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Posted on Mon, Aug. 16, 2010
Greyhound Gala adopts logo created by Haddon Heights man
By Megan Doherty Editor
Greyhound Friends of New Jersey decided to do something different for the organization’s Aug. 21 Greyhound Gala at the Somerset Elks Club. The greyhound rescue adopted a logo just for this gala, and it was created by Jeremiah Linton, 23, of Haddon Heights. “
We think it’s so typical of a greyhound,” said Linda Lyman, the president of Greyhound Friends of New Jersey. She added that the design, a greyhound peeking at a rabbit coming out of a top hat, is whimsical, like the dogs themselves can be.
“He’s a great artist,” said Greyhound Friends of New Jersey volunteer Lynn Heiler, of Linton. Heiler requested a design from Linton, who is her great-nephew. The logo will appear on T-shirts and mugs for sale at the event, along with the tag line “Magical. Musical. Greyhounds.”
The gala will also feature music from Dan DelSignore and the Kick Back Band. DelSignore recently adopted a greyhound from the organization. Mike Spade, a magician and comedian, will return to perform at the annual event, which also features a buffet, raffles and a silent auction.
The money raised will go toward finding permanent homes for retired greyhounds. Lyman said the group received 13 dogs in the first week of August. “They come from racetracks all over,” said Lyman, but added that many come from Florida and Alabama. The dogs are housed in a rented space in Tabernacle Bed and Biscuit or sent to foster homes. “Most of the dogs we get are 2 to 3 years old,” said Lyman. Lyman said most greyhounds start racing at 18 months, and those that don’t win can retire at 2 years old. The winning dogs retire at 4 or 5 years old, Lyman said. The greyhounds are acclimated to life outside of the racetrack once they reach Greyhound Friends of New Jersey.
“It’s our responsibility to teach them as much as we can,” said Heiler, who currently has three greyhounds of her own and one foster dog. How are the greyhounds prepared for their new lives? “We ‘cat-test’ them,” said Lyman. The cat-test is really just the first step, determining whether or not the greyhound would fit in a home with a cat or other small dogs, since greyhounds are taught to race after small, furry things like the track guide. Tig, Greyhound Friends of New Jersey’s resident cat, who was rescued from the streets, has the dubious distinction of being the tester cat. Lyman said volunteers will bring Tig in a harness and a muzzled, leashed greyhound into the same room and observe how the dog reacts. Heiler said it is helpful to watch Tig react, too. “Tig knows right away,” said Heiler. Lyman said many of the dogs are compatible with small animals.
Heiler said the dogs are then house-broken if they aren’t already. “We want to make all the matches right,” said Heiler. “It’s amazing to me how they come from the racetrack and adjust to their home,” said Lyman. Greyhounds, Lyman said, can reach 35 mph, and the cheetah is the only faster animal on land. “You can never leave a greyhound off a leash outside a fenced-in area,” said Lyman. If a greyhound takes off, you are not catching it until it wants to be caught. “But they are couch potatoes,” said Lyman, who said her greyhounds love to lounge around the house. “As a breed, they are anxious to make you happy,” said Heiler.
Lyman said that greyhounds are generally a healthy breed because illnesses have been bred out of the working dogs. “Actually, because they have been very active, they have very good hearts,” said Lyman. Sometimes, the organization will get a dog with a broken leg. Lyman said it takes about $2,000 and three months to heal a broken leg. “We do a lot of fundraising,” said Lyman. The gala will raise these needed funds.
The gala will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Maria Lutz at flutz11331@aol.com or 732-521-8330. Other greyhound meet-and-greet and adoption events can be found at www.greyhoundfriendsnj.org.
“I had dogs all my life, and I don’t think I would have anything but a greyhound now,” said Heiler.
August 6, 2010
By Brianne Harrison
What better time than the dog days of summer to throw a Greyhound Gala to raise funds for Greyhound Friends of New Jersey? On August 21, animal lovers and Greyhound Friends supporters will gather at the Somerset Elks Club for an evening that will feature a buffet dinner, raffle, silent auction, musical entertainment by Don DelSignore & the Kick Back Band, and a performance by magician/comedian Mike Spade.
This year, there’s been a little extra support from one community member: a young up-and-coming artist, Jeremiah Linton of Haddon Heights, has designed a logo for the event that pays homage to the dogs and the entertainment at the heart of the evening. The drawing will grace the event’s programs, as well as T-shirts and mugs available for sale.
The Gala will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by contacting Maria Lutz at flutz11331@aol.com or 732.521.8330.
If you can’t make it to the Gala but still want to help out GFNJ, the shelter is holding its 5th Annual Scotch Bowl at the Holiday Bowl Bowling Alley in Oakland this Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets include the Scotch Bowl and a buffet dinner. There’ll also be tricky tray prizes, a 50/50 and a grand prize raffle. Tickets are $60 per team or $25 for non-bowlers and can be purchased at Rusty’s Pet Place Supply in Ringwood.
A race to save lives
By: JULIE PEAK
Burlington County Times
Greyhound Friends of New Jersey look for loving homes for canines.
TABERNACLE - When a broken-legged male dog from Alabama arrived at the Greyhound Friends of New Jersey in need of orthopedic surgery and physical rehabilitation costing $2,000, the nonprofit organization welcomed him with open arms.
The rescue group, which finds homes for more than 250 healthy, ex-racing greyhounds each year, has a "turn no greyhound away" policy.
Since January the organization has rescued 69 dogs from West Virginia, Rhode Island and Alabama; 65 from Florida; and is expected to take in many more after 14 Florida racetracks close for the season. When the organization accepts dogs with broken legs or special medical needs, they are nursed back to health and found a loving home.
On Saturday about 10 greyhounds from Florida are expected to arrive at the Tabernacle Bed and Biscuit Kennel on Carranza Road.
Dogs that come from the track usually travel 28 hours in a long, low trailer, but this time six volunteers from the Greyhound Friends of New Jersey will travel in SUVs to meet the hauler on the New Jersey Turnpike on Saturday afternoon and collect the animals, according to Lynn Heiler, spokeswoman for the Greyhound Friends of New Jersey.
