A Heart of Gold

Meet Gracie Gold!  Gracie just arrived yesterday, so we are still figuring out who she is.  As you can imagine, her world is a little topsy-turvy right now.  So far, she is a sweet and chill girl.  She is a bit nervous and seems to prefer routine and a quiet spot to lay near her people.  She does take some time to warm up to people, but she is already getting a little more comfortable with her environment.  It seems to help her to have a companion to show her the ropes, so if you are looking for that second laid back pup, here she is.  As we get to know this beautiful girl more, we will keep on posting, but fill out your application for this beauty soon if you are interested because I can't imagine her sticking around here for long!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Meet "Alright Alvin!"  We like to call him Big Al around here because he is one big boy!  We met up with Big Al for a quick interview.  Here is what we learned:

Paws on the Mountain (POTM):  Big Al, tell us about your racing career.

Al:  What can I say, I was a winner.  I raced for nearly 5 years and just came off the track. I'm still waiting for that chicken dinner!

POTM:  What do you think made you so successful?

Al:  I have a high prey drive.  That is prey with an e.  If it moves and squeaks, I am going to do what it takes for me to get it.

POTM: How do you think that translates to your life as a pet?

Al:  Well, I have to say, life as a pet has been interesting the last three weeks.  Apparently people have this idea they should keep these squeaky toys that you are not allowed to play with in their house (they call them cats).  Because I kept trying to play with them, I was sent to my current foster home for evaluation.  They can fill you in on how that evaluation is going!

POTM:  What is your favorite part of being retired?

Al:  The kitchen.  There are so many good smells in there.  Again, there is food there that I am not allowed to take.  I don't get it.  I can reach it, I should be allowed to enjoy, right?

POTM:  Any last parting words?

Al:  I really don't have any.  I am pretty darn  handsome with a nice long schnoz.  I don't know how you could turn me down.  I would suggest talking to my foster mom to see what her evaluation is showing.

From Big Al's Foster Mom:  Big Al is right...He has a HIGH prey drive and will chase anything that moves and squeaks.  Because of this, he should be limited to a house with older kids or adults, only and no small animals (to include small dogs).  He would do great as an only dog but is equally comfortable with another companion as well.  He prefers walks to going out and running around, so he would probably be fine in a Town house.  I would only put him in an apartment if he is on a ground floor because he is a bit of a moose and may disturb any downstairs neighbors when he plays!  He is housebroken and ready to find his forever home.

Unicorns?

I have a friend who is a veterinarian and when we got Rainbow, a 10-week old greyhound, she dubbed her a Unicorn because even as a vet she had never seen one.  Well, a unicorn has arrived at my house again and this one is looking for a "stable" to call her own!  Virginia just turned 6 months old and is full of puppy energy.  She would love a play companion- maybe a younger greyhound or other breed but she would probably be perfectly content with just humans who are willing to deal with her energy.  She is sweet and cuddly and still small enough that she feels she should be held like a baby and sit in your lap (although that is quickly changing!).  Virginia is housebroken and has some basic commands, but she could use some obedience classes as well.  If you are adopting a greyhound for that couch potato lifestyle, Virginia, as adorable as she is, may not be the one for you as she has not had the usual greyhound charm school.  But if you really enjoy dogs, she may fit your home well!  Screening will be stringent as her 9-year old foster brother is smitten with her and will not let her go easily. 👦 

Tall, Dark, Athletic, Handsome Male Seeks Long Term Companion

Hi, I am Jimmy (formerly known as "El Jimmador").  If you are looking for that Latino flair in a tall, dark, athletic, handsome male who is not afraid of commitment, I am the guy for you!  I will greet you enthusiastically every time you come home.  I am always up for long strolls and car rides to destinations unknown.  I will willingly cuddle on the couch with you and watch any movie you want without complaining.  Not to be one to falsely advertise, I have to tell you I don't cook or clean and I don't have a job.  But I consider it my job to work hard to make you happy and add smiles to your life.  Short term commitments need not apply- I am looking for a long term relationship only. 

