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.)

Tucson Tails is happy to announce that on the first and third Wednesdays of every month, this blog will host some local pets in need of their forever homes. To be considered for inclusion, I need the info by the previous Tuesday at 4 p.m. The offer applies to rescue groups in So. Arizona. Please send to Tucson.tails@yahoo.com

Check out a Labrador Retriever, Husky, Greyhound, Greyhound/Lab, and a lovable mix with personality plus. Is there room in your heart and home for a new canine friend?

Santa Cruz Humane Society

Adopt me! Photo by Santa Cruz Humane Society

Chloe is a female Yellow Labrador Retriever who appears to be house trained and walks well on leash. She is rapidly gaining confidence and poise after apparently being abandoned. She was found roaming the streets near Tubac. We’re quite sure that she was used to being in a house because she loves spending time in the office. She is affectionate and friendly to everyone and would make a great family pet. Adoption Fee: $150

Adopt me! Photo courtesy of Santa Cruz Humane Society

Rickie is a beautiful male Husky with a quiet, calm disposition. He loves company and attention, but he is also quite content spending some time alone. He would be a very easy dog to have around, for he is definitely a lower-energy-type dog. Because he is such a mellow dog, he doesn’t care for a lot of excitement, either from other high-energy dogs or children. His best fit would be with a family that doesn’t have small children or other high-energy pets. Everyone at the shelter loves him and so will you when you see him. Adoption Fee: $150

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

Arizona Greyhound Rescue

Adopt me! Photo courtesy of AZ Greyhound Rescue

Josh is a happy go lucky almost 4-year-old active greyhound. He is living in foster care with two other greyhounds. Josh has never soiled or marked the home and has adjusted nicely to being left alone for a while with the other dogs without getting anxious. Josh loves kids and would do well with older children. He is not compatible with cats or small dogs. Josh is healthy with no food issues. He loves to walk, is good on the leash and rides well in the car. His favorite pastime is playing, either with toys or one of his greyhound roommates. He would thrive with a family that’s home a lot and have other large dogs. Fee: $195

Adopt me! Photo is courtesy of AZ Greyhound Rescue

Honey is a Greyhound/Labrador mix who needs a home where affection is plentiful. She is in foster care with two other dogs and fits into the family routine nicely. She rarely barks, is house broken and crate trained but for no more than four hours a day. She needs to be trained on basic commands and how to walk on the leash. Honey prefers cuddles to cookies and is cat and small dog safe. She would do well in a home with another dog for companionship or with a family where someone is home most of the time. Adoption fee: $100.

You can find more available hounds here.

HOPE Animal Shelter

Adopt me! Photo is courtesy of HOPE Animal Shelter

Sunshine is a playful and devoted dog that will make every day a little sunnier for her forever family. She has a few scars and only half a tail because of some injuries, but her heart is 100% intact. Sunshine adores her people and her toys.

The adoption fee at HOPE is $90, which includes everything–spay, microchip, shots, and more. More information about Sunshine and how to adopt her can be found at here.

Lost greyhound in Tucson - March 23, 2011

Update: The dog was found in good condition. Some kind soul picked him up at the park and took him home. After three days the dog was reunited with the family. It was indeed a miracle. I felt particularly connected to this hound because I respite fostered him over the Christmas holidays. While my heart and soul goes out to all greyhounds in particular and dogs in general; I felt a huge sense of responsibility to this dog even though the responsibility wasn’t mine.

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There is a dark brindle male greyhound who is a pet that is lost in what I believe in the south Tucson area.

The dog was last seen Wednesday – March 23 – leaving the Santa Rita Park Park ball park heading south (possibly crossing over 22nd St.) and going east 2nd and 3rd Avenue toward the railroad tracks.

Do not chase the dog. The best thing to do is sit down and try to get the dog to come to you.

Please call Arizona Greyhound Rescue at 886-7411 with any sightings as to location.

Keep this hound in your thoughts. We need a miracle right about now.