Season's Greetings From the Willamette Valley Greyhound Lovers!

Have a happy and safe Holiday Season!

'Tis The Season: Poinsettias and Mushrooms

Oregon has entered its rainy season, and with it, mushroom season. Mushroom toxicity does occur in dogs and it can be fatal if certain species of mushrooms are eaten. Amanita phalloides is the most commonly reported severely toxic species of mushroom in the US but other Amanita species are toxic. Symptoms include abdominal pain, drooling, liver damage, kidney damage, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, coma, death. For more on the dangers of mushrooms, click here.

Additionally, we have entered the Christmas season. Many folks traditionally bring Poinsettia plants into their homes. These plants are probably the most popular holiday plant and are easily recognizable by their large red, white, pink, or mottled leaves. While not highly toxic, Poinsettia plants do contain a thick, milky irritant sap. In general, it would take ingestion of a large amount of this plant to see possible clinical signs in your pet. Signs could include vomiting, anorexia and depression. The symptoms are generally self-limiting and treatment is rarely needed. Your Vet may recommend limiting food and water intake for 1 or 2 hours if your pet is suspected of becoming sick after ingestion of Poinsettias. Please exercise caution if bringing a Poinsettia plant into your home this holiday season.

December Issue Of 'Greyt Happenings In The Willamette Valley'

Click here for the December issue. Enjoy!

GPA-NW Meet A Retired Racer Adoption Event - Sat, Dec. 19 - Corvallis, OR

Here's your chance to get up close and personal with a retired racing Greyhound!

Representatives from the Northwest Chapter of Greyhound Pets of America will be at the Corvallis Petco in the Timberhill Shopping Center on Saturday, December 19th from 11AM to 2PM.

We'll have some "display models" (Tom, Stoker, Cassi, Sky, Seti and the rest of the gang) for you to interact with, as well as an adoptable Greyhound or two.

Come join in the fun and frivolity! See you there!

Need directions? Click here.

Photos from Alton Baker Greyhound Walk

Thanks to all who attended! Stay tuned for the date of the next Greyhound walk.

November Greyhound Walk is Sunday, November 15th - Alton Baker Park, Eugene

The November Greyhound Walk will be Sunday, Nov. 15th. We will meet at Alton Baker Park (in the parking lot next to the "duck" pond and the restrooms) at 1:30 pm. If it’s rainy we’ll be able to stay on the hard surface walkways.

See you there!

GPA-NW Meet A Retired Racer Adoption Event - Sat, Nov. 21 - Corvallis, OR

NOTE: This event was originally scheduled for November 14th.

Representatives from the Northwest Chapter of Greyhound Pets of America will be at the Corvallis Petco on November 21st from 11AM to 1PM. They'll be quite a few "display models" hanging around, as well as an adoptable Greyhound or two.

Come meet the hounds!

Click here for more information.

Click here for directions.

Fenced Dog Park Opens In Corvallis

Corvallis finally gets a fenced dog park! An adjacent fenced area for small dogs is not far behind.

Grand Opening festivities were held Sunday, November 1st. For the complete story, click here.

November Issue of 'Greyt Happenings In The Willamette Valley'

Here is the November issue. Enjoy!

Grand Opening of Corvallis' Fenced Off-Leash Dog Park!

Calling all dogs! Corvallis Parks & Recreation will be hosting the Grand Opening of our first fenced off-leash dog park. The park doesn't have a name yet, but it does have room for your dog to safely intermingle with the other happy mutts. Come help us break in the new park with a big-time dog party. Animal Crackers, Petco and Heartland Humane Society will be bringing the treats so all you need to bring is your canine best friend. The Grand Opening is Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 2 p.m., at the south end of Riverfront Park next to the Eric Scott McKinley Skate Park.

For more details, call Park Planner Jackie Rochefort at 766-6468.

Meet Danny......Television Addict

So today Danny arrived as a short-term foster. He's 3 1/2 years old, right off the farm with all of the right-off-the-farm issues: housebreaking, leash-training, windows....you get the picture. A real work-in-progress that will pay off in the long run. He's a cool guy...very playful. He gets along well with my other Greys.

But here's the thing: he's a television addict. I turned the television on and that was that. He didn't move from his spot in front of the television for a half an hour.