Please contact Paws on the Mountain Greyhound Adoption if you are interested in me.  I don't speak English well, so my foster mom will fill you in on my specifics!  You can also email my foster mom for more details

Happy Birthday to Jimmy!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JIMMY!

Today, Jimmy turns 3.  He was hoping to have a forever home by his birthday, but that has not happened, yet.  I am reminding him that his next family will be forever and we want to make sure he gets the right people for him. 

Jimmy will make best companion ever!  He loves his people almost as much as he loves his food.  His favorite thing in the world is when his entire family is in the same room with him or doing something together- otherwise, he may have to wander from room to room to check on them.  Jimmy takes a week or two to warm up, but when he does, his personality shines!!  Once he discovered the basket of stuffies, he tore through the entire basket in one day playing with each and every one of them.  Jimmy loves walks and greeting new people.  If you are the one to make Jimmy's birthday wish come true, I know he will reward you with loyal and loving companionship for the rest of his life! 

SNOW DAY!!!!

Ollie here.  Today is a snow day!!!  That means my human foster boy is home from school and he can play with me and Rainbow.  I love the snow and I love doing zoomies in it.  Just watch my tail wag even when I get snow kicked in my face.  After that, though, I love to come inside and lay on the couch and cuddle up nice and warm.  My foster mom says that some day I will have someone that loves to cuddle as much as I do.  She also says my manners are getting better every day!  I have been walking to school every day (but today and the weekends) and have been visiting the kids and the other dogs that take their humans to school.  That is probably the highlight of my day.  Well, followed by the long nap I get to take before I have to go back and pick up my foster brother.  Rainbow has a lot of friends and I am okay playing with them too.  I really like that the bulldog is easy to catch because he has such little legs!  I really want to find a family that will love me, so if you think that might be you, please let me know soon so I can learn your rules of the house! 

I Like Big Pups and I Can Not Lie

After a long hiatus from taking foster dogs, Ollie is my first attempt at not failing Fostering 101.  Anyone who knows me, knows I love the big boys and Ollie is one big, gorgeous hound!  Weighing in at about 90 lbs, you would think he would be dominant, but he spent the first few days here with the 50 lb little lady of the house telling him he could not get on the couch...AND, he listened.  

Ollie is a friend to all including the small dogs in the neighborhood.  When some of the younger, yippier dogs start to annoy him, he will give them a little warning growl and walk away.  Five and a half years young, he still loves to play with stuffies and do a zoomie or two around the yard.  He is comfortable around kids of all ages and is just an easy going big boy.  His favorite things are eating and hanging out with his people.  Ollie is working on some house manners, but he would love to find a forever home so he can start to really get to know his family!  

Abby Normal

Abby is in the house! Abby is not up to typing her own blog yet, but she is one beautiful girl.  On Saturday, she took a trip to PetSmart in Manassas to meet up with her Mama and some of her Siblings.  The pic is Abby with her Mama and a brother.  Abby is the one smack in the middle of the crowd- which, by the way is one of her favorite places to be!  Abby is young- she will be two in November and she comes with that puppy charm.  In fact, she likes to play so much that I have started calling her a Greyhound Retriever.  She loves nothing more than to chase a tennis ball and bring it back over and over again.  Abby also loves to walk to school (in a slow meandering fashion...Abby is usual not in a hurry to get anywhere) in the morning because there are so many people to greet and she gets to wag her L shaped tail in a giant helicopter motion...Sometimes we think she is about to take off!  Abby would love to be in a house with kids that want to entertain her.  She would also enjoy the company of another larger dog.  While she may be small animal and cat friendly, her frequent bouts of play may make her an accidental danger to small animals but she does enjoy having another large friend around (like another greyhound).  Abby is still learning a few manners, but she would love nothing more than to have her new family teach her these manners.  One bonus with Abby is that her Mama and litter mates have been adopted out in this area and are quite active in meet and greets and other events greyhounds show up at!

