Ray's Blog

Ray is a big boy now

2009-07-09T14:59:00.004-05:00

Happy birthday, Ray! How does it feel to be six years old?
It's great -- now I get two Frosty Paws for every one that you get, Lucy.
Um, Ray, I don't think that's quite how it works.

Bicycle

2009-01-29T08:28:00.004-06:00

I'd like a bicycle for my birthday!

Ray, your birthday is almost six months away. Besides, why don't you just go to the store yourself?

Why Ray Can't Read

2008-11-25T15:48:00.004-06:00

Whether greyhounds are capable of reading has long been the subject of speculation (Scholastic, 2003) and, more recently, conflicting research (Guo, 2008; Neil90254, 2007).

Based upon new empirical data, however, it appears that an explanation for this disconnect may be that the hound's ability to read is highly selective. For example, greyhounds seem to have little trouble deciphering the language on a complex product label, even if it partially obscured...

... but are utterly incapable of comprehending a simple instructional sign or placard.

Further research is warranted to explore the factors that contribute to this curious selectivity phenomenon.

Long Dog on a Short Bus

2008-11-16T20:39:00.004-06:00

Here's Ray lounging on an upside down cat bed. (We have four full-size dog beds, plus several throw rugs, but for some reason Ray finds this junior model much cozier.)

Independence Dogs

2008-07-04T12:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Independence Day!

Hot Dog!

2008-06-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

Looking forward to the dog days of summer...

Memorial Day 2008

2008-05-24T10:17:00.007-05:00

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone!

Meet and Greet

2008-04-27T09:59:00.001-05:00

This weekend Lucy and I took our humans to a Greyhounds Only "meet-and-greet" at our local Petco. We met lots of other hounds, raised money for a worthwhile cause, and told lots of people about greyhound adoption.

Ray, you forgot to tell them the part about how we were half an hour late for the meet-and-greet because you were too scared to get in the car.

Lucy, we weren't going to talk about that. Just like we weren't going to talk about that boo-boo on your forehead, from when you ran into a fence while you were trying to chase a squirrel in the back yard last week.

Well, if you're going to sink to that level, Ray, maybe we should talk about how you were hiding under the coffee table a couple of weeks ago.

OK, Lucy, I guess you won this round. But you'd better watch your back. You never know when my friend Angel will sneak up on you.

But do they have Italian beef there?

2008-03-18T10:53:00.004-05:00

Our humans went to Phoenix and saw some beautiful dogs at the racetrack.

We hope that all of them are adopted into forever homes as nice as ours!

That looks like a lot of work!

Lucy, put $2 on #7 to win.

Miss Mags Retires from Racing!

2008-03-14T08:49:00.007-05:00

My sister (and frequent contributor to this blog) Cal's Miss Mags is officially retired from racing! She bears a striking resemblance to yours truly. I hope her new family will invite me over to her forever home so we can have a playdate. If any of you humans are interested, go to greyhoundsonly.com and check her out!

You go, girl!

2008-03-07T17:00:00.000-06:00

Fools Mile had recently retired from a racing career in Ireland when she was walking with her human near Liverpool, England. Fools Mile -- now "Fi" -- heard the crowd noises at a nearby professional soccer game and just couldn't resist breaking free to run four laps around the soccer field while players and fans applauded enthusiastically.

Jane Holland with her greyhound Fools Mile

New Dog City

2008-01-09T10:20:00.000-06:00

My humans went to New York and all I got was this stupid pizza menu and license plate.

Happy Holi-Rays!

2007-12-25T00:00:00.000-06:00

Another Hound Enters Retirement!

2007-12-08T21:51:00.000-06:00

My sister, Miss Mags, is retiring from racing. I hear she's as beautiful as me so I'm sure she'll find a forever home in no time at all. I sure hope I can meet her sometime!! Maybe she can come over to my yard for a play date with Lucy and me.(Earlier this year I met my 1/2 brother Bob but we didn't get along too well. I'm a lover, not a fighter...) Congratulations, Mags! Love, Your brother, Ray

Talking Dog

2007-11-28T19:37:00.000-06:00

My human says that this software may help me learn to talk. It's worth a try...

Reunited again

2007-11-17T12:12:00.000-06:00

Ray told me how much fun he had at last year's Greyhounds Only reunion, so I was really looking forward to this year's event. We had a great time! We saw our foster mom and lots of other old friends from Greyhounds Only. And our humans say that Ray behaved better than he did last year, too.

Trick or Treat!

2007-10-31T14:15:00.001-05:00

Happy Howl-o-ween!

2007-10-28T17:00:00.000-05:00

Ray ain't nothin' but a hound dog.

Lucy says, "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore..."

From Our Foster Mom...

2007-10-27T22:36:00.000-05:00

Our foster mom has some important information for the new greyhound owners: "Frequently, they need time to learn how to socialize (several weeks to a month). Some have been so isolated that they actually are afraid to be affectionate because they may be punished. Hopefully, there was a foster parent involved or some sort of adoption representative there to be a source of information. That was her first night of her life without another Greyhound. The dog is showing signs of mild Dog Separation anxiety (looking for her buddies). I'd recommend getting string cheese and making it into disks and every time she comes she gets a treat. She should also find local Meet and Greets to attend,so she still knows that there are other Greyhounds in the world." (Thanks again, Sue!)

Home again!

2007-08-25T21:41:00.000-05:00

Lucy said she had fun at the festival today. She met lots of fellow greyhounds and nice humans, but now she's dog tired!

Goin' to Bucktown

2007-08-24T16:00:00.000-05:00

I'm going to the Bucktown Arts Fest in Chicago this weekend. I'm hoping to see many of my friends from Greyhounds Only there.

Greyhounds Only is a not-for-profit greyhound adoption group that mainly serves Chicago and its suburbs, the northeastern corner of Illinois and the southeastern corner of Wisconsin.

Birthday loot

2007-07-19T13:00:00.000-05:00

I had a blast at my birthday party last weekend. I saw lots of friends and enjoyed some Frosty Paws. Here are just a few of the wonderful presents I received. I think my favorite is the McDonalds gift certificates! (All of this loot is mine, but my humans say I have to share it with Lucy. She can have the hamburger wrappers when I'm done with them.)

Hi Miss Mags!

2007-07-08T22:00:00.000-05:00

It's good to hear from my sister! You know that today's our birthday! My humans are having a party for me. I hope you find a good home like I did. I met our half-brother Bob this spring but we didn't get along... Please send a photo of your beautiful self. I know you must be beautiful if you look like me. I hope we can meet sometime, I'll teach you to dance! Love, your brother, RAY

Ray Is 4 Years Old Today

2007-07-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Dancing Dogs

2007-05-30T18:00:00.000-05:00