Monday, January 22, 2007

Getting a dog

Finally! My house is sorted out enough to where I can sit down for a few moments to write. I never thought it would come. I'd forgotten how hard it is to move and get things done. I also didn't realise just how much stuff we've accumulated since we got married a little over a year ago. It's enough to have filled this 3 bedroom home we are currently renting....and that's a whole lot! Luckily we also have a nice sized yard to go along with it. Which brings me to what I sat down to write about.

We have decided to adopt a retired greyhound. We made this decision a long time ago...or at least I did. C~ came to agree after we visited the GAP exhibit at The EKKA, a Queensland State Fair. From my point of view, he was quite impressed with the breed. GAP dogs are ones that have been tested with smaller dogs and deemed suitable for adoption to homes. If the dog isn't healthy mentally or physically from the stresses of the track, then they are humanely put to sleep.

C~ and I aren't really picky people. We don't have cats or other small animals that greyhounds like to chase, we also like the idea of NOT having a puppy - This is a definite bonus in the retired dog. I am SOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!

We don't really have any idea how soon we will be able to get one. Hopefully not TOO soon. We need at least a couple more weeks to get all the boxes unpacked and also put up a short fence between the house and other fence to separate the front and back yards. This will help keep people from letting the dog out while we are at work. Also, the Energex guy has to come onto the carport to check the electric meter and when we met him a last week he explained that he'd been bitten 27 times and doesn't care what kind of dog we have. I think maybe he's not a nice guy so dogs don't like him if he's gotten bitten that many times. Well, either that or he's just plain stupid around dogs.

Anywho, I'll keep everyone updated on the adoption progress. Until then, I am going to continue reading and learning as much as I can about them.

6 comments:

Mooselet said...

My Energex guy is one of the few who will brave my yard with the two German Shepherds running loose. Of course he knows them now and knows they're none to bright, but there was no way to know that the first time he came to read the meter.

Good luck and can't wait to see some pictures.

Sister Mary Lisa said...

that's so sweet you are going to adopt a retired greyhound! so cool.

skinnylittleblonde said...

I tried to post here several days ago & blogger booted me :(
I am so glad that you and your DH are going to adopt a retired greyhound. I've never known a soul to regret doing that. They make wonderful pets, even though they are pretty big.
If someone had been bitten 27 times on the job, they need to change jobs. If they have been just bitten 27 times in general, something is wrong with them...terribly wrong. Dogs are sensitive in ways we don't know. I have 5 dogs & if they don't like someone, I take note. (that has only happened once about 9 years ago & it proved my case...the guy was a nut-job)
Keep us Posted on the adoption & good luck getting settled!

kitten said...

I most definitely agree SLB! I have always paid attention to people that my dogs don't like. If they aren't liked, then they don't get to come back into my home. Period. No exceptions. I honestly believe that people can miss things that a dog won't, and dogs are never wrong about humans. I guess they are lucky in that way, we have to act sociable and pretend to like or at least tolerate certain people in our lives whether or not we like them or approve of them, or whatever. It's a shame.
Unfortunately for the Energex guy, he will just have to learn to be more careful and pay more attention because i have no intention of making his job easier when it will be a severe inconvenience for me and my dog. My entire house is not air conditioned so it would be wrong of me to leave a dog inside where it's going to be much hotter than under a shady tree or carport.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on adopting a GAP dog. QLD has a greyt support system and a group of owners/foster carers have regular walks and keep in touch. I am a foster carer for GAP QLD and KNOW you will get a fabulous dog! Look forward to seeing who you end up with.
Adele

Anonymous said...

welcome. i'm sure you've been here long enough to not really merit a "welcome, septic!" but hey... take all the welcomes you can get.

you'll love greys. i've been dying for one forever. before i moved to oz. couldn't do the single woman/dog thing as i was never home regularly.

let me know if you'd like to see some in a home environment. i always have mine and a foster. you can see what they look like when they're new (foster) and when they're used to you (owned).