Post by Sally Blossom on Jan 29, 2015 15:10:14 GMT -5
I was surfing on the GRA Facebook page and came across this wonder article on "Louis" a former GRA Greyhound who now resides in St. Catharines. The St. Catharines Newspaper wrote this article and it is very interesting - great advertisement for the GRA Kennels in Mount Elgin. There is a picture posted on the GRA Facebook Page but my computer won't allow it to be copied. Enjoy!!!
Racetracks to dog snacks
Louis is living the dream as he walks down the streets in St. Catharines.
His big hazel eyes fixate on the sights all around him. His ears are alert to the sounds.
He is quick to greet passersby with a friendly hello and a sniff. People seem to enjoy it as much as he enjoys them.
But life wasn’t always so relaxed for this greyhound.
Before his retirement, Louis had a job where he spent much of his day at a racetrack where his race name was Ariat.
About a year ago, Sandra Gale found the now three-year-old dog while visiting the Greyhound Relocation and Adoption Agency, also known as GRA.
“I can watch all his archived races on video,” said Gale with a smile.
“The first time he heard me watching one of his races, he heard the announcer and he just booted down the hall … you could just hear nails on the hardwood.”
Louis is one of thousands of retired racing greyhounds that have found homes through the adoption agency. The GRA was founded in the mid 1990s when former owner, Billy Cowan, discovered his love of greyhounds.
Nearly 30 years later — and upwards of 3,000 greyhounds relocated — the GRA continues to work out of a three-acre farm near London, Ont.
The facility holds from 20 to 50 dogs at a time, said Heather Maine, who took over from Bill Cowan after he retired in February last year.
Maine started working with the agency back in 2007 after adopting her first greyhound. Now she has six of them.
She said the fact GRA has large kennels sets it apart from other adoption agencies.
It was just over a year ago when Gale found herself at the kennels, undecided over which retired racing hound she was going to bring home to her apartment in St. Catharines.
“There was another one that I had a real crush on, I almost came home with a real bruiser,” said Gale.
“He (Louis) was the first one I saw … I knelt down, and he came as close as he could … and I spent a lot of time with him. My other pick, named Kentucky Gambler, he was huge … a real smiler, and very playful.”
She nearly left with Kentucky Gambler, but decided to give Louis one more chance.
“We brought him out and he was very affectionate and very sweet,” she said. “It was really cold (outside) and I think if I had opened my jacket he would have jumped right in.”
So Louis won Gale over.
“We have lots of wonderful volunteers … the dogs are loved and cared for every day,” said Maine.
She said adoption groups like the GRA make dogs such as Louis feel at home while they excitedly await a new family to take them in.
The agency relies on volunteers and donations to buy things like dog food and soap to keep the animals healthy.
“We interview people, and they can come in and have a look at the dogs,” said Maine. “They can take out as many dogs as they like until they find the perfect fit for their family.”
Gale is thinking of adopting Louis’s brother when he retires from racing, but for the time being she’s content with one greyhound.
“They are such wonderful dogs,” said Maine. “They are so clean and quiet, and a great companion. They are very low energy and make great apartment dogs.”Learn more
Visit www.gracanada.com or phone 519-423-9691
Greyhound facts
— Greyhounds are docile and tolerant and make the best pets for quiet, gentle children who do not wish to engage in boisterous play.
— The greyhound is a low-maintenance dog. Their skin produces little oil so only a few baths a year are needed
— Greyhounds MUST LIVE INDOORS and can NEVER be kept in a doghouse or garage.
— To most people’s surprise, greyhounds are not in continuous motion. … Expect your greyhound to dash down your hallway a few times a day to burn off energy and then spend the rest of the day storing up energy (usually on your couch!) for the next burst.
— Greyhounds love to run and chase things. … Because of this, greyhounds can never be trusted off the leash. Greyhounds also must never be tied up. They can reach speeds of up to 40 mph in their third stride and could easily break their neck if they decide to bolt or run.