Rene's Big Day Out

Saturday was the Friends of Retired Greyhounds walk at a really nice, big park in Thornton. It was a fundraising walk, as well as an opportunity for people in the FORG circle, and those wanting to adopt a Grey, to get together. When we got out of the car, Rene sensed this day was for her. She was so excited to see what was ahead…the pavilion with all the people and especially the dogs, most of whom looked like her. In what would have been an all out anxiety fest if we were to have done this a month ago, my girl couldn't wait to see friends, new and old. She saw one Grey with whom she was in the cell dog program. That Grey's owner told me it was between his dog and Rene, and he chose his. I told him too bad for him! That Rene is awesome and he agreed she has come a long way since her days fresh off the track.

The walk was two laps around a lake. We were at the beginning of the line. As we fell back to walk with our new friend Barbara and her Grey Ellie, Rene started to jump, and pull, and hop because she was probably wondering why we didn't stay at the front of the line! She was hilarious, and had so much energy. We probably could have run the entire race!

When the race was over, Rene headed straight into one of the baby pools filled with water. She walked right in, took a few sips, and then plopped right down. Wait…Grey's aren't water dogs!

We met Amanda, and Lee, both FORG leadership that have been really supportive of me and Rene. We saw our mentor Lisa, and visited with new friends, such as Barbara and Ellie. Funny story about them…On our first Petsmart trip, we met Barbara who was going to be adopting a new dog through a different adoption program. We talked, and I told her about Rene, and FORG, and the foster/adoption process…lo and behold, Barbara ended up with Ellie that week, a beautiful white Greyhound whose original racing name was Angel Fire.

Ellie (AKA Angel Fire…In the purple scarf)

Rene let people pet her, she went up to dogs, she wasn't scared of random noises or getting caught in a tangle of leashes!

As thing were winding down, she let me know she wanted to come home and snooze on her beloved couch. We did, and she rested up all afternoon and evening. She was one happy girl at the end of her day for sure, and I am really looking forward to other FORG events for both of us to meet new friends and just have a good, happy time!