Flikka

On the many trips my family and I made to Petsmart, we often saw "the people with the greyhounds." These people and their dogs were always very nice. As we stood there petting the dogs, they always said to us, "You sound like you need a greyhound!" Our reply was always the same, "If we didn't already have our other dogs..." One time when Mom was looking for a self-satisfying hobby, we decided to find out more about volunteering for the Greyhound Pets of America.

Starting Out ~ My brother and I were very excited when our family agreed to foster a greyhound. Mom signed up to attend the weekly clinics, too. I always went along and learned so much about this breed, in order to answer the public's questions. I admire this association for their careful placement of these dogs into good homes. I only wish every dog could have such wonderful treatment. When they are rescued from the track, they have to be taught how to be pets before they can have permanent homes. The people who help them adjust to life in a home are called "foster parents." In these foster homes, dogs are stroked, shown affection, kissed, and hugged, and also house-trained. That generally doesn't take long, since greyhounds are not only smart, but usually crate-trained. They just need to learn to think of the entire house as their crate!

The foster parents can also tell if the dogs show any aggression toward other animals. Some greyhounds could never be in a home where there are cats. Others get along very well with not only cats, but also smaller dogs. When someone applies to adopt a greyhound, they are told right away if the dog they are interested in would be good for them, considering the pets they already own, if any. The people who apply to adopt a dog can either be approved or turned down, depending on if they meet the requirements and regulations or not. top

Star ~ Our first foster dog was Midnight Star (Star, for short). She was a beautiful dog, all white with large spots of tan-grey brindle. She was the most affectionate dog I've ever known. Before we even took her home to foster, a couple had put down application papers for adoption on her. We completely fell in love with her. Especially me! Every day, I came home from school, laid down on the couch, and she snuggled with me, with her head on my chest. Often, we'd take a nap like that together. She was awesome! We had her for about five or six days when we were told the couple was turned down for adoption. Their backyard was not fenced in. These dogs can run up to 45 miles an hour, and they have no sense of how to go home. Their sense of sight is much stronger than their sense of smell. They cannot be let off of a leash or in a backyard that is not fenced in. If they see a butterfly 100 feet away, they will go chase it, and most likely, they will not be seen again.

We said then that we wanted to adopt her. The night before we were planning to go put adoption papers on her ourselves, we were told that the couple was building a fence. They were going to be able to adopt her after all. What made it easier to let her go was knowing they were going through so much effort to get her, so they obviously really wanted her. We'd met them and the way they spoke about her was so loving and sweet. It also helped that we were getting another foster dog, Flikka. top

My friend, Flikka ~ Flikka was the biggest goofball from the very start! We picked her up from the GPA Director's home, and got her in the backseat with my brother and me. She promptly whacked her nose and plastic muzzle into my stomach, rubbing up and down and tickling me so much that I could barely breathe through all my laughter. We were told she was 18 months old, and had been found wandering the streets of San Antonio about a week before we met her. She must not have been a very good racer!! The pound called the Director of GPA in San Antonio at 4am, and she immediately left to pick up Flikka and get her someplace safe. We were so glad to be able take her into our home.

When we first got Flikka, I didn't know whether to love her to pieces like I did with Star, or to hold back so it wouldn't be as difficult when the time came to let her go. But I remember which day it was that I let myself start loving Flikka instead of just liking her....

I had been feeling really sick. Flikka had lived with us for about a week. While I was feeling miserable, this enormous, 60 pound dog slept on my legs the entire time. (And considering how lanky greyhounds are, the ones who weigh 60 lbs really are very large!) She was really sweet and snuggly towards me, seemingly knowing I felt so bad. She stayed with me while I drifted in and out of sleep, until Mom had to take her to the adoption clinic. Those involve people bringing their greyhounds to a designated area, usually a specific Petsmart, so that people can look at all the different colours, ask questions, and put adoption papers on available dogs they are interested in. When Mom came back from the clinic, Flikka went back to sleeping on my legs, and we fell asleep together once more. I woke up feeling toasty warm under a blanket and a giant dog. As I watched Flikka's sleeping face, my heart melted. I loved her. Mom saw that I was awake and told me she had put adoption papers on her.

Soon, Flikka was an official part of the family! She is goofy, silly, and quirky, and we all love her dearly. I call her our fake Dalmatian. Every little kid who sees her says "Look, it's a Dalmatian!" It's really funny.

