Hounds Home For The Holiday

Ah, well here we are staring at the south end of north bound 2008. We're pretty busy around the marbled halls of IM Central today preparing to meet annus novus so we thought we'd leave you with an uplifting tale to close out the year. Besides, someone gave us the biggest bottle of Stolichnaya we've ever seen (practical gifts are always best) and frankly, much as we value and respect our reader(s) you ain't made from Russian rye and purified water, know what we're saying?

After the November election, which passed a question banning dog racing in Massachusetts, many greyhounds in the state suddenly became homeless. Greyhound Friends of Hopkinton has had a huge part in finding homes for these dogs, and now Hopkinton Girl Scout Troop 3791 has joined the cause.
"Our troop is working on their Bronze Award this year, which is the highest achievement that a Junior Girl Scout can earn," said troop leader Anita Rogers. "The award has several requirements, with a large part being that the girls conduct a community service project. The troop agreed early this school year that they wanted to work with animals, and after some research into different organizations, they chose Greyhound Friends."
Rogers said the girls will get their Bronze Award this spring when they "bridge" to being Cadette Scouts, and until then they are working on a supply drive for the greyhound organization.
The troop made flyers, wrote school announcements about their efforts, and even put out collection boxes around town at Colella’s Supermarket, the Hopkinton Middle School, the Hopkinton Public Library, and Hopkinton Eye Associates for supplies which are desperately needed for the dogs.
Items such as blankets, towels, comforters, carpet, cleaning supplies, dog food, paper towels, laundry detergent and bird feed, are essential for the Greyhound Friends in order to continue to take in these displaced dogs who await adoption.
Troop 3791, which includes Sara Freedman, Avery McKenna, Kaitlyn West, Amanda Rogers, Chloe Smith, Hanna Engstrom, Michaela Mikulis, Emma Galeucia, Rachel DeMore and Nicole Belisle, have been together since they were Daisy Scouts in kindergarten.
They recently held a cookie and hot chocolate sale at Colella’s this past weekend, in which all the profits they earned are going towards the greyhound cause.
"The troop plans to help Greyhound Friends throughout the year, beyond even after their Bronze Award has been earned," said Rogers. "Greyhounds are wonderful dogs and all of our troop members are dog lovers. I am surprised we did not leave the shelter after our visit with a dog in tow!"
Rogers continued, "Following the holidays, the girls will conduct a neighborhood supply drive in the areas that they live, and our troop will have an informational table and supply collection box at the Martin Luther King Day event (sponsored by the Youth Commission) planned for Monday, January 19 at the middle school."

You know we're going to be buying us some of them Girl Scout Cookies this year, huh Leftie?

Leftie is very gentle, calm, confident, and quiet. He is very affectionate. He loves to follow his foster mom around the house. He is a big greyhound collector, and likes to collect the foster mom’s stuff and brings it to his bed. He will sometimes grab the TV remote and change the channel. He likes to play with soft toys and raw hides. Leftie would do well in a working family home with well-mannered children. He is good with other dogs and would probably be fine as an only dog, as long as the family gave him a lot of affection. He loves to run and can be a bit vocal, so he needs a single family home with a fenced yard or with someone who would exercise him daily. 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.