"Once we get them to our kennel in Tabernacle, we give them a chance to rest, take them out and walk them, give them food and water, and bathe them," Heiler said. "Then we cat-test them to see if they can live with small animals. We actually take the dog into a room, muzzled, and let the dog go near the cat. If the dog seems too interested, we say it's not good to live with cats or other small dogs."
Anyone interested in adopting a greyhound is invited to come Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to a special Adoption Day at the kennel. Interested dog lovers will have a chance to meet the greyhounds, walk them and ask questions. 
"We do it about once a month this time of year," Heiler said. "People who are interested in adopting a dog have to be preapproved and fill out an application online. If they've had a pet before, we call the vet to check them out and then they can take the dog home that day. We have lots of volunteers to give them advice and teach them things they might not already know about owning a greyhound."
According to Heiler, 15 dogs will be available for adoption Sunday. Almost all the dogs that do not get adopted will go into foster homes.
"We have a huge network of volunteers. Greyhound Friends of New Jersey is about 24 years old and we have about 30 or 40 people who foster," Heiler said. "Greyhounds are like huge puppies - they've never been around other breeds, seen a TV or heard a microwave beep. They have lived in a big kennel their whole lives, but they're really smart, and they're dying to make you happy."
The minimum donation to adopt a greyhound is $235, which includes spaying or neutering, cleaning, worming, all inoculations, a leash and a collar.
For more information about the greyhounds and adoption details, or to become preapproved to adopt one Sunday, visit www.greyhoundfriendsnj.org. To foster a greyhound, call Linda Lyman, president of the Greyhound Friends of New Jersey, at 732-356-4370.
Contact: jpeak@phillyBurbs.com
July 07, 2010 01:30 AM
Concerning Animals: Hound gets a happy home
by Joan Lowell Smith/For The Star-Ledger
Monday January 12, 2009, 1:11 PM
CATHY MARTINSON
Luke Tobin, a rescued greyhound, enjoys his retirement.
Sometimes it pays to be a stowaway.
A racetrack reject just found that out when he was "accidentally" included in a shipment of retired greyhounds from Florida tracks.
"There were supposed to be 20 greys in the haul," said Cathy Martinson of Leonia, who has been adopting retired greyhounds for several years with her partner Susan Tobin. Ten of the sleek dogs were slated for Greyhound Friends of New Jersey (greyhoundfriendsnj.org) and the other ten were going to a greyhound friends organization in Connecticut.
Lucky 21
There was an extra dog. Ten of the dogs came with birth dates, racing records, health data and tattoos in their ears. The unlisted extra had the tattoos and an old piece of adhesive tape attached with the name Winky. "We couldn't find any racing records on the database," she said. Why? Because he had only one eye. Providentially, Martinson and Tobin were waiting at the end of the ride since the word was out that they had adopted Breakaway, a one-eyed wonder who lost a hind leg and, inevitably, his life to cancer.
"He handled it all beautifully," Tobin said. "Treatment gave him nine more months."
One-eyed Luke
"Winky had been in a kennel for almost a year. Our hearts went out to him," said Martinson of the newcomer, quickly renamed Luke. He settled in instantly with Simon, who had been with the women for almost eight years. Simon had been lonely for another companion since Breakaway's death. At tracks, dogs are surrounded by other racers, one reason many people wind up adopting two greyhounds.
Breakaway's passing set the stage for Luke's entry as Simon's new pal. "Luke has a heck of a personality so he must have had a guardian angel because he was in good shape," said Martinson. Yesterday was Simon's eleventh birthday and Luke turned six on November 23. "They're two peas in a pod," said Tobin who, along with Martinson, would like to see greyhound racing cease entirely.
They're getting their wish in Massachusetts, which has two tracks. "In 2007, legislation passed banning dog racing, effective in 2010. That's one less state where it's allowed," Tobin reported. "Nationally, sixteen tracks have closed, 35 tracks are still in operation in 14 or 15 states and over 300 greyhound rescue groups save as many retired dogs as possible."
Great pets
Extolling the merits of greyhound adoption, Martinson said, "They're about 95 percent housebroken. At the track, the dogs are in kennels all the time unless they're training or racing and dogs don't soil their own kennels. When you bring them home, they're like puppies because everything is new to them. They've never seen stairs." Tobin piped in: "... or swimming pools," which generated mutual fits of laughter as they recalled the day Simon blithely walked into a swimming pool. Tobin jumped in to lead Simon to safety. "He had no idea what water was unless it was in a bowl."
Greyhounds are very graceful and curl up like cats. "They don't take up much space," said Martinson. "All you need is half a couch per grey." Tobin summed up: "Having a greyhound is a simple love affair."
Concerning Animals appears every other week in Abode.Contact Joan Lowell Smith at P.O. Box 302, Garwood,N.J 07027 or e-mail her at jsmith@starledger.com.
Dogs demonstrate their charms in Chester
Pet shop marks grand opening with animal expo
BY JAKE REMALY DAILY RECORD September 14, 2008
The adopted dogs can still run like the wind, but one greyhound owner said they typically are content relaxing.
Some people call the dogs "45 mph couch potatoes," said Kris Lambrix of Califon. We just bring them so people can see what good dogs they are."
The greyhounds were on a patch of grass in front of the parking lot for the Well Bred pet store, site of the Healthy Pet Expo. Well Bred sponsored the event with 12 commercial and nonprofit vendors to mark its move to its new location. Greyhound Friends of New Jersey arranged for greyhound owners to bring their dogs, as it regularly does for outreach opportunities across the state.
The Healthy Pet Expo also was attended by AniMeals, which provides pet food to low- and fixed-income pet owners in Hunterdon County, and Canine Companions for Independence, which provides free trained assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities other than blindness. The dogs can pull wheel chairs and open and close doors.
Steve Smith represented the year-old Long Valley Dog Park. The park has a $10 membership fee for maintenance and currently has 247 members, Smith said.
Trainers, groomers and a holistic veterinarian also attended.
"It's such a wonderful thing right here in Chester," said Catherine Newsom, a dog breeder from Chester Township. "It brings all the dog people out."
Well Bred customers, area dog owners and passersby visited the expo throughout the day.