Flikka is a sweet dog. I love her dearly. This is despite the fact that she ripped several of my Beanie Babies to shreds, with the help of our other foster dog, Bertha, at that time. I had thought then, "Well at least she didn't get my very favorite donkey Beanie Baby." She got the donkey a few days later. She also climbed over my head one time to sit in my lap as we went through a fast food drive-thru.

Another time, I had just gotten my wisdom teeth out, and was sleeping on the couch. Flikka was so excited to see my dad walk in the door that she ran around the house and jumped up on top of me. She stood over my shoulders. She had startled me awake, and all I could think as my heart raced and my mouth throbbed was, "Please don't kick my face, please, please, don't kick my mouth...." When everyone finally coaxed her off of me, she leaped off the couch, and kicked me in the top of my head. I was really mad at her, and scared, which made me cry. But that darn dog! -- No matter how mad she gets me, she's just so cute that I can't stay mad at her for very long. I love her, even though she can be a pain. I know life will never be lacking in cute and/or crazy stories as long as we have Flikka!

When we moved to Washington, Flikka had to adjust to colder temperatures. She has a nice, warm dog-jacket for the times it's pretty cold in Washington, near Seattle. She doesn't seem to like snow much, and sometimes she shivers outside because of her short fur. I think she looks so pitiful when her teeth chatter. She is a very good dog. I love her SO much!

Flikka still lives in Washington, with my mom. I have since moved to California, and my brother moved to his own apartment closer to college. Flikka is my mom's baby, and loves to try to sit with her on her lap, like a cat would. She doesn't realize she now weighs 70 lbs! She is a very goofy dog! We all love her!

If you would like to see other greyhounds or learn more about the organization I used to volunteer for, feel free to click on this link: Greyhound Pets of America

Story Last updated December 2001 top

Other Greyhound Stories

Bertha ~ Our other foster dog, Bertha, was so much fun! She was all fawn colored, except for her sweet grey muzzle. She was good at helping Flikka wreak havoc all over the house. She also enjoyed sleeping next to Flikka, and at times they'd sleep back to back in this bizarre symmetrical greyhound pattern. It was really funny! I enjoyed having Bertha in our house. She was eventually adopted by a couple who had another male greyhound. They renamed her Lexus. Their other dog was Camry. I thought it was a little weird, but that's okay. They were cool people. They had a home with no kids, but a bedroom for just the dogs. They had a trundle bed that the dogs could share and a bunch of toys for them. It sounded wonderful, and I know Bertha's living a very happy life! top

Khianna ~ One time we were asked if we wanted to foster a greyhound puppy. We agreed excitedly! Khianna (who Mom got to name!) was 13 months old. Not really what we were expecting when we heard "puppy." She was basically just a naughty full-grown greyhound! She was pretty cool, but she did get into trouble a lot. She was also very funny because she had an overbite and she was pigeon toed. She's the only greyhound we ever knew who could sit! top

Breed Information ~
~ Greyhounds require a fenced in area to run, or just a daily walk on a leash. They are happy to walk or run at whatever pace suits you both the best.
~ If greyhounds are going to be off the leash, they MUST be in an enclosed area, such as a fenced in park, or your home.
~ They can run up to 45 miles an hour!
~ They like to eat quickly, so their food should be mixed with warm water and placed somewhere higher than the floor, so they won't choke.
~ They are extremely sensitive to anesthesia.
~ Because of their body structure, greyhounds cannot physically sit. They can only stand or lie down.
~ Also, they sleep 20 hours a day, just like cats!
They are a wonderful breed! top

A Cute Story ~ My mom's neighbor, Audrey, loves Flikka so much, she adopted a greyhound, too! His name is Tim. Mom and Audrey took Tim and Flikka to a fenced in park recently so that they could exercise. Not many know this, but Flikka has a long history of bad manners. She loves cats, but she has always growled at practically every dog she has ever come across, including other greyhounds! She got along well with Bertha, but that was about it. She just growls around other dogs, for some reason.

Greyhounds have a tendency to knock into each other when they run really fast and can hurt each other accidentally, so Flikka and Tim were both muzzled while they ran around. When they were released together, my mom thought there would be issues. She expected Flikka to start growling and being a pain in the neck.

But Flikka accepted Tim as her new companion from the start! She followed him around like a little puppy the entire time they were together, and apparently, they simply adore each other. My mom thought it was the cutest thing ever! Yay for doggie love and friendship! top