Phoenix Pet Expo - May 7 - courtesy Amazing Pet Expos

Phoenix, AZ – Pet lovers in the Phoenix area should get their four-legged friends ready for the 2011 Phoenix Pet Expo, Saturday, May 7, at University of Phoenix Stadium. This free indoor event attracts thousands of pet lovers looking to enjoy a day out with their furry, feathered or reptilian pals! Last year, more than 12,000 people – and their pets – spent the day at the expo.

from the Phoenix Pet Expo press releases

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m, the expo will be packed with more then 275 local and nationally-recognized veterinarians, groomers, trainers, retailers and organizations primarily geared towards pet lovers. Whether you’d like to learn, shop, play or adopt, you won’t to miss this event!

Because the Phoenix Pet Expo is also designed to promote responsible pet ownership, the highlight of the day will be a mega-adoption event. If you’re looking to add a new member to your family, more than 500 pets will be available for adoption, along with information from dozens of local rescue groups and shelters. It’s wonderful to see a pet connect with their new forever home.

If it’s entertainment or live demonstrations that you’re interested in, you can sign your pet friend up to participate in several competitions, such as the ever-popular costume contest, talent contest or fashion show. Information about obedience training, pet behavior, nutrition, activism, and more will be presented all day on the entertainment stages.

Dog owners can also sign their up pets to fly with Splash Dogs at the expo, a nationally-recognized dog enthusiast company that organizes and promotes dock jumping events.

The expo’s agility course attracts a large following who enjoy watching handlers race their dogs through an obstacle course. The handler’s controls are limited to voice, movement, and various body signals, requiring exceptional training of the animal and coordination of the handler.

Other activities include fly ball races with Phoenix Fuzion and Phoenix Hot Pawsuit and performances by Arizona Canine Musical Freestylers.

Of course, pets are welcome to attend the event, provided that they are on a fixed lead and have proof of age-appropriate current vaccinations. Not up to date on vaccinations? Not to worry, there will be discounted vaccinations and low-cost microchipping available. You can even take advantage of free nail trims.

The Phoenix Expo is organized by Amazing Pet Expos, which currently produces more than a dozen pet expos around the country; all of them indoors and free to the general public.

What: 2011 Phoenix Pet Expo

Where: Indoors (and air-conditioned!) at University of Phoenix Stadium

When: Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Free admission and free parking

Pet Expo tips for you and your animal:

No doubt about it, these expos are CROWDED. As with any event that attracts large crowds, people who prepare for it tend to have a much better experience. With that being said, here are some tips to help ensure that guests have the best day possible at the show:

1. Only bring your pet along if it is well-behaved, non-aggressive and doesn’t get stressed out in crowded, stimulating and noisy situations. There are all kinds of other animals, small children, wheelchairs and lots of people at the event. Your pet will be exposed to dogs barking, people speaking loudly on microphones, crowds clapping and attendees cheering. You know your pet best, so please use your best judgment to make sure that your pet will enjoy the expo just as much as you will.

2. Pet rules: Your pet must be current on all shots or you should plan to have your pet’s immunizations updated at the event; low-cost vaccinations and microchipping are offered on-site. The immunization requirement only applies to dogs, cats and ferrets. A rabies tag is acceptable as proof of immunization, as are blood titer results for those pet owners who don’t immunize annually. Dogs must be on a fixed lead or a locked retractible lead, no longer than 6 feet, at all times. You’ll be required to sign a pet waiver at the entrance, but you can avoid the line by visiting the Phoenix Pet Expo website to fill your pet waiver form out in advance.

3. Once inside, stop by the prize entry table to register for awesome giveaways and prizes from over 250 exhibitors. Does your pet have an amazing talent or enjoy being the center of attention? Make sure to enter them in the pet talent and costume contests. These popular events (and the great winning prize packages) draw a large crowd.

4. Bring cash. There are many opportunities for shopping and donations and some rescue groups may not accept credit cards. An ATM on site.

5. Phoenix Pet Expo program includes all the vendor names and locations, a map of the show floor, as well as the full schedule of events and activities at the expo. Pick up your copy at the entrance.

