Greyhound Adoptions of Florida - Latest Blog Entries

Peace, Love & Stickley jewelry = GAF donation

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:53:00 -0600

Multimedia artist Beth Wade is generously donating a portion of proceeds from the sale of two of her greyhound-inspired jewelry to Greyhound Adoptions of Florida!

The first item is the Peace, Love & Stickley Greyhound Necklace:

About the necklace: Hand stamped and cupped 1/2" sterling silver discs convey a message of love and peace for all animals on our earth. Finished with a 16" sterling silver bead chain.

etsy.com: Peace, Love & Stickley Greyhound Necklace

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The second item is the Peace On Earth For All Dogkind Greyhound Necklace:

About the necklace: Hand stamped copper tear drop pendant asks for peace on earth for all creatures. Accented with copper & sterling wire swirls, turquoise beading and Bead For Life recycled paper beads. Bead For Life beads are created by Ugandan women from recycled paper goods. All profits from Bead for Life are invested in Ugandan community development projects that generate income and help these women work their way out of poverty. Finished with an adjustable 16-18" black suede cord and a sterling silver lobster clasp.

etsy.com: Peace On Earth For All Dogkind Greyhound Necklace

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Thanks to Beth Wade Design for her support of Greyhound Adoption of Florida's mission of finding homes for retired racing greyhounds!

Please support this greyhound- and animal-friendly artist by visiting the Beth Wade Design official site and/or by checking out Beth Wade's etsy shop.

Wally learning to use his leg again

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:40:00 -0600

In early Fall 2008, Wally had been waiting to go north into a home. While running in the yard here at Grey Haven, he fell and seriously dislocated his hip.

We got him to the vet immediately and the hip was put back in place while Wally was under sedation. Sadly, his hip would not stay where it belonged.

Wally ended up having orthopedic surgery so that his hip would never pop out of place again.

Wally recovered quickly but needed physical therapy to learn how to use his leg properly again.

He is now happily playing with toys at Mary's house in Rock Hill, South Carolina so that he can attend physical therapy sessions three times a week at a wonderful facility outside of Charlotte that takes great care of our kids and gives them the best therapy possible.

A huge thanks to Mary for working with this very special greyhound. Wally, we miss you and want to see you back to running on all "fours" quickly!

You can sponsor Wally during his rehabilation by making a tax-deductible donation to Wally's leg-up fund.

Recap: PetSmart Meet and Greet

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:51:00 -0600

The Villages Greyhound Club along with GAF, held our monthly meet 'n greet at the new Petsmart in the Villages, Florida on Saturday, November 8, 2008. Thanks to all of you who came out with your wonderful greyhounds to support our adoption efforts!

It was Russo and Mary's turn today to have an afternoon away from the farm. They both had a good time though thanks to Barb.

Mary discovered the "rats/mice" that were running around in a display. Despite her best efforts, Mary could NOT figure out how to get behind the glass and sample one or two!

Russo was fascinated by all the small dogs that came into the store. It was at that point that we all realized this was his first outing and at age 9, he had probably never seen a small dog before.

All things considered, it was a good day for all.....hopefully the phone will ring and someone will inquire about greyhound adoption....that's the way all the stories begin.

PetSmart meet and greet

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:35:00 -0600

Here's a YouTube video of our most recent Meet and Greet at PetSmart in Lady Lake, FL.

Prancer, who was recently adopted by Johnny and Barbara Mendola, is featured in the video.

Thanks Johnny for putting this together.

Prancer: Winning hearts in new home

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:44:00 -0600

Prancer (formerly Olga) was adopted by Johnny and Barbara Mendola after they attended a Greyhound Adoptions of Florida Meet and Greet at PetSmart in Lady Lake, FL.

Here is Prancer's success story of adoption and finding a permanent loving home, as written by Johnny:

"My wife Barbara and I had a very strong desire to adopt a dog from an animal shelter when we finally made the move to Florida after we both were retired. I was thinking along the lines of a Lab or a Retriever, but then I met Blue. Blue had one blue eye and one brown eye. He was a rescued greyhound I met while on one of our stays in Florida. It was then that I made my mind up to rescue a greyhound.

