Welcome to the first edition of the new GAP newsletter! We hope you’ll find it an informative and enjoyable read. The newsletter is being launched in conjunction with our new website so if you have not already dropped by just click on the link below.

PROMOTIONS

The next major GAP promotion is the 2007 Royal Melbourne Show. This is our main promotional event for the year and as it runs over ten days, we always need volunteers and their greyhounds to help out on our display.

The event runs from 20th – 30th September and the stand is generally staffed from 10am till 8pm (with the day broken up into two shifts). If you have a dog that you can bring along, and if you are able to work a minimum of four shifts (spread out over the duration of the show), we’d love to hear from you! Please phone GAP on 5799 2909 or email gap@grv.org.au

EVENTS

The Greyhound Walking Group

The Greyhound Walking Group was formed by some GAP Adopters in August 2006. Starting with just a few people with their GAP Greyhounds walking at the Botanic Gardens, the group now has over 70 people involved. The walking group meets at various venues around Melbourne a few times per month for a friendly walk with the ever so friendly greyhounds. If you are interested in joining the walks please contact Stephen Curlett on Phone: 9329 0861 Mobile: 0432 873 821 or email:stephen_curlett@aami.com.au or just turn up at the following venues to join in on the fun!

1) 29 July 11:00 am at Warrandyte, meeting at Stiggant Reserve, melway map 23 ref D 12.

2) 19 August 10:30 am at St Kilda, meeting at St Kilda pier, Jacka Boulevard Melways map 57, ref K 10.

GEMMA

Gemma needs a very patient, understanding, calm & confident owner who can help her to blossom. She is a very nervous, timid dog who will take time to settle into new surroundings. She is a sweet natured girl who just needs to be given some compassion & confidence & not be expected to be the perfect pet within a day. Gemma needs a quiet, relaxed home without too much hustle & bustle to upset her. Children are not on her list of must haves. A more active, older owner would be fine but she might topple a more frail owner over if she got a fright. Gemma really is a lovely girl who just needs a bit of help. She should be OK as an only dog or with another more confident dog. She is not cat friendly. 

Dear Oscar,

I have noticed something very odd in my humans: when we go for a walk in the park, and I go to the toilet they save it in plastic bags?

At first I just thought it was stupid and I looked at them funny. Why would anyone want to keep it? Much better to leave it on the ground so the other dogs know I’ve been around. But then I wondered, what do they do with it? I’ve noticed sometimes they put the plastic bags in green letter-boxes.

Who do they send it to? What happens to it when they get there?

Confused,
Ruby

Dear Ruby,

I have pondered on this myself and have been unable to come up with any real conclusion. I do however have two theories:

1. The humans are storing it in a secret location and the plan is to have a sample from every dog alive. That way they can form a database of all our details—our name, date of birth, and occupation etc.... this will make it easier for them to trace particular dogs when we make our bid to take over the world.

2. Humans are greedy and want it all for themselves. That’s why they get so angry when we eat it as it means less for them.

What do you think?

Oscar

Oscar is always keen to offer advice to greyhounds and their people. He loves to receive letters so if you have a question you need answered, please write to:

Dear Oscar
c/o GAP
PO Box 785
Seymour
VIC 3661

Our foster carers recently had the opportunity to visit the property of respected greyhound mentor Stan Wardle and his wife Maggie. The carers were able to see how racing greyhounds live before they start their life as a pet with GAP.

Stan and Maggie graciously gave us the grand tour of their spotless facilities, explaining how greyhounds are prepared for racing and we even got to meet a beautiful litter of puppies! Everyone enjoyed a lovely morning tea before grilling Stan with question time.

The day was a pleasant eye opener for many of our carers. It was also a fantastic opportunity to help the carers understand the sort of environment our hounds come from, which will in turn help them mould their foster dogs into perfect pets. Below is some of the feedback we received from the day.

“It was a great experience to meet and see a greyhound trainer at home. Stan and Maggie obviously care greatly for all the dogs that pass through their lives. The dogs were lovely - so friendly and happy in the face of so many visitors.”

“It certainly gave me insight into the life of a racing greyhound"

A HUGE thank you to Stan and Maggie for their generous hospitality and for making us feel so welcome. Stan and Maggie are truly a tremendous asset to the greyhound racing industry.

 

HELLO!

Hi, guys at GAP. It has been nearly a year since I was adopted and I am loving my new home, so I must first thank you for giving me the chance to find one. I have a new name now, my owner has chosen to call me Ana, instead of Troubles. She didn't think that Troubles suited my personality. I know that I am not allowed on beds, but between you and me, they can't watch me ALL day long. What I don't understand is, when I try to help them with the gardening, they get angry at me. I think they are jealous because they can't dig as fast as I can.

I now live by the beach and I love it here. I get to go for a walk on the beach every morning and sometimes in the afternoon too. I'm not particularly keen on the water but I love exploring the rock pools. I am also not a fan of those damn seagulls, they attacked me yesterday. Did you know I can run faster than a seagull?

I also have a Greyhound friend, he lives near me, and we see each other nearly everyday. His name is Bob. We are planning to race the next time the weather is good, down on the beach. Our owners are very responsible though, we always go to a secluded area of the beach with no other dogs. And while Bob is very good at coming when he is called, I don't like being bossed around so much. So one of my owners has to wait at each end of the beach so I don't run too far.

I also have another dog friend, Penny, she lives in the backyard and we spend the afternoon together normally. She is rather funny looking, she has big ears, long fur and doesn't even reach my knees. She is very playful with my owner and it upsets me when she calls MY owner, 'HER owner'. I want to play games with Penny, but I don't think she knows how to play with other dogs. I have decided to teach her, but she is very stubborn. I think I have my work cut out for me, but if I can turn the cat then I can fix Penny. Felix, my owners cat, lives inside the house with me. She didn't like me when I first met her and she would block my way down the hall and through doors. But now we have learnt to live with each other, and I think Felix and I could become really good friends. Although, she like Penny, doesn't like it when I try to play with her.

Oww... Oww... Oww... I recently got to go to the RSPCA Million Paws walk. It was SOOO much fun. I saw a lot of other Greyhounds, and I met two Airedale Terriers, they were almost as big as me. Ok, well maybe not THAT big but, they were big. I also got a bandana and a jacket that day. But I got tired before we finished the 5km walk and started complaining about being bored, particularly when we sat down for lunch. Despite it all I was quite sad when we had to go home and say goodbye to Scout, my owners sisters puppy. I also went to the GAP Christmas Party awhile ago, and I had a great time. I met heaps of Greyhounds that day and a Saluki.

Once again, I would like to thank you for hooking me up with my new pack. They are lovely, and they baby me too. No more working my butt off racing,now I can lounge around everyday, until meals, or scavange for any food they have left ungaurded. Silly family, it's so funny when they try to hide food from me.

Once again Thank-you,

Yours sincerely,

Troubles aka Ana The Lazy

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors Bayer Australia who are long time supporters of the GAP Program through their Advantix and Drontal Allwormer Chewable products.