The 10th Annual Greyhound Gathering in Kanab, Utah on May 15-17, 2009 was a very successful event coordinated by Claudia Presto of the Greyhound Gang www.greyhoundgang.org in order to support a very worthy cause, the work of Dr. Heather Weir of Almost Home for Greyhounds in Nunn Colorado www.almosthomeforgreyhounds.org.
The event brought Greyhound and Galgo lovers together from all over the country. Some came as far as Michigan and Canada, but those that came from the farthest reaches of the world were the Greyhounds and Galgos themselves!
Represented in Kanab were five lucky Greyhounds who traveled from the U.S. Territory of Guam as part of an international rescue that has ultimately saved over 100 Greyhounds. These five greys landed in Los Angeles weeks before, were housed by Homestretch Greyhounds in Fillmore California were then GUR�d (driven) to Yuma and GUR�d again to Kanab by Don and Suzanne Stack in their nice new motor home. Once in Kanab their trip would continue as their final destination was Calgary Canada, being GUR�d once again by Chinook Winds Greyhound Rescue Team of Leah Meeuwissen and Cindy Montgomery. Before the next leg of their trip they rested three days in Kanab and arrived ready to party as this was their first �celebration� of greyhounds they had ever attended! They all loved the picnic and enjoyed the shady spot and grass and blankets to lay on and all the attention and love and pets they received all afternoon. Lonesome Billy stood out as the clown of the group and had all of us laughing at his antics!
Adding to these international �celebs� was another special little Galga from Spain named Kala. Her trip began March 30th from Scooby Medina in Spain, fostered in Colorado for six weeks by Keiko Krahnke to learn all the ropes of living in a home, GUR�d from Colorado to Kanab by Gary Shapiro and fostered in Kanab by Telma and Mike Shaw. This little girl captured all our hearts on her way to her forever home. She did amazingly well for all her travels and loved to wag her tail and get belly rubs throughout her adventure. The day of departure to Canada arrived and she joined her five Guamanian companions for the trip up North. It was a bitter sweet good bye to the gentle but spunky little Galga girl. As reported all six did wonderful on their last leg of the trip to Canada even though the temperatures fluctuated from 90 degrees in Kanab to 40 degrees as they got close to their destination. Leah and Cindy made sure they wore their coats on their stopover in Montana and made nice soft beds for them in the hauler to snuggle in.
Kala had her forever home waiting for her and is now enjoying life as a loved companion in British Columbia. Lonesome Billy has also been adopted and it won�t be long before all the rest have their forever homes.
Kanab has become a wonderful destination for all those who join in this gathering which included includes the opportunity to visit Best Friends Animal Sanctuary the largest no kill animal sanctuary in the U.S. Many attendees took advantage of the tours of this amazing shelter nestled in the beautiful red canyons of Kanab. Everyone also enjoyed all the activities such as hiking the Pugh Canyon, the Main Street Greyhound Costume Parade, Blur of Fur, Picnics, Yappy Hour and lots of shopping with the Vendors and the auctions.
GRIN was happy to have a booth to raise awareness of the plight of the Galgos and to raise money for the support of the shelters in Spain. It was great meeting new friends and seeing old friends both two legged as well as four which included seven Galgos (Amistad, Aluna, Harry, Inigo, Alitas, Maggie and Kala) who made it to Kanab this year!! Hope to see you all next year!
Telma Shaw
Board Member
G.R.I.N.
www.galgorescue.org
PARADE ON MAINSTREET KANAB:
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