Divide & Conquer...

As I was skimming through my email today, it dawned on me how much the animal rights zealots have utilized the divide & conquer tactic in their activities. That combined with excellent propaganda has really hurt all facets of the animal ownership community.  They are using us against ourselves.  To quote Pogo, "We have met the enemy and they is us."

The fanatics, which includes among others: PeTA, HSUS, and the ASPCA, have divided all pet owners along the lines of rescue vs purchase; desexed vs intact; no use vs use; guardians vs owners; and much, much more. It's my opinion that this divisiveness needs to cease. ALL animal owners need to unite against the fanatics who are out to destroy the human - animal bond.

Some comments that I recently read with this divisiveness in mind follow. The comments were made by different people and were specifically with regard to a family who purchased a puppy in Colorado that had been recently imported from TX. The puppy died only four (4) days later.

Anyway, here we go....

1. "If this were a breeder bought pup, there would be holy hell to pay, so why can "rescues" get away with this?"

What occurred is between the rescue and the buyer. It is a civil matter. It is no one else's business. It never use to be a matter of public interest until the AR's came in to destroy us all.
You also have to look at the "intent". Was this malicious, negligence or not the rescue's fault? That all has to be clarified between the rescue and buyer - and the rescue and the shelter in Texas.

I can see where the rescue thought since having a health certificate, all was OK. Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. This time, it wasn't. I don't think it was so much intentional as it was of not being familiar with incubated conditions and not having a lot of experience.

You're, or course, entitled to your opinion, however, with your getting so upset --- you're doing exactly what the AR's want you to do. Divide and conquer ... are you going to give them the satisfaction?

2.  "Can't the breeding community demand pet stores and rehoming/rescue centers be held to the same high levels of are etched, that is demanded of them?"

Why do you want to hurt these other animal enterprises? If you think that these high level of standards is not fair or unreasonable for the breeding community, why would you want to put the same unreasonable standards onto other animal enterprises? To get even? They didn't so anything to you.

It's the AR's (animal rights zealots) that are the problem and they should be eliminated. You should fight to eliminate the AR's and the unreasonable regulations that are put up against us. Again - another example of divide and conquer and you fell for it.

3.  "If a small time, one bitch breeder had sold this pup, it would be everywhere, arguing poor health care, etc, even if raised in the White House!"

You bet your heinny that the breeder would be plastered all over the Internet and receiving obscene emails with death threats. Would you want that to be done to you? Then why wish it on someone else --- like that rescue?

Why not just accept that any incident between an animal enterprise and buyer is a private matter and that if it can't be resolved amongst themselves, it can be decided in a civil court?

4.  "Rehoming/rescue" groups should be held to the same, if not higher standards than breeders, since they want to hold the moral high ground."

You're lumping all rescues into the same group and that's not fair. All rescues are not AR-minded rescues. So you want to punish them all. And none, IMO should be punished.

The way I see it, there are many types of animal enterprises and that's good, because people should be able to make a choice. Not everyone wants a dog from a breeder. People should be able to buy at pet shops or rescues or anywhere that one is available. As animal providers, we are all good - we all serve a purpose to allow people to make a choice. We have to stop attacking one another and concentrate on eliminating the trouble maker ... the AR's.

People like Frank Losey have worked very hard with long hours and no compensation for time or expenses to accomplish that against HSUS. And there's Center for Consumer Freedom. And individuals like Betsy (whinwoof) that have busted their chops trying to work around the legislation in their states.

I guess all I'm saying is that the AR's have done awful things and have us conditioned to lash out. We can't let them take our pride and decency away from us.

Yours in dogs...

Beretta aka DM She's A Pistol

Last June, our Glory Girl whelped a single puppy - Beretta.  I've not really been writing anything since then, as Ms. Beretta is keeping me hopping! I did lose 20 lbs and I swear it's because I'm constantly on the move after her.

Beretta - 6 months of age

As of today, it looks like Beretta's first dog show, our little debutante's coming out party, will be here in Albuquerque on Mother's Day weekend. The judges that weekend should be good with puppies: Russ McFadden, Barbara Rupert, Molly Martin, and Howard Yost.  Not sure how many days I'm going to enter the little twerp.  Much depends upon how she continues to mature and how strong she is by then. Right now, I'd probably enter her all 4 days.  LOL...  She is a pistol!

As much as I love all my dogs, Beretta is probably the finest one that I have bred, at least with regards to conformation.  Running a close 2nd is her Uncle Banner.  Glory, her dam, most definitely produced better than herself.  It is right & proper to mention the other half of Beretta's genetics, her sire: Lux, Fr & US Ch Denetorn des Legendes du Moyen Age.

Much has been made by some about this breeding because I used a foreign import and some have said using him is a departure from what I would usually use.  I contend they are incorrect and have assumed that he is different than what I'd use. My breeding method is pretty much phenotype to phenotype. I pay attention to pedigree, but that is not the overall driving force.  I pay more attention to the physical attributes of the dogs and whether those attributes are complimentary to each other.

Aged 4 months

What really drew me to using Denetorn was not only his physical attributes (great shoulders, great return of upper arm, etc) but also that his pedigree ties in with Glory's several generations back. This is, in reality, a loose line breeding on Ch Shalfleet Sea Dancer, Ch Aroi Talk of the Blues, and Ch Ekohils Wizard of Oz.  Yes, they are back further in the pedigree, but I'm a believer in Enrico Tesio's methods of a balanced pedigree and in emphasizing dam lines over sire lines. In thoroughbreds, it's called the X-Factor.  For more on the X-Factor in greyhounds, please check out this article: The X-Factor in Greyhounds.

