The world is full of unsung heroes, those sharing a unique constitution that precedes conventional selfishness. They work tirelessly and tread troubling waters with a passion born of genuine conviction. There are no financial incentives nor public exaltations. During the past three months, I've met a few heroes – and fell in love with one.
Last fall, my girlfriend and I decided that 2011 would be the year of the dog – our dog. We researched breeds' sizes, temperaments, diets, training abilities, activity needs, grooming requirements and health concerns. We learned how to find a reputable breeder and the evils of puppy mills (and the stores that sell their litters). We looked specifically at more lilliputian breeds, on account of our relatively modest housing. We wanted a dog that was easy to groom and whose propensity for barking could be reserved for special occasions (also on account of our rented space.) We hoped for a dog that was interested in walks and romps in the dog park, but equally contented with cozy time on the couch. We searched for breeds that were generally healthy. We discovered we were looking for an Italian greyhound. My girlfriend wished I were less pedantic.
We looked into Italian greyhound breeders in Ohio, but soon found ourselves perusing the Ohio Italian Greyhound Rescue website, an amazing resource for information about the breed.
We contacted the northern Ohio IGR representative Heather Luedecke, and we were immediately taken with her passion for the rescue and Italian greyhounds, her interest in matching us with a dog and providing us with all the knowledge we needed to inform our decision. She was patient, kind and instilled confidence. She also supplies the content for and maintains the Ohio IG Rescue website.
We were presented a four-page, very detailed application. The litany of questions never seemed intrusive; rather, the application afforded us the opportunity to make an honest assessment of the type of dog we were looking for and could best provide for. We provided veterinarian and non-family references, and when our references checked out, Luedecke and I scheduled a home visit with a young couple who lived in Brecksville. Jon Glendinning and his wife Emily found their 2-year-old Italian Greyhound named Maeby through the rescue – and with the help of Luedecke. The couple lived in a similar apartment to ours and Maeby resembled the dog we had envisioned for ourselves, so Luedecke felt they'd be the ideal people and pet for us to meet. She was right.
On a Sunday afternoon, the couple and Maeby came to our home, and shared their experiences, fielded questions and provided invaluable insight. Most important, it was our first time with an Italian greyhound. I continued to communicate with Jon via email after the hour visit, impressed with his willingness to volunteer even more of his time to help steer us toward the correct necessities: foods, crate, beds, pillows, treats, leashes, cleaning supplies, toys, et al. For more than a week, we had a phantom dog in our apartment, empty crates and unused bowls, a box of shiny new toys and a leash that hadn't seen any action. Continued on page two...