View Prancer's photo gallery

We went back home to NJ to wait for the house to sell before moving to Florida. The months passed, no sale but my heart yearned for a greyhound. Come September, my wife and I made the decision to move to Florida permanently and let the house sell through our Realtor.

The PetSmart Meet and Greet

Our second week here we heard of a "meet and greet" at PetSmart. We were there that morning armed with the fact we would adopt a greyhound. Our hearts were bursting with joy when the greyhounds came in. We met one or two who were up for adoption and were trying to bond with each. Then Marilyn came in with two additional greyhounds to be adopted. One was our pride and joy Olga. It seems there was an immediate bonding between the three of us. We knew Prancer, AKA Olga, was just off the racing circuit and not fully aware of what the real world was like and that didn't matter to us. We knew she had a trainer who was very close with Olga and realized it would take time for Olga to trust us and give us the same kind of affection, and that too was okay with us.

Well, after Marilyn got Prancer to the vet and all was a go for a delivery, we never expected what was to come. After all the papers were signed and we were schooled by Marilyn on what to expect and some tips on what to do, Prancer's new forever life began. Almost immediately she was kissing my wife and I.

Prancer in her new home

She followed us everywhere we went in the house. We were armed with a can of Miracle cleaner for when she had her first accident. She never had an accident. Not once. In the middle of the night if she has to relieve herself she will bark once. I get up to take her out and she goes. Then it is back to bed until morning.

She eats on schedule twice a day and loves to go on walks. Prancer is an amazing animal. I cannot put in two paragraphs the way we feel about our Prancer. It would take at least two pages.

All our hopes and dreams have come true with Prancer. We have a dog that loves us and Prancer has someone who loves and respects her. She is a champion in our eyes. The funny part about all of this is that she has only been here one full week. It seems like she has been part of our lives for years. Thank you Marilyn for what you do and for giving us the chance to meet and fall in love with our dream, our dream named Prancer."

View Prancer's photo gallery

Eddie: This happy and outgoing greyhound is ready for you!

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:25:00 -0600

Eddie is a brindle male born in February, 2006.

Just look at those eyes. Such a sweetie!

Eddie is a happy and outgoing greyhound who loves to run with the other boys.

He likes everyone he meets -- even most older kids!

Eddie is looking to be adopted ... are you ready for him?

Interested in learning more about Eddie and Greyhound Adoptions of Florida's adoption process? E-mail Marilyn Varnberg today!

China: Very, very smart greyhound up for adoption

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:20:00 -0600

Mary P. is currently fostering China, a four year-old greyhound available for adoption. Here is an update on China's progress.

China's photo gallery

"China (pictured right) is such a joy. She continues to entertain us with her antics and inquisitive ways. She has learned our routine and gets along well with all the pups here. She wants all the attention and has learned Ernie's (pictured left) way of pushing your hand up to pet her.

She still has not had a single accident in the house. She loves stuffies, but will eat the eyes and pull the stuffing out if there is a hole. I do not crate/muzzle her at night. She has a favorite bed and does not move all night.

I crate her when I go to work and feed her, but if I have to run an errand and will only be gone for a couple of hours, I muzzle her and she stays in the den and bedroom with Floyd and Apollo.

She still acts like a puppy and tries to chew some things, which is why I muzzle her when I leave, but she is learning. She loves her one on one time with me in the yard without her muzzle and toys to chase/play with.

She may be 4, but acts like 2 and is very, very smart. If there is a family looking for a dog for agility or lure coursing, she would do well."

Interested in adopting China? E-mail Marilyn Varnberg at mvarnberg@embarqmail.com.

eBay auctions for our new girl, Karla

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:32:00 -0600

Look! Karla's eBay auctions

Every once in a while I see a greyhound who really touches my heart. On one of my trips out to a farm, I found a little black girl by the name of Karla who is 8 years old. She had either broken a hock or ruptured her achilles tendon years ago when she was on the track.

