The 4th of March 2016 laid a very wet snow around Cleveland. I had my first greyhound, Captain America, for one day less than four months. We went out for a morning walk, he came home that day, and i went to hospital. One bad step, and a shattered ankle. I have asked Captain about that incident, he has not said anything. Well, the day before i posted this on my regular journal:
It is easy to become enamoured of certain animals. God by nature grants
graces. The eye, and then the soul, becomes enchanted. Hounds (i am not
using the AKC definition, but the older English canine term) have great
genetic elasticity, so that many various body shapes, sizes, and other
physical characteristics run a gauntlet on the continuum. We are given
the chihuahua, and many mastiffs. The hound is a social animal, that
grants hounds and people position within the pack. The signals a dog
recognises has him approaching an empath. It is easy, so doggone easy,
to be infatuated with a breed.
Recently, i have come into possession of a greyhound, a track discard, an animal sheltered by a rescue organisation. Many people have done same, and still a majority of these dogs are not rescued. I will refrain from an euphemism, they are killed. How many have people have seen a greyhound pup? They are controlled by the industry. They are overbred. A culling comes early, not every whelp is deemed suitable. During training, and racing some are injured and their days are ended. A hound's racing span is not often long, and if not chosen for breeding, they are expendable. It is then death, or adoption.
Some are rescued and become companion animals--pets.
They learn a new life. The transition is an healing proposition. A new
socialisation occurs. Healthcare changes. Their care is not formed for
racing needs. As with other hounds, parasites are an issue: worms,
ticks, fleas should be removed. I read again and again, teeth are often
in bad shape. Greyhounds scar easily (emotionally too), and bones can be
fragile.
They are sleek and chic, beyond that i have noticed walking with my hound is that some people stop and chat, and to my initial surprise, thank me and bless me for getting the animal. I can not remember this sort of random, unsolicited bonhomie directed towards me.
[end part one]
Thursday, March 3, 2016
'G' is for Greyhound
Recently, i have come into possession of a greyhound, a track discard, an animal sheltered by a rescue organisation. Many people have done same, and still a majority of these dogs are not rescued. I will refrain from an euphemism, they are killed. How many have people have seen a greyhound pup? They are controlled by the industry. They are overbred. A culling comes early, not every whelp is deemed suitable. During training, and racing some are injured and their days are ended. A hound's racing span is not often long, and if not chosen for breeding, they are expendable. It is then death, or adoption.
Some are rescued and become companion animals
As other hounds, certain traits are very common in a particular breed.
An Englishman, Rich Skipworth, is a cartoonist with a greyhound; and he
has drawn some of the hounds' proclivities. My hound does do some of
that, it is as if he did picture him. Other people with greyhounds have
developed a descriptive greyhound vocabulary. The greyhound's physiology
is not the average hound's. There are related sighthounds that share
some physiology. They are lean, narrow, with long backs, longish necks
and muzzles, deep chests, high tucks, long tails, long legs built for the sprint run.
They are bony, with thin coats, and very little fat. They are not winter
animals, and they need a few amenities. They wear clothes in bad
weather, and need soft bedding for reclining and
they do recline, to the point they are lazy. But, they are gentle,
docile, quiet (some are painfully shy), and low maintenance. Their odd
habits become cute and endearing to you. They are also watching you, and
can be sly.
They are sleek and chic, beyond that i have noticed walking with my hound is that some people stop and chat, and to my initial surprise, thank me and bless me for getting the animal. I can not remember this sort of random, unsolicited bonhomie directed towards me.
[end part one]
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