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We all know that
Greyhounds are special. I haven't ran into a Greyhound that
wasn't. They all tell their own story in some way including
Heisman.
When we adopted Heisman at almost age 6, there was something
different about him. He was VERY human friendly especially if the
human was of miniature child size. Human babies and children in
Heisman's eyes are the best thing that's happened since treats and ear
scritches! Everywhere we took Heisman, he attracted people like a
huge magnet and he let the public know just how incredible Greyhounds
are!
One day, while we were at PETCO promoting GREYHOUND PLANET, a
lady walked up to our table. She stated she normally had a fear of
large dogs - especially those that were black but as she watched Heisman
interact with small children in the store, her fear began to melt.
Right then and there, I knew Heisman had a special talent. His
talent was that of being a greyt public relations dog for Greyhounds
showing almost all the fantastic aspects of being a Greyhound.
Over the next few months, my health started to decline.
I could no longer hold a paint brush or a pencil still enough to paint
or draw but the burning desire to help Greyhounds was still there.
It took awhile but after refining several drawings the best I
could, Heisman's first design was born titled *Luv Missin' In Yur Life?*
Modeled after the innocent love that Heisman has for children with that
*child like* look, we started a simple store on Cafepress.
Customers started asking for more and more is what we gave them.
Now, as you see the store today, it's evolved from one simple
design created in the image of Heisman to humorous creations to serious
images promoting Greyhound Adoption. All of our proceeds goes
toward helping foster Greyhounds who have serious medical needs in
various adoption groups. Why did we choose to help those who have
serious medical needs? Because those hounds might be overlooked
for adoption unless they are healthier. Medical care for those
*special needs* hounds puts a financial strain on adoption groups.
Most groups struggle daily in order to meet their financial
responsibility to care for them. They either run in the red most
of the time or have ongoing vet bills that seem to never end - only
mount up. Sometimes, the adoption fee doesn't even begin to cover
the vet bill for a single hound - let alone the many Greyhounds who
depend on that group for help.
So Heisman and I decided to help those with serious medical
needs. After all, Heisman was a *Special Needs* hound himself
after being diagnosed with Intervertebral Disk Disease (aka Wobbler's
Disease) so it all hit very close to home. The risk he ran daily
was being totally paralyzed from the shoulders to his hind end area if
he was not careful. He took daily medications to help ease the
pressure off of the spinal cord nerve. His activity level was
monitored on a daily basis, too. He turned 12 May 7, 2007 - but he
acted and moved like a hound that was much older. Yet it did not
break his spirit of helping other Greyhounds out there that needed help.
Sadly, on October 1, 2007, the Wobbler's took it's toll on
Heisman impairing his mobility to the point to where he could no longer
stand without collapsing. To preserve his dignity and to end the
suffering he endured during the 3 1/2 years of having Wobbler's, Heisman
was assisted to the bridge while being held in his mother's loving arms
and surrounded by family.
Heisman was 12 1/2 and
left behind a legacy that will never be forgotten by the many people and
hounds he touched over the years. Heisman's Greyhound Art store
will continue on serving the many special needs hounds out there in his
memory because that's what Heisman would have wanted.
We hope you enjoyed our little story of how Heisman's
Greyhound Art got started. We want to thank all of our customers
for helping us make the store into what it is today. Thank you for
helping the many Greyhounds out there that have serious and special
medical needs so they may have a good chance at finding their forever
loving home, too. We sincerely appreciate your continued support
through your purchases because it all put a big huge smile on Heisman's
face to know his fellow Greyhounds will get the medical care they so
deserve. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. |
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manipulated in any way. If you have questions or concerns about any of
the contents on this website, please feel free to contact us. Website
created and maintained by
Jacquelyn Grace |
