6.17.2013

Anda One, Anda Two, Anda Three?

This past weekend the kids and I enjoyed ourselves at the Maine Greyhound Placement Service’s annual Open House. This year they are celebrating their 20th anniversary. As we usually do, we spent a lot of money, brought home new collars, ate our fair share of grilled meat and we even won one of the raffle prizes.

I happened to be speaking with Scott Bruns who founded MGPS. He has a wonderful grey named Cider. 

Cider Greyhound and Pat McIlveen
This is Cider visiting our friend Pat
This handsome fawn boy is ginormous. He is almost as big as a Great Dane. And he is utterly bonded to Scott. If Scott leaves Cider’s sight for even 30 seconds, it is a huge party when Scott comes back. Cider celebrates as if Scott had been gone for years.

When Cider arrived at MGPS, he was all the talk amongst volunteers. It was thus that he came to my attention. Carol, Blue and Bettina’s Auntie and our friend, volunteers at MGPS. From time to time she lets me know about special greys that arrive at the center. She knows my deep dark secret. That I long for a third greyhound. I’ve been thinking about what life might be like if we added a third greyhound to our family for years.

There always seems to be a very good reason why I shouldn’t do it. At first my car was so tiny we could barely fit two greyhounds in the back. Then that car caught on fire and we got a great new greyhound mobile (Honda Element, best dog car ever). Plenty of room for a third and possibly even a fourth greyhound in there.


Blue and Bettina Greyhound-rooing
Blue joins in the group roo
 Then Girly Girl got ill and our savings was wiped out. Money was tight. The price of everything was going up but due to the economy, no ones wages were. Lately those worries have eased a bit and I’ve actually started to rebuild some savings even though we’re a long way from recovering from Girly Girl’s medical bills. I still live in fear that Blue or Bettina gets that diagnosis.

Still Cider was pretty special so Carol told me about him. I obsessed over Mr. Cider for a number of weeks. I had, against all good sense decided to call and make an appointment to see him. The next day I found out that Scott had adopted him. Cider is so clearly happy in his life with Scott; it’s hard to be sad about that missed opportunity.

I shared that story with Scott and he asked if I had been thinking about adding a third greyhound. He told me about a sweet female who was currently onsite but not in the general adoption population currently. She was earmarked to go to someone who already owned or had owned greyhounds. My stomach knotted up.

Blue Greyhound has a spa treatment at Open House
Blue has a spa treatment at Open House
  My heart wanted a third hound. I always thought it would be another big dopey boy but a loving little female would be good to. There were still some obstacles but this was probably the best time there ever had been for adding a third baby. I asked Scott if I could see her when he had a moment.

Not long after that, he was placing a leash in my hand and I was walking this little peanut. She was just out of the kennel so she was wound up a bit. And she was overwhelmed by all the people, noise and commotion of the Open House. I took her for a little walk outside and away from the crowd. She wanted to check everything out. But for a few moments she’d come and bury her head into my chest for a snuggle. Or she’d lean against me when something frightened her. We walked over to the ex-pen under the shade of the trees to say hi to Blue and Bettina. Oddly, neither Blue, nor Bettina got up from their prone position to greet a new greyhound. They lay there looking at me and then at her. No wagging tails, no baring of teeth, no reaction what-so-ever.

We walked around a little more and I sat on the grass next to her. I asked her flat out if she was meant to come home with me.  This is a question I've asked each greyhound who joined my famiy.  I wasn’t sure in my own heart. I didn’t want to preclude something just because I was a little worried about whether or not I should get a third hound.  I have never had a clearer answer. I heard her in my head as though she were speaking to me in English. “You are not my person.”

Blue and Bettina Greyhound-cutest greys ever
I am pretty sure I have the cutest greyhounds ever, but maybe
two are good for the time being.
I walked her around a little more. I asked her again. I got the same reply. With a heavy heart I brought her back to Scott. Now did I really get a message from this greyhound? I don’t discount the possibility. But it also may have been a message from my brain speaking to me in the guise of a little greyhound. Or perhaps they were both speaking to me.

The end result was the same. We enjoyed the Open House. We won a new dog bed! My heart still has its little secret wish. Given how special the little female grey was, I have no doubt she will shortly find a great home with people who know and love greyhounds already. And someday, maybe someday, Carol will let me know about a great new arrival at the kennel who will tell me just as clearly that I AM his (her?) person.

10 comments:

  1. Go for it V! You won't regret it.

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  2. I know exactly where you're coming from! I'd love another GH which would make 3 dogs. Which really is too many for 1 person to handle. It's all very easy with Frankie and Beryl. They know the ropes, the routines and randomness of our life together. Why complicate things I ask myself? Yet still I crave another girl. Dumb idea. Oh well, at least you and your girls had a wonderful day, came home with some goodies and had some special moments with another special girl :)

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  3. At the moment I have three dogs and it is a bit more difficult to manage. You can fit three in the car but can you walk three of them on a leash? Can you keep an eye on three at the park? Three is really too many to go cafe hopping with, so I am sometimes deciding who gets to come where. I enjoy having three but I don't think I could handle it on a permanent basis.

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  4. In the last year we have done a lot...Lost Sera, 2 weeks later got Valor, 6 months later got Freedom and we love them both to pieces. And I have the same "secret" - with the new house and room do we get a third???? If we did it would have to be a laid back hound or maybe a senior and then I remember - you never get to pick, they pick you! We're always having to interpret their signs when we own them: are the upset, do they have to pee, are they scared? It's no different when we adopt them except we haven't learned their signs just yet. I believe in love at first sight (for people and greys) so when you find the right one, you're going to know. The stars will align and Blue and Bettina and you will expand your pack. They do talk to us without saying a word, but sometimes you do hear them in your head, shhh, listen...
    Drena B.

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  5. I too think it would be fun to add another dog. But I'm not sure how I would handle 3. Leash walks would be tough with only two hands, food costs go up, vet costs go up and even training costs. What my heart wants, my wallet can't afford.....

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  6. I have 3 and wouldn't trade a one of them, but I do believe 2 is the perfect number of Greyhounds to own. You'll know when and if it's right.

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  7. I really loved having three and four Greyhounds. It was MUCH easier than two Greyhounds and two German Shepherds. *sigh* I loved being able to take one out with me and knowing that the other two had each other for company, and taking all three or four was doable for us, too. I felt like the time was right when we added each of our dogs, though, including the Shepherds! When you know, you know! You know? (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

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  8. I'm sure Blue and Bettina love having all that space in the back of the Element to themselves. But would be more than willing to share when you're ready to add another.

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  9. Great story about the dogs and your caring heart!

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  10. Your two look so happy and content. Hope you are able to check out the new dog park soon.

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