The Life and Times of Sandy Penn

Confessions and Tales of the Transitions made by an Ex-racer

Let me introduce myself, my name is Sandy I am a blonde Grey Hound. This is my fourth year of life, and what a year it has been. I was born in Kansas, now I reside in a small Texas town. I am not sure where Kansas is I do know it is a long way from Texas. When I was in Kansas I lived in a Kennel, (two by three-foot home), with no luxuries. I like to think that I am very fast, as I can reach speeds up to an exeeding 40 miles an hour within a few seconds. The only part I did not mind about kennel living was that I was taken out to run, running is what I like to do, and who I am. It did not take long to figure out I was being used, because I was fast. Exploited was more like it, as my new owner/mom would tell you. She says it is why I appreciate the simple things in life. Try living in a kennel for three years of your life, then you tell me. I guess no one really deserves anything in life, however life has now smiled wider on me than any greyhound smile. And yes, us greyhounds do smile. Greyhound owners will tell you about our big toothy smile.

You see, when I said fast, I meant FAST. I placed first or second, in twenty-two out of twenty-three races. Us Greyhounds are capable of what is called, a double suspended gallop. Let me explain. Horses and other dogs, use what is called a single suspended gallop, meaning only at one time are their feet 'suspended' off the ground. It is my double suspended gallop, along with my muscles and flexability in my back, that allow me to reach such speeds. Only the Cheeta is faster. Most don't know this. My feet leave the ground in my rear suspension, Then on the foward suspension, they leave the ground again, putting me into a full flight, fully extended. I adore this movement. Like I said, it is who I am, and how I was made to move.

Dad and Mom have never been to a race, they say they will never go to one either. I guess they do not think I was treated very well, given my loving nature. Just because I used to run in the ballpark of forty-four miles an hour, does not mean I should be used for others to make money. Then put in a crate, with other dogs on top and beside me, (maybe humans are not that smart after all). My doggy dad was a world record holder, my owner/mom tells me, which explains why I can run so fast. Mom also says I am special, because I was only one of two dogs to be conceived via a test tube.

When I clipped my ear in a race, I was retired to breed. I am a feminist dog now, and I resent this notion that my other sole purpose is to be bred. Nonetheless, breeding did not go well for me, I almost died and most my pups did not survive. Birth is painful and scary, then I had trouble nursing because it hurt so much, so the trainers as we used to call them, decided I would not make a good breeder. For a moment I thought I was going to be put to sleep, or whatever they do to unwanted greyhounds that can not race anymore. Let me tell you life in a crate is better than no life at all.

This is when fate started to shine on me, (just a ray of hope), as I was nervous about my future. The other dogs used to gossip in dog language about what type of scientific experiment I would be used for when an excess of retired greyhounds are given to veterinary clinics. Or some of the other slaughtering that has happened to grey hounds. Some owners won't even give an option for adoption, and choose to end our lifes when done racing or breeding. (Greyhounds are normally done racing at 2-4 years, but they live 14 to 16 years.) The dogs that used to try to fight with me, were the worst ones for spreading this information. Oh I could tell you stories, now where was I? Oh yes, the guy who was in charge of ninety of us dogs had an uncle in Texas. This uncle had 4 other dogs, one of them was my sister Judy. The nephew called his uncle to see if they wanted me. They were delighted and sent for me right away. This was about 6 months ago in human terms. I was given shots, however the 'kennel years' left me with bleeding teeth and gums which gave me pretty bad breath. Mom says it is because of the soft food (sometimes decaying) and lack of doggy care from the kennels. Boy she really does not like those places, anyway my new owners loved me; I thought I had gone to doggy heaven.

My first Mom in Texas was a caregiver for five children, so I got to prove how well behaved I am around little ones. Since my greyhound nature is non-aggressive and social, this was great for me. Most do not realize we make lousy guard dogs because we love people so much, now if your burglar is small and furry and runs on four feet he's mine, if not you take care of him. Also remember I will not bark it is beneath me. I will try to explain the concept of barking from a greyhound point of view. If I am stalking prey, I move as graceful as a panther, do you know of any intelligent animal that will alert their prey? Of course not, that is why I am very quiet. Barking serves no purpose for me. On the other hand if you want to get attention then whine, humans respond to this trust me, us greyhounds can be quiet the crybabies.

I do not know if you have a sister you do not like, let me tell you about mine. She is a wonderful dog, I mean everyone likes her. Everyone but me. She is what you would call 'top dog', in the Uncle's house, and I wanted lots of attention from the humans. Well it did not take long for my sister and me to draw blood on each other. In fact it became so awful between us that I was separated from the other dogs, spending time in the garage or outside, because she would attack me. This made the owners very unhappy, because they loved us all very much. The older man really took a liking to me too, but my sister already had dibs on the humans espeically the human Mom. I liked my new life and was not about to let any dog take it away from me, not even my sis. These people knew a lot about greyhounds, in fact it was clear that we were having a 'greyhound first rights' issue. They did not know what to do, and finally decided to put an ad in the paper, to give me to a good home. I think they were secretly hoping no one could take me, although they knew it was not best for me to be around my sister. My Mom and Dad did not want to see me go.

My older sister Judy is a beautiful dog, that can never do any wrong in human eyes. She is a personality like I am, however she is not a good racer, even given the fact she was faster than the other dogs. Judy would outrun them, and then wait for the others to catch up, most times she did not want to finish. Well everyone knows us greyhounds can be lazy (it has been rumored we sleep eighteen hours a day). I on the other hand not only finish but also have to beat the other dogs. My trainers pushed me so hard in my training that I now have a bad joint in my left leg. So maybe Judy knew what she was doing all along, who knows.