Ninja- Master of stuffies!

Hi everyone, I am Ninja...Okay, I am WW's Runnin' About but I am in a house with a ninja obsessed 6-year old.  He thought my mask looked like I was a Ninja, so there it is!  He tells me he has to figure out what my power is, but I can tell you I have a few powers!  First of all, I start off quite reserved to lull you into a sense of complacency, then I slowly sneak in and steal your stuffies, your toys, your dog beds, and most of all your heart.  That's right-- there is no way you could meet me and not fall in love.   See the basket behind me in the picture?  It was filled with stuffies- now they are all mine!  I am going to turn this over to my foster mom to tell you more about my awesomeness!

Ninja is a super sweet, cuddly pup that loves to play!  He has a pretty good amount of energy for an almost 4 year old grey, but he is more than happy to take that out on stuffies (or whatever toys are left around for him to play with!).  He is smart and learned to use a doggie door in less than 45 minutes and has not had a single accident in the house.  He is as comfortable being crated as he is being free.  He does like to counter-surf and he is still learning his leash manners- He just gets so excited!!  He likes to walk to school in the morning and visit everyone along the way and has pretty much ignored the squirrels and cats on our walks...In fact, he only seems to have a prey drive for small flying creatures that are annoying him (flies and bees!).  If you are looking for a people pleaser and a pup with a little more stamina and energy, Ninja would be more than willing to sneak in as only a Ninja can do and steal your heart!

Teeth ache

About 4 weeks ago, I awoke to a toothache that got progressively worse.  Twenty-four hours and a root canal later, I felt much better.  So what does this have to do with a dog?  Well, meet Milo.  He is a sweet happy, boy that was returned almost three weeks ago.  He came to us with what I called "swamp breath" and a brand new toothbrush and an unopened tube of doggie toothpaste.  Knowing that teeth can improve with brushing, I slowly got Milo to let me brush his teeth, but getting him to let me even touch his mouth was a challenge.  2 weeks later, he allowed me to lift his jowls and the picture with my thumb in it is what I found.  If you look closely, you will see that it looks almost like part of his gum was missing.  I immediately called the vet and made an appointment for a dental. This problem was so much worse than I imagined.  Imagine if the roots of your teeth were exposed (yes, the part where the nerves are)...How long would you live like that?  How long would you allow your dog to live like that and would you expect him to be sweet and gentle when he was in so much pain?

 Lucky for us, Milo remained sweet and cuddly (even with Ginger).  Yesterday, Milo went to get his teeth "cleaned."  Unfortunately for Milo his teeth cleaning resulted in 16 teeth extracted.  I am going to warn you, the upcoming pictures are a little disgusting, but if it causes just one person to remember to brush their pup's teeth, I am willing to post these.  If your pup's comfort is not enough to get you to brush his/her teeth, maybe knowing that a tube of doggie toothpaste will cost you less than $5 but a situation like Milo's could cost you over $1000!!

Note the roots of his top teeth (not to mention the terrible icky stuff all over them).  The picture on the left is of his top teeth and the one on the right is showing his bottom teeth.

Milo is now back home and resting peacefully.  He is on some pain killers for the next few days and getting to eat soft food but this will allow Milo to live without pain.  Milo has a pending forever home, but his adoption fee will not nearly cover the extensive dental work he just had done.  Any donations will be helpful and can be given to Greyhound Rescue, Inc.  All donations are tax deductible as well!  I thought I would give you one more pic of Milo in his very drugged state.  He is still a little freaked out this morning and hanging out in his man cave (aka crate) to feel a bit more secure, but he has been coming out and eating a little.  I am pretty sure we will see the silly boy back soon!

Full of personality

So my foster Mom thinks I should let my true personality shine...I think a video is worth a thousand words, so here are a couple that show my personality!  The first one is me giving my foster brother kisses.  The second is me playing (three weeks post toe amputation)!

