In 3 days I will be leaving for my 2nd trip to Scooby in Medina del Campo, Spain. I am so excited it is hard to write about it. Besides by own personal items I will be taking over some donations, medical items and a package from Dr. Couto for the clinic.
I will be leaving Virginia on Thursday morning and driving to New Jersey. I'll be going to GAA to pick up some crates and then out to lunch with my Mom. I will spend the day with my Mom until it is time to go to the airport. My nephew will take me, my luggage and crates to the airport to meet up with Eva and Tim Andrews from Canada.
I am very nervous about flying since I have not flown in awhile. For those of you that know me well you are aware that I was hypnotized about 12 years ago so I could fly. I know I'll be fine once I'm in the air but I'll be a basket case until that time.
Please keep all of us in your thoughts and prayers. I'll try to keep this updated while I am in Spain.
Hugs,
Diane
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sunday, November 11, 2007
More galgos coming to Virginia
On Monday, November 19th, Cathy Klein, the vet we worked with at Scooby will be returning to the US with 2 more galgos for VAGA. She will be bringing home Woody Jack and Gracie. Along with the 2 galgos will be Oliver. Oliver is a 10-12 week old fox terrier puppy who Deb and I helped treat while on our mission. Cathy did not want to leave Oliver and his friend Henry behind so she asked if we could find him a home. Cathy will be adopting Henry.
We reached out to Diane Roadcap and Patti Best of "Everything and the Dog" and asked them to please put out a message to their network about Oliver. Within 24 hours Oliver was adopted by Shirley McVicker (http://www.leash-collar.com/) of Arlington, VA. Everyone is very excited about this and Debbie and I both cried when we read the email.
Woody Jack and Gracie will be fostered. Mitch and Michele Ridlon will foster Gracie and Matt and Jen Britto will foster Woody Jack.
Here is a picture of Woody Jack and Pops in their paddock at Scooby. Woody Jack is the brindle and white with the big eyes. He is a wonderful dog who loves to be loved. He was a 3 star dog at Scooby. Three stars means that he is excellent with all dogs, cats, children and is not traumatized.
We reached out to Diane Roadcap and Patti Best of "Everything and the Dog" and asked them to please put out a message to their network about Oliver. Within 24 hours Oliver was adopted by Shirley McVicker (http://www.leash-collar.com/) of Arlington, VA. Everyone is very excited about this and Debbie and I both cried when we read the email.
Woody Jack and Gracie will be fostered. Mitch and Michele Ridlon will foster Gracie and Matt and Jen Britto will foster Woody Jack.
Here is a picture of Woody Jack and Pops in their paddock at Scooby. Woody Jack is the brindle and white with the big eyes. He is a wonderful dog who loves to be loved. He was a 3 star dog at Scooby. Three stars means that he is excellent with all dogs, cats, children and is not traumatized.
Deb and I also put out a message looking for volunteers to help bring these dogs from Atlanta to Northern VA. As always, our members have reached out to help. We both cried again when our wonderful volunteers reached out to travel the week of Thanksgiving. You are truly wonderful and VAGA is so blessed to have you.
We will keep you posted on the progress of the dogs coming in from Spain.
Hugs, Diane
Saturday, November 10, 2007
One Week Ago
I'm finding it hard to believe that we have been back from Spain for one week. Both Galgos have adjusted well and are making great strides. Candito is a very bright boy and wants nothing more than to experience and discover new things. Manola is beginning to come out of her shell and show her real personality. She is still a pup inside. Both dogs are doing wonderful with going potty outdoors. I am so proud of them both for the courage they have shown us from the time we met them. They are amazing!
I cannot seem to get all the Galgos ( and all the other animals ) out of my thoughts. I miss them all. I want to be able to sit with Ralph( galgo) and tell him things are going to get better. He was so thin and weak. Standing was very difficult for him. We shared a special bond as I began to feed him many small meals a day and made sure he had a coat and blanket to keep his bony body warm. He is lucky now, as Jeff ( Scooby worker) is caring for him. I know that Jeff will love him and continue on with Ralph's special needs. Jeff has the love for animals deep in his heart.