Other reasons for using Denetorn included, in no particular order, his availability to be bred to Glory, a bitch without a "fashionable" pedigree in show circles.  Many, many stud owners were contacted prior to Rachel Martin (Denetorn's owner) and I reaching an agreement. Most rejected my advances on no basis other than her pedigree, which is 1/2 racing blood.  She was rejected sight unseen, for the most part and some of those rejections were just downright nasty. One such example from a noted breeder who was most admired at one time,

"I've never seen a 1/2 & 1/2 bitch worthy to be shown, let alone bred." 

Three Generations: Abbey, Beretta & Glory

I find that very sad as Beretta is based upon her lines and her old dogs, excepting the racing blood.  We are proud of her racing heritage. She comes from some of the finest lines in the racing world, combining the blood of the Hall of Fame stayer, Dutch Bahama; the great staying bitch Malka; the incredible sprinter & Hall of Famer, Downing; the outstanding producer Buzz Off, and many others. There is a long history behind her of outstanding stayers, long distance runners, starting with her granddam, Abbey Lou.

Of the great Malka, Dennis McKeon related this story of Downing's 1978 American Derby win. The story is reprinted here with permission from the Grey2K Lies blog.

"These are my personal recollections of Downing's Amercian Derby win.....

And guys...I remember Downing's American Derby .....he was a prohibitive favorite....after making the switch to the other side, he had literally run away and hid from the best dogs that the country's elite kennels might offer up as competition---or as sacrifice----it hadn't really mattered..........

He was a sharp breaker, and an astonishing turn runner-----and though nearly 80 lbs, and as long as the Kansas horizon is wide----he could literally run "under the rails"....and accelerate into, through and off the turns----and if, by some stroke of serendipity, you found yourself ahead of him, on the rail and in his way----he would put you over the rail to take his line.

So the ONLY way he could lose, was if he broke down, or if he missed his break.....and you know what?...... he missed his break----missed it by a mile....and he came out with his nose in the dirt, stumbling---nearly falling----and the entire field easily out-trapped the fast-trapper. There was a collective gasp from the incredulous crowd. Luckily, the 2 lane had not quite closed up on him. Gifted athlete that he was---in the blink of an eye---he somehow, miraculously, managed to right himself----and exploded through the hole which had remained open to him.

He had seized the lead before they even hit the turn, and drew off to a commanding advantage as he poured it on---like a soundwave.... through the stretch, around the curtain turn, and past the toteboard-----his speed was enthralling, unlike anything I had ever witnessed----it thumped right through your chest, and took your breath away... like the music of a runaway locmotive......yet due to his early miscalculations and exertions, he was pretty much spent at the top of the lane....all alone.......and all done.....

He had lost his action, and his stride was shortening with each diminutive leap forward...and at precisely that most desperate of moments----that sobering, split-second before the shattering of every illusion---- the great stayer---Malka---had begun to uncork her prodigious run.....which was as deep as the Pacific...and at once, as powerful and unfathomable.

The insurmountable lead was shrinking fast now, to about 6 lengths entering the final straight---- and Malka appeared to have caught the jetstream itself, as she zeroed in on him----with Downing laboring mightily, just to keep a straight line----the deafening roar of the 12,000 or so spectators, who had come to see a legend ...in his own and their own time... lent an air of unreality to the whole, desperate spectacle...

And time itself had become glacial, as it passed...as they played out that age-old struggle.....and... with the one, impossible, outrageous, colossal surge ---Downing lunged for the wire....the ghosts of Real Huntsman, Oklahoman and On the Line were awakened from their eternal reveries by the sheer genius of it.....to rightly bear witness to this galvanizing moment, for once and for all time ... as Malka, a burgeoning, bursting tidal wave now ----bore down on him, cresting, from mid-track to his flank.... closer and closer she rolled.....

That he managed, somehow, to hold on---by a dissipating 3/4 of a length or so---was the true measure of his faultless courage and his supernatural greatness....Malka was past him a couple of jumps after the wire, and clear by 3 as they ran up to the curtain.

It was the only moment in his life---the very instant when he had actually grasped his immortality----- that he had ever appeared to be mortal ."

Beretta is Denetorn's first American offspring and we think she's a good one.  We are looking forward to her exploits in the breed ring and on the coursing fields.  We think she'll improve, like a fine wine, with age.

National Purebred Dog Day Campaign - What Happens If

Tonight, our campaign broke the $9,000 mark!  There are ebbs and flows to this campaign, and I still believe that it has yet to go viral in a way I think is entirely possible. The message of the video is solid, and the more people who see it, the more buzz there is about what National Purebred Dog Day is doing, and what it can accomplish.

Imagine one of those inane (and often inaccurate) lists we find on Yahoo or the Huffington Post claiming to know the "Top Ten Most (fill in the blank) Breeds" being replaced by the results of a survey of 35,000 purebred dog owners who know what they're talking about?  Those 35,000 people are the fans of the NPDD page!

This is what a grassroots movement looks like, friends, and you've helped advance it. Each one of you.  And what does it look like when those efforts get noticed? Like this:

National Purebred Dog Day's campaign was named Number One in KickSpy's Top 100 Campaigns in Journalism as of tonight. Let's keep it going!

