Consider Being a Foster Parent for an Italian Greyhound Rescue - Guest Post by Terry Nirider

This guest post is by Terry Nirider, one of the many hardworking volunteers who works for the IGCA Rescue-Houston. There is always a need for foster parents to take care of the rescues who are surrendered to ICGA Rescue-Houston. There are more dogs who need care and fostering than there are foster families to provide shelter, love and to socialize these often traumatized Italian Greyhounds so they can be adopted out to permanent "forever" family homes.

Terry has been gracious enough to share a bit about her foster experiences and the place these loving dogs have occupied in her life.

Terry: I’ve been working with IG rescue for about six years now, I think.  Although I volunteer in many areas, during all of that time I have fostered and am convinced that it is the most rewarding area in which to serve.  

Admittedly, I’ve had my share of  tiny blue females – even experienced foster failure with one – but the more I do this, the more I am drawn to dogs who will have a hard time finding that perfect forever home we want for each and every IG who comes through our doors.  

Two of my past fosters were puppy mill girls – both had had many litters and were absolutely traumatized.  Each of them was with us for a year, during which time they very slowly began to trust and allow their inner Iggy to show.  

Both of these girls found families who were just as special as the dogs they adopted.  Their willingness to love these dogs despite and because of their limitations is inspiring to me in a way that I just can’t describe.  No matter how dispirited I am after reading the morning paper, I know the world is good because people like these adopters live in it.

Another favorite category of mine is the seniors.  I admired the people above, but here I give the credit to the amazing dogs.  They are calm, dignified and exhibit such grace.  When they look you in the eye, there is wisdom.  

Really! They give me a model to follow as the birthday candles accumulate.  Yes, there are a few that don’t fit that description – one comes to mind.  She is hairless, toothless so her tongue hangs out, blind and I think she may have a mild case of dementia.  As if she weren’t “blessed” enough, now her hearing is going and she has a skin condition.  But she is the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen.  

You guessed it -- another foster failure.  It’s unfortunate that senior dogs who come in to rescue sit in foster homes a long time, but don’t feel too sorry for them.  You’d be amazed how many foster families feel the way I do – let others have the puppies, just give us the old ones and however long they are with us is just more time for us to enjoy them.

My husband and I are retired so spend a lot of time at home and that allows us to help another category of rescue dog that is closest to my heart.  It's a sad truth that by the time dogs get into the rescue program, many have endured everything from trauma to severe neglect.  

Sadly, conditions develop which take them out of the running for families looking to adopt.  You would be amazed – I always am – that there are seriously saintly people out there who are touched by these animals and take them along with their ongoing medical bills, determined to live happily for as long as there is.  

But for many more, their foster home is the last home they know.  We experienced foster failure with a couple of these dogs, too, but I finally decided it was a piece of paper that didn’t matter.  They owned us completely, heart and soul.   

It has been our privilege to love many of these very special dogs and each one has left a little tender place that no other animal can fill.  Probably.  But maybe the next one…!  It’s a little embarrassing when people say “So how many dogs DO you have?”  I never meant to have five, but what are you going to do?

One other comment about volunteering for a rescue group.  I often hear people complain that the causes for which they volunteer are filled with people who are catty, demanding, argumentative, etc.  

When you are volunteering with dog lovers, you just don’t run into that.  The people attracted to helping animals are all softies, and the biggest men have the gooshiest hearts of all.  They talk baby talk to their dogs and aren't even embarrassed -- how great is that!  

So if you are looking for a place to spend some time helping – choose an animal in need and you’ll find that the people you encounter are just as inspiring as the dogs.

If you are a resident of the state of Texas and are interested in volunteering for the IGCA-Rescue, you don't have to live in Houston, please contact Terry Nirider by e-mail at: tnirider@gmail.com

If you live in a different state, please contact your state's Italian Greyhound Rescue to volunteer. The Texas/Oklahoma IGCA Rescue website has a list of IGCA Rescues in other states listed on the left sidebar as you scroll down the page. Simply find your state and click on it to get in touch with the Iggy Rescue in your state.

The Iggy Rules According to Alec and Berkeley (and a few others)

Alec and Berkeley are typical Italian Greyhounds. Being the good Iggies that they are, these two have gone to great lengths in order to insure their humans, the Sivils family, have been well trained in the "rules." The "rules" are to be obeyed at all times and without question.  The rules are:

1) If I want it, it is mine. This includes any item formerly owned by a human in the family.

