The Wash

To continue what is now believed to be an annual event, Kim LeVear arranged another dog wash this June at Southern New England Kennel at the Birmingham Race Course. This time, however, it was an official activity of our group, Second Chance Greyhounds. Southern New England Kennel is supplying Greyhounds for Second Chance Greyhounds, so we have sort of adopted Alan, his wife Linda, and their Greyhounds because they are simply “good people” who care about their Greyhounds and who take very good care of their Greyhounds. Alan WILL NOT put a Greyhound down unless there is an injury that is irreparable and the Greyhound is in a great deal of pain. Then, of course, it is the humane thing to do. I’ve seen him hold onto a dog for a year or so while waiting for an adoption group to take it. He’s just like that!

Kim again emailed folks who she thought would be interested in participating, and we also notified SCG members and new adopters. In the end, we had 9 happy and willing folks volunteer to help out! Whoo hoo!

Again, we met at the Park and Ride off I-20 in Villa Rica, Georgia. Everyone determined which vehicle they would ride in and as in the year before, we had three vehicles make the trek over to Birmingham.

We arrived around 12:30 p.m., CST. Alan and Linda weren’t there so we gave them a call and they soon were on their way to meet us. The matinee races start at 1:30 p.m. so they had some time to spare and had gone home to eat lunch. Upon arrival, introductions were made and then Kim and I commenced to photographing the new batch of Greyhounds who will be the first five for our group to go into the prison foster program. The photos took some time but we did have the help of quite a few volunteers which made the whole process go a lot quicker.

After photos were complete, we started the dog wash. Alan again would bring out 10 or so Greyhounds at a time. They would get washed, then would move to the wait/rinse area and then to the drying area. Most were very good while allowing us to bathe them. Some didn’t care much for the water hose, but they did tolerate it for the few minutes they were getting rinsed. For most, it was probably the first bath they had ever had.

As dogs typically do, quite a few would roll in the sand after their wash and even after their rinse. They looked like sugar cookies! They all seemed to enjoy the activity. And definitely, all were very appreciative – you could see it in their eyes.

Hours later we finally bathed the last few racers coming in from the matinee races and then the two that we were bringing home with us, Crenshaw Flossie and Oakland Saturn. We cleaned up, changed clothes, did the baby wipe bath, and then to the Grandstand to watch a few races and have dinner. We only stayed for about six races because we needed to gather Flossie and Saturn and head back to Atlanta. I believe I walked into the door close to midnight and I had left at 11:15 a.m. What a long, long, day! Needless to say, my four Greyhounds were very happy to see me.

Even as long as the day was and as tired as everyone was, I think I can vouch for the whole group and say that participating in the dog wash every June has got to be one of the most fulfilling activities that we do as a group. The dogs appreciate it and The Olson’s really appreciate it. It’s a win-win all around!!

More pictures of the event can be seen here.