In Memoriam

May 16, 2015 On Friday, May 15, 2015, my beloved Finn (Grey's Litefinger - Grey's Liberty out of Blazing Desire) went over The Rainbow Bridge. Our "gotcha day" was 3/19/2004. We had 11 incredible years together, and to the end he was still the most handsome boy and aside from slight weight loss, still in great physical condition. I am broken hearted but he was truly a very good boy who loved people and just wanted to be touched and loved in return. He was 14 years and 8 months old. I will miss him greatly..

March 5, 2015 Celebrating and remembering Strider, who was born Ditto Reality to Evening Memory and Meon Range. Strider preferred lounging to running, Freshly baked chicken to dog food, And the sofa to the floor. He once ran away for a jaunt down Old Lancaster Road, And then he came home. He comforted many clients with warm, soft hugs. He was strong & broad & handsome. He often had terrible breath. And even for a greyhound, he had an enormous heart. He was a good, good friend. Strider, September, 2002 to January 19, 2015

July 13, 2014 On July 9,2014 early in the morning our Beaker(Craigie's U Sir) went to the Rainbow Bridge. We had him for almost nine years and he had turned thirteen on March 27th. He was named Beaker for the length of his nose, known also as "The Beak" and our Vet called him "The Chemist". Beaker was fine with thunderstorms or fireworks but if a grocery bag was on the table or the ceiling fan was turned on or a piece of furniture was out of place he was petrified. Then he was known as "Freaky Beaky". He was a great mother hen, showing the ropes to the numerous fosters we had over the years, sharing his pillow with fosters and the other smaller canines who we've had over the years. The latest one for him to mother has been out daughter's 3 month old Potcake from the islands of Turks and Caicos. Calypso would lie on his pillow or lie on Beaker since she arrived on 6/14 and give Beaker's ears and face a daily bath. He never attempted stairs and never got on furniture. His place was on his pillow in front of the TV set. Beak was so timid that he would never go beyond the family room or greet anyone at the door. The person had to come to him, He was a totally different hound out in the yard, loved to run up until several months ago and loved snow. The past year had seen a decline in his health. but no definitive diagnosis. Around 11:30 on the night of July 8th he had a stroke and we took him to be put down. We will miss our gentle giant and it will be the first time since 1999 that the Yob household does not have a Greyhound in residence. We hope to adopt another one but have to wait until we get through the puppy hood stages of the Potcake. RIP Beaky

February 9, 2014 On February 1 we had to let go of our big, goofy guy, Toby(Hallo Mon Amour). He had turned twelve on 1/6. Toby entered our hearts and home a little less than two and a half years ago after having lived in NY for seven years. When he moved in he arrived with five bags of his "stuff" including a Boston Red Sox blanket but we like to think he was cheering for the NY Mets. He certainly saw them enough from his vantage point on the couch! For the time he was here he loved to chase our neighbor's beagle up and down our fence line. The neighbor 's Vet wanted to know how their beagle was in such good shape, they gave that credit to Toby. Due to arthritis and age Toby was slowing down a bit and we noticed he was ignoring the beagle but a few days before the first he was running around the yard with Beaker and Tara Knowles(our foster). Friday he could not put any weight on his right front leg and there was no good news from the Vet. So now he is at the Rainbow Bridge with Oreo, Wonder. Sandy, Minnie and Pixie(IG) and I wonder how many beagles he is running with. Barbara, Barry and Krista Yob

February 21, 2013 This morning we had our beloved twelve year old Minnie-Moo(BB's Dry Hand) put down. This past month she had a stroke and then started with kidney problems and yesterday was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma which also took her littermate Sandy(BB's Even-handed) several years ago who left a big hole in our hearts when he died. We were fortunate that Minnie had always been healthy for the past nine years in our home up until these events. She was the Queen of the couch and when we adopted Toby a year and a half ago she let him know who was boss and he has the scars on his legs to prove that she ruled! Minnie would come upstairs to me on occasion and thinking that she had to go out I would head downstairs to discover that she wanted me to boot Toby off the couch! When we sat on the couch with her she would automatically flip over on her back with one front leg up in the air like a flagpole and as she had her belly rubbed the front leg would lower a bit and if we stopped rubbing that leg shot right back up to flagpole position. If we paid too much attention to her brothers Beaker or Toby we would hear "air snaps" coming from the end of the couch. I guess Minnie was only slightly spoiled. Barry, Krista and Beaker were with Minnie this morning. Today was the 9th anniversary of Minnie coming into our home and our hearts and so sad that she had to leave on this anniversary. Barbara Yob and family

July 21, 2013 With great sorrow I have to tell of the passing of our boy Sunny, AKA Misleading Note. Sunny came into our lives in September of 2000, and we had almost 13 years with him before his passing last week. At 15 years young, I guess we knew Sunny wouldn't be around much longer, but it's still hard for us to accept his not being around. As I walk around the house and see things that belong to him, I tear up all over again. Sunny was a real blessing to us and we never regretted bringing him into our home and our lives. A big thank you to Make Peace for rescuing him and matching him up to us, to Marc and Susan Dralus for fostering him and babysitting him so many times over the years, and to all of you who have in one way or another touched our lives.

