Friday, April 25, 2008

Friday Hound Blogging

Usually on Fridays we take time out of our busy schedules to point and laugh at the overlords. But this week here's something completely different:

She's 20 years young and still going strong.

The Tampa Bay chapter of Greyhound Pets of America honored Genie, the soon-to-be-20-year-old greyhound, at its annual "Run With the Big Dogs" Poker Run this weekend.

It was quite a birthday party, with greyhounds (and their owners) from all over Florida on hand to celebrate what could very well be the world's oldest greyhound. Genie's owners, Tim and Neena Derf of Palmetto, were thrilled by the turnout to celebrate their special girl.

Tim especially has reason to celebrate Genie's birthday -- a few years ago, he became seriously ill in the middle of the night.Genie found him unconscious and nosed Neena awake, refusing to give up until she got up and found Tim. Doctors say he was minutes away from death.

As Neena and Tim say, "He picked her and she saved him."Genie was already 11 years old when they adopted her, and chances were slim that someone would want to take in a dog that old. Perhaps there was a little "Genie magic" at work?

And she's kept her good looks too:

Twenty years old in people years. That'd make her bout as old as John McCain in dog years, right Spanky?

Spanky is a quick learner and eager to please. He is a happy, outgoing, and friendly dog. He is playful and calms easily. His trainers believe he will make a great house pet. He loves to play in the snow. He’s a happy dog whose tail wags often. He’s very friendly. He wants to be with you but he’s not clingy. He loves to run and play. He loves to go in the granddaughter’s bedrooms and wake them up with kisses in the morning. He will roll over and want his tummy scratched. He is a Second Chance at Life Dog from the Coldwater Prison Program. Spanky would do well in a working family home with well-mannered children, 6 and up. He is good with other dogs and would probably be fine as an only dog. For more information about this dog, and other rescued racing greyhounds looking for homes, go here. If you don't know about the plight of racing greyhounds go here.

And if you 'd like to know more about the good work the Second Chance for Life program is doing for the dogs, and the prisoners, go here.

3 comments:

George said...

Poor Genie, getting compared to John McCain.

Ironicus Maximus said...

Please excuse our sophomoric attempts at humor. We certainly meant no disrespect to the madame.

derfaroo said...

Genie's Mom here... Thanks for posting her story! Genie helped raise over $8,000 on the 20th to help more greyhounds find good homes! AND WE HAD FUN!!! FOX also filmed a segment in January with outstanding response. To see both,
www.myfoxtampabay.com In the SEARCH BOX type: Genie Greyhound
Two videos and a news story will pop! Thanks for spreading the good word!

Neena