One Week In And All Is Well

It's been nine days. We've all learned a few things.
One of our friends gave us some guidance on helping a timid hound adjust to his new home. Thanks man.
My wife has been spending lots of time with Wolfie, sitting on the floor, petting him, talking to him, hand feeding him treats. She used to do that to me when we first met too, and things turned out OK with me. It's working wonders with our hound as well.
He still is a bit freaked out by the linoleum on the kitchen floor.
He had a visit from another greyhound on Sunday morning. It was great! Well, once he got over the initial fright of opening the door and seeking another dog in his yard, it was great. Wolfgang's true personality came out as he tried to get Gordon (the other hound) to play. He even barked for the first time since his arrival here!

Monday is his first visit to the vet for a meet and greet and a blood draw.

Day Two Better Photos

Look at those beautiful markings! He looks like he should have been named "Tiger".

After a quiet and uneventful night, we woke up earlier that usual and let Wolf outside. He seems to have trouble with the linoleum floor in the kitchen, so we need to guide him slowly over that. He went outside, did his thing all in one spot and was ready to come back inside. I don't blame him. It was a dark and rainy morning, but fairly nice temperature wise, especially for this time of year. He chowed down breakfast and went back to bed-- in fact we ALL went back to bed until noon time!



Later he had his first taste of pancakes and sausage. It's a rare event in our house for the human occupants as well.

We went to the office where he went right inside, sniffed around and found his corner with bed and blanket. After some more searching around, he settled in to his spot, with a new toy, and seems to be feeling safe and making himself right at home.

What a wonderful hound!

Wolfgang Day One

Having lost Magic some time ago, we had in our mind that we wanted to adopt another retired racer. Everyone and their cousin offered their opinion about timing. At least a month, three months, six months, a year at least, so on and so forth. One adoption group in particular wanted to let us know when were were ready (We'll write more about that dysfunctional mess when we have had some time to process it and hash it out in our own minds. All we'll say for now is that it Robert Hunter's lyrics ring through our mind whenever we think about it....Lately it occurs to me: What a long, strange trip it's been.)

The other day we took a ride out to visit another greyhound adoption group. We just wanted to meet the people, introduce ourselves, let them know we are looking, so that if the right match came up, they would keep us in mind. Well, wouldn't you know they just happened to have a hound they thought might fit into our pack.

His racing name was Nita's Big Wolfe. We've adopted him and have decided Wolfgang is much more dignified, but Wolfie for short will work just fine.

This wonderful boy is anything but wolf-like at this time. He is such a shy and timid hound right now, but we know that with love, time and patience, he will blossom in his retirement.

Who is this handsome fellow?

This handsome fellow to the right is Wolfgang, but his friends call him Wolfie.

We'll tell you more about him this weekend.

SAD DAY FOR GREYHOUNDS

It is a sad day in the Commonwealth for Greyhounds, Greyhound lovers, and the racing industry.

Christine Dorchak and her wife Carey Theil achieved victory through manipulation, lies and distortions.

Someone told me that they are now worried that the dogs will be moved to a state where racing is not as regulated as it is in Massachusetts. I'm not. Having met several of the kennel owners, I know that no matter where they will race their dogs, they will continue the same high quality, and loving care. It's only common sense.

Sadly, common sense was lacking in the Bay State this election day when it comes to greyhounds.

Massachusetts residents are caring and compassionate people as a whole. I am proud to live here for the most part. Folks want to trust organizations like the MSPCA, Grey2K and others who claim to be looking out for animal welfare. This why the proponents of Question 3 where able to capitalize on this trust, twist the facts and achieve a victory.

As good as we feel about the outcome of other political races and ballot questions, it is bittersweet.

Thank you to those who approached this issue with an open mind.

To the track and kennel employees, our hearts go out to you, and our prayers and support are still with you.

More on the Folks Behind Question 3: Carey Theil Gambling with Peoples Lives

I have intended on posting some information on the husband of Christine Dorchak, Mr. Carey Theil (pronounced like the color TEAL) but I have been quite busy pounding the pavement handing out genuine and verifiable information concerning Question 3 and dog racing in Massachusetts. I was doing some research this evening and came across the following which says just about everything I would like to say. I would really like to give this writer the credit he or she is due, but alas, I found this posted as a comment to another article. If this is your work, and you would like to be credited, please email me magiczambia@yahoo.com and I will gladly do so.

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From the November 6, 2000 Boston Herald column by Joe Fitzgerald - '...you should be equally appalled by the efforts of a group called Grey2K to wage a ruthless campaign of deceit, distortion and defamation of character. Radical animal rights activists are determined to kill the greyhound racing industry in this state by any means necessary, which is why they weren't the least bit embarrassed when forced to admit that much of their advertising has been fraudulent. So if you go to the polls only to vote No on Question 3, you will have made a compelling statement, rejecting this attempt to ambush an industry through the dissemination of lies.'

If dog racing was 'cruel', the M$PCA would have shut it down decades ago. They haven't. The injury rate is a statistical charade, playing Little League is far more dangerous statistically.

Carey Theil, G$K's messiah, sits on the board of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, google it. He doesn't care about dogs, he cares about banning gambling. When in Florida this spring, he, as a registered Florida lobbyist, lobbied against the Florida slots bill. Yet he couldn't find the time to lobby for SB 590 right down the hall. SB 590 would have given Florida greyhounds some of the protections the MA dogs enjoy here. Protect the dogs? Not a chance, that's not the plan.

G$K's Christine Dorchak was forced to adopt a greyhound to make it look good. Did she adopt a greyhound from her home state of MA? No, she adopted a dog from Kansas. Where's the concern for the MA dogs with that act? That's not the plan.

The money G$K has spent recently on their TV ads would have SOLVED the financial problems of the greyhound adoption groups NATIONWIDE. Yet, G$K has never purchased a can of dog food for a retired hound in an adoption group. That's not their plan. Saving and protecting dogs is not part of their plan.

In case no one has noticed, we're creeping into a recession. The State is going broke. What will the State do if Q3 passes and those millions of dollars annually from the tracks are stripped from the balance sheet? Will they rebalance their budget or raise your taxes to make up for the deficit?

And what of 1000 people who will be employed if Q3 passes?. These are primarily older people, 40-60 years old with no other job skills. Yet they have mortgages to pay, children and grandchildren they are trying to support with higher education. You cannot re-train these people, this is all they know. And they stand to be homeless.

Question 3 is a tax increase that not only puts more people out of work and falsely claims cruelty unsubstantiated by the MSPCA, but is also sponsored by animal extremists whose leader nationally supports the banning of all gambling.

The smart money is betting NO on Question 3
www.protectdogsandjobs.org