2) Humans were designed to be used as couches with automated scratching devices attached.

3) The scratching devices are to be used at all times when I recline unless I decide otherwise.

4) Food is to be shared, sort of. Humans share with Iggies. Iggies are not allowed to share with humans.

5) It is always nap time.

6) Unless it is play time.

7) The Iggy always determines what time it is.

8) My comfort is your number one priority. 

9) Cars are meant to take Iggies for rides, but never to the vet.

10) Furniture, in addition to being used for taking comfortable naps, is also meant to be used as an Iggy obstacle course.

11) Blankets are meant to sleep under, for Iggies that is. Humans are allowed by permission of the Iggy.

12) If the temperature is above 72 degrees it is too hot for an Iggy.

13) If the temperature is below 72 degrees it is too cold for an Iggy.

14) Only say the word "treat" if you mean it!

15) Iggies are happier when they have a human of their own for a companion.

Lucky - Our Favorite Foster (Alec's Too!) - Consider Fostering an Italian Greyhound!

Lucky was a tiny seal (black), seven pound Italian Greyhound who had spent the first 7 or 8 years of her life as a puppy mill breeder. Lucky had lost her left hind foot sometime during her puppy mill years. Life as a puppy mill breeder had not been kind to Lucky.

When I picked Lucky up from the family who had done her take-in, it was evident Lucky had not only spent her life giving birth to puppies, she had not been socialized for human contact. Lucky was in essence a feral dog!

Upon arrival at our house, Lucky wasted no time letting Angel, our mixed female, and Berkeley, our biggie Iggie, know who was boss and there would be no questioning her authority! Alec was a different matter entirely. Lucky was seemingly smitten with Alec. It was love at first sight! Poor Alec never knew what hit him!

Lucky lived with us as our foster for over 8 months before she was adopted. When she left our family for her forever home, Lucky had gone from a nearly wild dog who was terrified of humans and being inside and who would bite to defend herself, to a gentle, loving little diva, who loved nothing better than napping sprawled across a human member of our family. Nothing that is except snuggling up to Alec!

The Itsy-bits, Alec and Lucky, outside together.

The link to a video below was filmed and produced by Jean Stiplevich and was used to help "market" Lucky to potential forever families. So many people had taken one look at spunky little Lucky's missing foot and passed on adopting her, extra measures were taken by the IG rescue to help place Lucky. Alec appears here and there in the video and you get an idea of just how small these two Iggies were. They were so small my wife Lisa dubbed the pair of lovebirds the "Itsy-bits."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tT-aYrXGU4

Lucky was a determined little customer who would not take no for an answer. Once Lucky decided humans were not so bad, she decided sleeping in a crate by herself was no longer the way a tiny princess should spend her nights. Especially since loverboy Alec and pest Berkeley got to sleep under warm blankets with their humans.

So that night Lucky started barking. This in itself was unusual as Lucky just didn't bark. She kept this up the entire night, depriving the humans of the house of any sleep, not that Lucky cared.

The next night as soon as all was quiet, Lucky resumed her policy of no human sleeps until she was in bed with Alec! After trying to get her to sleep with our youngest daughter, Emily, for several hours, my wife Lisa in a fit of irritation said to just get Lucky and let her sleep with us. If Lucky still kept barking she was heading to another foster home!

Up the stairs I went to get Lucky. I opened the door to Emily's room and a little black missile sped between my feet, down the stairs, took the corner skidding on our hardwood floor and zoomed down the hall into the master bedroom! I got back in bed, not even bothering to look for Lucky.

About twenty minutes later I was awakened from a sound sleep by snarling from Alec. It would seem little Miss Lucky had found her way under the blankets and was muscling Alec out of his preferred sleeping spot during the winter, snuggled against my side under my right arm while resting his chin on my shoulder.

In the dim light I could see poor Alec's confused expression as he looked at me, almost as if to ask "what am I supposed to do with her?" That night a content Lucky slept comfortably in Alec's spot, using Alec rather than my shoulder for a pillow.

Alec gave up trying to resist Lucky's advances fairly quickly and each night with a resigned look on his face, Alec would move to let Lucky have the preferred sleeping spot. Poor Berkeley just looked on each night with a sad expression as Lucky would not give him the time of day, other than to let Berkeley know she thought he was rude and boorish!

Lucky "muscles" Alec out of his Daddy's lap once again!

The Itsy-bits became inseparable and followed each other everywhere. While we were happy Lucky was finally adopted, we were sad to see her leave as was Alec, who was sad to see his little princess go.

