ANIMAL CONNECTION

Archive for the ‘Rehabilitation’ Category

Donna Paige with Greyhounds

What is your first impression when you hear a rescued dog was sent to prison?  Do you conjure up images that are not pleasant?   READ THE INFORMATION AND GO BEHIND THE SCENES, WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW. I think you will be pleasantly surprised and your heart will pound, in a good way.

There is an organization called 2nd Chance at Life.  They place Greyhounds in prisons once they have been rescued.  They have placed over 600 dogs nationwide. These dogs are fostered by the prisoners.

Keira

What Does The Greyhound and Inmate Prison Partnership Do?

Greyhounds

1. Delivers an Obedience Trained Greyhound to the Community

2. Provides a Network of Prison Foster Homes for Greyhounds

3. Gives them a place to live until they can be adopted

4. Allows two 24/7 inmate caretaker’s for each greyhound

5. Saves thousands of retired racing greyhounds

Huney

Prisoners

1. Allows inmates to give something back to the community

2. Allows inmates to experience un-conditional love

3. Relieves inmate idleness in prison facilities

4. Teaches inmates patience and responsibility

5. Establishes vocational jobs for the inmates

ALL OF THE DOGS ON THIS POST ARE UP FOR ADOPTION!

Chief

Who is a typical adoptable Greyhound?

They’re really a 45 mile an hour couch potato!!!!!!

Usually between eighteen months and five years old.

They do not require a great deal of space to run, as many people think, but they do enjoy their daily walks.

These ex-racers are intelligent, quiet, clean, good-natured, adaptable, sensitive, dogs who adjust readily to their new home environment.

They are eager to please and respond positively to any attention.

They provide their new owner with never ending loyalty and affection.

Pebbles

What does Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions do?

Find the best prescreened, match as possible for your family, with current shots, cleaned teeth. Prescreening includes cat testing that would help ensure compatibility with cats and other small animals.

Find loving and qualified homes for the Greyhounds entrusted to our care. We spay/neuter provide vaccinations and make sure all Greys are in excellent health, including teeth.

Provide ongoing support to those who adopt Greyhounds from Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions, Inc. or any other group.

Educate the public and raise awareness about the availability and suitability of retired racing Greyhounds as pets.

Promote harmony and teamwork among all segments of the worldwide Greyhound community.

Shaye

How can someone adopt a prison trained or even a non-prison trained rescued Grey?

There are a number of organizations where you can adopt these wonderful  dogs.  One that I know about, in my area, is Gold Coast Greyhound.

ALL OF THE DOGS ON THIS POST ARE UP FOR ADOPTION

You can complete the adoption form from Gold Coast Greyhounds here. You can also call them  at 941-312-1750.

Katie

More Foster Homes Are Needed!!

1. They provide extension into the community

2. Conduct reference checks

3. Provide ongoing support to the Grey and his forever home.

4. Great option for snow birds or anyone without a long term commitment.

Tupelo

Everyone asks, “Is it difficult to give up a foster?” Yes and No.  It’s very easy to develop an emotional attachment but when you place a happy Grey in his forever home with wonderful & caring families we are very happy! Then we know we can foster another Grey and help them find a loving home.  If you cannot foster and cannot adopt, donations help support the cost of caring for our Greyhounds and preparing them for our prison training program.

Sophia

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION….

ALL OF THE DOGS ON THIS POST ARE UP FOR ADOPTION.

Racing Greyhounds spend most of their lives in the company of other dogs, their trainers and handlers. Racing Greyhounds have all the advantage of breeding and training when it comes to being a good pet. Their social ability generally makes them great with other pets. Their temperament makes them wonderful around children and friends. Their intelligence and breed make them perfect house pets. A clean, quiet loving companion, a well-mannered Greyhound could be just the pet for you.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season.  I spent a couple of days helping the Audubon Society with their Christmas bird count.  I spent one day with the Sarasota Audubon Society and the other with the Manatee Audubon Society.  They are dedicated to the protection, conservation and enjoyment of birds, wildlife and the environment.

When I was asked to help I said, count birds?  How do you count the birds when they are flying all over?  How do you know if you are counting the same bird twice?  My biggest challenge, knowing which bird I saw.  They all look like sparrows, hawks or vultures to me, especially when they fly so fast and high.  We counted about 50 different species of bird in my area of Florida.  The people who have been doing this for years can tell what kind of bird it is based on their sounds, the way they move their tail, flap their wings, etc.  I have a new appreciation for the people who bird watch.  It’s not easy!

I wanted to know why this count is important?  This count has been going on since 1982.  When you look at the numbers over the years you begin to see birds in an area that were never there.  You also notice birds that used to be here, are no longer here.  That data is important for birds but also for humans and other animals.  There can be a lot of reasons for the change in numbers.

They also have a number of Field Trips that you can attend through out the year.  If you have never been aware of birds, join one of these fun events.  You will become aware of your surroundings in a new and different way.

One important thing that did have an impact on me involved feeding of animals.  I love animals so much that I always want to feed them when I can.  These are wild animals and need to stay that way.  When we feed them we are not giving them the type of food they really need AND they become dependant on us.  We are hurting them, not helping them.  I had some squirrels come up to me and stand on my shoes.  They looked right into my eyes asking for food.  They were very overweight and I’m sure not healthy.  It was cute but really affected me.  I have a tendency of feeding birds bread, which is not good for them.

Someone also took me to visit an organization that I was not aware of.  It’s called Save our Seabirds, Inc.  It is located by the Mote Marine in Sarasota Florida.  It is open from 10am-5pm seven days a week.

They rescue and rehabilitate hundreds of native and migratory birds each year.  When the Tampa Bay channel experienced a devastating 365-barrel oil spill. Lee Fox, the founder, managed more than 3,000 volunteers over a three-month period to minimize the impact of this tragedy on the local seabirds. An unprecedented 85% of the birds affected – a total of 371 were saved! In recognition of her efforts, Lee received eleven separate awards from the U.S. Coast Guard and other environment groups.  Education and outreach has always been a major focus of SOS.  They are run by volunteers and can use more.  If you have interest in volunteering your time, providing materials needed to help the birds or want to donate, contact them.

He Was Delivered By Caesarean Section, After His Mom Died When Hit By A Car.

An orphaned baby Asian elephant crippled by a poacher’s snare can now walk again thanks to an incredible jumbo-sized false foot.
Read More about this wonderful story.