been a while!

I can't believe that I've been in my new home for over a month! Time sure flies when you're having fun! Me and mom are doing great and having a blast together. She takes me for rides and walks around the block and it's fantastic! She bought me tons of toys, mostly the squeaky ones as those are my favorites! I miss my old friends but I am making new ones all the time! Will write again soon!

im adopted!

As of last Thursday I officially have a new home and a new mommy! So far this place is great! My new mom is very loving and knows just the spot on my tummy to rub. She's got a really big back yard that I can run around in until I'm too pooped to move! She's put this doggy door in and I'm not too crazy about it but she's determined to get me to use it. i'm giving it a shot, but I'm not making any promises! We go for a walk everyday around the neighborhood (well halfway because I get so tired!) and meet the neighbors. The kids over here sure are nice! But so far I have to say I'm very happy to have a home of my own and my very own master I can train to my liking! I'll keep you posted!

PetSSSSmart!

Yippee!

We went shopping this weekend. What a fun store...it's called PetSmart. It was a blast. I was super cool, didn't let them see my excitement, but I was excited. Yeap, tried to take some toys off the shelf, got some new food, checked out the scale (it was broken...that's my story & I'm sticking to it). It was awesome. I'm very curious and like to check out everything. But I'm calm, cool and collected and know that Keri's in charge of the leash. Really, sticking by the humans is the best thing to do at stores. They have the money! And the opposable thumbs to pull out the credit card, etc. Take my advice, kennel kids...hang tight and be good at the stores. It's the best way to ensure rewards in the way of TREATS!

Oh, and I got to see, lots & lots of little dogs and cats. I really like them....maybe I'm not supposed to like them. I haven't seen many little dogs out in the "real world" since my first meeting with my friend Schnauzer Simon (I'm a dog, I can't be expected to remember his name). My reaction was the same as it was the first time....so Keri tells me I'll be finding a forever home without small dogs or kitties. That's cool. I was very happily distracted, especially when treats were involved. I felt like a politician, meeting, greeting and yes KISSING little babies...it was so fun.

We've been watching a lot of football this fall season. Kennel friends, now this is something you have to know about the south....it's football country. I don't get all that into it....check out the picture below. That's Tippy & I sharing a bed. We do that often. I'm still so excited to hopefully finally meet my forever family. They may soon reveal themselves....more to come.

Signed,

Athora (as told to Keri)

New tricks!

Kennel kids,

Howdy! Another delay in posting. Gosh, I need to get on the stick here and control my foster mom...Wait, I think she'd have a problem if I thought she was in control. I'm not, I'm not. The humans are in control. (we let them think that to make them feel better). Really, I'm such a good girl and I am truly polite all the time. It's just in my nature, and I highly recommend it be in all of your natures, too, kennel friends. Oh, who am I kidding. We're greyhounds. Politeness is in our DNA (take note, foster sister, MaryLou).

Ok, so I'd like to post pictures of me doing my new trick, but I've lost the camera. Again, a little white lie. I'm a dog. I didn't loose the camera. A certain, not to be mentioned foster mom seems to have misplaced the camera, but I'm cool taking the fall for her. Anyway, if we could find the camera, we would be able to take and post pictures of me playing catch. This is a fun game that I know all of you kennel pups will enjoy (some of you already engage with those wonderful kennel walkers in the kennel run). Anyway, I am having so much fun frolicking in the backyard running after the toy and bringing it back for more romps! Who says greyhounds can't learn new tricks???

Can't wait to play with my new forever family in the backyard and neighborhood dog parks!

Off to look for that camera, because -- ahem -- it doesn't seem to be enough of a priority for - ahem - someone.

Your truly,
Athora (as told to Keri, who gets no respect around here -- ok, ok, Athora's right, she's very respectful and polite...she's just calling it as she sees it. That's fair)

Back in the Saddle

Oh my gosh...have you all been wondering where I've been? I'm so sorry, kennel friends. Athora reporting for duty and apologizing for the delays. There have been a few things going on around here -- nothing to do with me -- and my foster fam hasn't had a chance to log me in to the computer. I mean, come on, you didn't think they'd give a greyhound the computer passwords did you?

So, where have I been -- well, everywhere. Let me tell you, I am a lucky, lucky girl. While I'm waiting for YOU to adopt me -- that's right, I'm talking to you -- I've stayed with some lovely ladies. First there was Lynn and now my buddy Sue! Oh, I had so much fun staying with Sue, Cutter and Steelwave for two weeks during my foster families "vacation." Not sure what vacation is, but I know that staying with Sue is just heavenly! So relaxing and serene. We spent warm summer days sunning ourselves in the family room and evenings lounging on the porch watching the kids play and the rain roll in from the south.

I'm back now, and you'll see here that I've picked up right where I've left off. Taking a nap on the same bed that I fancied here earlier in the month. I had SO much fun, I just crashed and fell asleep as soon as I returned to my abode. Looking all over the metro area for my new forever family is exhausting. Could you hurry up and come get me!

