Brindy (Thunder L'Amore)

By Fatima |

Monday, April 12, 2010

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Jacqui, Brindy's foster-Mum, sent me a few pictures of Brindy, and a note:

He is a lovely dog, we are only fostering but he has stole our hearts. I had a rescued greyhound many years ago in England and have always wanted another one. Due to circumstances beyond our control we are unfortunately unable to adopt but GAP give us the chance to foster and although he may not be with us for ever we give him all the love we can. He will make somebody an excellent forever pet someday.

Update and video of our foster girl Beryl (Winsome Deluxe)

By Fatima | 0 comments

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Beryl (Winsome Deluxe) is one of our prettiest foster greyhounds - she is a little madam and she knows it:


Beryl was given to GAP by her trainers Pam and Denis Schofield (who were Louie's trainers too!) and she is just the coolest dog!
Beryl's new Mum Sue sent us the coolest video of Beryl playing with her new brother Frankie. BTW- Sue and Frankie live just down the road from us and Frankie is Lucy's BESTEST friend - as you can see from videos of them on this blog's earlier posts :-)
Now, Beryl has joined our greyhound group in Feilding (Frankie counts too -he is an honorary greyhound)!

Sue also says: Beryl came to live with us on 5th April and is settling in well. Frankie loves her but sometimes he thinks she's a bit bossy:-) He's not used to being told what he shouldn't do but he takes it well. Beryl thinks Frankie is pretty darn cool, and she's got someone to boss around now! She is gradually getting used to being a pet and enjoying it. And we're loving having her in the team.
Check out the video -they seem to be having such fun!!!!!!! And make sure you have the volume on -the music is so appropriate :-)

Update on Thrilling Alex

By Fatima |

Sunday, April 11, 2010

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We just got an update and gorgeous pictures of our foster greyhound Alex (Thrilling Alex), who has been adopted by Noel and Kathleen from Palmerston North.
Noel and Kathleen have recently lost their lovely elderly greyhound :-( We are so happy that Alex found them :)
Noel says:
He is doing great. A little mischievous and definitely becoming more confident. We changed his name to In-D. (Our greyhounds have been named after Kathleen's favorite piece of music: Toccata, Fugue, In-D, the next one will be Minor.) He is learning sit, down, and fetch. Well, he already knew fetch (his trainer taught him :-). It is not throw, chase, look at it and run back, and you go fetch it for me. So far, he is much different than our others that we've had.




In-D's trainers (who gave him to GAP programme), Natalie and Ian George, have his litter sister as their own pet :-) Her name is Josie (Nothin' But Blue), and just like In-D, she is very cute! Natalie kindly sent me pictures below, of her daughters with Josie (very very cute, all of them! :)

Update on Sarge (Sergeant Scream)

By Fatima |

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

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Handsome Sarge (Sergeant Scream) has been recently adopted by Elisha and Daniel from Auckland. His new Mum Elisha sent us the cutest pictures and an update :
Sarge is quickly adapting from life at the kennels to his new life as a pet. At first he wasn’t sure at all about the loud city noises we encountered on our walks, but we are taking it all in his (long) stride and everyday he is getting more used to busy intersections, noisy trains and music from people's cars. For a big guy, he is a real sensitive soul!

Sarge loves chilling out at home on his bed, where he can endlessly rearrange his blankets and hoard his collection of soft toys (when he is not carting them around the house, or chasing them around for his and our amusement!) He also enjoys a romp at the park, the beach and playing with other dogs, large and small, at the dog park. Sarge is such a non-aggressive friendly dog, he already has several doggie friends and he endears himself to everyone we meet with his friendly, sweet nature.During our first week together, Sarge was very reserved and extremely quiet. Well, that has all changed now! He greets us every morning by jumping around and letting off heaps of cute squeeks and winneys. He has definitely found his voice now and we hear it often!

He is always so excited to see us in the mornings, and after a long day at work it is the best thing to come home to his happy face and wagging tail! Sarge is such a cuddly, loveable little guy and we are so happy we have him in our family.
Thanks Sonja and Irene for selecting Sarge for us – he is just perfect!

Update from Hero (Thrilling Jim)

By Fatima | 0 comments

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Hero's Mum sent me an update about Hero (Thrilling Jim) and some gorgeous pictures ! Thanks a million Atlanta!