In checking the progress of the campaign the other day, I became concerned when the progress graph flat lined.  The fundraising effort was stagnant.  It didn't go anywhere for  24 hours. You know, I really dislike seeing flat lines in graphs.

My guess for the flat line is that people are afraid to support a movement for purebred dogs, for the breeders of purebred dogs. Too  many people are afraid of alienating their friends, fans base or audience. After all, it isn't politically correct.  The PC police may come after us. 

That's one reason why this grassroots effort is being made; why it must be successful; and why those of us who stand to lose the most must support it. The rich and famous will always be able to get whatever kind of dog they want. Who will suffer? Guess. We & the dogs do.  This is time to call in favors, reach out to the people we know with a bully pulpit, anyone with a blog, massive Twitter audience, or even write to a celeb.

And finally, I've been asked what happens not only if the goal isn't met, but if it is.  Since I won't entertain negative thoughts about the campaign right now, I'll answer the last question.  If the goal is met before the deadline, I hope people keep donating! Why? Two reasons: First, because, as my mom always used to say, things always cost more than you think they will. If I missed something in calculating expenses, it'd be nice to have that cushion. Second, if, and it's a big if, some of the donations have been made by people unsympathetic to our cause who intend to pull them at the 11th hour thereby dooming us to fail, a cushion would protect against that.

Till the next update, keep up the good fight, keep sharing the Kickstarter link and the video, talk about it with your friends, and love your purebred dogs.

National Purebred Dog Day

Did you know that there are more panda bears in the world than there are Skye Terriers?

I'm asking for the help of every purebred dog owner & enthusiast with this project.  Please share the link with ten of your friends and ask them to do the same.  Put it up on your Facebook page; post it on your clubs' pages.  Share with your hunting buddies because they too are impacted by animal laws, by breed specific legislation, and by the animal rights movement to restrict dog breeding.  Whether their dogs are purebreds purchased from an ethical breeder, adopted from a shelter, or re-homed from breed rescue, we are all in the fight of our lives to save our breeds and to preserve our right to own the dogs of our choice.

Will this save the world?  No.  But if having a national day recognizing purebred dogs and their contributions to the world; if having a website to help give voice to us as purebred dog owners & lovers, maybe it's a little start. I know I am tired of not having a voice.

In an effort to promote & celebrate purebred dogs, we hope to have this video go viral and to have a movement that sweeps the nation, but it can only do so with your help.

Please watch the video and offer your support at National Purebred Dog Day.

We all thank you.

Joys of Motherhood...

It's been 7 years since our last litter... the Flag Day Litter. Up until Glory's singleton pup, We've never raised a single puppy like this. Here is one thing that I've noted about the experience....

I'm paranoid.

Glory and her single puppy

For instance, if the puppy sneezes, which they sometimes do, my thought... OMG, she's got pneumonia! Or, she sure seems to be sleeping a lot. Wonder if she's 'lethargic' and sick? Or if she's not moving around a lot, "Is she breathing?"

Yesterday, she slept a lot. Since Glory has been taking such good care of her, I've not seen a single stool or pee spot. So, the brain went into overdrive and the thought was, "I wonder if she's constipated?"
Mind you, no one that I know has ever heard of a constipated, 2 wk old puppy but with my luck (Murphy was an optimist when he wrote Murphy's Law)... So, after a long, long conversation with Bonnie in OK, my mind was set at ease.

Went back into the house, picked up the puppy, and sat down to enjoy some puppy in the lap time. Uh oh... here comes Grammy Abbey Lou. With Glory on one of the beds and the puppy in my lap, Abbey decided that the baby needed to be polished. Abbey started buffing & polishing & stimulating the puppy, so much so that the baby deposited a 2" long puppy turd right in the middle of my shirt and then she peed.

Well, I now know that she is defecating & urinating. Those bodily functions are working.

One worry down.

HSUS: Bad to the Bone

I'm a member of the Pet-Law email list. I get many depressing e-mails by way of this list, emails that point out how much the animal rights activists are fighting anyone and everyone who makes a living working with animals; anyone & everyone who raises animals; and anyone & everyone who owns animals.  Normally, I don't pass on ag related emails but this one is important as it shows how the animal rights zealots, such as Humane Society of the US (HSUS), Animal Protection New Mexico (APNM), and Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM USA), among others, impact our lives with their duplicity and lies.  How they use their minions in the mainstream media to distort & promote their agenda, which is to promote animals above all others, regardless of cost, and to destroy animal ownership.  These people lie when they say they are "for the animals".  After all, don't forget it was Wayne Pacelle who said with regard to domestic animals, "One generation and out..."

For instance, the a

rticle says distinguished professor but actually AR to the bone! Rather misleading!

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2014/01/usda-pulls-meat-inspectors-to-shut-nj-veal-slaughter-after-video-shows-inhumane-practices/

January 28, 2014

Slaughter Plant Closes After HSUS Video Prompts USDA Inspectors to Leave By Dan Flynn

A New Jersey company involved in the veal and lamb business for more than 65 years was forced to shut down last Friday when USDA inspectors left the building because of alleged inhumane practices going on inside.

At least two egregious violations of federal humane handling requirements documented on a video obtained by the Humane Society of the United States (HBUS) were enough for USDA to shut down the Catelli Brothers, Inc., veal slaughter plant in Shrewsbury, NJ.