Well Bred's bookkeeper, Wendy Eld of Long Valley, brought her dogs, Breck and Brighton, both Bernese Mountain dogs. Breck, who weighs close to 97 pounds, gave demonstrations of pulling a cart and gathering items. They took breaks under a tent.
"I just moved into the building in April," Well Bred owner Patti Storms said. "We wanted to have a grand reopening."
She arranged a photography contest to see who would submit the best photo of a sleeping pet. Expo visitors voted on the more than 100 entries, Storms said. The winning entry was to win a photo session with Pooch Smooch Pet Photography.
Well Bred has been located in Chester for five years.
July 9, 2008
Freeholder Visits Greyhound Friends Of New Jersey
OCEAN COUNTY - Ocean County Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari recently visited with some of the members of Greyhound Friends of New Jersey, Inc. during Pet Day, sponsored by the Barnegat Township Chamber of Commerce. With the theme of "Make a Fast Friend - Adopt a Greyhound," the group has helped in getting 3,000 dogs adopted during its 20 years as a rescue group. Pictured from left to right are friends volunteers Alice A. Brown and Kathy Nardin, both of Stafford Township, with Freeholder Vicari, along with Greyhound's Hanna, Stihl, Orville and Wilber.
"They no longer race, but they do love to hike" Article
Published: August 14, 2008
West Milford Messenger > News
They no longer race, but they do love to hike
By Aimee Henkel
Published: August 14, 2008
West Milford - Tyler Harrington didn't know that retired racing greyhounds liked to hike, even though he spent much of his time building animal hospitals. Then he got involved with Hiking Greyhounds, an offshoot of the non-profit organization Greyhound Friends of New Jersey, and he soon learned just how much the greyhound enjoys a good trail.
Harrington said, I started hiking with Hiking Greyhounds after I got my first rescued greyhound, Chester, in October. People always stop to look at them when we go out hiking because they are so beautiful, and no one expects them to be out hiking. They are breed animals, and they like to be together, so this hike is a great outlet for them.
According to Jim and Dawn Thompson, who started Hiking Greyhounds, a group of 20 or more greyhounds and their owners will hike three miles or more, depending on the weather. Said Jim Thompson, "No one thinks a greyhound would love to walk the trails or that they can handle the heat because they look so delicate, but they are great out here. This is a lot of exercise for them, so after this they will sleep all day."
Hiking Greyhounds have been hitting the trails every Sunday morning at Wawayanda State Park in Hewitt for more than a year, and most of the members of Hiking Greyhounds have adopted rescued racing dogs from Greyhound Friends, although a Labrador or two will come along for the fun.
Cliff and Pat Field of Upper Greenwood Lake have owned several breeds of dog, but their hiking greyhounds are their clear favorites. They have been regular hikers and both their dogs enjoy the company. Said Cliff, “We've had 12 dogs, all different breeds, but the greyhound is the best by far. They are well-mannered, great with people, and believe it or not, our Red loves the water.
While many people find owning a rescued greyhound or two very rewarding, Tyler Harrington enjoys helping a racing dog become a pet. He has been fostering a hiking greyhound named Sol Kinde since late June and he is progressing very nicely in his training. Sol Kinde is so gentle and affectionate. He will lean into me like he's trying to give me a hug. Once I got my first greyhound, I knew I wanted to be a foster parent to a new greyhound, just from the track.
Harrington got Sol Kinde from Greyhound Friends of New Jersey, which rescues greyhounds from tracks around the United States and places them in permanent and foster homes throughout New Jersey.
Nancy Bowden, a member of Hiking Greyhounds who is on the board of directors of Greyhound Friends, says the organization has placed more than 100 dogs since January, but interest in adoption is waning, while the numbers of rescued dogs is not. "The racing career of a greyhound is only five years long, at most, so we get lots of new dogs every two weeks. We take dogs from tracks all over the country - that's how much we love these dogs. Once a dog stops winning, he goes into rescue and we take him."
According to Bowden, once a dog comes into the rescue program it will spend time with a foster owner like Harrington who will teach the dog how to climb stairs, housebreak it, and get it used to people and society. Says Bowden, "Fostering a rescued greyhound is a lot like raising a big naive puppy. But once they get used to our lifestyle, they make the most wonderful pets. They are so loving, gentle and well-behaved. Most people who adopt one greyhound soon get another because they are so easy to take care of."
Harrington agrees that greyhounds are easy to love, and to train. I started fostering because I love these dogs. When they first come home from the track, they are like 2-year-old puppies. They've never seen another breed, or cars, or stairs so I teach them. It's so easy to train a greyhound because they listen, they want to please you and they are really smart. They learn manners very easily.
In addition to Hiking Greyhounds, Greyhounds Friends of NJ has several other meet and greet events throughout New Jersey in August. To learn more about adopting a rescued greyhound go to http://www.greyhoundfriendsnj.org/.
Shades of Greyhounds
Another exciting WEB EXTRA!
By Bernadette Finnerty
For local owners of this unique breed, life wouldn't be complete without their beloved pets.
When Ruthann Rowan, a 39-year-old executive assistant from Woodbury, walks through her front door after an hour-plus commute, she is greeted by seven dogs: four Greyhounds and three Italian Greyhounds. At that moment, the worries of her recent health problems and the demands of her job at Merrill Lynch in Hopewell dissolve in a frenzy of kisses from her beloved animals. They need her now, and to hear Ruthann tell her story, she needs them, too.
In 2004, Rowan and her fiance, Jim had just started looking into adopting a retired racing Greyhound. They found Greyhound Friends of New Jersey (GFNJ) and were attending the group's "meet and greet" events regularly. Rowan wanted to experience the breed and prepare to adopt one. Rowan and Jim already had Dino, an Italian Greyhound/Fox Terrier mix, and they were looking for a companion for him.
Why Greyhounds?
Rowan liked the Greyhounds right away for several reasons. She was surprised to find that after spending their entire lives on a racetrack - some Greyhounds can reach a top speed of 45 miles per hour - retired and rescued Greyhounds are actually quite lazy, laid back and friendly. Although Greyhounds are the world's fastest breed of dog; they achieve their incredible speed in one all-out sprint and do not have a lot of endurance. A Greyhound is quite content to be a "couch potato" and spend most of the day sleeping. They are intelligent and adapt very well to humans. As if unaware of their size, they will simply lie across their owner's lap while she watches TV.