6. If interested in adopting a pet, the Mega-Adoption area could be just what you’re looking for, plus the majority of rescue groups have pets in their booths too. Hundreds of pets will be available for adoption or application (for those groups that don’t do on-site adoptions).

7. High traffic events for the day will be Splash Dogs, the agility, flyball and activity courses, as well as the entertainment stage. You may want to take a moment, either before the event by looking online, or once you arrive, to review the show program so that you have a general idea of how you want to spend your time.

8. Take note of the pet-potty areas located both indoors and out. While we do have pet clean-up teams at the event, please be kind and pick up after your pet.

9. Pet water stations be will scattered throughout the expo so that your excited companion doesn’t get dehydrated. These are communal bowls, so if you have a puppy, please keep it safe and bring a travel or disposable bowl for their use.

10. University of Phoenix Stadium is a HUGE venue and the Phoenix Pet Expo takes up more than 128,000 square feet of space. Further, the walk from the parking lot into the stadium and to the event takes 10 to 15 minutes. If you have a pet breed with you that can’t tolerate this kind of exertion (for example, English Bulldogs), please plan to bring a stroller or wagon for them. While the event is indoors and air-conditioned, it’s a lot of exercise for breeds that don’t handle heat or exercise well.

11. Pace yourself! It’s a long day and there are many things to see. Make sure you take periodic breaks and give your pet a chance to rest – or step out of the expo for a few moments of quiet – if you plan to stay all day.

12. Many exhibitors offer some sort of treat for pets. If your pet has a sensitive stomach or is super excited, you may want to consider allowing your pet one or two treats and then allowing her/him to enjoy the rest at home. We see a lot of dogs gobble up as many treats as possible only to – ahem – vomit a few hours later.

13. If you have a small or tiny dog, you may want to be prepared to either carry it or have a stroller available. There are so many large and super large dogs at the expos that some small pet owners feel overwhelmed and their little fur-babies may unintentionally get stepped on.

14. If you are attending the expo with the intent of adopting a new family member, you may want to either bring a crate or some sort of car restraint or be prepared to purchase something along those lines at the show. We often have people ask us at the show if we have any boxes or crates that they can have/borrow. We don’t and cage/pet carriers may sell out. So either bring one with you or plan to arrive extra early so that you can make sure that a pet restraint is available for purchase.

On the first and third Wednesdays of every month, Tucson Tails blog will host some local adoptable pets in need of forever homes. To be considered for inclusion, send info by Tuesday at 3 p.m. The offer applies to rescue groups in So. Arizona. Please send to tucson.tails@yahoo.com

Adopt 2 for the price of 1 - courtesy HSSAZ

Humane Society of So. AZ

Update – Happy Ending – Delaney & Katie were adopted together by a nurse at an assisted living community and are now brightening so many people’s lives. They are certainly enjoying the good life.

Delaney 688348
6 Years Old – Fox Terrier Mix – Male

Katie – 688349
9 Years Old – Chihuahua Mix – Female

Delaney and Katie are perfectly normal, healthy dogs just constantly joined at the hip. These good friends have been through everything together, including the recent passing of their beloved owner. Delaney and Katie comfort each other with reassuring nuzzles and now look forward to their next big adventure with you. Although they have quickly made friends with everyone at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, Katie and Delaney have yet to find their perfect family.

That may come as a surprise, since these wonderful little dogs have so much love to give and ask so little in return. They just want kindness, patience, a soft bed, and daily pats on the head. If you could give two very appreciative, mellow and well-mannered senior dogs the love and dignity they deserve in their golden years, please consider adopting Katie and Delaney soon from the Humane Society.

You can meet them at the HSSAZ’s adoption center and retail store – Pawsh — located on the second floor above Crate & Barrel at La Encantada Shopping Center. Add a 2 for 1 adoption fee and get twice the love.

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Arizona Greyhound Rescue

Adopt me! Courtesy AZ Greyhound Rescue

Ripple is another golden girl who at 7 1/2 is self-assured and quietly assertive. She’s inquisitive but not destructive. A former brood mama Ripple craves affection and physical contact. She would well as an only dog if the adopter is home most of the time or in a home with another large dog.