In another in a series of undercover investigations, the HSUS video depicts unconscious but living calves, one disabled and being dragged and another one on a faulty “kill” line.

Catelli Brothers, headquartered in Collingswood, NJ, outside Philadelphia, is one of the largest veal and lamb producers in the country. After being provided with a video copy and a complaint from HSUS, USDA opted to suspend the company’s operations by removing all federal meat inspectors from the slaughterhouse.

HSUS praised USDA’s action in ......

Bernie Rollin, distinguished professor of animal science at Colorado State University, wrote after watching the video at HSUS’s request, that “of all the atrocity videos I have viewed, the current video of the slaughterhouse at Catelli Brothers must be ranked among the three worst.” He called for the plant to be “closed down immediately.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So who is Bernard Rollin?

Bernard E. Rollin is an American philosopher, currently professor of philosophy, animal sciences, and biomedical sciences at Colorado State University.[1]

Rollin specializes in animal rights and the philosophy of consciousness, and is the author of a number of influential books in the field, including Animal Rights and Human Morality (1981), The Unheeded Cry: Animal Consciousness, Animal Pain and Scientific Change (1988), Farm Animal Welfare (1995), and Science and Ethics (2006). He is also co-editor of the two-volume, The Experimental Animal in Biomedical Research (1989 and 1995). He published his memoir in 2011, Putting the Horse Before Descartes.[1]

In response to the article, I posted the following comment.  Last I heard, it was awaiting approval from the moderator.  Let's see if it gets published.

"You neglect to give references or credentials for Bernard Rollin. 

Bernard E. Rollin is an American philosopher, currently professor of philosophy, animal sciences, and biomedical sciences at Colorado State University.  He specializes in animal rights and the philosophy of consciousness, and is the author of a number of influential books in the field, including Animal Rights and Human Morality (1981), The Unheeded Cry: Animal Consciousness, Animal Pain and Scientific Change (1988), Farm Animal Welfare (1995), and Science and Ethics (2006). He is also co-editor of the two-volume, The Experimental Animal in Biomedical Research (1989 and 1995). He published his memoir in 2011, Putting the Horse Before Descartes. 

If you are going to present someone as "distinguished" and as a source, you really need to give the full story.  Mr. Rollin is NOT an unbiased source, as you would have some believe."

Something is really wrong in Denmark when a zealot organization, which has been linked to domestic terrorism, has such an impact in our lives.  How much impact?  Let's not forget, that under this current administration, the USDA (US Dept of Agriculture) is populated by HSUS shills in the guise of Sarah L. Conant and others.

The Dog Press has a good article up re: the power of HSUS and how much its tentacles have infiltrated everywhere.  I suggest y'all read it.

http://www.thedogpress.com/SideEffects/HSUS-Political-Power-Revealed-132.asp

It is long past time for us to take back our animal ownership rights and long past time to fight.  Will you help me?  Will you stand by my side?

Boston Wins!

Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox!

Yesterday, the Boton Red Sox won Game 6 of the World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals to win it for the for the third time in the past decade. This coming just one year after finishing in last place and two years after a historic collapse in September.  Way to go guys...  You're proven the value of teamwork.

Well done. Congratulations!

Go Sox!

Glory and Stuff...

Well, Glory's season has come and gone.  I so wanted to breed her but Chance stepped in and changed our plans.

For one, she acquired fly parasites, which according to our vet, were probably due to the conditions at our neighbor's place, i.e., too many donkeys on too small acreage; manure; etc.  There's no denying that manure & livestock draw in flies, especially if the manure isn't picked up religiously.  I know I'm out there on a daily basis picking up our dogs' waste to keep the flies at a minimum.  Those fly parasites live under the skin and they are gross & disgusting and she was put on a 2 wk course of cephalexan to prevent secondary infections from the parasites.

For another, the dog we were going to use came up with poor semen and it was doubtful that she could be impregnated.  Sigh....

Ya know, everything happens for a reason and it is always for the best, even if it is disappointing & hard to believe.  So, the search for a new beau for Glory has started.  She's next in season in either February or March 2014.

Glory - Nov 2010 ASFA Greyhound Specialty "Singles Stake" Win

On the positive side, Glory finished her Grand Championship under Mexican judge, Ricardo Forastieri Gonzalez at the Valencia Valley Kennel Club shows held in Los Lunas, NM on Saturday, Oct 12.  There was a good, overall entry of 6 greyhounds.  We are absolutely delighted!  Pictures were taken and they'll be posted when I get them.

Not to be outdone by his littermate, on Thursday, Nampa, took a 5 point major towards his Grand Championship, beating a champion of record, and a couple of points on Friday, when he finished as Select dog.

Ellie went Winners Bitch on three days, picking up another three points.  She needs majors and it looks like we're going to have to travel to get them.  Not looking forward to that.

Overall, it was a very good weekend.

More later....

Windmills of One's Mind

Haven't updated in a while and for that I'm sorry.  Life is taking me on a roller coaster, right now, and half the time I don't know if I'm coming or going or coming or going....  Reminds me of a song, The Windmills of Your Mind, which is the theme from the Thomas Crowne Affair (1968).

Round like a circle in a spiral like a wheel within a wheel,
Never ending or beginning on an ever spinning reel
Like a snowball down a mountain or a carnival balloon
Like a carousel that's turning, running rings around the moon
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping past the minutes of it's face
And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.