Greyhounds are also one of the oldest breeds, and have appeared in art and literature throughout history. In ancient Egypt, Greyhounds were mummified and buried along with their owners, and tombs were often decorated with Greyhound figures. A favorite of European aristocracy for their hunting skills, Greyhounds have often been painted into portraits of their owners.
Today, their speed and agility make them strong racing dogs. In the U.S., there are currently 40 Greyhound tracks operating in 12 different states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Texas, Wisconsin and West Virginia. According to the Greyhound Racing Association of America, Greyhound racing contributes millions of dollars to state and county governments, as well as to charities. More than 15 million people visit Greyhound racetracks, bringing in more than $100 million in revenue annually to state and local governments. In addition, the Association maintains that more than $2 billion is wagered each year on racing.
While there is considerable debate over the ethics and humaneness of racing Greyhounds, those who adopt these retired animals say their only purpose is to work closely with the tracks, and focus on finding loving homes for each one.
On Greyhounds and Heart Conditions
Around the same time Rowan was learning all about the breed, she was also experiencing chest discomfort and was unable to keep up with her first dog, Dino, on walks around the neighborhood. Her doctor delivered some sobering news: Rowan, just 35 at the time, had major blockages in three of her coronary arteries. Though she has no history of heart disease in her family, she's had Diabetes since childhood. It turns out her heart problems were related to her diabetes.
Over the next two years, Rowan was in and out of the hospital. Her doctors performed three angioplasties and inserted three stents into her blocked arteries. It was soon clear to the doctors that the stents would not be enough to keep her arteries open. Rowan would need triple bypass surgery. "For some reason," she says, "I just kept thinking about that Greyhound I had met and through all of this I just focused on the fact that when I got through it, I would adopt one. It kept my mind focused on something other than my health, and somehow gave me the strength to get through it."
Rowan underwent triple bypass surgery on January 12, 2005. Within six months, she was ready to adopt her Greyhound. "I honestly believe that my speedy recovery was due to my goal of rescuing a beautiful Greyhound." She called GFNJ and started the process. On July 29, she and Jim brought Priscilla home. Before that, Priscilla had never been inside a house. She had never walked up a flight of stairs. The couple was surprised when Priscilla entered the front door and walked straight over to the fluffy bed they had set out for her. "She adapted immediately, and within two days she was easily going up the steps," Rowan says. "By the end of the first week, it was as if she had been with us for years. Seeing her adapt and change was wonderful. We knew at this point, this wasn't going to be our only rescued Greyhound."
Rowan's and Jim's sentiments are not unusual in the world of Greyhound rescue. GFNJ President, Linda Lyman of Cherry Hill, says there is a saying among rescued Greyhound owners, "They're like potato chips," she laughs. "You can never have just one." She should know. Lyman, a retired FBI agent and adjunct professor at Camden County College, owns nine rescued Greyhounds (and a Shih Tzu, who Lyman says is the "alpha" dog in the house). Lyman adopted her first rescued Greyhound, Nikki, 13 years ago. "There was an instant connection between Nikki and me," says Lyman. "She was a really smart dog; tolerant but very friendly. She was sweet and gentle and really good with kids." Lyman had such a good experience with Nikki that it led her to want to adopt more. Since Greyhounds are typically pack-oriented dogs, they take very well to living with other Greyhounds. All along, Nikki was clearly the leader of the group, which eventually grew to nine. Sadly, Nikki passed away a few years ago after battling with cancer. But Lyman says it was that connection that made her fall in love with the breed and eventually become president of an organization dedicated to finding loving homes for retired Greyhounds.
On Greyhounds and Inmates
This year marks the fifth anniversary of GFNJ's partnership with the Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility in Annandale (Hunterdon County). This prison program is designed to help bridge the gap between a Greyhound's track career and its retirement into a "forever" home. Participating inmates are trained by GFNJ volunteers, and spend so much time with their dogs that the bond becomes very strong.
The Mountainview program hosts seven Greyhounds at a time. There are seven handlers, seven backup handlers and several trainees. As Greyhounds are adopted into their permanent homes, new Greyhounds enter the program. Volunteers for GFNJ are continually training inmates to participate in the program, which also helps in their rehabilitation. The inmates in the program are committed to the welfare of these Greyhounds and their only reward is to know the dog has been placed with a loving family.
The prison program has been particularly helpful for dogs that come to them with broken legs. The dogs require extra care and their stay at the prison is longer. Since the dogs are walked on a leash on the prison grounds, they get the exercise that is required for their injuries. Often, families who adopt these dogs will send photos to the inmates to help keep them up to date on how the dog is doing. So far, the program has graduated 141 retired Greyhounds to loving homes.
On Greyhounds and Education
Greyhound owners, Lyman and Rowan included, spend a lot of their time educating the public about the animals they love, with hopes of finding a loving home for each one. Many members of GFNJ spend countless hours each weekend at events around South Jersey called "Meet and Greets," where they can introduce the animals to adults and children. "People are under the mistaken impression that Greyhounds want to run all the time, or that they are hyper and not good with children," says Lyman. "Quite the contrary. They like nothing better than to snuggle with you on the sofa." Rowan calls her Greyhounds "40 mile-per-hour couch potatoes."
While GFNJ is eager to find a home for each dog, they screen potential adoptive families carefully. Though generally non-aggressive, many Greyhounds retain a strong prey drive (which is a component in their racing ability) and are sometimes unsuitable for houses with other small pets such as cats or rabbits. Greyhounds are sight hounds, which means they will pursue their prey by sight rather than scent. It's not unusual for an otherwise relaxed dog to chase a rabbit or squirrel that it sees outside. For this reason, it's a good idea to keep Greyhounds in a fenced yard or on a leash while they are outside. However, Greyhounds' sensitivity and intelligence make them quick learners, and good candidates for obedience training.
