Meet Wendy
What got you interested in greyhounds?
Our family has always been a dog family and our children were fascinated with the Dogs 101 Series on Animal Planet that aired from 2008 – 2011. One of the dog breeds featured was a Greyhound and it really stuck with my daughter. Her senior year of high school in 2016 she was insistent on adopting a greyhound. After her state cheer competition in Portland, we had the opportunity to visit a local Greyhound meet and greet that GPA-NW had advertised at a local pet store and we met our first Greyhounds! I remember being really surprised by how chill they were, all relaxed on their beds and relaxing in the pen that was set up for them. We filled out an application to adopt soon after and got to work making the necessary changes to our home to make it ready for small dogs and Greyhound safe as we had three middle-age little dogs. Our Adoption Coordinator was so knowledgeable and helpful; it was really amazing to feel so well supported. We were so excited to have a new member of our family, Bob’s Quincy (Quincy) out of the last Arizona Greyhound Haul (he won his last race on the last day of racing 6.25. 2016 at the closing Tucson track) and won our hearts on the day we adopted him, he opened up our lives to a whole new family of wonderful hound people, some might say cult, the only one I would want to join and willingly too! Greyhound people are the best!!!
What made you decide to become a foster?
We lost our Heart Hound Quincy at a very young age, just 4 months shy of his sixth birthday to Osteosarcoma in 2018. He fought a very brave battle, we did everything we could for him medically and had a bucket list of experiences for him, one of which was having another hound to share time with in our home, as he was a very social and totally loving boy. Unfortunately, due to the rapid progression of his disease it was not meant to be. I think every hound sent into our home as being sent here from him and I treat each one as if they were ours even if they are only here for the weekend. I want them to know they are wholly and truly loved, that they matter, and we are honored to be chosen to care for them.
Do you do intake/regular or both?
Both, intake mostly now due to my workload. But many regular fosters over the years.
About how many greyhounds have you fostered?
To date, 45 with two foster fails: Braska Lloyd (Lloyd) and AMF by No Means (Munch), two foster to adopts: Ballyhide Jane – (Janie) and Miss Cassie (Cassie), and one Permanent Medical Foster: Flying Moscato (Mose).
What was your very first foster like?
Our first foster was named Sandy; we picked her up four days after we lost Quincy on my husband and I’s 12th wedding anniversary (Foster Greyhounds are a wonderful anniversary gift). She was a very young, never raced, a darling little black hound (without any car riding experience – this is important!). This is back when we still had our Foster Greyhounds up at Hounds Rest in Sandy, OR. As we were going down the hill into Eagle Creek, my daughter calls from the backseat “she’s going to the bathroom, she is pooping!!!” Well, that was unexpected to say the least as we were used to a perfectly behaved car hound (Quincy would never). She was very nervous in the car and would have bathroom accidents with any trip longer than five minutes to ten minutes to begin with. We worked with our Foster Coordinator to find solutions for this and never took her anywhere without a full turnout prior and a fully protected area for her in the car. I always have gloves, garbage bags, wipes and excess bedding for my dogs in the cars to this day as result, thank you darling girl. She was all puppy, shredded my husband’s wallet, loved her toys, roached it up and was all sorts of snuggly fun! She was also incredibly smart. I taught her to sit in just a few minutes! I am so thankful for our first foster Sandy, she taught us to be prepared, reach out for help, and expect the unexpected! I was so proud of how far she came while in our care and so happy for her when she went to her adoption placement.
Tell us about a foster you’ll never forget.
Cocz Commissioner (Commish) was the first “return dog” I ever fostered and was described as “being a problem/ difficult in his home and marking everywhere”. That was why the family was returning him to GPA-NW. I’m so thankful these hounds always have a safe place to land. When I went to pick him up, the person who transported him from his former home said “good luck, he already marked on me!”. I had no experience with a marking dog and wondered what the heck I had gotten myself into. To be honest I was a bit scared I had bitten off more than I could chew! Luckily the house we had met at was a true Greyhound OG, and she was able to send me on my way with a male wrap (aka belly band) to help him with marking in the house. Well, I had him wear it in the house the first week, but he was an absolute angel and to date the very best dead bug roacher I have ever had. We had the best time fostering him, and he ended up being adopted by the most wonderful family. I was so happy that we were a small part of his happily ever after. Commish was the very definition of dogs act different in different environments and don’t believe everything you hear!
What does a typical day with a foster greyhound look like?
Early morning I let everyone out for a yard potty break, followed by breakfast and doggie toothbrushing. Then we will have post breakfast yard time while I do a yard cleanup. They tend to follow me around, and if I am working, they will usually be right by my chair on one of many dog beds. Lots of playtime and cuddles in there. We live in the country and have a fenced yard with dog door access. If I have a new foster I will work with them on learning the doggie door, stairs, in and out of the car, and lots of just letting them decompress as they learn about the home environment. Since a foster is coming into a home with Greyhounds already there, they usually feel very comfortable, and it makes most things very easy (they tend to teach each other). When we had our first hound, I thought there was no way our little farmhouse could fit more than one of these big pups. That was before I learned about chipping*, aka multiple hounds! I find two or three to be easier than one. After many of the years of fostering, we have had four hounds in our home - you get pretty creative in arranging for maximum hound comfort!
With Intake Fostering I am a firm believer in letting them rest and recover from their long journey and just being a soft, calm, and safe place to rest before they go onto small creature testing. I want them to be as relaxed and rested as possible when they go into their assessments to get as true of a picture of their personality as possible.