Adopt me! Photo is courtesy of AZ Greyhound Rescue

Honey is a Greyhound/Lab mix who enjoys the companionship of people and other dogs. She is a healthy, assertive dog who shows no fear of loud noises. She won’t allow other dogs to push her around but she is not aggressive. Honey needs a block wall or secure rock-fence base to keep her in the yard and prevent her from rearranging the landscaping to create an escape route. She loves car rides, walks, and the dog park; barks very little and is house trained. Life is sweet; get more Honey.

View the website to check out available greyhounds

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You can view the adoptable dogs on April 19 here.

Quinn Jose by Karyn Zoldan

April is Adopt-a-Greyhound month and I wanted to end with a very important step along the journey to greyhound adoption — foster care.

The vast majority of greyhounds available for adoption are retired racing greyhounds or dogs that have never raced but come from breeding farms in other states. These hounds do not have a normal puppyhood like other breeds. They are raised on farms and then graduate to dog tracks and live most of their lives in small confined cages.

When a greyhound retires at 18 months to 5+ years, they have never been in a house, walked on tile, slept in a soft bed, played with toys, etc. It’s a big transition but being intelligent dogs they adapt quickly and can soon find the softest spot in the room.

Foster care is an important step along the way. Foster care may be a good volunteer activity for people who cannot afford to adopt a pet at this time, who don’t want the long term commitment of a pet, who are snow birds, and have room in their heart and home to help a dog in need. Foster care acquaints you with the greyhound breed. The more foster care volunteers, the more dogs that can leave the track. To learn more about fostering greyhounds, visit this page.

Thank you to Joan Athey who was kind enough to answer some questions for me about her foster care experiences.

KZ: When did you get your first greyhound?

JA: My husband Paul and I lived in Denver for many years before retiring to Arizona. Through the years, I had read about the greyhound rescue organizations needing homes for all the greys coming off the various Colorado race tracks, most of which were in Denver, and decided that a greyhound should be in our future at some point.

KZ: What attracted you to this breed?

JA: Two things in particular convinced us to look into adopting from Arizona Greyhound Rescue (AGR). The first was a Tucson newspaper picture and accompanying article of a gal walking her six greys on their morning walk. The gal happened to have been a former board member. The second event was a visit by friends from Denver with two greys who were also active in one of the Denver rescue groups. They kept telling us how great the dogs were and how much need there was for adopters.

Shortly after that we contacted Arizona Greyhound Rescue and adopted Annie. That was a little over six years ago. After a very short time we were completely in love with her and have called her our Sweet Precious Angel Baby ever since. About five years ago we started to get involved with volunteer activities and then began fostering during the winter months when we’re in town.

KZ: Have you ever fostered failed?

JA: To date we haven’t foster failed, although it’s hard when we don’t hear much back from the adopters after the first month or so. We often wonder how the dogs are doing. Are they being loved? Are they happy and healthy? The ones with problems are the hardest to let go because we never know if the new owners will have the patience, love and perseverance to help the dog adjust to home life.

KZ: How difficult is it to let go of a foster dog? Do you want to keep them all?

JA: We do go into fostering knowing that we’re just trying our best to help the dog be happy in his new life in a permanent home, which will be so different from kennel life. We’re amazed at how quickly some of our older fosters have adjusted, one example being a brood mom who was eight when we got her.

In all, we’ve probably fostered at least eight dogs and taken a couple for respite care. I think the biggest reward to fostering is the bonding that occurs when the dogs get to trust you and seek you out for pets and kisses and to be close wherever you are in the house, at least until they decide they’d rather be on their cushy bed.

KZ: What are some of things that a greyhound must learn in the home? Do you have stairs?