Greyhounds are often tolerant of children, especially if they have been raised with them. A Greyhound will generally walk away from a worrisome child, rather than growl or snap. However, even the gentlest Greyhound has its limits, and should not be subjected to continuous harassment.
Most rescued Greyhound owners will tell you they have received as much as they've given to their dogs. Rowan feels so blessed by the joy her dogs have given her, and she also believes that joy has restored her health. For this reason, she has continued to adopt both Italian Greyhounds and retired racing Greyhounds. Today, she has six dogs and is providing a foster home for a seventh. She brought her sixth adopted dog home on the two-year anniversary of her bypass surgery. "I felt so blessed to be given a second chance at my health," she says, "that I wanted to give another Greyhound a second chance at a great life." In addition, Rowan is currently studying to become an Animal Control Officer at Camden County College, and hopes to one day become an Animal Cruelty Investigator.
That's What Friends are For
GFNJ is a non-profit organization that relies on funds generated through adoption, donations and fund-raising events throughout New Jersey. The organization holds three picnic reunions a year (spring, summer and fall), a holiday boutique and craft show, and an annual "fun match" staged in conjunction with two other breed rescue organizations.
Regular "Meet and Greets" are held on Saturdays or Sundays in many areas where potential adopters can go to spend time with Greyhounds and asks lots of questions. Check www.Greyhoundfriendsnj.org for dates and times.
On arrival, all dogs are spayed or neutered, inoculated, heartworm tested and have their teeth cleaned prior to adoption. The minimum adoption donation is $200. Generally, dogs are taken to a boarding kennel until they are adopted. Some dogs cannot go into homes immediately, often because of broken legs suffered during racing or other temporary physical problems. They go to nurturing foster homes until they are ready for permanent families of their own.
GFNJ member say finding homes for ex-racing Greyhounds is a labor of love. Today, that devotion finds homes for more than 250 Greyhounds each year. The Greyhound Friends philosophy: Accept those Greyhounds in need of a safety net, regardless of gender, size, color or age. There is a home out there for every one of them, and GFNJ members say they are dedicated to finding those homes.
Copyright SouthJersey.com, January, 2008. All rights reserved.
Author: Bernadette Finnerty
Pet Expo coming to Bridgewater this weekend
by Kathleen Shea
Saturday December 01, 2007, 7:05 AM
 AP Photo The Chinese Crested dog "Elwood" appears at the 2007 World's Ugliest Dog Contest, June 22, 2007, in Petaluma, Calif.
Elwood, "The World's Ugliest Dog," will be one of the star attractions at the Greyhound Friends of New Jersey Inc. Annual Craft Show and Pet Expo this weekend at the Somerset County 4-H Building, 310 Milltown Road, Bridgewater.
Little Elwood, a 6-pound Chinese crested/Chihuahua mix, with his adopter, Karen Quigley, will be promoting his new book, "Everybody Loves Elwood."
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, the Greyhound Friends' fundraiser will feature crafts for people and pets, a bake sale, pictures of dogs with Santa, a raffle and food.
There will be info on the friends' main function, finding good, loving homes for retired racing greyhounds.
Visit greyhoundfriendsnj.org or contact leylman10@comcast.net.
 
The canines and cons
Inmates' gentle guidance helps greyhounds adjust to new lives
BY AMY SACKS
DAILY NEWS WRITER
Saturday, May 26th 2007, 4:00 AM
PH Socks has just spent the last eight weeks living behind bars in a New Jersey prison - and he loved it.
It was better than the first few years of his life: a greyhound racing dog who languished in a cage at the dog track day after day, until that occasional moment when he would burst from the starting gate and chase an electronic bunny.
With the ability to run around the race track at 40 mph, it took less than a minute. But what he did in prison will keep him on a straight track for the rest of his life.
The sleek, brindle-colored PH Socks is a recent graduate of a training program at the Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility, in Annandale, N.J., where inmates work to acclimate ex-racing dogs to life outside the track, so they can be adopted into homes instead of squeezed into cages.
"We ask the inmates to treat the dogs like they would be treated in a family," said Linda Lyman, president of Greyhound Friends of New Jersey, a 20-year-old nonprofit rescue group, which runs the prison program. Started five years ago with three dogs and six inmates, the program grew to include seven dogs and a minimum of 14 inmates. And now, due to its success, the program is about to expand to 11 dogs.
Each dog is assigned to a primary and a backup handler and lives in a cell with an inmate who helps groom, train, and care for the dog. It also includes how to teach these runners to walk - on a leash - and climb a staircase. It also gives them a chance to curl up on a bed and chase a tennis ball. "These dogs have never even seen a toy!" Lyman said.
It's a win-win situation. In addition to bonding with the dog, Lyman said prisoners gain a sense of responsibility and a much-needed sense of pride. They are also required to write about the dog in a daily journal, which is eventually turned over to the adoptive family.
With an estimated 48 greyhound tracks in 15 states, thousands of dogs are retired across the country. In the U.S., dogs can be raced up to 5 years of age, but most dogs come off the track between the ages of 2 and 3.
Today, thousands of young, healthy dogs are killed annually because there are not enough homes for them. There are no statistics on how many of them are adopted - or put down.
Since its inception in 1987, N.J. Greyhound has rescued and found homes for over 3,000 ex-racing greyhounds.
"They're the most wonderful companions," said Lyman, who shares her New Jersey home with 12 retired greyhounds.
And, they're easy to care for. The retired racers don't need a suburban home or a fenced-in backyard. In fact, greyhound experts say that life at the track prepares the world's fastest dogs to be top-notch city dwellers.
"They're couch potatoes," said Kelly Gillen, a student, who lives on the upper East Side with Dagne, a 5-year-old adopted ex-racer. Her black and white pooch spends most days curled up on her bed.
But, in winter, with little to no body fat to keep them warm, Lyman says greyhounds do need a comfy doggy bed, and a coat for when they go out.
For more about adopting a greyhound, go to http://www.greyhoundfriendsnj.org/.
