USA, LA: From the racetrack to home

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From www.theadvertiser.com

>From the racetrack to home

1:29 AM, Aug 25, 2012 |

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Written by

Kris Wartelle <mailto:kwartelle@theadvertiser.com>

If you meet Riley and Kiowa, you will probably fall in love with them. Long,
lithe and
<http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20 ... ?nclick_ch
eck=1> beautiful, they are as gentle as they are friendly.

Ripley and Kiowa are two Greyhounds and former racing dogs who were rescued
by Bob and Arla Pillion. The retired Lafayette couple said they were looking
for another dog after their beloved Doberman died and they fell in love with
the breed.

"In years past, they were put to sleep when they no longer made money
racing," said Bob. "But now by law they must be put up for adoption. We
researched them and adopted Ripley and that's how we got involved with
Greyhound Pets of America."

GPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding good, responsible,
permanent homes for retired racing Greyhounds. The Pillions say they are now
representatives for GPA and help others who want to
<http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20 ... ?nclick_ch
eck=1> learn more about adopting or rescuing Greyhounds. They say once you
have a Greyhound as a pet, you can't help but fall in love.

"No one realizes what awesome
<http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20 ... ?nclick_ch
eck=1> animals they are," said Arla. "They are smart, docile, well-behaved,
quiet and clean."

On a recent visit to the Pillion home, Ripley and Kiowa were showing off
their talents. Ripley can turn a toy ball around with his feet and can even
play catch with himself. Kiowa loves greeting visitors and according to
Arla, will even take a nap in your lap.

"She is just like a cat," said Arla. "She likes to curl up in your lap."

Greyhound experts say if there is one thing prospective pet owners should
know, it's that Greyhounds are also one of the fastest animals on earth.
They can run as fast as 45 miles an hour, up to seven miles at a time. That
means if your dog gets away, there is almost no catching him. So, pet owners
are urged to keep their pet on a leash when outside, unless they have a
<http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20 ... ?nclick_ch
eck=1> safe, fenced in area for the dog to run.

"They are built for speed," said Arla. "The Egyptians used them to hunt
antelope. They just out ran them. But these dogs are really house dogs. They
can't take extreme heat or extreme cold. They have very
<http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20 ... ?nclick_ch
eck=1> thin hair and almost no body fat."

The Pillions say adopting a dog through the GPA is a fairly simple process.
GPA takes care of most of the
<http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20 ... ?nclick_ch
eck=1> animal's medical expenses and all shots, spaying and neutering before
the dog is placed in a home. However, they say there are rules prospective
families will have to follow. Those include signing a contract committing to
take care of the dog for its entire life (most greyhounds live to be 12
years or older) and interviews and home visits from GPA placement
representatives who will determine if a Greyhound is right for you.

"A former racing Greyhound is an adult dog and you are not going to go
through the puppy stage like you would with other breeds," said Linda
Dantagnan, President of the Louisiana and Mississippi chapter of Greyhound
Pets of America. "They are crate trained, but people have to understand that
it has to be taught to go outside. They are on a schedule at a track. You
have to set their schedule."

Dantagnan said GPA has been around for 25 years and the goal of the
organization is to make sure the dogs have suitable homes and owners are
happy and can provide for their pets properly.

So far, Bob and Arla say their experience has been wonderful and they enjoy
traveling and living with their Greyhounds every day. They say the dogs are
extremely loving animals and not aggressive with children or other pets.

"The unconditional love we get from these two is amazing," said Arla.

"We call them our kids," echoed Bob. "When I say, come on kids, they come
right away."

If you would like to know more or would like to help Greyhound Pets of
America foster a dog, you can visit their website at www.houndsabound.org or
www.greyhoundpets.org.