It was never treated and for years now, this dog has walked with her hock on the ground. This has limited her activity and has not allowed her to run and play the way all greyhounds love to do.

Over the years we have taken dogs from the track with this sort of injury and fixed each of them well. We have found some dogs with this injury that had healed like this and again, even with years passing, we have been able to get up to a 95% correction which has given the dog back it's mobility. For Christmas, I would like to do this for Karla. She's been waiting a long, long time...

Thanks to our good friend Carla Myers, there are now several wonderful greyhound items up for auction on eBay. Just follow the link and start placing your bids!

Karla's eBay auctions

Let's all join together and give Karla back the ability to enjoy life again. Of course, then you can come back in about three months and offer her that special home, too!

Thank you Carla, for taking the time to offer us these wonderful auctions ... and thank you all for starting off the Holiday season in the best way possible ... giving another greyhound a chance for a future!

Hugs to all,

Marilyn and, of course, Karla!

Greyhounds play role in cancer patient's recovery

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:59:00 -0500

Here's a moving article from USA Today about the healing power of animals; in this case, two greyhounds named Grace and Roy and cancer patient Judith Brindley.

"They gave so much to my recovery. Their greeting me each day was though it was a special day ... made me realize how lucky I am."

usatoday.com: Pets have a place in the sickbed

Double donation days ending soon: Search now!

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:24:00 -0500

If you aren't already using iSearchiGive.com, what are you waiting for?! Each search means $0.01 for Greyhound Adoptions of Florida.

Try it today - it's free!

While the numbers may seem small at first, we all search the web hundreds of times every month, and our combined efforts can truly add up.

Double Donation Days - extended through October 31st!
We get $0.02 per search instead of the usual penny.

And since it's powered by iGive.com (a site that has been helping causes raise money online since 1997), we know it's not just a flash in the pan! We've already received our first check!

Start searching and earning Greyhound Adoptions of Florida donations today!

Six days left for free $12 donation

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:21:00 -0500

There are only six days left to generate a FREE $12 donation for Greyhound Adoptions of Florida.

Several of you have taken action. But we still need your help!

Thisloffer is through amazon.com - and costs you nothing!

For every user that signs up for a free trial of Amazon Prime (their 2-day shipping program), Greyhound Adoptions of Florida gets a $12.00 referral fee!

Sign up today and we'll get the $12 credit tomorrow!

Your actions will directly benefit Greyhound Adoptions of Florida and help defray the expenses of costly vet exams and tests, medicine, food and toys for all the greyhounds at Grey Haven.

This offer expires in just days, so it's important you do this today!

Just make sure you cancel at anytime before your trial period ends, and you'll be charged nothing; there's no cost to you at all.

Five minutes of your time will earn a $12 donation to Greyhound Adoptions of Florida.

That's all it takes.

You do NOT have to order or buy anything.

Just sign up for the free trial of Amazon Prime and we get $12.00! Cancel within 30 days and there is no charge. And there is no charge when you try this offer.

Every day expenses include vet exams, medication and food for the greyhounds in our care.

This is an amazing opportunity to earn money for Greyhounds Adotion of Florida ... but it's ending very soon!

Don't miss this chance to help us and raise much-needed funds for our dogs!

Take action today: We'll get the $12 tomorrow!

Just cancel at anytime before your trial period ends, and you'll be charged nothing; there's no cost to you at all.

How to cancel: Simply log into your amazon account > manage prime account (can be found under settings, third row down) > click on 'do not upgrade'

(Set yourself a reminder in outlook, on your phone, etc. to do this before the 30-day trial period ends!)

Click on the banner below to sign up and help us help greyhounds:

About Amazon Prime:

Amazon Prime is a popular Amazon.com program that gives its members unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of eligible items.

The month-long trial allows you to experience the convenience of shopping with Amazon Prime benefits for an entire month at no charge.

