Greyhound Friends of NJ, Inc.
PO BOX 4416
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 -0669
(732) 356-4370
info@greyhoundfriendsnj.org
Dogs: 23

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GFNJ THE IN NEWS  

APRIL, 2013

Maria Petstop 0413 Linda NBC Phili 0413 Sully and Lemon1 Pet Stop 0413
Dr. Voynick, Maria Lutz and Lemondrop Lutz on News12's Pet Stop Linda Lyman, Hank, Queenie and Blue waiting to go on NBC Philadelphia News Please click here for the interview Sullivan Comerford and Lemondrop Lutz waiting in the News12 Lobby

 

~ BARBARA WICKLUND ~

Barbara Wicklund, founder of Greyhound Friends of New Jersey, passed away at age 81 following a long illness on August 22, 2012. An experienced breeder and exhibitor of champion Basset Hounds, Irish Wolfhounds and Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen dogs (PBGV), Barbara adopted her first Greyhound ex-racer in 1987 from Louise Coleman, founder of Greyhound Friends in Hopkinton, MA. Volunteering to help Louise, Barbara was responsible for introducing retired greyhounds to the New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and metropolitan New York areas. As she placed more and more greyhounds in the region, GFNJ was incorporated as a separate entity, and Barbara remained president of GFNJ until her retirement in 2006.

During her long tenure, she began a number of GFNJ initiatives, including their innovative Prison Foster Program, which provides rehabilitative benefits for incarcerated youth at the Mountain View Correctional Facility in Annandale, NJ as well as needed socialization and obedience training for retired dogs. GFNJ remains New Jersey’s oldest and largest greyhound adoption organization, placing about 300 ex-racers each year.

In addition to greyhound re-homing, Barbara helped introduce the PBGV breed to the United States in 1984. During her 40-year involvement with the American Kennel Club, she served as founding member and former secretary of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Club of America, founding member and past president of the Irish Wolfhound Association of the Delaware Valley, past president of the Plainfield Kennel Club and member of the Somerset Hills Kennel Club.

Barbara was also the founder and past president of the Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue League, founding member and former secretary of the Berkshire Valley Basset Hound Club and served as the AKC delegate from the Basset Hound Club of America beginning in 1978. She was a delegate from the Berkshire Valley Basset Hound Club to the N.J. Federation of Dog Clubs, Inc., serving as Federation president for three years.

A journalist for 35 years, Barbara worked as a reporter for several daily newspapers in New Jersey and as editor/publisher/owner of a weekly newspaper in South Plainfield for 10 years along with her husband. She is survived by her husband, Al, who was her partner in life and in animal adoption.

A memorial tribute for Barbara was observed on September 23rd at the Greyhound Friends of New Jersey Annual Fall Picnic, Duke Island Park, Old York Road, Bridgewater, NJ.

GFNJ on TV!

GFNJ will be featured on News 12 NJ's Pet Stop segment as part of National Adopt A Greyhound Month. It will air this Saturday and Sunday, 4/28 & 29, at 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm, and 4pm!
 
Maria Lutz will be on with her dog, Bob, as well as Balisi (below), one of our available greys (Sara Weyman's foster).

Balisi

Pet Stop 4/12 Maria Lutz with Dr Voynick, host of News 12 Pet Spot. The wonderful greys are Maria's fawn boy Bob and Sara Weyman's foster girl, Balisi.

 

Fox Video

1/19/2012 - Fox Fursday - GFNJ Is In the Studio!

Please click here to watch Lynn Heiler, Carrie Hill, Hank and Redbone!

 

10 Show Logo Click here for the video!

Watch Linda Lyman, Craigie Dice and Lizzie...

Barnagat Ocean Acres Patch

Reading with Rudy

s of library's popular reading tutor

  Darla Novick and her therapy greyhound Rudy get ready to read with Abbey Constantino, 7, and Amanda Costantino, 6.

Held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the children's book section, the program featured Rudy, a therapy greyhound who loves to listen.

Rudy, a former race dog, is now helping children at the Barnegat Library in addition to visiting retirement homes and local schools, according to Darla Novick, Rudy’s mom.

The "Tail Waggin’ Tutor" program is a regular year-round event, which usually features Taffy, a Brittany spaniel, who happened to be on vacation in Florida this week.

But that didn’t keep Rudy from fulfilling his mission of giving children a chance to "read for fun," according to children’s librarian and program coordinator Lisa Taylor.

The event is very small, usually with five or  six children, and runs the last Friday of every month andis held at other county library’s with single dog and multiple dog attendance, she said.

“The children choose from a variety of stories then sit and read to our guest," Taylor said. "The program has even branched out to younger children, some who have not learned to read yet, but have picturebooks… All we want is for kids to enjoy books and the dog seems to help that," she said, and as it turns out, Rudy helped in a big way Friday afternoon.

Registered attendees got a chance to show off their reading skills to Rudy, calling on his patient ears and still having fun. Attendee Abbey Constantino, 7, of Barnegat, was first to get Rudy to show off his skills: listening and having fun.

Rudy, a brindle Greyhound, was adopted from Greyhound Friends of New Jersey, an organization aimed at rescuing former Greyhound racing dogs from the Florida area andadopting them into stable loving homes.

"He’s a wonderful addition to our home; in fact he’s not like the hyper race dog everyone would expect," said Novick. "He’s a bit of a couch potato."

"When we adopted him he had ran in over one hundred twenty races at three race tracks, and had abroken foot," she said.

According to the Greyhound Friends of New Jersey website, who specialize in rescuing the dogs, most have ailments that need special attention or are victims of abuse.

For further information on adopting, donating or general inquires please visit: http://www.greyhoundfriendsnj.org.

For further information and registration deadlines on the "Tail Waggin’ Tutor" program andother children’s programs held at the Barnegat Library, visit http://engagedpatrons.org/Events.cfm?SiteID=2161

  

KYW Logo

Thanks to Kevin Scholla and KYW radio Philadelphia for sharing news of our event (the Craft Show) and our group.

An audio link will appear when this page is opened to allow you to listen to the interview

 

 

Links to FIOS1 GFNJ Videos

Greyhound Adoption - Looking for Homes
 GFNJ Prison Program- New Life Behind Bars