Connecticut Dog Track Closes, New Homes Needed

Greyhound advocates are cheering the news that Plainfield Greyhound Park has announced its closing as of May 14, 2005.

Track owner Karen Keelan entered a formal partnership with car racing promoter, Gene Argenese and has decided to build a new domed facility with restaurants, shops, and a raceway where hot rods will replace greyhounds. The motto Race Cars, Not Dogs has truly become a reality in Connecticut!

While there is speculation that the new partnership may decide to hold special greyhound races beginning in 2006, the fact that kennels are being dismantled indicates greyhound racing may well be finished forever.

For the moment, a number of dogs will soon need homes. Most of the 1200 Plainfield dogs will simply be sent to other tracks to race, and sadly, they will be beyond our reach. This is the heartless nature of greyhound racing.

It is estimated, however, that 200-300 greyhounds will be surrendered, and available for adoption once final decisions are made. If you are interested in being placed on a waiting list for adoption, please call Greyhound Friends of Hopkinton, Massachusetts at 508-435-5969.

To help immediately, please consider adopting a new friend from a rescue kennel near you. By doing so, a spot will be opened for incoming greyhounds from Connecticut and other racing states.

For a list of greyhound adoption facilities, please click on the link below.

http://www.grey2kusa.org/Links/adopt.html

______________

National Gallery of Art Suspending School Tours

The National Gallery of Art is suspending its school tours for the next academic year.

34,000 students were given guided tours last year.

The educational staff wants to reevaluate the tours.

The docents were sent a letter in late April that their services will not be needed next year. Fairfax County sends 12,000 6th graders to the Gallery for a tour designed to make connections with what they learn in school. Bettyann Plisher, who is in charge of art for Fairfax, is looking for other venues for school tours.

The Gallery plans to provide a brochure for self-guided tours and a hotline for teachers planning a tour.

The docents are trained and tested. They are certified to give tours.

If you wish to make a comment or a call, you may go to the web site of your congressperson.

In Northern VA the Congressmen:

Jim Moran (who is helping) (202) 225-4376

Fax. (202) 225-0017

Tom Davis (who is interested)

(202) 225- 1492

fax 202-225-3071

Director of Gallery

Rusty Powell

National Gallery of Art

2000 B South Club Drive

Landover, Maryland 20785

_______________

Stories from Casey's House - submitted by Cindy Ingram

Tigger

Tigger came to Casey’s House a few weeks before Thanksgiving. His guardians were moving to a retirement community and they were unable to bring Tigger. The week of Thanksgiving Tigger stopped eating and I was unable to tempt him to eat, he wouldn’t even eat tuna-normally a cat’s delight. I resolved myself to the fact that I was going to have to let him go, I was so sad that I had not had more time with him. In the short time he had been with us he managed to wormed his way into not only my heart but into the hearts of both my husband and daughter as well. When he first started to lose weight I brought him to our house for closer observation, every night he would sleep in one of our beds snuggled up close. I felt as though I could feel his spirit reach out and touch mine, it was difficult for me to get up and move him as I just wanted to let him lay there next to me forever. When he did not spend the night with me he was with either my daughter or husband snuggled up just as tight and looked oh so sweet. It was going to be very difficult to put him down.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving I had decided that I was going to take my precious Tigger to the Vet’s the following day to have him humanely euthanized so as to avoid him slowly starving to death. That morning as I was spending time with him I told him how much I was going to miss him and how I wished that we had more time. That night when I was feeding the cats he came over to a bowl and just started chowing down, tears came immediately to my eyes. I begged Tigger to keep eating and made sure that he had his fill. The next day he ate again and he is still eating! He has severe kidney disease, hyper thyroid, and a heart murmur but none of these are taking him down quite yet. He has remained in my house and still makes his rounds sleeping with every member of my family. Casey’s House will take care of Tigger as long he lets us do so and when he does cross over the rainbow bridge it will be with a piece of each of our hearts.

Onyx

Onyx came to Casey’s House last fall. He had been left along with another cat which also came to Casey’s House abandoned in a house in Clarke County. The resident of the house had left a note for his sister to “take the cats to the pound and put them down”. Fortunately, his sister could not bring herself to do this and called Casey’s House instead. Onyx is a sweet little black cat that spends his time just outside my daughter’s door on a large stuffed green turtle. He has not been put into the main shelter because his legs are deformed and he can not walk quickly, he walks very slowly. Though I am happy to bring his food up to him he often makes his way down to my kitchen when I feed the other cats and then slowly climbs back up the stairs when he is done. It seems like he does not realize that he is crippled and sees no reason why he can’t go up and down the stairs like everybody else. Besides his deformed legs, Onyx also has kidney disease. Casey’s House provides for his special fluids and so far his kidney disease has not progressed. In fact, he is one of my more healthy “special needs” cats. I am so glad that he was not taken to the pound as I would miss seeing him and that “can-do” spirit carrying him up and down my stairs.

If you would like to meet Tigger and Onyx and our other wonderful cats please join us for our open house, May 21, 2005. 9am-6:30pm at 161 Pine Grove Rd, Bluemont, VA call 540-955-6348 or toll free 800-291-7341 for more info!