My mind is just going around & around & around....  You see, I've had little in the way of response with regard to people wanting Glory puppies.  I don't understand why, unless it is the economy.  She's a beautiful dog with a beautiful temperament as are all her siblings & her parents.  Go figure...  People would rather spend $1000+ on a "Labradoodle"....  a mutt....  than a well bred greyhound.  I just don't get it.

Glory On Her Retirement Sofa

Anyway, we've been working on finishing Glory's Grand Championship and she's almost there.  She only needs ONE MORE POINT!

She's been out 6 times as a champion, in fact, I took her off her retirement sofa after 2 years to exhibit her one day, and one day only, to Dr. Edna K. Martin (Midge Martin). That was in May 2012.  Since then, she's only been out at 6 local shows held in Albuquerque & Los Lunas.  In that very limited showing, she's taken 6 majors under 6 different judges:  Midge Martin, James Fredricksen, Sari Brewster-Tietjen, Houston Clark, Anthony DiNardo, and Russ McFadden.

Thank you!

So, right now, it's one day I want Glory puppies and the next day, I don't.  You may be wondering why?  It's not because of her, it's because I'm getting older.  I'm 58 & hubby is going to be 62.  Greyhounds average a 12 year lifespan, so I'm asking myself, do I really want a dog (any dog), when I'm 65 years old and hubby is 69?   More & more, I'm thinking....  no.

So...  the windmills of my mind are going & going & going....

Glory Puppies?

I'm thinking about breeding our lovely Glory.  However, it won't happen unless I have some solid buyers (more than 1) lined up.

Glory Gaiting at Fun Match

Glory is not your typical AKC greyhound.  She's moderate in angulation, very balanced, and she has a strong topline.  She's not a small girl, as she's tall & leggy and weighs in at around 70 pounds.

We hope to breed her to a dog owned & bred by Carol Curlee - Ch Chaparral Tour de France aka Lance.  The breeding is based upon the dog's pedigree, carrying several crosses of the much admired dog, Ch Solstrand Fine N' Dandy.  The hope is that this will give her pups a better shoulder than she has, as her shoulder is a bit straight and it limits her reach while running which makes her a bit slower than her brothers.

Why were we looking for lines back to Ch Solstrand Fine N' Dandy?  Well, back in 2000, I approached  his breeder, Dagmar Kenis-Pordham, about breeding Glory's granddam, Feather, to him as Feather's damline was directly related to his damline.  Feather's great-granddam (4th dam) was a littermate to his maternal granddam. It was lovely on paper.

(Feather's test mating to Frankie - http://greyhound-data.com/dbtestmating.php?&sireid=329719&damid=322839)

Sadly, I was informed that she did not believe in breeding by way of artificial insemination and there was no way that Feather would be shipped to England to sit in quarantine for 6 months to allow her to be bred.  So...

Ch Chaparral Tour de France (Lance)

Now it's Glory's turn to be bred and I still want to collect (for want of a better term) that Frankie blood.  Lance has it...  Carol is agreeable to the breeding.  However, I really don't want to be raising 7 puppies here after one or two go to their homes.  I'm not set up for it and it also goes against local animal control ordinances.

Here's the proposed pedigree....

http://greyhound-data.com/dbtestmating.php?&sireid=1781820&damid=1384365

Glory is next expected to cycle in either August or September.  So, if you're looking for a well bred greyhound puppy....

Call me....  don't be afraid to just call me....

Ear Aerodynamics: Primer & Update!

