Bunny Hound Tales and Tails - The hilarity of everyday life
Bunny here at the keyboard writing about something near and dear to my heart.
In case you didn’t know, April is Adopt A Greyhound month. To my surprise, there are still people out there who don’t have Greyhounds of their own and who don’t know about how fantastic and amazing we are. I once lived in an adoption kennel, not knowing what life held for me as did Flattery and every other racing Greyhound we know. As a public service for the poor humans who still don’t know the joys of life with a Greyhound and because there are a lot of my cousins out there waiting for their own perfect homes, I present this year’s list of reasons about why you should have a Greyhound of your very own, in case you don’t, or in case you know some poor soul who is still living in a state of Greyhound deprivation.
The Princess Pose
10. Greyhounds are working dogs who are ready for a career change.
Greyhounds have had a job in the fast lane and while they are retiring from that, it doesn’t mean that we’re retired from life. We are just waiting for a career change. Many of us make excellent therapy dogs, some of us excel at agility and other fun dog sports and a few of us even work as service dogs. We are not limited to anything because of our previous jobs. Of course, our primary new job will be to become your best friend.
Dolce in Flight, courtesy of Don and Christine Beisert
9. We have a long, colorful history.
Let’s face it, not many people can say that their dog is the descendant to the companions of kings and nobility. There’s not another breed out there that can claim that there were once laws dictating who could and couldn’t own them, or who were invited in to church with their humans if they had the special angel kiss on their forehead. Only Greyhounds and Mastiffs sailed the ocean blue in 1492 with Columbus to the new world. We are the only breed mentioned by name in the Bible. Our history goes back that far, my friends, and only the very coolest people are chosen to be our life’s companions now.
Willow In Winter, taken by Tamzin Roberts https://www.flickr.com/photos/36857535@N05//caption
8. Greyhounds are some of the most well-mannered dogs around.
If you want a dog who can greet people politely, you are looking for a Greyhound. We are known for our impeccable manners and reserved natures. Whether you like going out and about with your pooch or you enjoy having people over to visit, we can handle it in stride. Most of us really like people and can be social butterflies.
[caption id="attachment_15015" align="aligncenter" width="604"] Mason and His Girl, courtesy of Cara Friend
7. We come in a variety of beautiful colors.
If you like to wear black pants all the time, just adopt a black Greyhound and you’ll never have to worry about dog hair on your pants. Tan is your color, well, we come in several varieties of brown shades. No matter what your canine color preference is, you can find a Greyhound in that shade, and every Greyhound color is gorgeous. I can’t even begin to list all the color and coat patterns we come in, but you can find hounds that are solid colored, spotted, ticked or brindled, or some combination of those things. And I’ll let you in on another secret, the most beautiful Greyhound is always the one on your own couch.
I Got My Feet Wet, courtesy of Kirsty Harris
6. Even when we aren’t with you, you can be the life of the party.
Trust me, when people know you have a Greyhound, they have a lot of questions for you. If you’re out somewhere with your hound, people will ask you questions. Often, though, even when my humans are out without me, though, people have questions. And remember when I mentioned all that history we have. That is a great way to have a conversation with somebody if you need an icebreaker. Just associating with Greyhounds will make you a much cooler, more popular individual.
A Pair of Black Greyhounds
5. You’re becoming a member of a community.
When you adopt a Greyhound, you will find that you suddenly have a lot of friends who also have Greyhounds. There’s a thing called The Cult of the Greyhound and it really exists. Greyhound adoption is one of the oldest organized adoption movements and it’s amazing how the Greyhound community pulls together to help hounds in need, whether it’s a sick dog who needs medical help, a dog who needs to be transported across the country to a new family, someone looking for littermates of their dog, or an adoption group that’s suddenly found themselves in need of money. Greyhound people have the biggest hearts around and they are pretty accepting of other people who have Greyhounds.
Stephenie and Penny, courtesy of Eric Merchant and Stephenie Frank
4. You never have to make the bed again.
We will be happy to lay in the bed all day for you while you’re gone to work. There’s no need to make the bed again, if you don’t want to. Instead, you can spend that extra ten minutes cuddling with us. It will make for a much better start to your day. Don’t worry, we won’t tell your friends and family that you don’t make the bed anymore. It will be our little secret.
Dolce at Rest, courtesy of Don and Christine Beisert
3. You will see the world through new eyes.
When you adopt a Greyhound, you get the joy of seeing us discover a lot of new things in the world. Many of us have never seen stairs, couches or human beds. Don’t worry, though, we are quick learners. However, it’s a lot of fun to share all those new firsts and create your own history with your new Greyhound companion. Seeing the world with somebody who is seeing it for the first time can be one of the greatest and simplest joys you experience.
Jess at Bethells Beach, courtesy of Paula Cagney of Paula Cagney Photography
2. We will never tell your secrets.
I’m betting you’ve all seen that Bush’s Baked Beans commercial. Well, rest assured that while we are excellent listeners and therapists, we will never divulge your secrets. There’s no price that will buy our loyalty. We will listen to you without judgement and we won’t try to tell you how to solve your problems. We will give you a big tail wag to celebrate your good days and will curl up with you on the couch during bad ones.
A Quiet Moment, Eric Merchant and Treasure, taken by Stephenie Frank
1. You will never be alone.
Once you adopt a Greyhound, you will have a devoted companion for as long as we live. Whether you want to hang out on the couch or go out and have fun, we can hang out with you. Some of us have even been known to go to work with our humans or take up life full-time in an RV. There is a Greyhound for everyone. Some of us are slowing down in our senior years after being brood mamas or papa dogs and are well-suited to life with someone who isn’t very active. Others are shy and like the quiet life with somebody who lives a scheduled life. There are also very outgoing Greyhounds who enjoy life with an active family or person. Adoption groups are always working with people to find the best Greyhound for their lifestyle.
Beryl and Asher, courtesy of Sue Muir at Greyhounds Can Sit
So, there you have it, another list about why you should adopt a Greyhound. If you are wondering if a Greyhound could be right for you, I suggest reading Retired Racing Greyhounds For Dummies and Adopting the Retired Greyhound. You can also find an adoption group near you by checking The Greyhound Project and their worldwide list. It’s a decision that will change your life for the better.
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