We learned several years later that Lucky lived out her days as a spoiled little Iggy Princess who ruled the roost. She developed cancer and passed away in her sleep one night. 

While Lucky lived the last years of her life being loved and spoiled like all little Iggy Princesses should be, there are still far too many Iggies who live horrible lives working as breeders in puppy mills. Any chance you get, please support efforts to shut down puppy mills and put an end to the horrible conditions these animals, regardless of breed of dog, live in.

When puppy mills are closed, often large numbers of animals must come into rescue or be put to sleep humanely. These animals have done nothing wrong other than have the misfortune to become the possession of a puppy mill operator. Please consider being a foster parent for a dog needing shelter, medical care and socialization until a forever home can be found.

To Lucky and Alec, a pair of puppy mill survivors whose years were too few in number. Both are classic examples of the kind of wonderful, loving and entertaining companion a survivor of a puppy mill can become. They just need a chance.

 Lucky relaxing with me after a demanding film session for her debut film!

Houston Chapter of the Italian Greyhound Rescue Association

For the visitors to this blog who are not from the Greater Houston Area or are new to Houston, but are interested in Italian Greyhounds, check out the Facebook page for the Houston area Italian Greyhound Rescue.

To be honest, or more accurate, the Rescue is really statewide, serving Italian Greyhounds and the humans who need them all across Texas.

This is the Rescue where the Sivils family adopted our two boys, Berkeley and Alec. It is also the organization we foster Iggies for from time-to-time. It's a great group that has, and does, a lot of work to promote our beloved breed, care for Iggies when they need rescuing and finds homes for Iggies. 

They even come to the aid of humans who need rescuing by an Iggy by matching up the right human with the right Iggy.

It's a wide ranging group of individuals who make up the membership, if you want to call it that, of the Rescue who are all united by a common love for this quirky little breed.

If you are not already involved, I encourage you to check the Rescue out. Even if you don't want to be placed in the possession of an Italian Greyhound (let's face it, that is the way the relationship really works) there are many ways to be involved. You can foster an Iggy, providing it a home until it can adopt its forever family, do home Iggy inspections, transport Iggies, do "take ins" of Iggies (that's how we were adopted by Alec - we were the take in family and failed foster parents) and probably a lot of other tasks I cannot recall. 

I promise, if you want to be involved, there is more than enough to do. Just contact the organization.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the well wishers who have responded in kindness over the passing of little Alec. I appreciate it, as do all the members of our family, a great deal.

 

A Tribute to Little Alec

It is with great sadness that I post that my tiny companion, Alec, passed away suddenly yesterday, September 16th, as the result of what the vet called a "spontaneous pneumothorax," or a small hole in his lung that allowed air to fill his chest cavity and prevented him from breathing properly. After several procedures lasting several hours, it became evident tiny Alec, as tough and scrappy a dog as there ever was, would not be able to overcome his condition. And so with great sadness but a determination he would not suffer, the decision was made to humanely put Alec to sleep.

I shall miss my tiny companion.

Each morning as I left for work I had to pick up my little sight hound and toss him on the stairs and dart out the front door. Alec responded to his human abandoning him by howling for 3-5 minutes before settling down on the 8th stair to await my return.

I have no doubt Alec moved about during the day but without fail, when I walked up to the front door and peered through the window, Alec could be standing on the 8th stair, carefully balancing on his back two legs with his tail wagging!

Upon opening the door I would always be greeted by our other two dogs, a Biggie Iggie named Berkeley and our mix, Angel. Alec would always muscle his way to me and jump as high as he could demanding to be picked up. I shall miss Alec's daily greeting upon my return.

As I type this I am reminded of Alec's normal location when I have to work on my computer. Alec sat in my lap either sound asleep or standing and peering at the computer screen.

Despite being an older Iggy, Alec on a good day was as full of mischief as a puppy. When caught Alec displayed the time honored ability of every Iggy to look innocent, even when standing in the middle of the garbage he had just overturned.

Perhaps what I will miss most is waking up in the morning and feeling Alec resting comfortably under my right arm with his chin resting on my shoulder and his big Iggy eyes watching me, waiting for me to get up and let him and his canine companions outside.

Here's to Alec and all the Iggies like him who make our lives so much better for having our tiny companions share life with us.

Alec and his little friend and one of our former fosters, Lucky.

Is that a Greyhound Puppy?