Primer By Harry Jennings A lot of people have been talking about their dog's ears of late, and I decided to do a little research and get the full story behind the stand-up "prick" ear that is seen in an increasingly large number of NGA dogs. Prick ears are nothing new, occasionally medieval manuscripts will talk of  dogs with prick ears (q.v. Le Levrier niais, Bib. Natl. MS 12203a).  However, it was with Downing in 1977 that the track world became aware of the efficacy of the prick ear. When coming into the first turn, the dogs must jockey for position, and decrease speed dramatically, so as not to go sailing off into the paddock area. Keith Dillon felt that what was needed was an air-brake system, similar to what was being employed on the Air Force's new F-15. Downing was the first and finest product of Dillon's directed breeding. Downing was able to sustain higher speeds further into the first turn, thus being able to pass the other dogs as they slowed. At the critical point,  Downing huge ears would pop straight up off his head, providing critical air resistance and slowing his speed dramatically, allowing him to make the turn. Eyewitnesses at the Hollywoodian in 1977 reported the "ka-WHUMP" of Downing's ears coming up was audible over the entire track. Invariably he lead races coming out of the second turn, and dominated down the  backstretch. Tragically, it was an ear accident that cut Downing's career short. During a  training race, Downing entered the first turn, but only his left ear deployed, the right ear, ironically, in a perfect rosette. The unstable aerodynamics of his half-deployed braking system pulled his head first down, then up over his left shoulder. Downing courageously avoided the traffic of the other dogs and attempted an emergency stop. Unfortunately, it was too late and Downing smashed through the outside rail, spun across an open area, and came to rest in a sno-cone concession. Downing did survive the accident, which Richard Petty compared to his dramatic turn two disaster at Darlington in 1967, however his hock was shattered and he could never race again. Keith Dillon, undaunted, pressed onward with his breeding program, producing Perceive, Nicky Finn, Keefer, Understood, and a host of others with the revolutionary air-brake  system. Mr. Dillon was sued by McDonnell Douglas (designers and  manufacturers of the F-15) for copyright infringement in 1980. The case is now in its 11th set of appeals, and is expected to reach the Supreme Court  by about 2007*. In other legal battles, the owner of the sno-cone concession was awarded $.75 in compensatory damages, and $11.7 million for pain and suffering. *NOTE: The case still has not been heard or settled and the expected Supreme Court date has been moved to 2017. DYNO-MUTT SYSTEMS PRESS RELEASE:     EAR AERODYNAMICS UPDATE Using the most advanced breakthroughs in genetic engineering, the  discarded design, and aged superstructure of a test vehicle codename "Lindsey Party", Dyno-Mutt Systems, Inc. research teams have been at  work. Background investigations show that this vehicle is a direct modification (mod. 4) of the land speed record holding "Downing" design.  Having no desire to experience the tragic structural failure and "crash and  burn" (see Ear Aerodynamics, above) due to improper air scoop  deployment, we have made the following changes. The "Lindsey Party" is lower to the ground (being in New Mexico may have influenced this) and the air scoops are reduced in size to 5/8  scale. We use and call this RAM AIR INDUCTION. This is how it works: The central processing unit (CPU) is suspended in a bath of shock  absorbing and electrically conductive saline solution. This has  reduced the "rattled brain" syndrome by 50%. The now smaller "air scoops" trap air and divert it down and  around the CPU. It is intercooled and an exchange of electrons is  passed to the CPU boosting RAM capabilities. The heavier, cooled air (mass now 1/3 greater) is passed around  the dual optical sensor array and is diverted to the "nose cone" of the Lindsey. This is where dual, water cooled (we think) passageways are located. These passageways are twin venturies and boost the air flow to SCRAMJET velocities. This now supersonic airstream can be controlled by the RAM expanded CPU to fire continuous thrusts or bursts (see snort, sneeze, sigh) of retro-rocket blasts of compressed air allowing subtle but effective braking control going into high speed turns. Safety note: during an actual live firing test of this model in Arizona, the Lindsey experienced an o-ring failure. This caused the CPU housing to veer from side to side (left to right) more than 10 degrees off the plane of horizontal travel. This caused a main structural failure of the port side, aft, propulsion device (see strut, actuator, "dog leg"). Our  bio-engineers provided a titanium pin once reputed to be  from a Warsaw Pact, "Red October", something or other.  After implementation of the pin into the aft, propulsion device, speed trials were set. Following completion of an extensive (and exhaustive) twelve weeks of "gotta walk before you can run" testing, Bionics department said A-OK. The 5/8 scale RAM AIR induction used in conjunction with the retro-rocket blasts has proven to be practical and very safe. After a field test in March, it was reported that John Glenn was present  and said, "I wish we had that system back in '63!" Actual performance testing was held recently in a remote area (56?) In New  Mexico and military installations of southern Colorado. It was there that the Lindsey upheld the field of honor (mom's apple pie, yadda, yadda, yadda) and we found that the system works. One point yet to be solved by our team  is that every time we are ready to leave the test sites, we are told to get  "BOB". After five recurring "Get the BOB" we really think we should look into this. Strange. Yours at DYNO-MUTT SYSTEMS, INC., Robert J. Summerhill President & King

The Lovely Chispa

Chispa - DM Bonnie Blue Flag

Chispa lives in Mexico City with her very proud dad, Carlos.  He's a great owner and I'm so very happy that he has one of my greyhounds.

Chispa  has her own sofa to lie on and she acts like a princess, unless squirrels are involved.  Carlos takes Chispa to the park for exercise and, what usually happens, is a squirrel comes along.  I don't know what it is about those long tailed critters, but greyhounds go wild when they see them.  Carlos lets her chase the squirrels and he tells me that she really wants those bushy tailed critters.  It reminds me of her Grammy Feather, who would go out of her way to try and get a squirrel.

Feather, when she was at Kathy's waiting to be bred, was tormented by a squirrel which would come down to the lowest branch of the maple tree and torment the hounds.  One day, Feather had had enough.  She watched the squirrel, positioned herself under the branch, sat and balanced herself on her haunches and then launched herself straight up!  She looked like a Patriot missile going after a SCUD!  Much to her disgust, she missed.  However, the squirrel, which by now had scurried to a higher branch, never came down after that.

Chispa - DM Bonnie Blue Flag

Here is what Carlos said about her in a recent e-mail, "Chispa's priority is to play and run.  We go running every morning.  I go in rollerblades and she goes very fast.  She is very dominant but also very affectionate and tender.  Her body is very muscular, but very light.  She looks like a ballet dancer.  Chispa is the most expressive dog ever.  With her eyes, she talks.  Her coat is soft and exceptionally shiny."

"Every time you send me pictures of her brothers and sister, I think I'm going to the ring.  I'm sure that she is going to win, because she is very, very pretty and her temper makes her a winner, nothing scares her.  I'm sure she is the kind, who in the ring, is going to grow.  I can tell when people look at her, she plays, "Paris Hilton."  She knows.  She also knows that she is strong, beautiful, fast and, with her eyes, she gets what she wants.  One of these days, you get the surprise of her in the ring."

"Do you think I'm a proud dad?"

I think Carlos is a wonderful and very proud dad!  He's also a pretty good photographer!  All of the photos on this page were taken by and belong to Carlos.

