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)