Retired racing dogs have a 'greyt' day
 Please click on photo for video
By LOIS HEYMAN
Staff Writer
Dozens of retired greyhounds and their adoptive families filled Duke Island Park in Bridgewater Sunday for a fundraising picnic to benefit the rescue group Greyhound Friends of New Jersey, the organization that had matched up most of the dogs and owners in attendance. Greyhounds that have been retired from a life on the nation's dog tracks often face euthanasia after being released from the racetrack, but many adapt very well to living as pets.
At the picnic, old cell phones and used copier ink cartridges were collected for the "Cash for Critters" program, in which the rescue group is paid $1 to $12 for each item collected.
In addition to meeting greyhounds up for adoption, attendees were able to browse a variety of dog-related merchandise presented by vendors, buy raffle tickets and picnic food and participate in canine games and contests.
For more information on the group, visit www.greyhound friendsnj.org.
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In the Courier News On Line 9/8/06... 
Greyhound Friends of NJ host celebration of breed
Greyhound Friends of New Jersey, the state's oldest organization devoted to the rescue of retired racing greyhounds, will celebrate "Greyhound Planet Day" from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 24 at North Branch Park in Bridgewater.
The annual fall picnic attracts hundreds of greyhound lovers and their adopted dogs. Open to the public, the event will feature Therapy Dog International, Inc. conducting certification testing for interested owners and their able greys for a $15 fee. Everyone can support Greyhound Friends of New Jersey by purchasing raffle tickets and goodies for people and pets from a number of vendors.
Finally, at the end of the day, everyone can be a part of a moving, multidenominational blessing of the hounds.
Known for its successful placement of thousands ex-racers, Greyhound Friends of New Jersey receives dogs regularly from racing tracks all over the country. The picnic is an excellent opportunity for potential adopters to learn more about greyhounds.
Dogs will be on view and while adoptions are done by application only, dogs will be available for pre-approved applicants. Volunteers and owners will be on hand to answer questions about the many advantages of owning an ex-racing greyhound.
"Greyhounds make wonderful pets. They're very intelligent, affectionate and easy to live with. Finding homes for these former racers warms our hearts as we give the dogs the chance to be loved as they should be. There's no dog like a greyhound," said Linda Lyman, new president of Greyhound Friends of New Jersey.
Greyhound Planet Day is an international event that honors the greyhound and its relatives (Galgos from Spain and lurchers) throughout the world. The goal of Greyhound Planet Day is to raise public awareness of the wonder and magic of greyhounds as pets, educate others about the current status of these dogs around the world and to honor those greyhounds who have already departed.
For more information, visit www.greyhoundfriendsnj.org or call Patty Comerford at (732) 566-2226.
The American-European Greyhound Alliance is serving as a central information source for individual groups as they plan their greyhound- awareness events. At the fall picnic, Greyhound Friends of New Jersey will be collecting collars and leashes to donate to a Galgo refuge in Spain. More information can be found at www.ameurogreyhoundalliance.org/ghplanet.htm
-- Submitted by Greyhound Friends of New Jersey
Sue Schrock and Jodi Arthur's boys were in the Courier Post Online in July, 2006 - both are therapy dogs and work hard in their community...
This is Patch, age 3, a retired racing greyhound adopted from Greyhound Friends, New Jersey.
He now has a "new" career as a Therapy Dog (Therapy Dogs International)
visiting local nursing homes, assisted living, schools, libraries, etc. Sue Schrock, Woodbury.
This is Jackpot Joe, age 8, a retired racing greyhound adopted from Greyhound Friends, New Jersey.
Jackpot is a registered therapy dog with TDI (Therapy Dogs International) and does visits to local hospitals, assisted living, nursing homes, libraries and schools. Jodi Arthur, Audubon, NJ
And then at a Meet & Greet in Moorestown...
Ten-year-old Jimmy Witkoski of Marlton poses with his Greyhound named Biscuit during a
Greyhound meet-and-greet that coincided with the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League's
meet-and-greet at PetSmart, Sunday, July 9, 2006 in Moorestown. DOUGLAS M. BOVITT/Courier-Post
In Joan Lowell Smith's Star Ledger column on 1/15/06:
"It's always great to hear about successful adoptions of any kind, but I have a special soft spot for retired racers since greyhounds are such calm, sweet dogs who deserve to be loved and not used as commodities..."
GFNJ thanks Joan for her continued support of Greyhound Adoption...
Adopter Leslie Hendricks and her girl Sonya
And we were in New Jersey Life Magazine's November/December 2005 issue...
10/18/05 The following ad will appear in upcoming Animal Companions...
Events calendar: SHOWS & SALES
9TH ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW, sponsored by Greyhound Friends of New Jersey, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 3 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 4 at 4-H Building on Milltown Road, Bridgewater. This holiday pet weekend features an array of raffle prizes, baked goods, Santa photos with your dog, and vendors selling goodies for people and their pets.
To inquire about being a vendor, call (610) 691-5058.
What's Happening Calendar
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Greyhound Planet Day Picnic 11 am to 3 pm
(Ex-Racing Greyhound Rescue)
Duke Island Park, Old York Rd., Bridgewater, NJ
Come celebrate the racing Greyhound! See hundreds of dogs with their owners, great food, vendors with goodies for people and pets, speakers, games and adoptable greyhounds (check www.greyhoundfriendsnj.org for adoption process and requirements). Come help Greyhound Friends of NJ save these graceful dogs when their racing days are over.
Thanks to Lynn Heiler, GFNJ received prominent press placement in The Sunday Star-Ledger.
Many Thanks Lynn, Tim, Emma & Chai - GREYT JOB!
Tim Heiler of Saddle River with his greyhounds, Emma and Chai. Greyhound Friends of New Jersey will hold a potluck lunch on Sept. 18 in Bridgewater.
PRESS RELEASE for GFNJ 08/10/05
GFNJ News Media Contact: Lynn Heiler lynnheiler@aol.com
NEW JERSEY RESCUE GROUP SUPPORTS GREYHOUND PLANET DAY
Greyhound Friends of NJ Annual Picnic Celebrates Life for Greyhounds
Bridgewater, NJ Greyhound Friends of New Jersey, the state's oldest organization devoted to the rescue of retired racing greyhounds, will celebrate "Greyhound Planet Day" on September 18. Their annual Fall Picnic, to be held at Duke Island State Park in Bridgewater, attracts hundreds of greyhound lovers and their adopted dogs.
