happened after Joey came home. Talley was at the kennel at the same time and they looked at us and said "she really is a sweet girl, she's just a little shy." Ok," we said, "we'll meet her." Yes siree, we shoulda just said load her up.

The next week-end an adoption event took place in town. Just thought we'd go say hi. There in the front was Buddy. He had just lost his home and was looking quite sad. "How about this one? He really isn't happy in the kennel." He was 70 lbs. of pure love and I knew in my heart he was all mine.

And then, our sweet little Oneco. We already knew what treasures senior dogs were. Another kennel favorite was on her way to become a garden hound.

December 8

Joey came into our lives just after Bentley was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. We knew that our time was limited with Bentley and we wanted a special needs dog, not to replace Bentley, but to honor his memory the best way we knew how.

Joey was known as a "spook." Completely frightened by everything. He had tried another family, and it didn't work out. Joey is a very happy boy, and although it hasn't happened overnight, he has blossomed as a garden hound.

December 7

We wanted a greyhound puppy and Skirvee came into our world as a five month old puppy. We thought he would be small and cute, he entered our world almost 50 lbs., but was still as cute as could be.

December 6

Edie had lost her home of a few years and found her home in Karen's heart. She hated riding in the car but loved snuggling on the couch.

December 5

Phoebe was our introduction to the world of seniors. 11 years old and Phoebe was found wandering on a country road.

When presented with her leash, Karen never batted an eye about bring Phoebe into her world. Phoebe provided us with hours  and hours of clever antics. She proved that being a senior meant nothing more a bigger number for her age.

December 4

    

Murphy and Bentley are really responsible for Greyhound Gardens.

They were bounced from their previous home and I was looking for a home for them. Karen had an acre and I knew she would be perfect for the two boys. 

The rest is history.

December 3

Next came Clancy. He came as a foster and stayed forever. Also very shy in the beginning, he enjoys his days stretched out on a cushion in the middle of the floor.