Jetty - DM Fast Frigate, Part 1

Jetty, Age 6 wks

Jetty was a Feather son. As white as his mother was, Jetty was that black.  Like his mother, he was gorgeous and graceful.  Sadly, his testicles did not descend. At 3 months of age, it was time to find Jetty a loving pet home, an appropriate home for a greyhound puppy.

Due to the wonders of the internet, a home was found for Jet in Michigan.  The people had great references and sounded perfect, so arrangements were made for Jetty to go & live with them.

I should have known better...  The relationship between us started off with a disagreement over castrating the boy prior to his going there.  Greyhound puppies as a large breed should not be castrated before their growth plates close, which is usually around 13-14 months of age.  This is something in which I firmly believe as early castration leads to excessive bone growth and it has been linked to some other health issues such as incontinence. But, the home sounded so good for the boy...  I went against my gut and judgment and had the boy castrated prior to his trip to Michigan.

Gizmo the Cat & Jet

Please note that castration for a bilateral cryptorchid is not an easy surgery.  The vet has to go in through the abdominal cavity to find the hidden testicles and, in Jet's case, they were way up by the bladder. Anyway, we had him castrated and about a week later, he developed a urinary tract infection (UTI).  He was put on antibiotics and arrangements were made to transport him to Michigan.

Laurel Drew & I transported the boy part of the way to his new home in Michigan.  We had him in a crate with a pad. He was such a good boy!  He never whined, never messed... He was so good.  We met up with the next person (name now forgotten) in what we call a GUR (Greyhound Run). Along the way, Adrienne Breummer in St. Charles, Missouri, had agreed to house him until he could meet up with the next transporter on his way.  Jet made such an impression on Adrienne, she dropped us a line asking to have him if the new home didn't work out for any reason.  Uhm...  OK...  but I don't think he'll be going anywhere...  even so, I saved Adrienne's email.

The transporters kept in touch with us all along the way, giving us updates and telling us how good he was.  Finally, Jet, his medical record, and his medications for the UTI were handed off to his new owners and then she handed him & his medications over to his new owners.

Jet at Adrienne's Home

A couple of weeks later, we got a phone call from the new owners. It seems that Jet was having problems with urinary leaking.  They had taken him to their vet and he told them that Jet's urinary tract and bladder were not properly formed.  What?  I asked my vet, who had neutered him, if there were any problems with his urinary tract and she told me everything was normal. The new vet wanted to do some kind of surgery that was the equivalent of a urostomy! After discussions with the new owners, it was decided that Jet would come home.

On the return trip, Jet again had the chance to stay with Adrienne.  She again asked me if she could keep the boy.  We discussed it and I told her that I could not saddle her with a defective dog, one that would probably leak urine uncontrollably for the rest of his life. We went round & round with Adrienne getting a concession out of me...  I'd let the boy stay there on a trial basis.

(End Part 1)

Lindsay

Lindsay aka Lindsay Party aka Party Girl

Lindsay Party aka Party Girl

Lindsay is the one who started us onto the path of Greyhound ownership.  She was our First...  She was the original Dyno-Mutt....  She was and still is our inspiration.

Lindsay was a retired racing greyhound that we adopted from Recycled Racers in Denver, Colorado.  She was a brindle and the color of buttermilk with burnt toast stripes.  A beauty, she was born on St. Patrick's Day in 1991, a great-granddaughter of the incredible Downing, who is in the NGA Hall of Fame.  Her sire was the noted race dog, Killer Diller, whose littermates include: Uncle Albert, Aggie Mae, and Paperback Rider.  They were all top winning dogs.  Lindsay ran on the Southern Colorado circuit.  All the tracks where she ran have been closed - Pueblo and Colorado Springs.  She raced for the Robert Feathers kennel and she ran, placing consistently in the money, until her retirement in 1995, which is when we got her.

Lindsay was a dog that needed a job.  She wasn't happy as a retiree and she'd beat up on the other dogs.  So, we gave her a job, lure coursing.  Lindsay carried on the tradition of being a great running dog in lure coursing.  And, in short order, she achieved her field championships in both American Kennel Club (AKC) & American Sighthound Field Asso. (ASFA) events.  One of the funniest things I ever saw that involved Lindsay was when the judge decided to sit directly behind her at the start of her first Junior Courser (JC) run.  I no longer remember his name.

The judge decided to judge the JC runs by plopping a lawn chair directly behind the dogs at the start. When Lindsay came to the line, several people advised him, including me, that he really didn't want to sit there behind a greyhound.  But, he told us in no uncertain terms, "I know what I'm doing."  OK....

Lindsay at the 1997 ASFA I.I. in Pescadero, CA

When the hunt-master cried "Tally Ho!", as the slip lead fell away from her neck, Lindsay dug in with those powerful hind legs and sprinted off the line.  With that very powerful first thrust of the hind legs, she dug in and kicked up a rooster tail of rocks, dirt, cactus....  all of which flew back into the judge's face.  All I could hear at the line were thuds followed by, "Ow!  Ouch!  Damn!"  I still laugh and smirk.  Somehow, I think the judge learned something new that day - never sit behind a greyhound at the start.

Lindsay loved to run.  She loved to compete. We took her to a lure course held in Phoenix at the Estrella Mountain Park by the Desert Fun Bunch.  The day was December 7th.... Pearl Harbor Day.  