Greyhound Planet Day is an international event that honors the greyhound and its relatives (Galgos from Spain and lurchers) throughout the world. The goal of Greyhound Planet Day is to raise public awareness of the wonder and magic of Greyhounds as pets, educate others about the current status of Greyhounds around the world and to honor those Greyhounds who have already departed. The American-European Greyhound Alliance is serving as a central information source for individual groups around the world as they plan their Greyhound awareness events. At their fall picnic, Greyhound Friends of NJ will be collecting collars and leashes to donate to the Alliance.
GFNJ Annual Fall Picnic Features Dogs From Many Tracks
Known for their successful placement of ex-racers, Greyhound Friends of New Jersey (GFNJ) receives dogs regularly from tracks all over the country. Earlier this year, GFNJ responded quickly when the Plainfield Dog Park closed, leaving 1,200 dogs in need of homes. Using their spring picnic event to help bring Plainfield dogs and potential adopters together, GFNJ found loving homes for 40 dogs within weeks of the track closing.
While adoptions are done by application only, dogs will be on view on September 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the GFNJ Fall Picnic, which is open to the public. Volunteers and owners will be on hand to answer questions about the many advantages of owning an ex-racing greyhound.
"These dogs are a joy to live with," said Barbara Wicklund, GFNJ President. "In addition to being beautiful, they're calm, gentle and loving. Our adopters love to show them off, so come and see for yourself a wonderful companion may be waiting for you!"
In addition to seeing greyhounds of all colors, sizes and personalities, attendees can enjoy the fall foliage while they listen to guest speakers including Teri Hyatt, noted animal stress therapist. There will be sumptuous food to taste and entertaining contests to watch. Everyone can support Greyhound Friends of New Jersey by purchasing raffle tickets and goodies for people and pets from a number of vendors. Finally, at the end of the day, they can be a part of a moving, multi-denominational blessing of the hounds. For more information go to www.greyhoundfriendsnj.org.
FROM CHANNEL 12 NEWS....
"Annandale inmates, racing greyhounds help each other through program"
(06/14/05) ANNANDALE “A program in Hunterdon County prepares former racing greyhounds for life after the racetrack by matching the dogs with inmates at a youth correctional facility.
A group called Greyhound Friends takes the dogs and prepares them for a new chapter in their lives. Although many of the animals are only four years old, their careers in racing are over. Greyhound Friends pairs the animals with inmates at Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility in an effort to make the dogs adoptable.
Inmates train, feed and offer constant companionship to the animals. Those involved with the program say the inmates help the dogs get used to life as a pet, and not as a racing animal. Many inmates say the program is helpful to them as well because it teaches them how to love and care for something.
FROM THE STAR-LEDGER...
"Racing to rescue of greyhounds"
Sunday, June 05, 2005
FOR THOSE WHO deplore greyhound racing, the good news is that the Plainfield, Conn., track has closed permanently. About 1,200 of the elegant racers were left behind after other tracks took the big money-winners.
Why, you may ask, would one track have so many dogs? Although greyhounds are the fastest runners in dogdom, the short answer is that they are short-burst racers, requiring days to recover between races.
Barbara Wicklund and her crew from Greyhound Friends of New Jersey in Hillsborough have raced to the rescue, along with other greyhound rescue operations. Wicklund, president and director of GFNJ, has been rescuing greyhounds since 1987, when she and her husband, Al, established the group.
"On April 27, we were given less than three weeks' notice of the closing, creating a real emergency," said Wicklund, whose group has taken in a total of 37. The arrival of the greyhounds in Hillsborough was just in time for the GFNJ spring picnic on May 15 at North Branch Park in Bridgewater. At the packed picnic, swarming with owners and their greyhounds adopted from GFNJ, many of the recently rescued racers made their first appearance. Twenty-five were adopted on the spot, primarily by people who already owned one or more of the stately breed.
Have to have more
"Len and I adopted Brandy from Seabrook a few years ago," said Irene Ullman, an active volunteer. Initially, Len Ullman was not thrilled when his wife brought the first slinky greyhound to their Old Bridge home, since they already owned a "regal" collie. "Six months later, I heard him tell someone, 'We're going to get another one soon,'" his wife recalled with a chuckle.
"The next year we adopted JohnE, proving the "gotta-have-two" universal theme among greyhound aficionados. It's now a family passion: "Our daughter Melissa just adopted Tea from the Plainfield track, a beautiful black and white, and our son David and his wife, Michelle, already had adopted Joe," Ullman said.
"Dogs, in general, are pack animals. Greyhounds are more so," she said. "They're litter mates until they're 18 months and like to be with other greys, but they'll adapt to other breeds easily." To illustrate the point, Ullman told of a unique fit: "One woman has three greys and three Chihuahuas." Picture that, if you can.
Although I missed this particular picnic, I have attended others where this "gotta-have-two (or more)" mentality is repeated countless times. An intelligent breed, greyhounds are easy to train, affectionate by nature and seldom bark. "They don't make the best watchdogs, but just their size can be intimidating," Ullman said.
Myths corrected
Because greyhounds are short-burst runners, they do not need to race around every day. In fact, their decided preference is couch potato mode. Wicklund says her three greyhounds take up less space in their Montgomery home than her bassets and petit basset griffon vendeens because the lanky greyhounds manage to curl up in a ball like cats. She corrected another myth, saying that most greyhounds like cats.
Another surprise to some unfamiliar with the breed is that they are easy to walk, not known for pulling.
Consider this: Racers have never been inside a home. They've never confronted a flight of stairs nor have they seen a couch or a kitchen. While they adapt quickly, patience must be exercised to condition a greyhound to the environment. Their long graceful legs are perfect for gliding gracefully around a track at maximum speed, but that first descent from a flight of stairs can freeze a greyhound in its tracks. This is why it pays to attempt two or three stairs at a back or front door before facing a long flight of stairs, especially if they aren't carpeted.
