Greyhound Adoption Service, Inc. 16 Jak-Len Drive Salisbury, MA Greyt Times News

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1 Greyhound Adoption Service, Inc. 16 Jak-Len Drive Salisbury, MA Greyt Times News Spring 2009 IMPORTANT STUFF 51 greyhounds found their homes in 2008 Save the Date! Saturday, May 9th for the 15th Annual Reunion If you are moving, please let us know your new address Inside this issue: Adopter s News 2 Reunion FLyer 3 House and Garden Hints Remembrances 5 House and Garden Hints (cont) Wish List Greetings: Here at G.A.S. we are welcoming the arrival of Spring. The Greyhounds are enjoying the better weather and being able to do laps in the yard without slipping on the ice. Our thoughts are turning to the 15 th Annual Reunion on May 9 th, hoping for a beautiful, sun filled day. I look forward to seeing all of you and your greyhounds and to hearing how they have adjusted to their new lives. The question I keep hearing from you is What will happen now that Question #2 on the MA ballot has Three year old Sargent needs a home. passed? This year should be the same as it has always been. What the future will hold, I do not know for sure. I truly hope to continue adopting Greyhounds to people like you. I am not worried about an influx of dogs when the tracks close. Most greyhounds, as usual, will go on to race at other tracks in other states; leaving only those greyhounds who are considered pets behind. The State of Massachusetts requires a quarantine period for dogs arriving from out of state. If need be, I will look for away to meet this requirement. I would like to take this opportunity to mention the dogs in the kennel that get overlooked for no other reason than they are not cat safe or need a little training or just aren t new. Please consider Sargent, a big brindle boy, who has been with us since October He is three years old, well behaved, clean and loving (especially his bunny toy) but not cat safe. He is playful and due to his size would be better in a home with older children or just adults. I hope to see you at the Reunion (Reunion flyer on page 3 or on our web site ) Marilyn 15th Annual Reunion The G.A.S. 15th Annual Reunion will be held Saturday May 9th 11:00AM to 4:00PM at the Middlesex County 4-H Fairgrounds in Westford MA. This year s Reunion is once again being ably organized by Liz Pelletier (pelletier2007@verizon.com) and Kelli Prodanas (kjhp36@gmail.com). The Reunion is dependent on volunteers; so please let Liz or Kelli know if you can help out for an hour or two. If you have been to a Reunion before, you know what a lovely site the Fairground is. There will be vendors, games, food by Chef Bill, Bake Sale Table (with homemade goodies and Dunkin Donuts Coffee) and information on Greyhound activities. Come join in the fun!

2 PAGE 2 GREYT TIMES NEWS Adopters News First - Congratulations to all who have adopted recently! If you would like to share some of your news, accomplishments or just catch up this is the place to do it. Hunter (UnstopableKovak adopted 10/07) loves to hoard things (computer mouse, socks, shoes, cat toys etc.) in his bed. He has been good with the cats. Leia (UMR Pamela adopted 6/08) had a rough first week but is settling in. Leading her down the steps on leash has helped her learn how to do them. She loves Hunter s toys. Hunter and Leia get a pat. Shayna (Lade adopted 12/00) and Jack (adopted9/06) are doing excellent. Shayna is very gray in the face and, after 2 dentals, has lost many teeth. Jack is still a bit skittish but has improved a great deal. He is happiest at home or in the yard running a few laps. Shayna and Jack relax. Bella (Lifesong adopted 10/08) is adjusting well to her new life and is getting along well with Taz, her new housemate. They like to cuddle a lot. She loves meeting new people and her tail is always wagging. She is walking on her leg quite a bit (Ed. Note- - Bella arrived at the GAS Kennel with a broken leg that was pinned and casted). She is a perfect fit for us! Bella and Taz Enta (adopted 06/07 with housemate, Beetle Bug on their futon. Joy (Syonara adopted 12/05) and Apache (Scatman adopted 12/05) enjoying this winter s snow in their Kris Koats

