Gah! I am suffering seriously from Henry and Hounds withdrawal… There has been no word still on the dates for Kennel Week, so here I am watching the Raynham livecast on this murky afternoon- it’s fun to watch and follow the progress of Henry’s dogs. My buddy Limen will be in the 11th race soon… he wags his tail as the track judge checks his muzzle and stretch vest.
I’ve decided use the time waiting for The Big News to re-educate myself about our breed and the history of greyhound racing in America. Following are some suggested books to enjoy in case you too would like to explore more deeply.
The Road from Emeryville, available directly from the NGA is an inexpensive paperback full of history, photos, and interesting details about the sport. It’s a quick read, yet loaded with information organized by decade.
The Care of The Racing and Retired Greyhound (AKA The Bible) should be a part of all greyhound lovers’ libraries. This exhaustive manual newly revised to include sections on geriatrics and other topics pertinent to adopted hounds can be obtained from both the NGA and GEM. Amongst others, there are chapters covering anatomy, treatment of medical problems, medications, pediatrics and excellent illustrative photos throughout the book. Dr. Linda Blythe (one of the authors) will join us at the Expo for a book signing- it will be an honor to meet her.
Keefer: The Peoples’ Choice by Leslie Wooten is one of my personal favorites. It is a wonderfully written biography of Keefer, a racing greyhound who through the ups and downs of his career became a huge crowd favorite and a true greyhound celebrity. Ms. Wooten writes with deep sensitivity and obvious love and respect for her subject. I cannot recommend this one strongly enough. If you’d like a copy, the NGA and Amazon both carry the book.
Lastly, want to learn more about racing life and your dog’s past? The Born to Run videos are available on the internet and are a great start.
Tags: greyhounds, adoption, greyhound racing