So....anyone looking for a playful, slightly rambunctious, affectionate male Greyhound who will enjoy an evening spent in front of the TV?

Greyhound Walk at Mt. Pisgah

Thanks to all who attended! 15 greys and a whippet (and their people, of course) strolled through the Mt. Pisgah grounds on a greyt day for a Greyhound gathering!

October Greyhound Walk: Sunday, October 18th at Mt. Pisgah in Eugene

Join the Willamette Valley Greyhound Lovers at 1:30 on October 18 in the parking lot at Mt. Pisgah Arboretum in Eugene. There is a $2 parking fee (unless you have a pass - like an all-Lane Co. pass). We can walk along the river and stay down in the trees and maybe go up on the slope slightly but avoid the nasty gravel trails that go up to the peak.

For information on the Mt. Pisgah area, including directions, click here.

This promises to be a fun outing, and Mt. Pisgah is a greyt place for strolling with your Greyhound!

See you there!

October issue of 'Greyt Happenings in the Willamette Valley' newsletter.

Here is the October issue. Featured story this month is about your Greyhound and Halloween. Enjoy!

"Dog Day" at Osbourn Aquatic Center in Corvallis

Does your Greyhound love water? This is your dog's chance to play in the pool! Saturday, October 3rd, friendly dogs are welcomed to enjoy the outdoor pools of Otter Beach at the Osbourn Aquatic Center in Corvallis, before the pools are drained for winter cleaning. The staff provides lots of tennis balls, frisbees, and floats for your water-loving dog to fetch. Sorry, no human swimming allowed; this event is just for the dogs! Select from three sessions throughout the day. Tickets for this popular event, which also benefits Heartland Humane Society, go on sale one month in advance.

•The next Dog Day is scheduled for October 3, 2009

◦Session 1: 10 am - 11:30 am
◦Session 2: 12 pm - 1:30 pm
◦Session 3: 2 pm - 3:30 pm

•Cost: $5 per dog, per session.

•Call (541) 766-7946 for more information.

•The Osbourn Aquatic Center is located at 1940 NW Highland Dr in Corvallis.

For directions, click here.

WVGL Greyhound Walk in Corvallis!

Thanks to all who participated! It was a gorgeous day for a stroll through the Kendall Natural Area and Willamette Park. More than one of the disc golfers in Willamette Park wanted to know if there was a Greyhound convention in town :) A GREYT time was had by all!

The next WVGL walk is tentatively scheduled for October 18th at Mt. Pisgah in Eugene. Check back for more info.

Greytalk - A Forum For Greyhound Lovers

GREYTALK is a valuable forum, linking Greyhound people from around the world with other Greyhound people. Discuss Greyhound-related topics such as health/medical issues, food/dietary issues and training/behavior issues. Have a question? Trust me, you'll find an answer on Greytalk! But remember, your VET is always your best source for health-related issues. Still, Greytalk is a valuable resource and a greyt way to correspond with other Greyhound folks.

Check Greytalk out here.

GPA-NW Meet A Retired Racer Adoption Event - Sat, Sept. 19 - Eugene, OR

Saturday September 19th the Northwest Chapter of Greyhound Pets of America will host a Meet A Retired Racer event at the Oakway Center Courtyard in Eugene. Please come with your greyhound and talk with people about how greyt it is to be owned by one of these marvelous dogs! We will be there from 11 AM until 2 PM so feel free to come any time and stay as long as you like. We will not be having any adoptable dogs but with our greys there people will be able to pet them and see how laid back they are.

Need map/directions? Click here.

See you there!

September issue of 'Greyt Happenings in the Willamette Valley' newsletter

Here it is! Enjoy!

NOTE: The October 24th Corvallis adoption event has been cancelled.

Corvallis Greyhound Walk on September 27th!

Please join us on Sunday, Sept. 27th at Crystal Lake Park for our monthly greyhound walk. Plan to meet at 1:30 in the parking lot at the park. The walk will be approximately 1 1/2 miles looping through the Kendall Natural Area, into Willamette Park and returning to the parking area.

Need directions/map? Click here. (This map will get you to the entrance to the Crystal Lake sports complex.)

See you there!