JA: An important part of fostering is assessing the personalities of the dogs and their traits in order to learn what motivates the dogs and to determine how shy they are, whether they spook easily, to know what tone of voice to use when correcting unwanted behaviors since some dogs are super sensitive and others not so much. We don’t allow the dogs on the furniture but do have plenty of big dog beds around. We don’t want them counter surfing or near the table when we’re eating and no table scraps. We’ve always given the dogs treats when we get back from walks and when they’ve gone potty in the back yard. We’ve had to use our kennel very little. The dogs usually sleep by us in the bedroom the first night, then I keep them in the same room with me until I know I can trust them to be in a different room without constant supervision. We try to keep everything out of reach that we don’t want reconfigured!

We start leaving them alone with our dog for short periods and increase the time from there. I have used a muzzle if a dog insists on chewing a table, chair, etc. For our peace of mind and the safety of the dogs, we always start using harnesses on the dogs when they arrive. A seriously spooked dog can back out of a martingale collar and be gone in an instant. We don’t have any stairs but do try to introduce them at other locations. I tape pieces of computer paper to glass doors and low windows so the dogs know to stop.

Another important aspect of fostering is educating the potential adopters as much as possible especially if they’ve never had greys. It’s important to know their sensitivities, possible behavior problems, what to do if a dog gets loose, poisonous things, emergency vet locations, etc.

I request potential adopters get at least one of the two recommended books about retired racers (Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies or Adopting the Retired Racing Greyhound). I have several articles that have been passed on to the AGR volunteers in the past that I share with the adopters, if applicable.

KZ: Any tips for foster parents?

JA: In order to find the right adopter and home for a dog, it’s very important for the foster family to take the dogs to as many events as possible to give the dog exposure to the public. We try to go at least once a week to a tabling location, as well as any special AGR events or events where AGR has been invited to participate and bring the dogs. Nearly all of our dogs have found their homes during such activities.

We feel fostering is a big responsibility and time commitment but is so rewarding when we see the dogs learning to play with toys, discover so many new things, and to love, and then find their forever homes where we hope their people will love them as much as we love our Annie.

When out on walks, people who ask about the greys learn what wonderful dogs they are and how to get involved — whether it be adopting, volunteering, and fostering. It’s heartening to know that more and more people are aware of how the dogs have suffered through the years because of racing.

(I, Karyn Zoldan, fostered Quinn Jose some years ago.The day I took him to his adoptive home — I cried all the way home. Quinn has the best home possible now and is deeply loved by all who know him.)

Courtesy of Adopt-a-Bull

There’s an app for that: dog fighting

Update: Apparently the offensive Dog Wars app from Android/Google has gone down. But according to Breed Specific Legislation News, “While the Android Market has taken down Dog Wars, which is the free game installer, they have not removed “Dog Bucks” which is the 99 cent purchasable item that equips your Dog Wars character with 8000 “Dog Bucks” and an adrenaline shot to make sick, injured (even dead) dogs perform harder, faster, and meaner.”

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This comes from the file — what the hell were they thinking?

Oh, wait. They weren’t.

It’s old news now because tonight Android pulled the app probably after hundreds of animal bloggers blogged, people tweeted, Facebook fired up, and dog knows what else ranted and raved about how an app that advocated dog fighting abuse even made it past the censors. Who approved this debacle?

Change.org started a petition…

Dog fighting is illegal in 50 states. Dog fighting is not entertainment nor is it gambling. It’s animal cruelty just like greyhound racing which is still perpetuated by a bunch of losers and breeders. Dogs are injured and dogs die in dog fighting and greyhound racing. Sadly, greyhound racing is still legal but it’s in the cards, not for long.

What next? An app for gang rape, child molestation, and domestic violence?

This kind of disregard for animal cruelty makes me want to shove the Android brand up its ass.

You can read more about Breed Specific Legislation news here.

(Photo is courtesy of Adopt-a-Bull which is a Tucson-based all volunteer, 501c3 nonprofit animal welfare organization specializing in the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of bully breeds from local shelters and on occasion, private individuals.)

Dirty dogs wanted - courtesy AZ Greyhound Rescue

Splish splash give your dogs a bath for a great cause and just in time for Mother’s Day. Every mom wants and deserves a clean dog.

This is the first dog wash of summer hosted by Arizona Greyhound Rescue.

All breeds are welcome.