Going to Scooby was an awesome experience we will never forget. I will always want to visit Scooby and help there in anyway that I can. Scooby will always be in my heart. It's just like helping the racing greyhounds here in the US. I will always help our sweet Orlando Greyhounds for the rest of my time on earth. For all of you that know me well, you know my heart is with All greyhounds but especially the retired racers out of Orlando, Florida. They seem to be the forgotten greys at times. I think this is why I am drawn to the Galgos of Spain too. They need help desperately from people too. Man has not been kind to them. Thank God for Scooby and other groups that are trying to help the animals of Spain.
Many friends have called me to ask about our trip to Spain. It was too difficult to talk about it without tearing up. As you know, I fell head over heals in love with a small and very sick
Galgo pup. I named him Rocky because he fought so hard to stay alive. He watched all his brothers and sisters pass away one by one but he hung in there. His chances were slim and he was the underdog but still he kept fighting. I would sing to him as I held his tiny, thin body in my arms. He would make a humming sound ( almost a purr/cat sound) and look up at me with his big brown eyes. What a love bug! Well, unfortunately my sweet Rocky lost his fight. It was a very sad and hard day for everyone. I had told Rocky a few days before he left us that I loved him and if he couldn't hang in there and had to go.... to know he was loved, he was my boy and that he has someone to wait for at the bridge . We will be together again. Rocky is now running around with his family. He is free.
I dedicate my trip to this special little Galgo. He was loving, funny, strong, caring and one hell of a fighter! No wonder I was attached to him....he had the qualities of our retired racing greyhounds that fight so hard to survive for a chance at a "true life".
Also, many thanks to everyone for their support and prayers. I feel so lucky to have so many good friends in my life.
A special thank you to Carolyn, VAGA's president who works endlessly for the greyhounds.
Carolyn, you supported Diane and I on this trip from day one. You were with us in spirit the whole time we were at Scooby. Thank you for understanding the need to help the Galgos. You don't know this but we drew support from you through out our trip. Yes, we felt your prayers.
Thanks Diane for holding me when Rocky left. We shared many laughs and tears while at Scooby. Here are some words that will spark some memories ( good & bad):
Bread, Romeo, no water, mommy dog, rats, laundry, skinny dogs, brownies, airplane bathroom, Parvo, exploding needle, cold, dirty, puppies, carrots, bad smells, more rats, doggie kisses, driving a stick, bruises,frozen pizzas, caravan, donkeys, dial up, more bread..............can't wait to go back.
I cannot seem to get all the Galgos ( and all the other animals ) out of my thoughts. I miss them all. I want to be able to sit with Ralph( galgo) and tell him things are going to get better. He was so thin and weak. Standing was very difficult for him. We shared a special bond as I began to feed him many small meals a day and made sure he had a coat and blanket to keep his bony body warm. He is lucky now, as Jeff ( Scooby worker) is caring for him. I know that Jeff will love him and continue on with Ralph's special needs. Jeff has the love for animals deep in his heart.
Going to Scooby was an awesome experience we will never forget. I will always want to visit Scooby and help there in anyway that I can. Scooby will always be in my heart. It's just like helping the racing greyhounds here in the US. I will always help our sweet Orlando Greyhounds for the rest of my time on earth. For all of you that know me well, you know my heart is with All greyhounds but especially the retired racers out of Orlando, Florida. They seem to be the forgotten greys at times. I think this is why I am drawn to the Galgos of Spain too. They need help desperately from people too. Man has not been kind to them. Thank God for Scooby and other groups that are trying to help the animals of Spain.
