Do I want a dog?
So for my birthday, Kel surprised me with a slip of paper. It was a printed copy of the email she received from a local greyhound adoption group talking about needing to place nearly 300 dogs in new homes (a nearby greyhound racetrack had closed). She said we could get one if I wanted one.
I’ve had two greyhounds in my life, both when I was living in Florida. As much as I loved the dogs, I lost both of them tragically and I am not sure I am ready to go that route again.
My first greyhound was Protocol (his racing name). Best we could figure is that he was deaf because he was retired after two races (he never chased the mechanical rabbit) and never seemed to react when you spoke to him. He was aloof and skittish (perhaps because of the deafness or the maltreatment most greyhounds endure on the racing circuit), but an otherwise friendly dog. When we were out of town visiting relatives, we boarded him with the person we adopted him from (the leader of the local rescue). While she was in the backyard with he and her other greyhounds, he apparently jumped a 4-foot fence from a sitting position and ran off. My step-father found him dead on the highway later that week. We’d only had him a few months, but it was heart-wrenching.
The woman who was taking care of him felt horrible and worked to find us another greyhound. We fell in love with Fifi (Firefly was her track name). She was probably around 4 or 5 when she was retired (she had a pretty long run, so I am told) and we brought her home. She was a wonderful dog. She was always so happy to spend time with us and followed us from room to room. It was obvious she was so happy to have a family to love and who loved her back. She was with us for nearly 8 years before her kidneys gave out on her (most likely a result of the steroids they dope the racing dogs with). I came home from college to be with her and could see her suffering. She was all swollen and in such pain she could barely move. We asked our vet if we could take her home so she could be euthanized in a familiar place.
Watching Fifi die was terrible. I’ve had several pets die since her, but few have had the same impact. I don’t know if I can adopt another greyhound right now, because I know I could end up going through the same thing again.
So I am faced with the question of whether I want another dog at all. There are a few breeds that I like (pugs, blue heelers, huskies), but I am not sure what is best for us. We have a nice size home with a small, but decent-sized yard. Of greater concern to me is our two cats and the state of our furniture. I really don’t want a dog that’s going to chew on stuff or get him or herself into a lot of trouble while we’re out.
What are your thoughts?
Krista Says:
Euthanizing ‘Ryder’ our 10 year old Siberian Husky was the hardest thing I ever did in my life. I thought of all the joy he gave me - the welcome howls, the play bows, the quiet times. Man it was hard, but I felt it was the least I could do to be there, something familiar, and stroke his head until he faded away.
Although it was hard, oh so hard, I’d never not get another pet because of it. I kind of think of it as the deal you seal when you get a pet. The pet gives you all the love it can and you give it back. But, when the time comes, always way too soon, you owe it to that pet to ease them through their pain, even when it’s for the last time.
Losing a pet is never easy, but don’t deprive yourself and your potential pet of the joy and happiness you can give each other. That’s what life’s all about.
I think there’s a greyhound out there calling your name.
May 23rd, 2005 at 9:42 pm
Aaron Says:
Thanks for reminding me of the good stuff too Krista. I do agree with you and that’s why I keep tossing the idea back and forth in my head. Maybe by the fall I’ll be ready (and have a little more free time to get to know him/her).
May 25th, 2005 at 5:32 pm