All of my foster moms report...I'm a keeper. They just are already at capacity at their houses. So, just know that I'm addictive. Once I get into your house, I make myself at home and you won't want to see me leave, either.

To my kennel buds -- and there's been some great turnover, so welcome to the newbies -- let me tell you. I've learned this month that there sure are A LOT of wonderful people out here caring for hounds like you and me. Wow! My cup runneth over. Ok, my dog bowl runneth over (I can't really drink from a cup -- well, I've tried, but the humans didn't appreciate my tongue in their orange juice.)

Signed,

Athora (as told to Keri, because I don't know the passwords and I have to hunt & peck when it comes to typing, so I much prefer dictation).

Me and MaryLou

Hi kennel friends,

So get this out here in the "real world" just like in the kennel and on the track, we find our friends and pals around us. I didn't know there were so many cool cats (pardon the pun) out here all ready living the "good life." So, here we have me and MaryLou. We are both white. We are both very spunky and funny. We both have super fun brown speckled ears. We're both greyhounds. We both love to snuggle and nuzzle with humans. We are both very food motivated. We both love kongs. We both LOVE to play with toys and run around in the backyard. We both like to chase birds, too.

We both know to wait and refrain ourselves (which is SOOO hard) while we wait for our dinner. See, we have to wait while the other hounds are served dinner first. It's SOO hard, because we are both always so hungry. It's like we haven't eaten in YEARS every day. AND our bowls are the last to be set down....but we're SO good, we both hold back. We wag our tails and jump with glee as we watch all the hounds start eating and we wait for our kibble to arrive. Of course, we're not totally alike. MaryLou is shorter than me. Oh, and MaryLou is not available for adoption (Editors Note: Well, money does talk).

Prospective adopters: I'm talking to you now! Please call Keri today! Not only can she tell you how fun it is to live with me now, she can also tell you, from her experience, how fun it will be with me for years to come. Please, will you call her? (Call Patty & Suzanne first, of course).

Signed,

Athora (as told to Keri)

Happy 8th of July!

Whew. Already July 8th? Well, my kennel friends I made it through my first "Independence Day" as Miss Independent. Well, I like people too much to be completely independent. I guess I'm a little more Miss Co-dependent, want to follow you everywhere than anything. But still, it's fun being able to run independently when I feel like it.

It's pretty great being "free" to be what I want to be. What a great home of the brave....brave world of greyhounds who can survive all the 4th of July hoopla that is! So, I hear there is some question regarding how greyhounds (and all dogs for that matter) will react to those pesky, noisey 4th of July fireworks. Well, here's what I have to say about that:

These photos were taken DURING the fireworks set off less than a mile from our house. Loud, sure. Ground vibrating. Yeap. Me...well, napping.

Oh, and for anyone who knows and was wondering. Here's my foster house mate, Beth. She's pretty scared of most things. But apparently not fireworks (pardon her demonic eyes, she's really quite angelic, just not when the flash is too close).

Keep on rockin' in the free world,

Athora (as told to Keri)

Shoulda' had the camera moment

Foster "mom" Keri missed it. This morning there were dogs barking and ducks quacking on the news. I had to get a closer look. I couldn't smell them, though. I sniffed the tv. And I sniffed the tv. I don't get it. Why didn't those dogs smell? Bummer. I had to walk away, dejected.

Until next time,

Athora (as told to Keri)

Brown is the new Black

Ok, so I hear a lot out here about dalmations, and I'm just here to say that I don't get it. My coloring is so much more chic. Fashion-forward if you will. I don't sport your run of the puppy-mill spots. Rather, I have nice chocolate, cocoa, even chesnut, auburn, coffee colored spots on my body and especially on my ears. My mostly ivory coat is snowy white, and accented by my flecks of colored fur. So, black has nothing on me. What can brown do for you? Well, you're just going to have to meet me, huh? Take that all 101 Dalmations. There can't possibly be more of the black and white variety could there?

Love to all my kennel friends,

Athora (as told to Keri)

For the Love of the KONG!

I have fallen in love and that love is for the KONG. Oh my, do I enjoy licking out the peanut butter in the center of a kong. Have you kids heard about this miraculous invention? Delicious. Every morning when Keri leaves, she loads all of us up with kongs. I jump right into my crate awaiting this tasty morsel. I can hardly contain my excitment for the kong, and my tail spontaneously wags like crazy as the heavenly bliss approaches. And then -- bonus! I get to round up everyone else's kongs in the evenings. The pups around here are not nearly as accomplished as I am with the kong. I am a determined lady, and I will work on that kong until there is just no more peanut butter to be found. In fact, I'm so good that I have a tricky green kong and my foster friends here have the simple red ones. Not that I'd turn down the original. I just love a challenge.



So that, my furry friends is what you have to look forward to outside of the kennel. KONGS! When we have fresh kongs in the morning, we're all like "Keri Who?" when she leaves. A.mazing!

Signed,

Athora as told to Keri

Day 2. Check.

Hello again, my kennel friends. Oh, you should be SO jealous of me....I mean, I'm kickin' it out here with the foster fam, and I'm doing fine. So, I keep bugging Keri to get a picture up, but she said something about that Jason guy taking the camera to work. Tomorrow? Hopefully, she'll work on that.