I'm Back!!!!

Stitches out, bandages off, mostly unmuzzled (I'm still not supposed to lick my toe), and I am back in business.  First line of business after my bandages came off?  Start jumping back on the couch.  Second, make a giant mess with stuffies because I want a nice long walk and a run but they still won't give it to me.  I figure at some point they will figure out it takes more time to clean up all the toys from the stuffy basket than it does to take me for a good long walk!   Don't worry, when my little foster brother wakes up, he will throw me some stuffies...We like to play fetch and tug of war.  I usually win!!  So, does anyone know whether I am supposed to have three toes on each foot or four??  I can't really tell, but I think I may have lost one under the bandages they had on me!  Oh well, I am back to my old self, so who cares how many toes are on each foot, right?

Jackie the misunderstood!

To anyone who has followed the saga of Jackie, they may be shocked at this post.  I have to make a confession- I completely misjudged Jackie at first!  Jackie is an amazingly resilient and adaptable dog.  Initially, I thought that Jackie should be an only dog and kept away from younger kids.  I still think babies would make her nervous, but I think in time she would adjust.  I have watched her go from a snappy dog to one that calmly waits to see what is going to happen.  I have watched her go from being in other dogs' faces to learning some manners and eliminating the tenseness that comes from an ill-mannered dog.  I have watched her go from being very nervous around her human five year old foster brother to being comfortable enough to let him get on the bed with her and pet her- She even respects him enough that when he tells her to go lay down on her bed, she gets up and walks over and lays down (his own grey does not listen to him that well!!).  I would not hesitate to house her with another grey and I would not hesitate to house her with a young kid (who is willing to follow some basic rules that all dog owners should follow like "let sleeping dogs lie.").  The only thing she still needs to work on is her interaction with other breeds of dogs.  And, quite honestly, given her ability to learn and desire to be with others, I firmly believe she would be fine if someone is willing to work with her.  What I have learned about Jackie is that her post racing career homes have been with adults and older children only.  After spending time in a foster home with another grey and a young kid she has settled down.  When she spends time with anything and learns what the traits are, she settles down and adapts- She just needs time and patience!

So, lets talk the lighter side of Jackie.  Jackie is surprisingly energetic and resilient.  Her toe was removed two weeks ago and she acts like nothing happened.  Today we get the stitches removed and she can move on...Of course, she really hasn't stopped moving!  She is so resilient that she can't wait to go to the vet's office.  We walk in and she gets greeted by all the friends she made while she was there and gets to explore other breeds.  I have never seen a dog that has been through all that she has, actually want to go to the vet's office!  As proof that she is doing just fine, watch the video and you can see how she has become a dog that will be the life of the home and will be a welcome addition to almost any family!

Here we go again...So I went back to the vet to get my toe checked and this time, they looked at it and said there was no way it was going to heal correctly so on Thursday they will be amputating my right outside toe.  So, once this heals, I am thinking about playing some poker with my three toes to try to make some money to pay for all of this.  I'm not usually one given to begging, but this is going to be pricey! And, while Greyhound Rescue, Inc. is going to make sure I can be happy and healthy again, any help you can give them would be wonderful.  Also, a big thank you to Town and Country Animal Hospital in Fairfax, VA and Dr. Davis Hall for giving me a break on the bill (and taking the break off my toe- just a little humor there)!  If you ever need a vet, go visit him and tell him Jackie with an eye from Greyhound Rescue, Inc. sent you!

All I want to do is catch a few rays!