Atlanta says: It has been seven months now since we adopted the handsome Hero (Thrilling Jim) and he's an absolute delight. It's the first time my partner and i have had a dog since we were children so it's also been a bit of a learning curve for all of us and also good testimony to other new hound owners to perservere if it's not all smooth sailing straight away!
We were warned by Hero's foster mum that despite his sweetness, he would test the limits if we weren't careful and sure enough, after three weeks, our polite, sweet, gentle hound suddenly became a bit too big for boots.

He raided the rubbish bin, stole food off the bench when we were looking the other way and, quel horreur, jumped on our bed then growled and snapped when told to get off. Yikes!

But we perservered and it's been totally worth it! There's nothing like a challenge and Hero still had enough charm, obedience and affection for us to know we had a gorgeous hound who just needed some better leadership! So, after investing in more water squirters (one for every room) and applying some firm words and a lot of consistency, Hero is practically the model dog.
Friends and visitors are constantly impressed by his good manners, even the ones who don't like dogs, and although i know he sometimes sneaks onto our bed, at least now he jumps off quick as a flash if he hears me coming (we're getting there... :)

Hero is a real smoocher, he loves cuddles and i suspect he'd go home with anybody. Friends and family each feel honoured that they are his favourite... ha ha, if only they knew.

And he is an excellent GAP advocate, on our walks around Ponsonby he seems to instinctively recognise potential greyhound lovers at 30 paces, he'll slow down and wag his tail at certain people on the street who stop and want to know all about greyhounds and GAP and the adoption process. Dog intuition at it's best, i'm sure we'll get a bunch of other adoptions locally because of him!
He's such good company, now if only i could convince my partner that having two hounds would be better than one...

Lucy and Frankie again!

By Fatima |

Sunday, April 4, 2010

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Frankie's Mum Sue has taken more videos of Frankie and Lucy playing!
Check them out, they are such fun!
Below: Frankie and Lucy burning off some energy at the river walk in Feilding:


Below: It's just as well Frankie and Lucy aren't Pitbulls, they might do some damage! They had so much fun play fighting at the river! Louie tried to join in but three's a crowd!


Below:More of Frankie and Lucy having fun and showing one of Lucy's favourite methods to get Frankie's attention: grabbing the base of his tail! If that doesn't work she moves on to grabbing his hocks:-)

Friday Tangimoana beach walk :-)

By Fatima |

Saturday, April 3, 2010

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Above:
Louie (facing away), our foster greyhound Leah, and Lucy chasing Jordan!

Yesterday we went to our favourite beach, Tangimoana. Greyhounds LOVE it!
Yesterday's team:
Lucy and Louie (Charlston State), our gorgeous foster girl Leah, Indy The Spaniel, Ozzy The Heeler cross, and Sam The Samoyed :-)
The weather was gorgeous and we all had a great time! We particularly were thrilled for Leah -she is 9 years old but enjoyed a run with Lucy, loved playing in the water and exploring the beach :-)

Below: The Trio - Leah, Louie and Lucy (barely visible on the right :-)

Below: Leah and Lucy playing in the water

Below: Our cute foster girl Leah :-)
Below: Leah after a swim :-)
Below: Leah - stretching after a run! Or maybe doing yoga? :-)
Below: Louie and Leah (on the right)

Below: Everybody!

Below: Leah with her foster-Nana Yvonne and Sam The Samoyed

Picture of the day: Buddy & DB - just enough room for two!

By Fatima |

Friday, April 2, 2010

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Lisa just sent a picture of her two gorgeous hounds: Buddy (Our Smart Buddy) and DB (Dancing Banshee) . Aren't they looking comfy? :-)

Our new foster greyhound Leah

By Fatima |

Monday, March 29, 2010

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We just got the cutest new foster greyhound: a 9 year old little Leah :-) She arrived yesterday and has already sussed the house out, and found the comfiest bed!
She is very small: we weighed her yesterday and she is only 22.5 kg! She is smaller than even Lucy! Leah might gain a kilo or two yet, but she is a truly small girl.

She has raced years ago, but has been a pet for a while now (non-GAP greyhound). Leah has been very much loved in her previous home, where she lived with kids and a cat. Leah came to GAP as her owners had to rehome her due to health reasons though ...