So, I teased it, and now I'm going to tell it....the television is this amazing, crazy, awe-inspiring thing. I'm fascinated. I have to get up close to see what's really going on. The people are talking, but I can't seem to get them to pet me. I even tried standing on the "surround-sound" speaker. That didn't go over so well. I hear them, but I just don't understand why they aren't petting me. THEN, and here's the crazy thing, there was a dog barking in there. How did a dog get in there. I was very perplexed....I got really close. So close that I really did try to jump into the TV. Keri asked, and she was right, I was trying to figure it out. Anyone have tips?

So, this is very fun to be hanging around in a house. I experienced some sensory overload when I arrived, but I've since chilled about the whole sit.u.ation. I have been sleeping nicely on my assigned bed at night and I'm even starting to figure out which food bowl is mine, and which ones belong to the other dogs here. I think they might let me stay -- until my forever family comes along. Which is cool.

Gotta run! "The Office" is on, and I"m trying to get that Michael guy to pay attention to me. He's really funny - just like me.

What's up for tomorrow? New Obession: The kong. And, oh how sweet it is that there are 3 left-over kongs waiting for me out on the carpet at the end of the day.

Check ya' later,

Athora as told to Keri

PS I have to give a great big shout out to my first foster mom in Florida, Lynn. Lynn, you rock! Miss you. Mean it.

It's an exciting world out here...

Hello there --

Just a quick note to my (former) kennel mates. I am here to tell you that it's pretty exciting being in a home. There are so many things to see and smell. There's hardly any time to consider sleeping around here. There's so much activity in this very cushioned, extra large "crate" with a backyard full of grass and not sand. Fascinating. Also, out here in what they tell me is "suburbia" they have these amazing little holes in the ground filled with water and a waterfall. I'm told they are fish ponds. Well, let me tell you, I like to refer to them as pools with pretty little gold toys to chase. Had a hard time catching one of those things through my muzzle, but I'm told that the fish have not all been accounted for yet. And. I'm. not. telling. No, ma'am. My needle nose is sealed.

Really, I don't think the homeowners particularly loved my obsession with the pond. They told me that I can look, but no more jumping in. It's ok. There's not that much room for me to swim in there. I have a very supermodel sized body, I am so very leggy. Anyway, there's not that much room for me. I am scoping out the neighbors pool, though!

That's all for now. I'll tell you more about foster life tomorrow -- such as an explanation on the TV and how interesting it is to watch the TV reflection in the window. It will be a lesson on how barking at things doesn't always achieve the desired result.

Sincerley,
Athora - as told to foster "mom" Keri (a.k.a. human caretaker, a.k.a. lady who really likes the word "No" when I just want to dive into ponds and bags of kibble)

Pa's leash walker extraordinaire!!!

Pa's is a great leash walker. She listens, minds, and stays right with her walker. She is eager to please whoever she is with, and would like to find her forever home and walk with you every day! She is beautiful, has a very sweet nature, learns quickly and is very smart!
Heather, Rhonda, and Jen L

Athora is just beautiful! Her speckled blue and tan ears are adorable, just like her personality. She and I spent some 1-on-1 time in the outside run. She has lots of energy, but can also settle in for a good ear scratch in a second. You will be the talk of the neighborhood walking this pretty girl!
Ivey

She's a looker!

What a beauty...she has freckles sprinkled through her white coat. She has maintained such a positive attitude in our kennel. She is a bright dog and is ready for an adventure and a soft bed.

Maria Peters, kennel walker

Pa's the AUTHORITY!

Pa's has really become a sweet girl in the time I have known her at the kennel. She has become a good walker, and she is very active. She loves her walks, and her romps in the run. She is always the dominant dog...she's the BOSS!
She knows who she is, and isn't afraid to let you know!
She is a stunning, confident, and strong dog... she just needs the right person to be her leader, and she will thrive and be happy...
Heather, kennel walker

I'm a sweet girl

I love to wag my tail and will look longingly into your eyes. I am a very curious girl and I really liked Kelly's smelly sneakers. I also liked playing with a rope toy and didn't mind giving it up. I will be a lot of fun to be around. Please consider adopting me.

dictated by Athora to Suzanne & Kelly

We really fell in love with this beauty tonight. She loves walking but is very careful not to pull and looks back as if to make sure you are alright. I just love her spotted ears that she can hold straight up or let flop. What a wonderful disposition she has. I don't think this girl will be at the kennel for long!

I'm so fine!

You should have seen me tonight strutting my stuff on my evening walk. The human walking me said that I looked elegant on a leash! Imagine if YOU were walking me; we'd be quite a pair. I'm very well-mannered, and my markings are beautiful.

Take me home!

This one can't wait to go home with you! She is loaded with personality! We played endlessly with a stuffed animal today. She was glad to share it with me, and never tired of chasing it down! She's as graceful as she is beautiful. You can't see from her picture, but both of her ears are covered with small black spots on the back! Too cute!