Another caveat: Greyhounds are sight hounds with exceptional vision. They must be leashed at all times, unless they are in a fenced yard. A greyhound can spot a squirrel a block away and go for it. Forget about catching the racer unless you're a long distance runner. Fortunately, however, while they are fast-break runners, they are not fence leapers. But Wicklund warns, "You must padlock the gate. A kid or a worker may leave the gate open. With a padlock, they have to ask you to unlock the gate." It may be a nuisance, but it is necessary. "They're hunters. Their instinct is to go," she said.
Greyhounds are thin-skinned -- literally. They injure easily. Sweaters must be worn in cold weather or they'll shiver.
Sail salesmanship
Lynn Heiler of Saddle River, who handles publicity for the group, owns Emma, a 4-year-old black beauty adopted last year. She is currently fostering Westmead Sail, a 4-year-old red brindle from the Plainfield track, also a female. She also owns three miniature Schnauzers.
"They get along just fine. Greys adapt so quickly," Heiler said. Westmead Sail had arrived the day before. "He trails me everywhere and, if Emma leaves the room, he cries. This is typical. The last one took a day to train. They're great dogs." She'd like to keep Sail, but her husband, Fred, needs convincing. Maybe she should consult Wicklund or Ullman on salesmanship strategy.
The remaining retired racers available for adoption are either in foster homes like hers or are housed at Hay Hill Kennel in Green Brook, which has been helping the group for many years. Call (732) 356-4370 or check their Web site at www.greyhoundfriendsnj.org.
A breed apart
Ullman sums up the breed: "Greys are totally different from any other breed. These dogs get into your soul." Wicklund recalled the day she brought the first greyhound home. "Al didn't want the dog in the house," she said. "We already had bassets and petite basset griffon vendeens and Irish wolfhounds. He threatened to leave if I got one more dog. Five minutes later he was cuddling with Champ. The next day he said, 'If I leave, I'm taking Champ with me.'"
Contact Joan Lowell Smith at P.O. Box 302, Garwood, N.J. 07027 or e-mailRTR4PA@aol.com. "Concerning Animals" is online at www.nj.com/living/ledger/index.ssf?fourteendays.
FROM COURIER NEWS C-N.COM...
"Dog lovers race to adopt greyhounds -
Animals displaced by track closing find new homes"
By KARA L. RICHARDSON, Staff Writer
BRIDGEWATER -- Some say greyhounds are like potato chips: You can't have just one. So, when the call came to adopt 27 greyhounds from a closed racing track in Connecticut, dozens of greyhound owners came running Sunday to the Greyhound Friends of New Jersey Picnic in North Branch Park.
Barbara Wicklund, Greyhound Friends director, said her group was one of many offering to take the roughly 800 dogs from the Plainfield, Conn., track. The New Jersey dog club had 17 days from the announcement of the track's impending closure to arrange foster homes, kennels and emergency care for the dogs. But the timing of Saturday's track closing worked well with the Greyhound Friends' picnic, which was planned in January.
Angela Sarullo of Piscataway couldn't keep her paws out of the cages at North Branch Park, where the dogs were on display. She has six dogs in all, three of which are greyhounds.
"They are easy to live with. They're pleasant and easygoing," Sarullo said. "I could fall in love with them all."
Sarullo learned about greyhounds from her Anita Drive neighbor, Bill Brouillard. Both are members of Greyhound Friends of New Jersey. Brouillard also convinced another neighbor to get a greyhound.
Brouillard said some house training is involved when adopting a greyhound from the track. He said the dogs have to learn about stairs, sliding glass doors and furniture. But he said that after a good week of solid attention, the dogs -- who are often used to one handler per 60 dogs -- learn basic rules. Brouillard, whose children are grown and have left home, has four greyhounds. And when he learns of another dog up for adoption, he said he thinks, "It's just another bowl of food."
By the end of the picnic, all but three of the dogs were adopted. About half of the 24 people who adopted dogs already owned greyhounds, Wicklund said.
Wicklund, who lives in Montgomery, added one more dog to her household, which now includes three greyhounds. She adopted Captain, a black greyhound with white markings who was somewhat shy.
"People came, fell in love and took a dog home," Wicklund said. "We had a successful day."
Kara L. Richardson can be reached at (908) 707-3186 or krichard@c-n.com.
Three greyhounds remain from the now closed Plainfield, Conn., racing track and are available for adoption. For an adoption application, call (732) 356-4370. Greyhound Friends of New Jersey submitted these profiles of the dogs still available for adoption:
- Killer Culligan: They call me Gilligan at the track. I'm a big, handsome brindle boy and will be 3 in September. You might notice the funny toes on my rear foot. I broke them running and I may limp occasionally, but generally, they don't bother me. At any rate, there's not much to be done about this injury. The wound on my shoulder had been treated and is healing. I'm quiet and affectionate, but I'm not wild about other dogs or cats. Older kids are great.
- Candale: Breaking my leg a couple of months ago did not hamper my good looks one bit. I'm a beautiful male, almost 4 years old, very friendly and loving. My leg healed on its own, but an orthopedic surgeon who examined me said I'll be just fine. I get along well with other dogs but not with cats.
- Chance: My track name was Country, but I'm better known as Chance. I'm a quiet, loving 8-year-old fawn beauty, now looking for another home. I'm fine with cats and everyone else I meet. My only drawback: I can be destructive when left alone, but if you muzzle me, I won't object and won't get into trouble. You might notice that I wobble a bit in the rear, it's nothing to worry about. The Greyhound Friends' orthopedist examined me just this week and said it's caused by a minor malformation at the end of my spine. I'm not in any pain, so don't be concerned.
STAFF PHOTOS BY ED PAGLIARINI
From the Courier News website http://www.c-n.com/
FROM NEWS 12 NEW JERSEY...
"Hundreds of greyhounds are up for adoption at Greyhound Friends of NJ"
(05/15/05) BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP - Hundreds of greyhound dogs are up for adoption at the Greyhound Friends of New Jersey after they ran their last race.
The closure of Plainfield Greyhound Park in Connecticut started a race for rescue groups to find permanent homes for the dogs. The Greyhound Friends of New Jersey in Somerset County is one group working hard to find a loving environment for hundreds of dogs.
Several greyhound and animal welfare groups in the tri-state area are working to find homes for the dogs.
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