Lindsay won the Open Stakes and got to run for Best of Breed with a large, brindle dog named Cabo.  In the Best of Breed runoff against Cabo, Lindsay broke a metatarsal bone in her hind leg.  She never stopped running.  She hiked her leg up and finished the run, winning BOB.  We didn't even realize that there was a problem.  That night, she ate her dinner, we walked her and she never gimped.  At least, not until the next morning, which is when she developed a bit of a hitch in her git-along.  We pulled her from the competition and drove home to Albuquerque.  Two days later, she had surgery to fix the break.  The vet said she had to be kept quiet for at least 6 weeks, to allow the bone to properly knit. So, even tho' it wasn't allowed, I snuck her into my office at work for the next 4 weeks and she slept the day under my desk.  My co-workers absolutely loved her and she got a bit pudgy while working there.

Lindsay Flying in Estrella Mtn Park

After Pop died in 1999, my mom came to live with Rob & I.  On the saddest weekend in my life, November 6-8, 2003, we lost Lindsay the evening of Nov 6 and my mom the night of Nov 7.  We like to think that Lindsay died before mom so she could show her the way to heaven.  Mom died late the night of Nov 7th.  On Nov 8th, there was a local lure course and I went, not to run dogs, but to be among friends in my time of sorrow. I needed to be around people and their dogs.  I needed to be among the living.  It had been a rough, preceding 10 days during my mom's short, but deadly, illness.  During the lunch break, I looked up and I swear I saw Lindsay running around the far corner and down the backstretch.  As she stretched out, she disappeared from view.   I think she was telling me that she's OK and that she helped mom across the Rainbow Bridge.

In truth, a year or two later, Lindsay came to me in a dream.  In it, she was running in front of a big, black dog.  Soon, as they went around the near turn, the two of them ran across a bridge and disappeared into the mists.  The name "Cal" was stuck in my mind and the next day, I called an acquaintance of mine in Tulsa.  I asked her, "Teddi...  do you know a big, black dog named "Cal"?  If so, I think he just died."  Teddi lost it and broke down in tears.  Little did I know that a short time prior to this, she had adopted a retired stud dogs, Iruska Excalibur, a big black dog that she called "Cal".  He had died the day of my dream.  I told her of the dream and she was comforted.

Lindsay had found herself a job even after crossing over.  Her job is to escort people and dogs across the Rainbow Bridge, into heaven's fields.  That's our Party Girl. 

Feather Too

So, how did Feather come to be a Dyno-Mutt hound?

Laurel asked Rob & I if we would get Feather "into condition" for the upcoming lure coursing season. Sure...  why not...  So she came here to live with us for a bit of time...  a month or two or three, as needed.  Then, back to Laurel's home.  Some people from Texas came to visit Laurel after the Valencia Valley shows in October and they saw Feather. She was so lovely that day...  Laurel offered to sell her to them. The man was smitten, but his wife wasn't. They offered Laurel some ridiculously low sum of money. I mumbled something to the effect that it was a ridiculous offer, which Laurel heard. She refused and so, back out to the Dyno-Mutt homestead to live with us for the coursing season.  One day, after coming out here to the eastern side of the Sandia mountains to visit Feather, Laurel decided that she was much happier with us and she put us on her papers.  Feather never left.

Ch El-Aur Summer Breeze FCh (Feather) - 1997 Pescadero International Invitational, Photo by Rick Dodd

Oh Feather could run.  She was fast and agile, but silly.  We tried running her on the training track at Abilene Greyhound Park one year.  She ran about 50' and then laid down on the wet sand.  That was bad enough, but then, she started rolling in it.  Oh my....

Feather may not have run on the track, but she was a good coursing bitch.  She never quite finished her AKC field championship, but she did finish one in ASFA, which many people consider the tougher of the two.  She ran in two International Invitationals and a Region 3 Regional.  She would also run rabbits and, given the opportunity, she'd try and take a squirrel out in a heartbeat.  In fact, while she was waiting to be bred, in 2002, she stayed with friends in Michigan.  They had a large maple tree in their back yard and a squirrel would come down to the lowest branches and taunt the hounds.  One day, Feather positioned herself under that branch, judged the distance between her & the squirrel and launched herself straight up!  She got tail feathers and the squirrel ran up the tree, and never again ventured that close to the ground.  Feather, however, was absolutely DISGUSTED that she missed.  That's OK... her daughter, Jib, and her granddaughter, Chispa, are carrying on the tradition of trying to get squirrels in trees.

Sailing Litter: (L-R) Javelin, Dash, Bugsy, Slate, Jib, Jetty

In March 2002, Feather was bred to DC Can Ch Lakilanni Scatpak Barracuda (Cuda) and produced six healthy strong puppies - our Sailing Litter. This breeding was in the planning stages for three years and it combined two super performance lines of show greyhounds. The pups were whelped on May 26, 2002 and they became the Sailing Litter: Javelin, Jib, Dash, Bugsy, Jetty, and Slate. They fulfilled all of our wildest dreams, winning in the breed ring and on the field. Jib & Dash had group placements; Bugsy went Winners Dog at the Greyhound Club of America's National Specialty and also at Morris & Essex to finish his championship.  Jib & Javelin were dual champions. ALL OF THEM were outstanding companions.

Feather was a great mom and our foundation bitch.  I see her in her children and grand children.  Our Feather girl is still with us today.