Storm

(Dob 4/28/94-10/22/03)

Storm is of NGA greyhound lines, but, as were all three of my original greyhounds, he was what can be considered as a throw-away pup.  His 9 yr. old mother was given to a rescue group when she was somewhere around 4 wks pregnant, which neither the breeder nor us knew, and about 15-20 lb. underweight.  April 28, 94, a litter of 4 pups was thrown, 2 of which died, and I held my first greyhound when he was 15 minutes old.  I don't know if that early handling did it, but he's definitely a momma's boy, and a stern look will send him crawling, literally, to my feet.  A fawn brindle, he is about 70 lb. of goofy maleness.  We don't know if his mother's situation did it, but both he and his brother Tigger, are somewhat slow compared to other greyhounds, leading us to believe they are mentally handicapped. Doesn't matter, with enough love and repetition,  he can learn anything, it just takes him longer. Why is he a throw-away pup?  Because his daddy was jumping 6 ft fences at the "kennel", and so was just a gigolo.  Unregisterable pups aren't a good commodity.  

7/5/98-After a long time of trying to make him work, and knowing he couldn't go back to the rescue group I got him from (Irresponsible rescues are just as much a problem as irresponsible breeders. There needs to be stronger enforcement of rescues, so that embezzlement of money for personal things doesn't happen, and people who use it as a way to boost their Egos shouldn't be in it), I decided to place him. Storm is a special needs dog, and needs a special home, which the rescue group I got him from wouldn't've given him. Seeing the type of home his brother went into, and other relatives, I tried to make it work for 4 yrs, and when what seemed like the perfect home came around, I decided to place him.  It was a hard decision to make, because despite the problems we had meshing, I do love the boy. I just wasn't the right home for him.  He needed a home with fewer dogs, and kids to adore, which is where I placed him. He definitely seems happier there.

4/02-Sadly, Storm was abandoned due to a divorce, and is currently looking for a new home. Despite promises that she'd keep him no matter what, and if she moved he'd come with her, she left him behind where he was neglected to become 20 lbs overweight.

10/22/03 His new Mom, the lady who rescued him from his poor former home, emailed me today to tell me this sweet Goofy boy was put down due to Spinal cancer :( RIP Stormy. . .

On a side note, we took 65 dogs from that breeder in a seizure 4 days after he was born.  They were all so malnourished it wasn't funny, some to the point of not being able to walk.  This breeder was one of the bad apples of the industry, and can not own another dog, of any breed, by order of the court, and NGA banned him from breeding/owning/racing a greyhound again.  Not all breeders are that way, as you will see, but there are a few, and those few, like this guy, are the ones who get the publicity.

Storm, when he was 4 wks old. I had the pleasure of fostering him, his mother and his brother until they were 8 wks old, so he is a LITTLE spoiled. I held this little bugger when he was FIFTEEN minutes old.

This is Stormy modeling  for us. Storm is truly a miracle child. His mother was so malnutritioned during his pregnancy due to his dam's age and condition. By the time the pups were 2 wks old, we were having to force 1X1, his mom, to lay with the pups in order for him and Tigger to feed. She went through a door when they were 5 wks old because she'd had enough.  

 If you look closely at this picture, you can see Poppy, his chihuahua (black and tan) buddy right next to his mouth. Storm loved visiting this house, and has become one of the most socialized dogs I've ever seen due to the exposure he had there. He played with Chi puppies, basset pups, and was left alone with hamsters, a rat, an iguana, guinea pigs, an injured goose (not my idea, the owner had faith in him) and a litter of 6 wk old chihuahuas. Other than knocking the garbage over, he didn't do a thing to anyone. He truly is an enigma to the greyhound breed. You can see his kind temperament in his eyes in this picture, but don't let that innocence fool ya. :) Both pictures were taken when he was 11 months or so old.