I can't tell you how many times I have been asked that question when we have our two boys, Berkeley and Alec, with us as we go for a walk or just travel about with the Iggies in tow. I can see how people not familiar with the breed could think an Italian Greyhound is actually a Greyhound puppy. The boys certainly look like puppies and act like puppies at times.

Yet when I tell people our dogs are Italian Greyhounds and fully grown no one believes me. Until I tell them the boys ages. Berkeley is 6 and Alec is going on 12, we think.

Alec warming himself by the fireplace

The mistake is certainly understandable as the big racing Grey's are indeed related to Italian Greyhounds. The Big Grey's are the fastest breed of dog in the world and the Italians are not far behind. Both are site hounds, dogs whose primary hunting tool is sight, not smell. Both breeds will pursue any object that catches their sight and moves.

Italian Greyhounds, as a breed, are believed to be just over 4,000 years old and to have originated in North Africa. Mummified dogs resembling Italian Greyhounds have been found in Egypt. Italian Greyhound remains have been found in the ruins of Pompeii where it is believed Iggies were the only domesticated companion dog in that society.

The breed earned its current name due to the popularity of the breed in Italy during the Renaissance. The breed was popular with Roman Emperors and has lived on the Italian Peninsula ever since the time of the Roman Empire.

With their excellent agility, site hound characteristics and small size, Italian Greyhounds made excellent vermin hunters in addition to being great companion dogs. Hunters often used them to clear farming areas of vermin in conjunction with a trained hunting Falcon.

Perhaps not as well known as their big cousins, Italian Greyhounds have been small in stature for thousands of years. What they lack in size, Iggies more than make for in heart!

Mom Never Had a Chance - Berkeley's Arrival

When my wife Lisa's little Maltese/Pekinese mix, Sammy, crossed the Rainbow Bridge, Lisa understandably missed her tiny companion. None of the family had ever seen an Italian Greyhound before a visit to PetSmart to get some dog food for our remaining two dogs.

It was "Adopt a Pet" day from a local rescue and two of the dogs up for adoption was a female Iggy with her mix puppy, a cute little male.  Everyone was fascinated with the mother and her sleek appearance.

What interested Lisa was the fact that Italian Greyhounds don't shed! They do, but an Iggy's hair is so short it is hard to see.

As time passed, the kids and I became more and more convinced Mom needed a new companion. Remembering Lisa's interest in the Italian Greyhound at PetSmart, I did some research on the breed. It sounded like a perfect fit for my wife.

The kids agreed with me and so we went through the "vetting process" to adopt an Italian Greyhound from the local Iggy Rescue. After being approved, we had to finally tell Lisa what her Christmas present would be that year. She was less than thrilled.

Things got worse as each Iggy that was brought by to see if she liked it did nothing to get her to warm up to the idea of a new little companion. Finally, with Christmas Day looming, a beautiful fawn colored male became available in the Dallas area. No problem except we live in the Greater Houston Area.

We made the drive to Dallas, spent the night in a hotel, and met with Berkeley's foster mom in her home. At this point Lisa just wanted to go back home and was willing to take Berkeley with her just to return home.

Berkeley had other plans in mind for Lisa. Taking and immediate liking to Lisa, Berkeley ran around his foster mom's house barking and taking running leaps into Lisa's lap. When pausing to catch his breath, Berkeley would "kiss" Lisa's ears, all to the delight of Berk's foster mom. She informed Lisa Berkeley had never warmed up to any other potential adopters, so if Lisa wanted to adopt him, Berkeley was all hers.

Our youngest daughter Emily was with us and just loved Berkeley's playful attitude and was all for adopting him on the spot. I just wanted to get what was seeming to become more and more of a bad idea with each passing day behind us before my wife put her foot down and said no to adopting another dog.

Lisa, mainly wanting to return home, stated if Emily liked Berkeley, we would keep him, so the deal was done.

Half-way home, with Berkeley riding in his crate, Emily announced she need to have a bathroom stop. Pulling over to a rest area, I took Emily while Lisa walked Berkeley. Upon our return, Emily and I climbed into our family van with Berkeley while Lisa used the lady's room.

Berkeley was preparing to enter phase two of his plan to snare his new Mom's heart. Refusing to go back in his crate, Berk settled down in the passenger seat to wait for Lisa's return.

None to happy to see Berkeley out of his crate as she climbed into her seat, Berkeley slipped into Lisa's lap, rolled over on his back and began to rub his cheek on my wife's chest. It took that little con artist all of three seconds for Lisa to decide Berkeley needed to be held instead of riding the rest of the way home in the crate. 