All I want to do is go out and sunbathe.  Why doesn't anyone understand me?  I ask my foster mom to take me out and she walks me around a bit.  When I find the perfect sunny spot, I lay down.  Doesn't matter whose yard it is, it just has to have some sun rays!  Unfortunately, there is nowhere here where I can hang out in the rays without the risk of running around, so I can only do this on walks and for some reason no one wants to stand by while I catch some rays!  My foster mom says I will get a weird tan with the cast...Ummm, does she understand I am a black dog and you won't see it anyway??  DUH!!!!  Don't worry, I mess with her, though.  When she says come on, I fall over like I can't get up...My poor leg.  However, when I know Ginger has food left in her bowl and I have finished mine, I am the fastest tripod around!  By the way, The muzzle is just on me so I don't lick my cast.  I am not vicious!!

Jackie catches a break

Nope, Jackie didn't catch the kind of break that gets her a forever home.  Jackie got another kind of break...A broken toe!  Of course, with a broken front toe, Jackie had a hard time typing, so I will type for her.  How does a broken toe happen, you ask?  Well, we are not sure of anything more than Jackie was chasing a tennis ball and started yelping and after a visit to the vet's office we found a broken and dislocated toe.  Jackie, in her usual manner, has found some bright sides.  First, all the neighbors stop and ask what happened and give her extra attention because they feel bad for her.  Second, when she gets tired on a walk and lays down to soak up some rays in someones yard, I pick up all 80 lbs of her and carry her back home (Good thing I was a Marine!).  Third, everyone is extra careful around her so there is no bumping into her or annoying her with the crazy tricks that people used to play on the one-eyed dog.  And last but not least, she feels she looks really good in purple!  Jackie is seeing this as a little bit of an inconvenience, but is tolerating the treatment and enjoying the attention.  She did ask that I let you all know that her treatment is expensive even with the awesome discount (and care) at Town and Country Animal Hospital  in Fairfax, VA and Columbia Pike Animal Hospital in Annandale, VA, but if you would like to help Greyhound Rescue, Inc. cover her bill, she would be glad to be called a tax deduction.  You can donate here via PayPal or other means.  If you aren't able to give, if nothing else, when you shop at Amazon, register Greyhound Rescue, Inc. at http://smile.amazon.com/ and you can then feel good as you shop because 0.5% of your purchase price will go to Greyhound Rescue...Jackie loves a good excuse for shopping, especially if it involves dog treats!!   We'll post the good news when Jackie is back to having all four legs operational again!

Rain, Rain Go Away. Little Jackie wants to Play!

Yes, Jackie does want to play!  Jackie is full of so much energy, you tend to forget about her "disabilities."  That being said, you can play some pretty cruel jokes on a dog missing an eye!  Call her name then stand on the side with the missing eye when she runs into the room.  She will completely miss you if you don't move!  Or, throw a toy on the side with the bad eye and she will not know you threw it!   Okay, so maybe a little mean, but Jackie is so good-natured she takes it in stride and if she could laugh, would probably tell the jokes on herself!  Jackie went to obedience school with her previous owner and is very well behaved now.  If she forgets and starts jumping when you come in the door, a simple hand in the air and "down" will cause Jackie to sit and wait for your attention.  Jackie is one of those rare greyhounds that would love to chase a ball around...In fact, yesterday she managed to deflate a small soccer ball that was left out where it shouldn't have been (as you can see in the video)!   If you are looking for a sweet girl that may have a hard time finding a home, but has lots of energy and love to give, Jackie is your girl!!

Jackie with an "eye"

