"Save the date!" for these upcoming special events

The GPA-Central Texas Board of Directors has been hard at work planning a slew of events that will take you and your hounds all the way into 2009. Grab a pen and your calendar and save these dates! You won't want to miss any of these special events.

• Quarterly foster training · Saturday, Aug. 2
• Greyhound gathering at The Domain · Saturday, Aug. 30
• Avery Ranch Festival in the Park · Saturday, Sept. 27
• Barktoberfest featuring Speed Alley · Saturday, Oct. 11
• Greyhound Planet Day featuring Speed Alley plus fall membership meeting · Saturday, Nov. 1
• Georgetown Stroll · Saturday, Dec. 6
• Holiday party and winter membership meeting · Saturday, Dec. 27
• 2nd annual Have a Heart 'Grey'la · Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009

Whew! What a list of 'greyt' events! Learn more about these events on the Special Events page as details become available.

Election results are in, and the results are...
First of all, thanks to everyone who took the time to complete and return your ballot. We had about a 31% return rate, which certainly outpaces the Austin city election earlier this month! (Only 7% of registered voters bothered to go to the polls for that election.) And thanks also to everyone who ran for office. It's gratifying to see that so many folks have an interest in the mission of GPA-CT. It was a tight race for the two director positions, and the results are:

• President: Sally McIntosh
• Vice President: John Koonz
• Secretary: Donna Seago
• Treasurer: Eric Wyatt
• Director: Barbara Clark
• Director: Pam Cook

Thanks also to the Election Committee of Glen Bridge, Jr., Angie Smith and Robert Wagner for counting and verifying the ballots. (Read the official report of the 2008 Election Committee [PDF].)

Have a Heart Grey'la fundraiser and silent auction
· 2008 Have a Heart 'Grey'la archived web page

Wow! What an evening! Over 60 GPA-Central Texas members and their guests enjoyed a beautiful February evening together raising money, tasting wine and desserts, listening to truly talented musicians, and generally having a 'greyt' time. (Not to mention enjoying that gorgeous view of downtown Austin. Wasn't that beautiful?)

Now that this event is under our belts and we saw what worked (and what didn't!), we've already started talking about the "second annual 'Grey'la."

Thanks to everyone who attended the event, everyone who sent their regrets (along with generous donations), everyone who sent their best wishes, and everyone who volunteered their efforts to make this first-ever event a true success.

GPA-Central Texas is SPCA International's Shelter of the Week (Nov. 5, 2007)

On Monday, Nov. 5, Greyhound Pets of America-Central Texas was honored to be named the SPCA International Shelter of the Week. With this honor came a visit from Terri Crisp, the SPCA’s Animal Resource and Rescue Consultant, a donation of $1000, and the privilege of being featured on the SPCA International Web site, www.spca.com. There’s even a link that will allow Web site visitors to support our group with donations. Cara Vacchiano, who gives generously of her time and talents as a professional trainer, nominated us. SPCA International was moved by Cara’s descriptions of our hard-luck hounds -- Lazarus, Raj, and so many others -- whose medical and social needs have challenged us financially. The organization was especially impressed with our commitment to the greyhounds coming from Town Lake Animal Center.

As our members know, GPA-CT has no actual shelter facilities, depending instead on volunteer foster families to house, feed, teach, and love the hounds in our adoption program. (We’ve been helped enormously by the folks at Dog Camp, who have donated hundreds of days of loving care to some of our "overflow" hounds; we’ve also received pro bono care from Hip Hounds and discounted boarding at North Austin Animal Hospital.) Our "shelter" consists of homes from Elgin to Westlake, from Hays County to the north side of Round Rock -- homes linked by a love of greyhounds and dedication to finding each one a forever family. Being so widely dispersed (but so united in purpose) we feel especially fortunate to be named the Shelter of the Week!

Many thanks to SPCA International, to Cara Vacchiano of Buddy’s Chance LLC, to each and every one of our foster families, and to our membership, whose ongoing support helps make this work possible.

If you missed Greyhound Planet Day, you missed the world's newest superhero...

Flash, winner of the costume contest, sports his superhero cape. Flash and Amy Garcia, his damsel-in-distress, were awarded a portrait sitting with local pet photographer Paige Morrison for their creativity.

Fifty humans and almost as many hounds came out on Oct. 20 to celebrate Greyhound Planet Day and enjoy the beautiful fall-ish weather. The lines were long for Speed Alley as the moderate temps allowed for multiple runs.

The costume contest was a greyt deal of fun, with many creative entries. The ultimate winners and their awards were Flash, the Superhero (1st place: portrait sitting with Paige Morrison, photographer); Gimme, as Batman (2nd place: gift basket from Cardinal Ridge Barkery); and Kazoo the whippet, as a shark (3rd place: gift certificate from Dirty Dog Dog Wash).

One of the reasons for the Planet Day celebration is to remember all those greyhounds who have left us in the previous year. The reading of these greyhounds' names was preceded by the reading of a poem written by Pam Cook and accompanied by the striking of a Tibetan singing bowl signaling their transformation.

Special thanks to Romp N' Run Ranch for allowing us to hold this special event on their fabulous property! The hounds appreciate it!

THE STORY OF LAZARUS, 2007 A.D.

	Eric and Kris Wyatt, Mack and Lazarus

For everyone who's been following Lazarus' story, GPA-Central Texas is happy to announce he found his forever home with Eric and Kristine Wyatt and greyhound brother Mack on Saturday, Sept. 29. Thanks again to everyone who helped Lazarus along the way to his happy ending!

Read more about Lazarus »

Rain, rain, stayed away for Father's Day Ice Cream Lick and Quarterly Membership Meeting
» Photo gallery

About 20 GPA-CT members and their greyhounds braved the rainy forecast on June 17 and came out for fun and fellowship at the Father's Day Ice Cream Lick and Quarterly Membership Meeting. The hounds enjoyed homemade frozen yogurt/peanut butter treats and the humans took their pick of two special "cool flavors" invented by the creative folks at Amy's Ice Creams -- the Brindle Brickle (Just Vanilla with Heath bars and pecan praline sauce) or the Greyhound Special (Belgian Chocolate with Nutty Buddys and chocolate chunks). Door prizes including pet throws, travel mats, T-shirts, placemats and aprons were given to those in attendance, with the ever-popular "Dogfather" T-shirts won by C.J. Washington and Earle Sherrod.

Deutschen Pfest parade: Die schoenste Windhunden...
» Photo gallery

Fraulein Francesca dons the latest in Deutschen duds for the parade.

If you missed the Deutschen Pfest parade on May 19, 2007, you missed tons of fun! Nine greyhounds [sporting Tyrol hats (for the herren) and pigtails (for the frauleins) -- accessories created by GPA-CT's Angie Smith] made lots of pfans in Pflugerville. The "windhunden" so impressed the judges that they were awarded SECOND PLACE among non-profit entries in the parade. Thanks to the hounds and their humans for turning out on this beautiful spring day to show everyone that greyhounds make great pets! Wunderbar!

Emergency Medical Fund established, donations sought
Greyhound Pets of America-Central Texas has created a permanent emergency medical fund for special-needs greyhounds in foster care. We need your help to make this fund a success. »»read more

Note: The Emergency Medical Fund was renamed "The Real Ransom III DVM Emergency Medical Fund" in October 2005.