February 26, 2013 I said goodbye to one of the most gentle, sweet, intelligent, faithful devoted friends I ever had! My beautiful Greyhound Rayne passed away yesterday. We rescued her in 2003 when she was 3, and we had the privilege of having her as part of the family for 10 years. We have many happy memories of taking her to the farm with us and being outside with the horses. Rayne loved to follow us around as we rode, and drove the cart. She was a gentle friend to our house cats, and even when we introduced our little kitten, Rayne was as gentle as a mother hen. We are still stunned that she is gone, she was so full of life up to the very end. I am thankful that she went quickly without much suffering. Up until the morning of her passing, she was very happy and full of life and had no health issues for a dog of her age. She passed away at home with family around her. We will all miss her tremendously! Thank you Rayne for being such a wonderful companion, and true and faithful friend.

October 13, 2012 On January 31 of this year our sweet, wonderful Bogie passed away, the victim of a very swift and undiagnosed disease. Just a few days before, he was chasing Cricket, our male Iggie, around the yard in good fun. But, two days later, in a flash, we knew that the end was at hand. His hind legs just weren't working as they should have. We had been there before, and knew that no medical intervention or hopes and prayers would intercede. Bogie was a truly special fellow. We had just lost Dobbs, our first, and Donnie, an old foster who had never realized life in the free world until then, to cancer, two weeks apart back in 2002. What else does one do but to ask Cynthia for another Grey to foster, one who would hopefully respect our little Iggies. So along came Bogie several weeks later. On to the abridged story of Bogie. The first time we met Bogie (track name - Tattoo 'Em, track moniker - Bogart, after Humphrey, one of a very few great actors of our age) was in Cynthia's back yard. He was one of those "shy" Greys, or so we thought. Bogie, after four months of fostering, turned out to be a pretty serious case. He spent the first month in his crate, refusing to come out unless he had to relieve himself in the yard or maybe to spend a short bit of time breathing fresh air. In time he improved, and would even walk in the neighborhood, if he was ensconced in a pack of fosters / dog-sit Greys. It all changed in 2006 when we finally realized our dream and moved west. Bogie traveled west like a pro and his life improved dramatically when he settled in western Colorado, away from the noise of the crowded eastern suburbs. Not completely, as he could always detect a cow fart in Utah or Wyoming and be sent scurrying into the closet, but his last five years were his best, the age when he finally realized that being a canine can be great fun. Canyons, mesas, plateaus, alpine lakes to wade and sip, local dog runs, Bogie enjoyed them all, and bless his spirit and his ability to overcome his fears and to welcome all newcomers. Bogie, you worked yourself into a very special place into our hearts, we miss you awfully, but take solace in knowing that we'll probably meet again in those crowded celestial skies whenever fate dictates that the time is now. Till that time we miss your being here with us.

August 12, 2012 This weekend we lost our Annie. Racing name SNB Little Annie, she knew she was Annie from the day we met her at Jackie's house. This flouncy, pouncey, trouncey girl flirted with everyone. She was a M&G dog for 10+ years, doing the senior and pediatric circuits with grace and flair. At 12.5 years old she was still working the the Shad Fest like she was a pup. She touched so many lives, and generated so much interest in Greyhounds that I fear she will never be equaled. She ruled our household, yet welcomed every change, every addition, and mourned every loss. When we lost our first Greyhound, her buddy Dante, she grieved hard. But then we adopted Dexter (GV Keg), and she found a new mission - to make him comfortable in his new world. She drew him out of his shell and he has emerged with a vengeance. Annie lived life to the fullest, seeing nothing but the positive all the time. She left this world the way she lived her life, hard and fast. RIP little girl, go back to chasing butterflies and bunnies. 09/17/99 - 08/11/12

May 22, 2012 In 2003, I was rescued by a senior greyhound whose name at the time was Terry. He was definitely not a Terry and became the extraordinary Maxwell - my best friend, companion and confidant. On April 9th at 16+ years old, I lost my friend and have an unbearable hole in my heart. Max was such a character and had so much personality. He lived with 2 cats and for the last 4 years a miniature dachshund named Molly. I couldn't have asked for better animal harmony. They were family and Max was the patriarch. As expected, there is a permanent dent in the couch and the bed where Max liked to snooze but he also never missed the chance to greet someone at the door, eat a meal, run outside or just see what everyone else was up to. Max was a black greyhound with white markings. Over the years he got grey - as did I. I will forever miss Maxwell and hope that he is running free now and that someday I will see him again. I love you Max and we all miss you...