Leah is just so well behaved, lovely girl, perfect in the house. She loves Louie and Lucy and keeps swapping beds with them :-)
She is very very affectionate, looks for attention and cuddles :-) She would be so happy to lie at your feet all day, as well as to go out and expore!!!!
Leah LOVES being inside (according to her previous owners, and we noticed it too). SHe goes out to toilet, sniffs around, has a quick spin around the garden and is back inside within a few minutes! In her previous home, she was left in the house when her owners went to work. She is happy to be on her own , loves her sleeps and rest, but needs a home where she will be in the house most of the day (not left outside -in the garage or similar shelter - for longer periods). But - she would have no trouble fitting through a dog door, being so small ! LOL


Leah has got truly amazing ears, which make her look like a dingo :-)
Check them out:

We took Leah to the park with Louie and Lucy, she really loves getting out and about. She is very fit for her age, she gets really excited when walkies time comes!

On the picture below: Louie (Charlston State) on the left, Leah in the middle and Lucy on the right

Leah in the park with Louie: (Leah is the one with EARS!)

Leah (on the right) with Lucy :-)


With Louie (Leah is lying down):


Louie (on the left) and Leah sunbathing in the conservatory:

Spider (Hatipov) in his new home with Betty and Don :-)

By Fatima |

Saturday, March 27, 2010

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Above: Spider with his new Mum Betty :-)

Handsome blue boy Spider (Hatipov) was adopted by Betty and Don Lever from Titirangi (Auckland) last month and we just got an update and photos :-)

Spider was trained by Canterbury trainer John Goode, who entered him in the GAP programme after he finished racing.

Spider's new Mum and Dad, Betty and Don, write:
We have now had Spider for five weeks and as promised we are sending you some photos. Spider is settling in to his new home beautifully, still a little cautious at times ... has lovely long walks each day and is in love with our cats. We are very excited because Spider has had his first bark tonight!
He sleeps in his own bed all night but in the morning he has a cuddle in our bed. He is very gentle with our grandaughter Georgina :-) Very special, lovely boy!
Below: Spider and Georgina :-)

Picture of the day: Ellie and her greyhound Chase

By Fatima |

Sunday, March 21, 2010

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I stole this gorgeous photo off Sonja's Facebook page tonight as it is a special day: it is Ellie's 10th birthday!!!!!!!!!
Ellie is Sonja's and Irene's little girl and she is 10 today! :-) It is hard to believe she is only 10 - as really, she is going on 21 :-)
Ellie is a dog lover, great company on greyhound walks, and a greyhound handler extraodinaire. A gorgeous little person, and this is coming from me - someone who is not really keen on children.
:-)
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIE!

We hope you had a great day today!

Below: Ellie and her greyhound Chase (pic taken by Cate Marshall from Simply Grey)

Our gorgeous greyhounds at Manawatu Field Days, 18-20 March 2010

By Fatima |

Saturday, March 20, 2010

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We just finished participating in Manawatu Field Days in Feilding - it was a great fun and lasted for 3 days! Organizers say there were thousands of people there - we talked to so many of them and introduced them to our hounds.
We had a great attendance, many volunteers and their gorgeous hounds came to help (but they are not all in the pictures:I forgot my camera two days in a row (I am not a morning person!) so took pictures only today, on the last day...). Everybody was so well behaved, as usual! We got so many positive comments, and hounds got SO many pats and cuddles from everybody ! :-)
Pictures below :-)

GAP marquee and stand:

Gail with her girls Nelly (Clan Mary Lou) and Zoe (Fantasy Shifter):
Graeme and Tina (Wild Gunnadoo):

Lucy and Malcolm (Work Release) shared a bed :-)

My beautiful Louie (Charlston State) with Tina (Wild Gunnadoo)

Billy (Dynamic Keroma) was as cute as always (check out his tongue on the picture below): :-)

More posing from Billy: :-)







Lucy at what she does best :-)

Malcolm: "PR work is hard! A hound needs his sleep"

Cynthia's cute foster greyhound Denis (Uncle Denis) made some new friends:

And then fell asleep!

More cute "Uncle Denis":


And last but not least, Gail's gorgeous boy Teddy (Gold Amore):