Hi, I'm Jackie with an eye.  My foster mom is good about taking pictures with my good side forward, but if she posted one of the other side, you would see I am missing an eye.  My short life of six years has been one bad break after another.  So it started with losing a toe somewhere along the way.  It didn't just fall off, but I am not telling that story!  Then, in my first home, a cat decided to take advantage of my good nature and scratched my eye.  It got infected and when they couldn't get it to heal, they ended up taking it out.  Then a couple of years ago, one of my owners got very sick and I couldn't be cared for appropriately.  My owners were very sad, but they let me go because they loved me so much!  My foster mom told me to settle in because dogs like me take a while to adopt.   She said people are less likely to take a dog that is not perfect (she told me I was perfect to her, though, so I was thinking about staying!).  However, someone happened along that thought I was perfect just as I was!  He took me and trained me and made me even better than I was before.  Then another round of bad luck hit me and my owner lost his job and couldn't afford to keep me.  So, I am back with my foster mom trying once again to find that forever home.  I know I am not physically perfect and I have a hard time trusting (but who wouldn't after all I have been through!).  But, when I figure out the way things work and I begin to trust you, you will have the most loyal, loving girl in the world.  I love getting all the attention and I am very dominant, so I might be better off by myself or even maybe a male greyhound would be a good fit.  I have lived with cats (yeah, remember the eye??) so I am cat safe.  I sleep very sound and usually sleep on my good eye so I can't see.  That makes me not as good of a fit for little kids that may not know to "let sleeping dogs lie," but I would be very happy to be with older kids who are dog savvy.  I would really like to get on with my life in a FOREVER home. I just hope there is someone out there who is willing to accept me as I am and love me for who I am.

Milo your high

Hi there!  Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Milo (Pronounced my low).  I am a sweet cuddly dog who really enjoyed Santa's backrubs as you can see in this picture.  I am sure it comes as no surprise that I asked him for a forever home.  You see, I am a foster dog that needs someone to take me forever.  I have lived in a house with a small dog, so I am small dog safe.  AND, as an added bonus for anyone looking for a security dog, I once held the cleaning lady downstairs by growling and barking at her.  She talked to me so nice that after about five minutes, I let her up, but the good news is that no criminal will hang out in my house to see what I am going to do!!

I love to hang out with my family on the couch and I enjoy cuddling up with my foster sister Ginger.  I love runs or long walks and have a bit of energy for a six year old!!  Lots of exercise does the body good!!  I really like kids and want to race in the backyard with them.  I get kind of frustrated when my human foster brother is on the trampoline and I am not allowed to join him!  My foster mom says I am a true love and that the right person will make sure I get the love and attention I deserve.  Hope Santa gives me my one Christmas wish!!!

Flying Sandpaper? What is that?



Hi, my name is Flying Sandpaper.  Yes, horrible name for a racer, isn't it?  We all know sandpaper causes friction and I am sure that is what slowed me down so I never really raced!  That is good for you, though if you are looking for a greyhound with youthful exuberance!! Let me tell you a little about myself:

 

First, I am very much a puppy.  I LOVE to bounce and life excites me.  I LOVE to experience new things.  I LOVE to test out new toys.  I LOVE visitors.  I LOVE spending time with my people.  I really just LOVE life.   

 

My job here during the day is pretty tough.  I have to pull all of the stuffies out of the stuffie basket and play with them- my foster sister Ginger is kind of lazy so a lot of them have not been played with much!  Then, I have to grab a couple of my human foster brothers hot wheel cars to zoom across the floor- he has way to many to give them the attention they deserve.  Then, I lay on my bed and roll back and forth with one of the stuffies.  I also have to investigate everything once or twice a day to see if anything new showed up for me to play with.  I also have to greet everyone who comes here.  Oh my gosh, life is just soooooo busy and exciting!!!!

 

I'm still learning all of my jobs, so sometimes I greet my visitors a little too exuberantly and jump up on them.  Sometimes I take toys that aren't mine to test out.  AND, the thing that makes my foster mom really laugh is when I lay down on my dog bed and fall off.  I am kind of clumsy and awkward because I am still a puppy and have not quite figured out how big I really am (I am pretty big for a girl!). 

 

So, if you are looking to add some energy and youthful exuberance to your life, give my foster mom a call.  My foster mom says I am still learning a few manners, but if someone is willing to teach me manners, I am available today...If you want to wait for me to learn a few manners, I may take another week or two.  BTW, I am absolutely stunning according to my foster mom and have no nicks or scrapes on me and I have a tail that curls on the end!  I think I may be the total package when I finish learning some manners!  P.S.  My foster mom says I am probably better off with a home that does not include small dogs and cats!