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Tyler`s "Gotcha" Story
Note: this is a copy of the web page that Deanna originally wrote soon after we got Tyler, our second greyhound:
Well, we weren't expecting to be "chipping" so soon (adopting another greyhound is known as "chipping" in the greyhound world- in reference to the Lay's potato chip commercial- "you can't have just one"). We figured we would adopt a brother for Wren after we returned from the huge greyhound gathering at Dewey Beach, Delaware, over Columbus Day weekend (3,000+ greys, 2,000 humans), so I submitted on on-line application to GPA-MD, the same group that brought Wren to us, the evening of Tuesday, September 30, figuring it would take them a while to find another grey for us. By Wedesday evening, we had heard from our adoption representative, telling us there was a black male in a foster home, would we like to meet him? We got in touch with the foster family and agreed to meet Tyler on Sunday, October 5 at 11:30 am.
So, we took Wren along to meet Tyler at the foster family's house in Mount Airy. The foster parents own three greys of their own, and have a fenced-in acre yard. The five greyhounds hung out together for a bit, and we had a chance to pet Tyler. He's VERY skinny. He came from a track that GPA-MD does not normally deal with, and that particular track apparently does not treat their greys very well. Tyler finished racing at the end of August, and was apparently VERY close to being put down before he was rescued at the last minute. He was tick-infested when he arrived at the beginning of September and was running a fever. The vet pulled 20 ticks off of Tyler. He was also tested for tick-born diseases, and luckily those tests came back negative. The vet gave him a general antibiotic and Tyler's fever cleared up. He's such a love, though. He loves to be petted and will lean right in for more affection. So, after hearing his story and meeting him, Brian and I decided we would take him home.
Our decision was further sealed when Wren walked up to Tyler and play-bowed to him with her tail held high and wagging. She wanted to play with Tyler. After a moment, Tyler decided he would play with Wren and they chased each other around the yard.
The foster dad thought we were taking Tyler right then, but we explained that we were attending the Dewey Beach gathering and had registered only one dog. We made arrangements with him to pick up Tyler on Monday, October 13. While Wren and Tyler were playing, he mentioned that his wife was down the road at the Mount Airy Fall Festival handling a meet and greet (greyhounds and their owners hang out and educate the public about adopting a greyhound). I was feeling very grateful to the foster family for taking cae of Tyler, so I suggested to Brian that we take Wren and hang out there for a while.
So, we went over to the festival and met the foster mom. We explained that we weren't taking Tyler until after Dewey, but she and a few other adopters there convinced us that the people at Dewey would never know if we were supposed to be there with one or two dogs. The foster dad showed up with Tyler and his three dogs. After a while, the foster dad passed Tyler's leash over to Brian. Brian and I thought we would leave, take Wren home, and call the hotel to see if we could take two greys instead of the one that we had told them. I was having too much fun, though, so I persuaded Brian to take my car home, call the hotel, then come back and pick me up in his car (large enough to fit two greys in the back seat). He did, and so I ended up with the leashes of Tyler and Wren. We had a great time meeting people, and they looked great together. They stood shoulder to shoulder a lot of the time, and sometimes Tyler would lay his head on Wren's shoulders, and other times, Wren would poke her head under Tyler's haunches. One time, she poked her head far enough so that the middle of her back was under his belly. I was laughing and trying to figure out how to untangle them so we could get out of the way of the little kiddie train that was driving around. Brian showed up a few minutes before the end of the festival, telling me that the hotel was thrilled to have two greys coming with us. So, we took Tyler home.
They've been great together. Some minor growling over stuffy toys, and Wren wants Tyler to play inside, so she barks. Loudly. I muzzled them when I couldn't watch them closely, just for safety's sake. Wren plays rough. So now we start the adventure of two greys!