Well, now you know about my past, now I want to tell you about the transition with my new family. Here is a diary from the time they picked me up, in a small Texas town.

The Meeting

My new Dad walked in first. I went up to greet him right away, he is a likable fellow, petting and talking real nice. Then I went behind him, and checked out my new Mom, she bent down to pet me and say hi. Before I knew it, the two humans were sitting on the couch talking with my current owners. The Mom and Dad I have now, did not know as much about greyhounds, so they were asking questions. My old Dad knows everything there is to know, so he was helpful. He warned them about the black-market for greyhounds in Texas, and said they have illegal races here. In fact if I were seen in a car these people would follow, to see where we lived, then come back to steal me. Dad said the racing numbers tattooed on the underside of my ears would make me a commodity to the bad people. The bad humans would not realize that an old ankle injury of mine will not let me race anyway, by that time I'd be stolen, and who knows what they would do to me. My new Mom and Dad promised to be very careful. Then my old Mom brought my sister Judy in the room, to demonstrate why they could not keep me. We were like two starved badgers, until Judy left. Before you judge me, just know my sister started it (greyhound smile).

My new parents reassured my old ones that they had a five-bedroom house with a six-foot high fence for the backyard. When the leash went on me I thought I was going out for a walk, however when I realized I was leaving I became scared. My new Mom let me ride next her up front, she talked to me in a soothing voice for the fifteen-minute ride home.

It was close to ten thirty at night before we pulled into the drive. I walked through the house first, smelling and checking out this new place. Anyone who owns a greyhound knows how curious we are. Then they showed me the backyard, I walked the perimeter first, however I was nervous and cautious. The yard was kewl with plenty of room to run, and big banana trees too. My new Mom and Dad stayed with me the whole time. I have been a shadow to my new Mom ever since, wherever she goes I go. When inside this big kennel they call a house, Mom went up some strange steps called stairs. I got the heeber-geebers and froze like a mule. Just look at those things, barely a spot for your foot at different heights no less! Oh no, I am not going up those things! Mom and Dad looked at each other than at me, Mom came down the stairs to encourage me with soft words. Well great now I was stuck on the forth step, with Dad and Mom behind me so I could not turn around, So I did what I am not supposed to do. I jumped them. That's right, two leaps and I was done. My feet only hit the stairwell once, the rest was just midflight. Mom was afraid I could have broken a leg, but that's Moms for you. Going back down, proved a tad more difficult. I was doing well till momentum and gravity took hold. The back door is right at the base of the stairs, and I almost slammed right into it. That evening they made a bed for me in the corner of their room. Mom put four king size pillows under three soft blankets. I wanted to sleep in the bed, yet they said no. So I was content being in the same room, and stayed there till morning, when they led me downstairs. This time I stayed right next to Mom and I did very well, she is very proud, and says I learn quickly.

The next morning Mom tried to feed me, since I need to eat twice a day, two pounds a day (plus my ribs show), but I had no appetite. The first batch was just high protein hard dog food, nope I could not eat. The second batch was kibbles and bits, the third was kibbles with water and two beef bouillon cubes, and nope, still I would not eat. I followed Mom around all around from room to room, (Dad goes to 'work' in the morning, whatever that means), anyway she spent lots of one on one time, petting and talking to me. Dad came home to take Mom to a prenatal visit, they let me come along, and Dad stayed with me while Mom went into what looked like, a Veterinary place. I tried to go inside with her, yet Dad made me wait with him outside, then we came home. After Dad went back to work I still would not eat, once in a while I'd take a doggy biscuit, then I'd jump onto the couch to eat it. Mom said no, and told me softly to get down, I froze like a mule again, however she would gently take my front legs, and place them on the floor till my back legs followed. By the end of the day I knew not to jump on the couch, so I did not try, in fact I have not tried since. I love shocking my Mom, she still can not believe I learned as quickly as I did..

That afternoon she took me for a walk, I am leashed trained as most Greyhounds are, and will walk right beside you with no tug, and stop on command. I met all my neighbors, even the ones beside us with three small children, they were all over me, as kids will do. I gave one a kiss before heading out to the unknown neighborhood. Before I was done with my walk, I must have met 10 children. They all wanted to know if I was a greyhound. They did not know very much about greyhounds, but had heard we were fast. Mom declined when they wanted to race with me. Mom knows without this leash, my instincts would take over and I'd be gone with the horizon. I watch everything when I am outside, as my vision allows me to see half a mile. The walk was nice, even though Mom is slow, and does not see as well as I do. I am not sure if you've ever had to take a walk, with a women who is pregnant and anemic. To say the least it is a snails pace.

I have a good life now, or you could say a 'dogs life', as it is supposed to be. Why I was treated as inhumane as I was before, I could not tell you? Mom says, because some guy makes a buck, he reasons the treatment of greyhounds to other humans. Mom disagrees with the trainers and racing owners, she says dogs are pets and should be treated as such. Some owners will not allow adoption to homes, when we are done racing and breeding, insisting we be put to sleep. Mom knows all the horror stories, so she is sensitive to what I cannot tell her about my past. Her biggest question would by, "why"? Why do this to any breed of dog especially a breed that is so loving and non-aggressive, that we are used as therapy dogs?

I am a pure bred greyhound, yet my parents found me under an ad for free. Adoption agencies for greyhounds are all over this nation, with 12,000 ex-racing Greyhound s being put to sleep every year. If you want a lovable dog won't you consider our breed?

The only thing I will say about my life, is that God does listen. I feel bad for other greyhounds, however Mom says people can make a difference.