Dusty and me

Hello again, everyone. It has been awhile since we've talked, hasn't it? The dog days of summer just wore us down, nothing of note really happened for a couple of weeks, so we just decided to lie low. And then came Irma to shake us awake. And fortunately, there went Irma leaving most everyone I've heard from in our little community almost completely whole. A few of us lost power for a time, some of us lost cell service, Friends of Greyhounds lost part of their backyard fence. But none whom I have talked with lost life, limb or home. So we're in great shape. While we were sweating it out in Florida with Irma raging around us, old friend Buford was playing it cool at his other home in New Jersey. Travis, hope to see you guys soon. Come join us at some of our gatherings this fall when you're in town. ---------- Dusty and I were probably the luckiest of them all. Neither of us, nor the Kia Koach nor the townhouse sustained a scratch from Irma. Worst thing that ...

Casey still wants to stay close to home. ---------- Dusty and I answered an emergency call from Michelle this morning. She and Jerry got tied up longer than expected on a personal errand, so Dusty and I drove to Sunrise to give the Friends of Greyhounds dogs their noon breaks. Herman looking for love ---------- We're always happy for that task. Dusty gets to run outside with her friends Chumlee, Joy, Yahtzee and Mitzi. And, of course, I get to spend a little one-on-one time with a couple of the dogs. It was my first real chance to get to know Herman since Michelle and I picked him up in Central Florida with his brother Buford a couple of weeks ago. It turns out the big white 3-year-old guy is just like his brother -- he loves human attention. Just like Buford, Herman is happy to body-lean against my legs for as long as I'm happy to give him petting attention. He loves it. And, of course, I had to get in my time with Casey, who's feeling more confident by the d...

Buford and Travis a few feet outside their new apartment ---------- That didn't take long. It wasn't two weeks ago when I rode to Orlando with Michelle to pick up a couple of greyhounds from Sanford Orlando Kennel Club. And now Buford, the light-colored brindle love bug who just turned 3 years old last month, already has himself a home. Travis found Friends of Greyhounds through an online search a few days ago and visited the kennels Thursday to meet some of the guests. He said he had in mind one of the black greyhounds he saw on the FoG website. But once he got there and as Jerry was introducing him to all the guests, Travis fell in love with the leg-leaning Buford. Michelle and I delivered Buford this morning to Travis and his new apartment in Hallandale Beach. The apartment is on the top floor of a three-story apartment building a few feet from the Intracoastal Waterway. Michelle and I both were a little apprehensive when we saw it, wondering what would be the best ...

Buford enjoys some neck rubs. ---------- Dusty and I headed over to Friends of Greyhounds this morning to help with the noon turnout of all the dogs -- when I let them out a few at a time into the backyard while I freshen up their kennels. Once that 30-minute routine is finished, I'll sometimes give a couple of the dogs some one-on-one time to let them stretch their legs and so I can get to know them a little better. I usually always spend a couple of minutes with Casey to see if I can somehow bring him out of his shell -- which seems to be going pretty well. For awhile, he was happy to greet me and snuggle my hand if I put it through the opening of his gate. But as soon as that gate would come open, he would freeze in uncertainty, not knowing what was to become of him. It was a challenge every day to get him to leave his kennel and go outside. He's gotten a lot better. Though he's still tentative about it, now he doesn't mind stepping forward and trotti...

Buford loaded into the FoG greyhound bus for the long drive south ---------- Herman ready for the road to retirement ---------- Dusty spent the day today in Sunrise while Michelle and I drove north to Sanford Orlando Kennel Club to pick up a set of brothers to add to the Friends of Greyhounds guest list. Buford and Herman, who turned 3 years old a couple of weeks ago, are now officially looking for a family. Obviously, it would be great to keep them together if someone is ready to take on both. But both will be fine if they do happen to end up in separate homes. That makes four new dogs in the FoG kennels in the past couple of days, with two more scheduled to join the gang Wednesday, putting the guest residence at capacity. Randy and Ric ---------- Michelle delivered Doc on Monday to his new home with a father and son in Wilton Manors. She made a solo trip later in the day back to western Miami-Dade County to take Ringo to his new family. Now she'll be beating ...