Amazon Prime members enjoy the following benefits:

1. Unlimited FREE Two-Day Shipping on millions of Amazon.com Items
2. Overnight Shipping upgrades for only $3.99 per item
3. Shopping with no minimum order size
4. Ability to share benefits with up to 4 household members

Olga and Anna Fay in their new homes

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:11:00 -0500

Congrats to Anna Fay and Olga - they're in their new homes!

Please consider supporting Greyhound Adoptions of Florida.

There are many ways to support our mission. Learn more now.

Click here to see our greyhounds currently available for adoption.

GAF Holiday Picnic, December 7, 2008

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:20:00 -0500

What: GAF Annual Picnic

When: Dec. 7th, 2008 from noon until 4PM

Where: Grey Haven, 1470 N.E. 140 St., Citra, FL 32113 (map)

Details: Silent auction, regular auctions, raffles, lots of greyhounds and their people.

Admission: FREE. Please remember to bring a dish to share for our luncheon buffet. Beverages will be provided.

You're invited: This is a great chance to see old friends and meet new ones (humans and greyhounds). Help us continue our work with this special breed of dog and celebrate the beginning of the holidays with the wonderful dogs at Grey Haven.

More info: Call Marilyn Varnberg at 352-671-5333 or e-mail mvarnberg@embarqmail.com.

Ulan: Despite severely injured leg, happy ending for this greyhound

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:08:00 -0500

In June 2008, Greyhound Adoptions of Florida took in a total of four dogs with injured legs from the Birmingham, AL racetrack: Ulan, Dancing Bug, Cowboy and Rosie.

Ulan's injuries required orthopedic surgery. His recuperation took nearly three months.

In Septmber, 2008, Ulan was adopted by Amy C. and her family. Here is Amy C.'s story about how she connected with Greyhound Adoptions of Florida and how she came to adopt Ulan.

>>View Ulan's photo gallery<<

"I met my first greyhound about 6 months ago at Lord and Taylor in the King of Prussia Mall. Several volunteers from Greyhound Adoptions of Florida Northeast Chapter were there, along with their dogs and I immediately fell in love. In addition to being adorable, I was so amazed that after all each of these dogs had been through, they were still so sweet, affectionate and loving.

I began volunteering at Meet and Greets and fundraisers and as I spent more time at GAFNE events, I realized what a great organization it is. There are so many wonderful volunteers that are willing to spend their free time at Meet and Greets, fundraisers, transporting dogs up from Florida and fostering new dogs, among other things.

Ulan is our four and one-half year old fawn greyhound from Alabama. He severely injured his leg while racing, but luckily, Marilyn, the founder of Greyhound Adoptions of Florida was contacted. GAF was willing to pay for Ulan's vet bills, if she could find a volunteer willing to foster him. Fortunately, Kathy, a greyhound owner and GAFNE volunteer, was willing to take Ulan into her home. Ulan lived with Kathy for three months while his leg healed.

I first met Ulan when Kathy brought him to a Meet and Greet in the Exton Square Mall. Ulan is very outgoing and loves attention! He had to be pet by every single person that walked into the store. My husband, daughter and I adopted Ulan about two weeks ago and he has been a great addition to our family.

Although everything was new to him, he quickly learned how to walk up and down the steps in our house and how to maneuver on the hardwood floors. He loves to go for walks and to sleep on the couch. His favorite thing seems to be that he is now part of a family that loves him."

Why you should consider adopting a brood

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:12:00 -0500

Here's a great article from sfgate.com about the joys of adopting a brood greyhound.

sfgate.com: Brood matron greyhounds make friendly, wise pets

Considering adopting a brood?

Look for this icon on our adoptable greyhounds page:

E-mail Marilyn Varnberg at mvarnberg@embarqmail.com to learn more about broods or to make an inquiry about adopting a brood.

Help GAF today with free $12 donation

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:59:00 -0500

We need your help!

Help us raise $12.00 by taking this simple action. Our greyhounds are counting on you!

