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When our little baby girl
Jackie left us for the bridge May 26th, 2007, we were literally
devastated. Jackie was our rock and our alpha among our small pack
of Greyhounds. She was also the glue between Heisman and Ashley,
too. Heisman and Ashley were just as devastated as we were.
Heisman fell into a depression and Ashley was close behind him.
Most Greyhound people know that Greyhounds are sensitive and when we
lose one, the others mourn deeply. I cried for days because I
missed Jackie's presence. I wanted to get back into our normal
routine but just didn't seem to have the motivation to do so any more.
Jackie had been my inspiration for 7 long years and when she died in my
arms, so did my inspiration and my heart, too.
A few days later, out of the blue, a friend emailed me one
day about something totally unrelated to Greyhounds. It was also
that day a small, strong voice kept entering my head telling me that we
needed to adopt again. I tried to ignore it but that voice was
persistent so I finally gave in. I knew that voice was Jackie's
voice. I told my friend via email that I lost Jackie and we were
planning on adopting again but just didn't know when yet. She sent
an email back with a link and a short message stating *no pressure but
this little girl keeps getting overlooked*. My wise and dear
friend (Kelly Graham with Golden Years Senior Greyhounds) knew I always
try to adopt the kids that have been overlooked for some reason or
another and I also had experience with special needs kids, too.
Before I knew it, I had clicked on the link and came face to
face with a little special needs girl named LuLu. Once I read her
story, I called the entire family in to look. When I say the
*entire* family, I also mean Heisman and Ashley, too. We feel
adopting a Greyhound is a family thing. Every one was in
agreement. LuLu was the one for us. Before I even finished filling
out the application, I got a couple of phone calls stating if I wanted
LuLu - she was mine.
Now, LuLu had a rough year in 2006. She had been racing
at the Birmingham track in Alabama and her last race recorded was August
6, 2006. Race name Solitary Lou, call name Lou or LuLu as a
nickname. She was racing grade D but she won her last race!
Then she disappeared. No one knew exactly what happened to LuLu.
After being on the run and trying to survive for a few months
on her own, LuLu was found in December, 2006 in southern Alabama near
death. She was still wearing her muzzle, weighed only 46 lbs,
severely emaciated, her digestive system shut down and she had barbed
wire wrapped around her leg. She was rushed to Walking on the Moon
Animal hospital for medical treatment where she was treated for a severe
staph infection caused by the barbed wire. She was in very
critical condition. The veterinary staff didn't think she was
going to make it. Somehow, LuLu found her inner strength and will
to live. She rallied back improving each day.
After a few months of care in Alabama, she was transferred to
NorthCoast Greyhound Connection adoption group in Cincinnati, Ohio where
her new foster mom discovered some additional medical problems.
LuLu had a hip fracture that was a few months old, never treated and it
healed wrong.
After the group contacted Dr. Couto at Ohio State, he
reviewed LuLu's exrays. Based on his opinion, LuLu would not
benefit from hip replacement surgery because of how old the fracture
was. So, LuLu became a special needs kid at the age of 4 1/2 in
March, 2007.
After being passed over probably because of her medical
background, hope for a forever home was beginning to fade for LuLu.
She is a sweet, loving, affectionate girl who loves kids and enjoys toys
but her foster mom could not adopt her. It seemed no one else
wanted to adopt her either. Well, that is until our family came
along. We didn't mind adopting a little girl with a *hitch in her
get along* at all - especially with all the kisses she so freely gives
every day. It's almost like she's saying thanks for loving me and
giving me my forever home.
So to make a long story short for LuLu, she arrived in Kansas
City, Saturday June 16th, 2007 by means of a private GUR by some
wonderful, Greyhound loving people! (Thanks Susan, Tom, Marilyn
and Kim!) We anticipated her arrival with greyt happiness and
excitement! We know LuLu will never replace Jackie but she will
help heal our hearts and in turn, she will receive the love of family
from us. We welcomed her with open arms.
Now, LuLu is fast
becoming a star of her own by being the little black, crazy Greyhound
that does some of the most outrageous things! Since she loves
making people laugh, her mom decided to write a book about her titled "LuLu
- Perfectly UnHiNgEd". She now has her own fan following and
everyone loves to hear about what LuLu does next - like playing soccer
with a live snapping turtle!
Thanks to Jackie for nudging us and keeping the circle of
Greyhound love going in our household. Jackie taught us that we
will never be without a Greyhound in our home. Jackie will be
forever in our hearts and LuLu will hold a special place in our heart,
too, just like all of our adopted Greyhounds before her.
Welcome LuLu and here's kisses to you, too! You sure do
live up to your name crazy girl but please don't breathe heavy and then
bark in my ear at 5:30am ok?
LuLu's Pedigree on Greyhound Data
Are you a fan of LuLu's stories and
adventures? Join us and become a member of
LuLu's World!
UPDATE: If you are interested in
LuLu's Behavioral Evaluation Report from March 2010, please feel free to
contact us.
Its VERY interesting!
LuLu's books about her life can be found
in our online book store:
Books by Greyhound Affair
"LuLu - Slightly UnHiNgEd" is still
available in print
"LuLu - Perfectly ImBaLaNcEd"
ON SALE NOW!
LuLu's online photo album
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