Many friends have called me to ask about our trip to Spain. It was too difficult to talk about it without tearing up. As you know, I fell head over heals in love with a small and very sick
Galgo pup. I named him Rocky because he fought so hard to stay alive. He watched all his brothers and sisters pass away one by one but he hung in there. His chances were slim and he was the underdog but still he kept fighting. I would sing to him as I held his tiny, thin body in my arms. He would make a humming sound ( almost a purr/cat sound) and look up at me with his big brown eyes. What a love bug! Well, unfortunately my sweet Rocky lost his fight. It was a very sad and hard day for everyone. I had told Rocky a few days before he left us that I loved him and if he couldn't hang in there and had to go.... to know he was loved, he was my boy and that he has someone to wait for at the bridge . We will be together again. Rocky is now running around with his family. He is free.
I dedicate my trip to this special little Galgo. He was loving, funny, strong, caring and one hell of a fighter! No wonder I was attached to him....he had the qualities of our retired racing greyhounds that fight so hard to survive for a chance at a "true life".
Also, many thanks to everyone for their support and prayers. I feel so lucky to have so many good friends in my life.
A special thank you to Carolyn, VAGA's president who works endlessly for the greyhounds.
Carolyn, you supported Diane and I on this trip from day one. You were with us in spirit the whole time we were at Scooby. Thank you for understanding the need to help the Galgos. You don't know this but we drew support from you through out our trip. Yes, we felt your prayers.
Thanks Diane for holding me when Rocky left. We shared many laughs and tears while at Scooby. Here are some words that will spark some memories ( good & bad):
Bread, Romeo, no water, mommy dog, rats, laundry, skinny dogs, brownies, airplane bathroom, Parvo, exploding needle, cold, dirty, puppies, carrots, bad smells, more rats, doggie kisses, driving a stick, bruises,frozen pizzas, caravan, donkeys, dial up, more bread..............can't wait to go back.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Update on Candito (once known as Horacio)
Canidito is a beautiful male galgo. He is a black brindle with beautiful markings and the most gorgeous gold colored eyes. Candito is approximately 68-70 pounds, tall and lanky. He is a very smart boy who learned the stairs with only 1 training lesson. He is house trained, cat safe, does well in the crate and with a muzzle. He has a very sweet, lovable personality and does well on lead.Candito currently lives with 3 greyhounds (2 females and 1 male) and a cat. At night, he sleeps in the bedroom with his foster siblings and parents.
Candito is a little shy and still learning to trust. He has come a long way since he left his home in Spain and is gradually adapting to all the new sights and sounds around him. Loud sounds and fast movements still make him jumpy. Candito is very curious and is still learning that he cannot surf the kitchen counters.
Candito will make someone a very loyal companion and should be placed with another dog or greyhound.
Diane
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Update on Manola (once known as Melinda)
Manola is being fostered by David and Kori Chisholm and Dawson. Here is some information from David and Kori on Manola..."She is adapting slowly and starting to come out of her shell. She is understanding the outside world well and is outgoing and adventurous when on walks. She is also very squirrel savvy much more than her foster brother Dawson ever was." She doesn't like smooth floors so David and Kori have tossed small carpets and towels around so she has a path to walk. Her first night she ate out on the patio because the tile floor in the kitchen was freaking her out.
Manola is "virtually housetrained having no accidents inside at all. She doesn't go after the cat inside either." On Sunday, she stayed with Dawson while David and Kori were at church. She greeted them at the door with Dawson. "She is very submissive and quiet and easy going. She is starting to do stairs voluntarily."
Manola and Dawson went to the office with David. "Manola stole the cushy bed from Dawson when he got up, so he had to lay on the folded blanket and wasn't to happy about it."
Sunday, November 4, 2007
A few pictures
Here is a picture of Debbie with the galgo pups - Rocky and his brother
This was our caravan/camper where we were supposed to stay. There was no running water or bathroom. The first night there we plugged in the heater and shorted out the entire campground. Thank goodness for one of the kind workers named Jeff who let us stay with him in his trailer for all of our stay. He had a 3 bedroom trailer with bath facilities, kitchen and television. It wasn't like home but it was much better than the caravan.
During our stay, a group of 30 dogs were rescued from a refuge in Seville. This is a picture of Debbie and Cathy Klein (vet) weighing Ralph. Ralph weighed only 38 pounds and had a broken back leg.
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