Updated: September 2, 2005

	Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare
		Responsible Government Responsible Ownership Responsible Breeding
Home Mission Statement Alerts Get Involved Become a Member Get on our Email List About Us Pet Overpopulation Virginia Statistics Pet Overpopulation Study Gas Chambers Animal Licensing 2005-2006 Plan (pdf file) 2005 Initiatives Meetings Meeting Minutes 2005 Meeting Schedule Photos Contact Us Archives WebMail	You are here: Home>>>Archives>>>Open Line Friday>>>5-13-05 OPEN LINE FRIDAY (5/13/05) This week's articles: Piano for Sale Greyhound Protection Update National Gallery of Art Suspending School Tours Stories from Casey's House - submitted by Cindy Ingram ______________ Piano for Sale Proceeds from Sale go to King George Animal Rescue League “Lester Spinet” 60 years old Good condition (needs tuning) $500 OBO Must go before end of May! For more info, please contact KGARL at 540-644-0110 ______________ GREY2K USA - PROTECTING GREYHOUNDS NATIONWIDE Greyhound Protection Update Connecticut Dog Track Closes, New Homes Needed Greyhound advocates are cheering the news that Plainfield Greyhound Park has announced its closing as of May 14, 2005. Track owner Karen Keelan entered a formal partnership with car racing promoter, Gene Argenese and has decided to build a new domed facility with restaurants, shops, and a raceway where hot rods will replace greyhounds. The motto Race Cars, Not Dogs has truly become a reality in Connecticut! While there is speculation that the new partnership may decide to hold special greyhound races beginning in 2006, the fact that kennels are being dismantled indicates greyhound racing may well be finished forever. For the moment, a number of dogs will soon need homes. Most of the 1200 Plainfield dogs will simply be sent to other tracks to race, and sadly, they will be beyond our reach. This is the heartless nature of greyhound racing. It is estimated, however, that 200-300 greyhounds will be surrendered, and available for adoption once final decisions are made. If you are interested in being placed on a waiting list for adoption, please call Greyhound Friends of Hopkinton, Massachusetts at 508-435-5969. To help immediately, please consider adopting a new friend from a rescue kennel near you. By doing so, a spot will be opened for incoming greyhounds from Connecticut and other racing states. For a list of greyhound adoption facilities, please click on the link below. http://www.grey2kusa.org/Links/adopt.html ______________ National Gallery of Art Suspending School Tours The National Gallery of Art is suspending its school tours for the next academic year. 34,000 students were given guided tours last year. The educational staff wants to reevaluate the tours. The docents were sent a letter in late April that their services will not be needed next year. Fairfax County sends 12,000 6th graders to the Gallery for a tour designed to make connections with what they learn in school. Bettyann Plisher, who is in charge of art for Fairfax, is looking for other venues for school tours. The Gallery plans to provide a brochure for self-guided tours and a hotline for teachers planning a tour. The docents are trained and tested. They are certified to give tours. If you wish to make a comment or a call, you may go to the web site of your congressperson. In Northern VA the Congressmen: Jim Moran (who is helping) (202) 225-4376 Fax. (202) 225-0017 Tom Davis (who is interested) (202) 225- 1492 fax 202-225-3071 Director of Gallery Rusty Powell National Gallery of Art 2000 B South Club Drive Landover, Maryland 20785 _______________ Stories from Casey's House - submitted by Cindy Ingram Tigger Tigger came to Casey’s House a few weeks before Thanksgiving. His guardians were moving to a retirement community and they were unable to bring Tigger. The week of Thanksgiving Tigger stopped eating and I was unable to tempt him to eat, he wouldn’t even eat tuna-normally a cat’s delight. I resolved myself to the fact that I was going to have to let him go, I was so sad that I had not had more time with him. In the short time he had been with us he managed to wormed his way into not only my heart but into the hearts of both my husband and daughter as well. When he first started to lose weight I brought him to our house for closer observation, every night he would sleep in one of our beds snuggled up close. I felt as though I could feel his spirit reach out and touch mine, it was difficult for me to get up and move him as I just wanted to let him lay there next to me forever. When he did not spend the night with me he was with either my daughter or husband snuggled up just as tight and looked oh so sweet. It was going to be very difficult to put him down. The Sunday after Thanksgiving I had decided that I was going to take my precious Tigger to the Vet’s the following day to have him humanely euthanized so as to avoid him slowly starving to death. That morning as I was spending time with him I told him how much I was going to miss him and how I wished that we had more time. That night when I was feeding the cats he came over to a bowl and just started chowing down, tears came immediately to my eyes. I begged Tigger to keep eating and made sure that he had his fill. The next day he ate again and he is still eating! He has severe kidney disease, hyper thyroid, and a heart murmur but none of these are taking him down quite yet. He has remained in my house and still makes his rounds sleeping with every member of my family. Casey’s House will take care of Tigger as long he lets us do so and when he does cross over the rainbow bridge it will be with a piece of each of our hearts. Onyx Onyx came to Casey’s House last fall. He had been left along with another cat which also came to Casey’s House abandoned in a house in Clarke County. The resident of the house had left a note for his sister to “take the cats to the pound and put them down”. Fortunately, his sister could not bring herself to do this and called Casey’s House instead. Onyx is a sweet little black cat that spends his time just outside my daughter’s door on a large stuffed green turtle. He has not been put into the main shelter because his legs are deformed and he can not walk quickly, he walks very slowly. Though I am happy to bring his food up to him he often makes his way down to my kitchen when I feed the other cats and then slowly climbs back up the stairs when he is done. It seems like he does not realize that he is crippled and sees no reason why he can’t go up and down the stairs like everybody else. Besides his deformed legs, Onyx also has kidney disease. Casey’s House provides for his special fluids and so far his kidney disease has not progressed. In fact, he is one of my more healthy “special needs” cats. I am so glad that he was not taken to the pound as I would miss seeing him and that “can-do” spirit carrying him up and down my stairs. If you would like to meet Tigger and Onyx and our other wonderful cats please join us for our open house, May 21, 2005. 9am-6:30pm at 161 Pine Grove Rd, Bluemont, VA call 540-955-6348 or toll free 800-291-7341 for more info!
	Updated: September 2, 2005