Where: Driveway of Pantano Animal Clinic – 8333 E. 22nd St., 1 block east of Sarnoff
When – Sunday, May 1 from 8 to 11 a.m.
How: No appointment necessary; first come/first served
What: $10 wash, $10 nail trim, or $15 for both + dog merchandise for sale

Why: Arizona Greyhound Rescue rescues retired racing greyhounds from Tucson Greyhound Park and occasionally other dog tracks. Dogs are spay/neutered, microchipped, and receive necessary medical attention if required. Dogs prepare for family life by learning the ropes from foster care families and make their debuts at meet-and-greet events around town. Greyhounds make greyt pets!

Puttin' on the Dog event - Courtesy HSSA

Step out with your pet to one of the most pawsitively fun-filled events of the year. And what could be more fun than bringing your dog along to the tony Tucson Country Club?

Humane Society of Southern Arizona presents Puttin’ on the Dog
Local celebrities model high fashion accompanied by their cherished pets;
32 Tucson Originals’ restaurants provide hearty hors d’oeuvres and libations;
huge silent auction;
lively live auction;
…and much more.

This year the Humane Society of So. AZ. hopes to have 1,200 attendees. That’s one big party to help raise money to help the dogs and cats in our Tucson community.

Some of the celebrity models will be:

Joseph Blair - Former UA basketball
Kristen Cook - AZ Daily Star
Chuck George - KOLD 13
Dorea Kyra-Batte – Miss Pima County
Ann Lauricello – Host – The Morning Blend
Alex Miranda - Host – The Morning Blend
Lupita Murillo - KVOA 4
Gina Murphy-Darling – Mrs. Green’s World
Heather Rowe - KOLD 13

And more…

The cost is $125/per person in advance or $150/at the door + $10/per pet which includes a bandanna + dog biscuit buffet. You can, of course, come without a 4-legged friend and still have a great time.

Friday – April 29
5:30 to 9 p.m. – Tucson Country Club

I was invited by a generous friend and I may take Jett Greyhound. It depends on how hot it is. Jett is an exuberant boy and has already met Miss Pima County. He gets around.

Courtesy Humane Society So. AZ

From the Humane Society of So. AZ. press release

HSSA near capacity – open Easter Sunday

Puppy season is in full swing and the HSSA shelter is near capacity with three to four dogs to a kennel.

To reach adoption numbers comparable to last year HSSA will need to find homes for 2,000 animals over the next couple of months. To help reach this goal the main shelter will be open Easter Sunday with adoption specials including $5 dogs and cats.

“We are at a critical stage. Kennels are filling up quickly, and we take in a constant flow of animals daily. There are hundreds of dogs and cats who need homes, ” says Lyndsay Bruno, public relations lead.

As part of the adoption fee, the HSSA Spay and Neuter Clinic will microchip, vaccinate, and sterilize each adopted animal. Also included is a bag of food and a free visit to the veterinarian of their choice. Foster families are also needed to care for litters of puppies and kittens, and overflow from the shelter.

The HSSA is located at 3450 North Kelvin Blvd. Shelter hours are Mon. – Sat. 11 am to 6 pm and noon to 5 pm Easter Sunday. For more information contact the Humane Society at 327-6088, or visit the website.

Tucson Tails is happy to announce that on the first and third Wednesdays of every month, this blog will host some local adoptable pets in need of forever homes. To be considered for inclusion, send info by Tuesday at 3 p.m. The offer applies to rescue groups in So. Arizona. Please send to tucson.tails@yahoo.com

Announcement: Free pit bull spay & neuter day – April 29. Call the Humane Society at 881-0321 to schedule an appointment. Limited appointments available and they fill up quickly. Spread the word to pit bull owners in need.

Check out this week’s adopt-ables: Rita, Lisa, Skylar, Skipper and Marina. Is there room in your heart and home for a new canine friend?

Animals’ Crusaders of Arizona

Adopt me! Courtesy Animal Crusaders of Arizona

Rita is a gentle soul, a Border Collie/Shepherd mix who is good with cats, dogs and kids. She has typical Border Collie intelligence, is a quick learner and loyal. She loves to flirt and her forever home should have a 4-legged playmate. Rita is spayed, up-to-date with routine shots, house trained, and has a short coat.

