Meetin' and Greetin' with the Greyhounds

We adopted our dog Rowdy some 2 years ago through a rescue organization called Greyhounds Only. Since then, we've tried to involve ourselves in helping the greyhound cause. Mostly we do so by bringing Rowdy to monthly meet & greet (m&g) events that are sponsored by Greyhounds Only, and aim to familiarize people with the breed.

These m&g's are typically hosted by pet stores around the Chicagoland area. We make it a practice to go to the one held at Petsmart in Mt. Prospect (just relocated from Arlington Heights). There, for 2-3 hours, we owners stand with our dogs - many of whom sport custom-made donation vests - and attempt to "spread the greyhound gospel." The ultimate goal is to get people to adopt one (or more) of our group's retired racing greyhounds.


For those in the market to adopt a dog, greyhounds aren't really a tough sell. They are magnificent animals with great personalities. Ours is the most mellow, gentle guy who rarely barks and wants nothing more to be petted and neck-scritched (ok, he won't turn down treats, either!). Part of educating the public is relating that while greys do like to sprint in short bursts - zoomies, we call it - they actually spend the majority of their time being couch potatoes. Thus, in the right situation, they can be adopted by apartment-dwellers.

If you're curious and want to see these amazing dogs for yourself, come by a m&g event. Owners are more than happy to answer any questions you might have (my husband can talk all day about the breed). The Petsmart I referenced is at 101 E. Euclid Ave. in Mt. Prospect; usually on the 3rd Sunday of the month. However, there are many events in different areas. Check out the calendar of events for specific times and dates on the Greyhound Only website: http://www.greyhoundsonly.com/news-and-events/calendar-of-events