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4 PAGE 4 GREYT TIMES NEWS House and Garden Hints Many of the household cleaners we commonly use carry warnings on their labels. Even nontoxic products can be irritating to the eyes or skin. It is important to be careful using cleaning products around your greyhound or any other pets. In the April 2009 edition of Dog Watch, the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, it is noted that although pets may not show immediate reactions to cleaners the long term effects on animals has not been studied. Human studies show the effects of environmental toxins are not always obvious. One approach is to look for environmentally friendly cleaning products. Another is to use some old fashioned, economical solutions. White distilled vinegar can kill bacteria, germs and mold. A solution of half water and half vinegar works well on counters and glass. White vinegar also makes a good toilet bowl cleaner. Pour undiluted vinegar into the toilet and let stand for 10 minutes before brushing. Letting it soak overnight will help dissolve heavier mineral build up and stains. The vinegar will not leave any residue for those dogs (or cats!) that like to take the occasional drink from the toilet. Baking soda is another natural cleaner. Since it is abrasive, it works well on surfaces that need scrubbing like tubs and sinks. It can be combined with white vinegar for more cleaning power. Even with these relatively safe products care should be taken. Vinegar, due to it s acidity, is an eye irritant and it can discolor fabrics. Ingesting more than a few tablespoons of baking soda can cause digestive upset. Even the most reliably house trained greyhound can have an accident, so it is always good to be prepared. First, you should blot up liquid and/or remove any solid matter. A wet dry vac or small handle held device like the Bissell Spotlifter can be very helpful. Club Soda is a good for rinsing stains on fabrics. There are enzyme based cleaners, like Nature s Miracle, that are designed for treating pet stains and odors. These are particularly effective on rugs or carpeting where deep cleaning can be a problem. Using lemon juice and water (1:1 ratio) or vinegar and water (1 part vinegar to 2 parts water) are often recommended. However, some feel that using an acidic cleaner, which both lemon juice and vinegar are, can leave a scent that is still attractive to animals and may encourage marking. Yet another solution used is 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide mixed with 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Apply to the spot, let dry and vacuum. Please if you try anything with peroxide or vinegar it, test an inconspicuous spot as these can both cause discoloration. Baking soda sprinkled lightly over a carpet, left overnight and then vacuumed helps remove odors. You would, of course want to keep your pets off the carpet until it is vacuumed. With the arrival of Spring and warmer weather, we and our pets will be spending more time out side. Other creatures are also becoming more active. Having your greyhound sprayed by a skunk is a very unpleasant experience for all involved. It would be a good idea to wear rubber gloves to avoid the getting the smell on your hands. Here are some remedies that may help: -Tomato juice is an old stand-by but many find that it masks the odor rather than eliminating it. It may be helpful for using around the dog s face as it is fairly mild. Tomato juice will discolor a light colored dog -Massengill douche may sound a little odd but it seems to work. You would wash your dog first, a mild dishwashing liquid would be fine. After you have rinsed the dog apply the douche solution be careful around the eyes let stand for several minutes and rinse with clean water. -Hydrogen Peroxide mix In an open container mix one quart of hydrogen peroxide (Make sure it s a fresh bottle. Hydrogen peroxide does have a self life) with 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 teaspoon liquid soap. Mix right before you are going to use it (this mixture can not be stored) as you want to wash your dog while the mixture is still bubbling. After wiping off the excess skunk spray with a paper towel or a cloth you don t mind throwing out, wash you dog with the peroxide solution being careful not to get any in your dog s eyes. Continued on page 5

5 Remembrances GREYT TIMES NEWS PAGE 5 We would like to extend our sympathy to the family and friends of these greyhounds who have gone ahead to the Rainbow Bridge and to thank those that have made donations in memory of their greyhound friends. Apollo Bear Brandy Chance Connie Dart Distance Ernie Ezra Finn Gianna King Kong Krier Lil Lilly Lyra Lucy Mamoo Mari Marin Mary Max Mickey Mirage Nigel OSS Anna Prancer Princess Paige Skimar Boomtown Turbo If you would like to add a listing in the Remembrances section, please submit your request in writing (either e mail or snail mail) to the kennel. Thank you House and Garden Tips (continued) Allow the solution to stay of the dog for 5 minutes before rinsing with clean water. Repeat if there is still odor present.. -Nature s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover is an enzyme based product that has gotten a lot of good reviews. Again, care should be taken while applying to the face. This product can also be used other contaminated surfaces. -Anti-Icky-Poo is not for use on your dog but will get the smell out of other surfaces. Also good for cleaning up after accidents. (For more information see Like our cleaning products, many of the lawn care products come with warnings on their labels and contain ingredients that are potentially harmful to us and to our pets. Restricting the use of herbicides and insecticides to areas that our dogs are not habitually in helps reduce their exposure. Better yet, consider taking an organic approach to your lawn care. Besides books, sites like Gardens Alive ( offer information and environmentally friendly products. Recipe for weed killer: Mix 1 part dishwashing soap, 2 parts white vinegar and 2 parts water in a spray bottle. Spraying the weeds on a sunny day works best and be careful what you spray as this will kill grass and other plants. One last note: Mulches made from tree barks may contain resins that will cause problems if your dog eats it. More serious are the effects of cocoa bean mulch which contains the compound theobromine. This is the same compound that makes chocolate toxic to dogs. It can cause vomiting,diarrhea, increased heart rate, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures, and in large enough doses death.

6 GREYHOUND ADOPTION SERVICE, INC. 16 JAK-LEN DRIVE SALISBURY, MA Tel: Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage P A I D Permit No. 214 Newburyport, MA Finding homes one hound at a time Visit our website at G.A.S. WISH LIST For the Kennel: Lamb and Rice Dry Dog Food ( Proplan, IAMS, Eukanuba, Purina One and Exceed seem to work best) Sheets & blankets for bedding Bleach Odo Ban Laundry Detergent Sturdy 30 Gallon Trash Bags Chew Toys Treats Office supplies ( inkjet/copier paper etc. please check with the kennel for specifics items needed) Donations to help pay for food the kennel uses 60 lbs. of kibble a day! Donations to help pay for veterinary care. Donations to help for overhead.