USVI-On-Line

We, Red Sox fans are very tolerant people. Well, maybe not always. But I think we can make an exception for Jeter because he is family! Labs have to stick together. I think Tessie is going to be a love.

silverheels, congratulations on Tessie! She is beautiful. I have a 12 year old lab, Lager. I remember that the day I went to pick him up, he came running right over to me and I knew we made the right choice. Oh, puppy breath - love it!

All the beautiful and fat kitties, all the amazing and cute puppies/dogs (they do grow up fast, don't they!). Jorge, your amazing fat cats and cute labs, and a real pic of Jorge's face (you actually do look quite harmless despite all of your dirty old man comments!).

To Carolyn, high fives for your grey rescues. This has been our love for the past 8 years. We adopted a 6 year old girl from a local rescue group (horrible story about where she came from). Our Easy Girl for eight years before we had to put her down at age fourteen 3 years ago. During that time we fostered retired racers for 8 years in our home. Sometimes 2-3 at a time and most for at least 3 months. Some as long as 6 months and so hard to adopt out after having them that long. For those of you who aren't familiar with retired racing greys, they become "retired" as early as 2 years old. If they aren't winning races on the track, the "better" tracks will offer them back to the breeders for a price. If the breeders don't want them back, they kill them. All healthy, beautiful dogs, usually with a shot to the head. If not for the rescue groups out there, picking up dogs from handlers on many stops along many major highways, these dogs would be destined to die. Such intelligent and sensitive dogs - if you ever reprimand them, they mope for days!Short hair, so great for allergies, they sleep for up to 10 hours a day while you're at work, never had a pee-pee accident in our house, they hold it until you come home. We fostered for eight years in our home. Many crates for dogs who only felt comfortable being crated because that was the only life they ever knew, progessing to walking around the house, long walks on leashes, becoming accustomed to tv, loud noises, traffic, up and down stairs, ceramic kitchen tile (they have very delicate feet). Finally, after several weeks of living with a family, coming out of their crate "comfort zone" they become total "couch potatoes". Someone once told me they are driven to push so hard on the track that when they have a real family they just "veg". I can't tell you how many fosters have ended up in the bed with us as night for many months until they're adopted! There were a few hyper greys that we loved but were glad when they found a home. The other 90% were our babies and I cried every time they were adopted out. If you are are ever, ever thinking about adopting a rescue dog, consider retired racers through a local adoption in your town. We had our girl for 8 years before we had to put her down, she was such a great joy!

Jan (can you see why my forum name is Greyhoundmom?!)

GHM...thanks for the compliments. We consider caring for our greyhounds a pleasure. Pretty much all they want is to be loved, and that they are! We started w/ our first about 7 years ago. She was only 1 1/2 years old and didn't have a racing career, as she was small and somehow got a leg injury...fast track to the adoption program and viola she was ours. We had a cocker spaniel at the time who was very territorial and taught her to bark...ehhhh! As the cocker aged and her health declined we knew it was time for a second greyhound so we then found a 4 year old male who did have a racing career but not so special that he would be kept for breeding. He had been adopted to someone else who didn't have a very good sense of caring for him and he was returned to the group, and he seemed perfect for us so he came here about 3 years ago. They are love sponges and seem to know that life is better here than at the track fairly quickly. I am thinking that I am about ready to step into the fostering mode but have hesitated by some circumstances that have since passed. I can only imagine how rewarding the process is!...but that letting go part I may fail! We take our grey's to our male's foster mom who has quite a house full most of the time and I am amazed at seeing a so many of them together and how well they all sort out how they will coexist . It fascinates me! I think this thread has been a pleasure to follow and see all of "our" pets and know how special they all are to each and every one of us.

Here's Hudson, our new kitten:

<a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/29 ... QTKT"><img src="http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/41592 ... 425Q85.jpg" alt="Hudson-7"></a><img src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/CIMP ... ZnPTE=.jpg">

<a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/22 ... WdaH"><img src="http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/41609 ... 425Q85.jpg" alt="Hudson-12"></a><img src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/CIMP ... ZnPTE=.jpg">

<a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/24 ... buaN"><img src="http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/37229 ... 425Q85.jpg" alt="Hudson-13"></a><img src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/CIMP ... ZnPTE=.jpg">

<a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/21 ... SvMn"><img src="http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/42438 ... 425Q85.jpg" alt="Hudson-14"></a><img src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/CIMP ... ZnPTE=.jpg">

California Girl wrote:OH - MY - GOSH! Hudson's adorable!!! And you got some winning pictures! My hubby wants to know how he got that name

Yeah, he's awful darn cute! We named him after Hudson St in NYC

I am absolutley loving all the puppy-kitty-etc. pics. I am a fool for animals of any kind. Mine are very camera shy, so I will try to get some good phots, but I love seeing all of yours. Thanks so much for sharing!!

I LOVE the photos of super cute Hudson! I love cats and I wish I could have one but I am allergic, as is John, and our niece and nephew too.

Here is my latest "pet," interfering with my deck gardening. John won't even let me use our grill because he says the smoke will bother the bird.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/2562389836/" title="mourning doves by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/256 ... 359d75.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="mourning doves"></a>

Holy cats Hudson is so dang cute!!

The last picture is my favorite

I bet he is loads of fun!

Hudson is one of the cutest kittens I've ever seen. Any particular breed? My daughter just got a brother sister set of kittens and they are a riot to watch. Enjoy!

Can anyone see this picture?

yes I can

LysaC - I see it, and he or she is toooo cute!