Adopt me! Animal Crusaders of Arizona

Lisa, a Whippet/Lab mix was born approx 2006. She was rescued from a village in Sells called Little Tucson along with her litter mates. She loves to play with the other dogs but has had very little interaction with people as a puppy and is very timid. Lisa needs a home with understanding, patient people who will show her what it means to be part of a family. With the right family Lisa will grown into the loving, trusting, beautiful lady she was born to be. Lisa has been spayed, vaccinated, and micro chipped. She is house trained, prefers a home without cats and young children. Her adoption fee is $95.

Animals’ Crusaders of Arizona is the beneficiary of Beading Divas to the Rescue during the month of April 2011. All bracelet sales go to helping the good deeds of ACoF.

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Arizona Greyhound Rescue

Adopt me! Arizona Greyhound Rescue

Skylar will be 5 years old in May so let’s give this Greyhound a home before his birthday. This beautiful fawn male tends to be a bit shy especially around men and is definitely not an alpha male. According to his foster family, Skylar needs another dog for companionship and doesn’t like the vacuum cleaner. Skylar is not crated, eats well, tolerates grooming and is healthy. He loves his walks and is well behaved on the leash. He is still in training to respond to basic commands. He is not cat or small dog tolerant. Adoption fee: $195

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Santa Cruz Humane Society

Adopt me! Santa Cruz Humane Society

Skipper is clearly a Dachshund, with maybe some mixing. He loves to walk on his leash, but has not yet mastered the straight line. He is responsive and curious and loves any attention. Skipper is about eight or ten months old, expected to remain short and has a short brown and black coat. He has been neutered and all shots are current. His adoption fee is $125.

Adopt me! Santa Cruz Humane Society

Marina is a very interestingly marked black and white girl. She is probably a black Lab mix, but has spots on her legs that suggest Dalmatian heritage, too. Marina is a very responsive and curious girl, who is learning to play well with other
dogs her size or larger. She walks well on a leash, when she is not distracted. She is about 5 months old now with expectation to be a medium sized dog, with short coat. She has been spayed and all shots are current; adoption fee is $125.

P302

Any SCHS dogs/cats can be brought to PetSmart at Grant and Swan Road in Tucson on Saturdays upon request.

View April 6 adoptable pets here.

Josie - available for adoption at Casa de los Gatos

Casa de los Gatos
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Raise a Glass for the Cats
Wine tasting fundraiser at CataVinos Wine Shoppe – 3063 N. Alvernon Way
4 to 6 p.m.
$20 includes 6 wine tastes + snacks
Don’t miss the silent auction, raffle and gift sale. Come meet other cat lovers.
Accepting donations of scoopable cat litter and canned cat food at this event. Sounds purrfecto!

Hermitage Cat Shelter
Sunday – April 17
5 to 8 p.m. at Double Tree Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way
Feline Groovy
My apologies to Simon & Garfunkel on their famous song, Feelin’ Groovy’ but what a fun idea to trip back to the groovin’ 60s all to benefit the Hermitage Cat Shelter. Enjoy dinner, live music, silent and live auction. Tickets cost $50/each or a table of eight for $375. Visit the website or call 520-571-7839 to reserve tickets. Cool!

Delta Society Pet Partners
Wednesday, April 20
6 to 7:15 p.m. at Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital
Learn how you and your pet (dog, cat, rabbit, or other domesticated species) might qualify to cheer up patients in hospitals, bring joy to seniors in assisted-living centers, help children learn to read, and much more. This is a great session to gain a better understanding of all that is involved with becoming part of the Loving Angel Paws volunteer group as a Delta Society Pet Partners therapy animal team. Meet and talk to current volunteers. Humans only invited to the informational sessions. The cost is free.
Pre-registration is required as space is limited. RSVP to TherapyPetsAZ@gmail.com

FAIR
Saturday, April 23
3rd Annual Valley Animal Hospital Tucson Canine Classic
This is a pet-friendly and family-friendly event billed as Tucson’s largest dog-walk and Pet Festival! Walk/run 5K or 1 mile with hundreds of friends to raise funds for local rescue groups. People without dogs are also invited. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Foundation for Animals in Risk (FAIR) and hundreds of dogs in need.