*“Chipping” is a fun term in the greyhound community for adopting additional greyhounds. It comes from the saying “Greyhounds are like potato chips — you can't have just one!”
What are your favorite things to do with your fosters?
I love seeing them blossom, so their first roach, the first time they sneak onto the sofa, finding out that they have a love for the television, if they are ear groaners, that they love attending a GPA-NW Play Date, love children, or have a zest for a certain treat! Celebrating holidays, pup cups, birthday, and group walks. All of these things make me so happy, as they are a small taste of the happiness they will experience in adoption, and it is wonderful to be involved in that.
What items or routines have made fostering easier?
Since I have other hounds in our home, I do a slow introduction with a new foster entering our backyard (Muzzled) first and seeing where everything is, then I let our other hounds come out and meet them (also Muzzled). I let everyone get to know each other and then we go inside and explore.
Every hound is muzzled on car rides, a wrong step could and has caused a dust up over the years, and having them muzzled protects their thin skin - plus I hate unnecessary vet bills and I really hate drain tubes!
All my dogs are fed in completely separate areas. They cannot get to each other - same with treats - again I do not like unnecessary vet bills or drain tubes. I also muzzle everyone when we leave them home alone.
This is my running list of must haves:
Great Dane sized Crate
Tall X-Pen (make sure to stake in grass / ground / or zip-tie, attach to secured item on hard surface – Greys can, will knock over on self)
Pet Gate – Barriers for Off Limits Areas, Gate Locks
First Aid Kits (house and car)
Harnesses / Extra Collars / GPS Tracking Collar
Extra muzzles, Muzzle Keepers, Stool Guard
Doggie Diapers, Male Wraps for Marking, Waterproof Pads for Car and XXL Puppy Pads (self sticking)
Nanny Cameras to keep an eye on them while out
Dehydrated Pumpkin for upset tummies
In Case of Emergency “Save My Pets” marker on door (update number of dogs, when you have a foster) / I also have a card in my wallet that states I have pets alone at home in-case I am in an accident and who to contact.
Attend a Dog First Aid Class / watch online videos on what to do in an emergency
Know what vets / emergency hospitals are best for an injured/ill Greyhound (who and when to call your Foster Rep)
Pet ID Tags with “GPA-NW Foster”, your number and GPA-NW number on them. Putting a foster tag on is the first thing I do as soon as I get my new foster. I keep a tag in my car, along with an extra muzzle, collar, and leash – you never know when you might need to go pick up a foster.
Every foster teaches me something, and a lot have had me add something to my list / first aid kit. I recently added the no flap ear wrap thanks to a sweet lil brindle cutie with an ear injury. I love to learn, and fostering is an excellent way to keep your mind and body engaged and your heart happy!
What's one piece of advice you'd give a first-time foster?
First of all, thank you! We are so glad to have you as part of the GPA-NW Foster Family! If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to reach out, GPA-NW is a wonderful organization, and the Foster Coordinator will be able to help or point you in the right direction. Frankly everyone is always so helpful!
What's the biggest misconception people have about fostering?
I think that everyone thinks - “I could never do that, I wouldn’t be able to give up the dog!” Well… sometimes you don’t give up the dog, but as Jackie told me on our first foster fail (Braska Lloyd) - “you can adopt as long as you keep fostering”, hahaha! Well, that was not a problem for us! If no-one is on the dog’s dance card as the placement coordinators like to say, and maybe, if you are the right fit, the Greyhound Gods might just be working their magic!
What would you say to someone who's considering fostering but feels nervous?
It’s ok - feel nervous. These darling precious souls are wonderful at calming nerves - that’s kinda their vibe.
What’s been the hardest part of fostering?
Well, for me, I want all my hounds to live forever and always be in the perfect health - those aren’t realistic dreams. So, having been in this for over 8 years now, it is always hard when you hear of one of your beloved foster hounds having passed on.
How do you handle saying goodbye when a dog is adopted?
I love to send my foster off ready for success in their next home / adoption. Packing them up is kind of like getting them ready for their first day at a new school. You want them to have the best time and be totally prepared. I type up their feeding schedule and put additional info about the dog; if they are a fast eater, fussy, need a slow feeder bowl (I will send one with them). I also put my phone number and email on there. I usually send them with an extra toy and collar or a harness if they need one for better walking control, sometimes a coat in winter, or if we are close to a holiday, some have gone with greyhound Christmas stockings that look like them, or something special that I think they will love. This is in honor of our beloved Quincy and our way of paying it forward. I want each foster to know that they are special, and our time - no matter how brief - made an impact on our family. I will cherish our time forever.
Is there anything you wish you'd known before your first foster?
If you are interested and not sure where to start, attend a GPA-NW event and tip-toe in your way into volunteering. All it took was a meet and greet event to completely hook our family! These hounds are really worth it, and there is lots of support - when in doubt reach out for help.
Why do you keep fostering?
These hounds have taken my heart. I honestly can’t see my life without them. I love meeting the new hounds and seeing who might be coming to our home. Will we have a big goofy boy, a shy lil girl, and darling broodie*, and dashing zoomie hound, one that loves to play fetch, or one that slowly comes out of their shell. It is just so much fun, and the reward is evident every single day with these sweeties.
*Broodie (Brood Mama) — An affectionate term for a female greyhound who has given birth to one or more litters of puppies. Brood mamas are especially beloved for their often calm, confident, and affectionate personalities.
Inspired by Wendy’s story?
You don't need to foster 45 greyhounds to make a difference! Whether you can provide a home for a few days or a few weeks, fostering helps greyhounds begin their next chapter. Learn more about becoming a GPA-NW foster family!