As we drove down Interstate 45, I glanced over with a little concern at my new competition I had inadvertently arranged for my wife to adopt. Berkeley was resting comfortably in Lisa's lap and glanced over in my direction and it was at that moment I realized we were in the presence of a master con artist. I will forever believe that Iggy winked at me!

Late that night, after introducing Berkeley to our two other mixed breed dogs, one of whom laid down the various laws according to Nardy, the alpha of our trio, it was time for all the weary humans, dogs and an Iggy to go to sleep.

Lisa had already announced Berkeley could sleep on the floor or in his crate. She had no intentions of allowing the rumored habit of Iggies sleeping with their humans take root. It made little difference to her that Nardy slept on the end of our bed and Angel slept under the bed, Berkeley would not have the luxury of sleeping anywhere near our bed.

It was then that Berkeley revealed his true mastery of the art of conning a human into doing what he wanted. Within two minutes of the lights being turned out, Berkeley quietly climbed on to our bed, slowly walked up to my wife, and politely tapped her twice on her shoulder. Lisa rolled over only to see Berkeley's tail vanish under the blankets as he emitted the most pathetic sound I have heard coming from a dog.

With in seconds Momma's new baby was curled up and getting hugged and petted by his helpless victim, my wife. As Lisa carefully got comfortable again, Berkeley rested comfortably with his head on her pillow, all warm and snug under the blankets. Once again that dog looked over at me, and winked, this time with a big smile on his face.

My poor wife never had a chance.

Why an Italian Greyhound (Iggy)?

Why an Italian Greyhound, also known as an Iggy? My wife and I had actually never seen one before. We had seen majestic Greyhounds, retired racers, loping around at dog parks near our home, but never an Iggy.

We stopped by the local PetSmart to pick up some dog food for our two mixes and the local animal shelter was there with some dogs up for adoption. Two of the dogs were a mother and son, a pair of Iggies. The mother was very sweet and my wife was taken with her demeanor. The boy on the other hand, well, what can you expect from an Iggy puppy!

We went home talking about how cute the little Iggies were. I was interested in learning more as my wife's long time companion dog, a tiny Maltese mix had passed away. Thinking an Iggy might be just the perfect companion, I spent some time on the internet researching Italian Greyhounds.

On the surface, the breed seemed to meet many of the requirements as a companion dog for my wife. Some of these requirements were/are:

• good companion dog
• no fur shedding (Italian Greyhounds shed but their fur is so short it is not an issue)
• good indoor dogs (that is an understatement)
• not aggressive
• fairly quiet
• tiny in size

For Christmas, after going through a long list of hoops to adopt, we came home with Berkeley. Berk, also frequently known as Poop because he can be a real Poop, certainly is a good companion dog. Berkeley loves his Momma!

Berkeley is a very typical Iggy in so many ways. 

He just is not very small like an Iggy is supposed to be. Berkeley is a giant! He weighs in at 22 lbs and towers over most Italian Greyhounds we come across. Berkeley also likes the sound of his own voice.

With the passing of another of our mixes, Nardy, the best dog I have ever had as a companion, we discussed the idea of fostering Italian Greyhounds for the rescue we adopted Berkeley from. Little did we know!

As the result of a "failed foster" we are now have another Iggy member of our family, Little Al, or Alec. Al is quite the character and like Berkeley, is a very typical Iggy in some ways, and not very typical in others.

Al was quite sick when we took him in, weighing a grand total of 5 lbs. and suffering from infected gums and several open sores that were draining. Al is a tough little guy and with a huge vet bill and lots of antibiotics, he bounced back and weighs in at a whopping 8.3 lbs these days! Berkeley and Al have been part of our family now for four years.

Berkeley and Al, along with our very patient Beagle/Border Collie mix Angel, make up our four legged family. Our three human children all love our dogs which is a good thing, considering two of them are Iggies!

I want to welcome the visitors of this site, The Everything Iggy Blog! If you are like our family, you love Italian Greyhounds, also known as IGs or Iggies! Our family includes two male Iggies, Alec, a little Iggy, all 8.5 pounds of him, and Berkeley, a Biggie Iggy, weighing in at 21 pounds! These two characters have been a constant source of amusement, fun, irritation and love. I hope all those who visit, either to learn about this quirky breed or to share your own stories and misadventures.