Visit the Pet Festival and the 50+ exhibitors. Food, fun, music, Doggy Fashion Show, Doggy Talent Show, Kids’ and Puppies’ 100 yard dash and much more. Vaccination Station will provide free microchips to the first 100 participants and discounted ones for the rest.

Humane Society of Southern Arizona
Friday – April 29
5:30 to 9 p.m. – Tucson Country Club
“Puttin’ on the Dog” is a unique fun-filled extravaganza benefiting the homeless animals within our community. (Blogger’s note: I went two years ago and am going again this year perhaps with my greyhound. This event is a blast!). Local celebrities model high fashion accompanied by their cherish pets. Tucson Originals’ restaurants provide the hearty hors d’oeuvres and libations. The silent auction is huge, plus a lively live auction, and much more. The cost is $125/per person in advance or $150/at the door + $10/per pet which includes a bandanna + dog biscuit buffet. The money raised helps dogs and cats in our community.

Arizona Greyhound Rescue
Sunday – May 1
Dog wash fundraiser
Driveway of Pantano Animal Clinic – 8333 E. 22nd St.
8 to 11 a.m.
Splish splash give your dog a bath for a great cause. The first dog wash of summer is hosted by Arizona Greyhound Rescue. No appointment necessary and all dog breeds are welcome!
Cost: bath – $10, nail trim – $10 or $15 for both. Such a deal! And the dogs love the pampering. Many volunteers are needed for this event. Girl scouts, boy scouts, church groups, youth groups (must be 15 years old), vet techs (to trim nails), or anyone who wants to have a great time and burn lots of calories. It’s great exercise.

Photo courtesy of Greyhounds2Go

April is Adopt-a-Greyhound month. I can think of 20 reasons but here are 10 reasons to adopt a greyhound:

1. They truly know the meaning of retirement.
2. They curl up to the size of a ball if they need to.
3. They expand to the size of the entire bed if they want to.
4. Now you can’t get out of that daily walk you promised the doctor.
5. You can dress greyhounds up as reindeer for Christmas.
6. Greyhounds are natural born interior decorators and love to rearrange your pillows.
7. They’re bigger couch potatoes than you are.
8. You can blame them for the flatulence permeating the room.
9. You can’t confuse them with Labradoodles (no offense to Labradoodles)
And….
10. Greyhounds are forever thankful for saving their lives.

Tucson Greyhound Flash Mob – April 15 – 7 to 8 p.m.

You can find adoptable greyhounds here:

Tucson
Arizona Greyhound Rescue (AGR)
View available dogs here. AGR has meet and greets at PETsMart, PETCO, and Bookmans. Volunteers are always needed especially foster care families.

Greyhound Adoption League (GAL)
Their website is down now (technical hiccups) but yes, they are operational, but hard to reach. Will link to the website when it goes back online.

Sahuarita/Vail
Greyhounds 2 Go
They are a small group with an arm in San Diego. My current greyhound — Jett — is from Greyhounds2Go.

Sierra Vista
AZ Greyhounds Inc. has the motto, “making the world a better place, one greyhound at a time.”

Sedona/Prescott
Greyhounds of Verde Valley
The mission is to place greyhound dogs in safe, loving, forever homes as pets. The greyhounds come from Tucson dog track and are placed far and wide from Lake Havasu to Phoenix to Las Vegas.

California has many adoption groups in San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Fillmore, and into Northern California. Racing greyhounds come from the Tijuana dog track, Tucson dog track, and other locations. For a complete list of rescue groups across the United States and worldwide, visit this page.

Animal Planet has great things to say about why greyhounds might be the breed for you.

(Jett Greyhound was adopted by Karyn Zoldan in August 2011. His hobbies are long walks, stuffed Kongs, and flirting with female greyhounds.)