For every user that signs up for a free trial of Amazon Prime, Greyhound Adoptions of Florida gets a $12.00 referral fee!

Sign up today and we'll get the $12 credit tomorrow!

Your actions will directly benefit Greyhound Adoptions of Florida and help defray the expenses of costly vet exams and tests, medicine, food and toys for all the greyhounds at Grey Haven.

This offer expires in just days, so it's important you do this today!

Just make sure you cancel at anytime before your trial period ends, and you'll be charged nothing; there's no cost to you at all.

Five minutes of your time will earn a $12 donation to Greyhound Adoptions of Florida.

That's all it takes.

You do NOT have to order or buy anything.

Just sign up for the free trial of Amazon Prime and we get $12.00! Cancel within 30 days and there is no charge. And there is no charge when you try this offer.

Every day expenses include vet exams, medication and food for the greyhounds in our care.

This is an amazing opportunity to earn money for Greyhounds Adotion of Florida ... but it's ending very soon!

Don't miss this chance to help us and raise much-needed funds for our dogs!

Take action today: We'll get the $12 tomorrow!

Just cancel at anytime before your trial period ends, and you'll be charged nothing; there's no cost to you at all.

How to cancel: Simply log into your amazon account > manage prime account (can be found under settings, third row down) > click on 'do not upgrade'

(Set yourself a reminder in outlook, on your phone, etc. to do this before the 30-day trial period ends!)

Click on the banner below to sign up and help us help greyhounds:

About Amazon Prime:

Amazon Prime is a popular Amazon.com program that gives its members unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of eligible items.

The month-long trial allows you to experience the convenience of shopping with Amazon Prime benefits for an entire month at no charge.

Amazon Prime members enjoy the following benefits:

$5 off $10 purchase at Lady Lake, FL PetSmart location

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:42:00 -0500

Here's a great coupon you can use at the new PetSmart Lady Lake Florida location only:

Take $5 off $10 or more purchase at PetSmart, Lady Lake, FL

You must present your PetSmart PetPerks savings card. If you don't have one, just ask for one when you go to check out - it's free!

PetSmart Lady Lake, FL meet and greets begin

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:34:00 -0500

The Villages Greyhound Club and Greyhound Adoptions of Florida held their first official PetSmart meet 'n greet at the new PetSmart in Lady Lake, FL on Saturday the 11th of October, 2008.

Look: Photos from the event

This begins our schedule of events which will be held on the second Saturday of each month.

We had a wonderful turnout of greyhounds and their humans including the newly adopted Cody (formerly Hey Wade Rambo). This was his very first event as an adoptee and we were all thrilled to see him.

Our new little kennel girl, Olga picked her new family and they immediately fell in love with her! Olga will be going to her new home next week after all her vet work is completed.

It was a great day for all of us.

Please consider joining us on the second Saturday of November at the new Petsmart in Lady Lake, Florida from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dogs and their families are welcome!

Print out this coupon for $5 off a purchase of $10 or more at the PetSmart in Lady Lake, FL!

Support our mission while you search online!

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:45:00 -0500

Do you search the web?

If so, you could be raising $0.02 for Greyhound Adoptions of Florida, every time you search!

iSearchiGive.com is a search engine powered by Yahoo! Search and iGive.com, the internet's first online shopping mall where a portion of each purchase is donated to your favorite cause.

Try it today - it's free!

NOTE: Through October 31, 2008, we receive $0.02 per search, instead of the usual $0.01. So start searching today and help us continue our mission of finding homes for retired racing greyhounds.

Use iSearchiGive right now

Looking for other ways to support Greyhound Adoptions of Florida?

Ending soon: Get $12.00 donated to Greyhound Adoptions of Florida when you try Amazon Prime.

Additional ways you can help us

Greyhounds Reach the Beach recap

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:38:00 -0500

Here's a story from delawareonline about 2008 Greyhounds Reach the Beach.

There are four really nice pictures that go along with article.

delawareonline.com: Greyhounds on fast track to happiness