Greyhound Gotcha Day

Gotcha Day--- Year Seven

Seven years ago I planned this event carefully.

I’d pick him up after work, before the Memorial Day weekend, so we could have extra time for him to get acclimated to his new house and father. After a long goodbye with his foster family, on May 24, 2012 Tiger Jack Burke and I were on our way home.

Home is something greyhounds don't really have until they can lay on the couch, run off with shoes, dig in the yard, destroy squeaky toys, get smothered with hugs and kisses only to fart at totally the wrong time and be laughed at instead of scolded.

It’s not a real home until your “person gets you a nice bed, lets you sleep in theirs, ” And (against their better judgment) buys you more squeaky toys.

Everything in your life changes when they tell you the arrangement is permanent--- as in “you’ve run your last race: and “there will be no more bouncing around.”

Though they may not understand the words coming from our mouths, greyhounds eventually understand the new routine is for real. They accept the affection and the two way trust takes over and BOOM! There is love. It’s an unbreakable bond that is so strong we can’t imagine life without them.

I didn’t think I was ready for a dog and even if I was, what kind of dog would it be? I loved my Golden Retriever, Sparky, with all my heart. He passed in 2006 and was so popular, a news story about his passing was on the local six o’clock news throughout Detroit.

But in the spring of 2012 my heart had an unexpected growth spurt---suddenly the empty void of loss, longed to be full again and voila! There was now room inside each of our hearts for a mutual expansion. Just like jockeying for position in a race, Tiger Jack Burke found the pathway off the track and landed in my heart.

It’s been seven hilarious years with this guy. Six and a half have been with his better half, Needa Lou. But this day is about him. His five o’clock shadow has lightened, but has not gone grey.

He will be 12 in November and has shown no signs of slowing down. He still leaps 3 feet into the air to catch balls, walks two miles a day and he still rests his head on my lap as we watch TV. We celebrated with a nice dinner of succulent chicken breast and warm kibble.

Happy Gotcha Day Jack!

Happy Birthday Tiger Jack Burke

Happy Birthday to Tiger Jack Burke

Tiger Jack Burke was whelped on November 6, 2007 to his proud mother “Heathers Fastball” and his father “Moose is Loose.” He spent his youth growing long legs and preparing to sprint at 45 miles an hour after a mechanical bunny while living at the Greyhound track in Jacksonville, Florida. He ran in a lot of races until an injury (broken front left toe) forced him to retire.

With his career cut short of expectations, he was shipped to Michigan to be with his owner, Jackie Nevison in Hillsdale, MI. He and his pushy sister Lady Wolverine stayed with her for close to a year until Jackie (85 years old) felt she could no longer take care of him.

She contacted www.Greyheart.org and Jack was moved to a foster home in Macomb, MI. He was four years old; about a year out of racing and was being sent to a place he didn’t know, with a family he didn’t know, but they loved him as they fostered him and he learned to become a dog.

Jack loved his foster home and his foster family (the Priors, who have fostered dozens of greyhounds) But six months later he had not been placed in a forever home like all the others who came to Greyhart at the same time and was either being stuck with the stigma of being ‘older” or just not well adjusted to living in a house. Six months was a long time to go un-adpoted and some wondered why nobody wanted him, but I did.

He came to my home to visit with his foster parents, Scott and Shelia. It was warm outside and when he entered he ignored the bowl of water I offered in favor of the open toilet. It was the first time I spoke his name in his presence when I said: “Jack, get outtta there!” He left the toilet bowl and has never had an urge to go back.

We went outside and he checking things out and relieved himself with one of those marathon Tom Hanks, League of Their Own pisses (if you’ve seen the movie, you’ll understand.) It ruined some beautiful lilies, but a short while later he began to warm up to me, but had to leave with his foster parents. I told them I had to think about whether or not I wanted him but it was a lie. My mind was already made up. A few days later we began sharing a home.

Today Tiger Jack Burke, a greyhound named after a popular wrestler from Michigan n the 1920’s is six years old; or about 42 in dog years. He’s in such great shape he could play a dog half his age in a movie.

Part of that reason is his life partner Anita Wood, aka Needa. The anniversary of their first meeting is tomorrow. It came after she was shipped via the 28 hour express from Florida to Michigan. She had barely settled into her foster home when I got a call. . .yada yada yada. . .4 days later she had found her forever home too.

I cannot imagine life without either one of them. Today is his special day; one he will never know or understand, yet every day we are together, is special.

So raise your glass and toast with us. Here’s to another 10 years together Tiger Jack Burke; hoping we set a new record in the stretch of life for a greyhound.

Love, Dad