Ollie is a galgo (also called Spanish greyhound) who was rescued with his three littermates and brought to Canada after his mother was killed. Galgos are used for hunting and hare coursing in Spain and many are discarded like trash when their owners no longer have any use for them.
Tena Keefe adopted Ollie, who is 3 1/2, four years ago. Although smaller than average, about 40 pounds, he has plenty of personality.
“When I saw Ollie’s baby picture I thought he was possibly the cutest thing that ever existed on the face of the earth,” said Keefe. “He’s a bright, affectionate, loving little goober. He walks into a room and assumes everyone’s going to love him.”
Keefe fell in love with sighthounds in the late 1990s, when one of the dogs at a greyhound meet and greet snuggled up to her and looked into her eyes. She has had greyhounds, usually three at a time, since then. The current greyhound in residence is a dignified 10-year-old gentleman called Beaker, who weighs about 80 pounds.
Although greyhounds brought up from the U.S. aren’t mistreated like the Spanish dogs, they too need homes when their race life is over.
“We’re breeding these dogs for our own entertainment and I think we have a responsibility not to slaughter them by the thousands when they’re done making us money,” said Keefe. “These breeds are very laid back, gentle and affectionate. They bond to their humans, sleep a lot and have a lower allergen factor than many breeds.”
Ollie is a galgo (also called Spanish greyhound) who was rescued with his three littermates and brought to Canada after his mother was killed. Galgos are used for hunting and hare coursing in Spain and many are discarded like trash when their owners no longer have any use for them.
Tena Keefe adopted Ollie, who is 3 1/2, four years ago. Although smaller than average, about 40 pounds, he has plenty of personality.
“When I saw Ollie’s baby picture I thought he was possibly the cutest thing that ever existed on the face of the earth,” said Keefe. “He’s a bright, affectionate, loving little goober. He walks into a room and assumes everyone’s going to love him.”
Keefe fell in love with sighthounds in the late 1990s, when one of the dogs at a greyhound meet and greet snuggled up to her and looked into her eyes. She has had greyhounds, usually three at a time, since then. The current greyhound in residence is a dignified 10-year-old gentleman called Beaker, who weighs about 80 pounds.
Although greyhounds brought up from the U.S. aren’t mistreated like the Spanish dogs, they too need homes when their race life is over.
“We’re breeding these dogs for our own entertainment and I think we have a responsibility not to slaughter them by the thousands when they’re done making us money,” said Keefe. “These breeds are very laid back, gentle and affectionate. They bond to their humans, sleep a lot and have a lower allergen factor than many breeds.”
On Monday Keefe welcomed a foster dog into her home, a 10-month-old podenco called Nuran. Podencos are also used for hunting in Spain and, because people don’t think of them as pets, they’re often killed or discarded when their owners no longer want them. Nuran was born after her mother was rescued. She quickly made friends with Ollie and Beaker and, if things continue to go smoothly, may have already found her forever home.
Gentle nature
Brenda Rose is another sighthound fan. She first took a greyhound into her home because her children wanted a dog and it was the first breed they came across that didn’t result in them sneezing, coughing and becoming red-eyed.
“Our first greyhound was April,” she recalled. “Her race name was Thunder Trouble but she was very goofy and we adopted her in April so we called her April and said she was the April fool dog.”
Twenty-five years later she still has greyhounds and spends much of her spare time taking her dogs to Greyhound Pets of Atlantic Canada (GPAC) meet and greets to promote the breed.
One of her dogs, Fable, is a St. John Ambulance therapy dog who visits seniors homes in Antigonish. She also stops by St. Francis Xavier University at exam times to help reduce stress in students.
“It’s their gentle nature that makes them most appealing,” said Rose. “They’re so calm and quiet with everybody. They get a hold of your heart and hang onto it.”
GPAC
Greyhound Pets of Atlantic Canada works with greyhound trainers and tracks in the U.S. to bring dogs no longer racing to the Maritimes. The organization also works with rescuers in Spain to bring galgos and padencos to the area and place them in suitable homes.
Anyone interested in adoption must fill out an application and take part in interviews and a home check. Dogs are vaccinated, spayed/neutered and all pre-existing conditions are treated before they are adopted into homes.
Meet the dogs
Greyhound Pets of Atlantic Canada is holding a meet and greet, where people can meet some dogs and ask questions about them at Pet Valu from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. this Saturday.
