"How can I help?" Volunteer opportunities for GPA-CT

· Visit the Volunteer page to see the complete list of opportunities
Do you wish you could somehow spend a tiny speck of time doing good for the dogs you love? Well, wish no more! Visit the Volunteers page on this Web site to find event dates, times, and categories of interest for volunteer opportunity slots. Events Coordinator Angie Smith is taking names and filling slots. Just e-mail angie@gpacentraltexas.org or call 694-3223 to get your name on the volunteer calendar. Then, you can put your event on your own calendar and have a scheduled reason to hang out with a bunch of dogs! Plus, everyone who volunteers earns their greyhounds a free run at Speed Alley. What a deal!

GPA-CT's belated celebration of Greyhound Planet Day was a fun-filled day, with many smiles and some tears. A healthy turnout of over 40 greyhounds and their humans enjoyed a warm, sunny day featuring Speed Alley, sandwiches and socializing. Natalie McMahon of Urban Dawgy also treated attendees to a short training session.

One of the reasons for the Planet Day celebration is to remember all those greyhounds who have left us in the previous year. The reading of these greyhounds' names was preceded by the reading of a poem written by Pam Cook and accompanied by the striking of a Tibetan singing bowl signaling their transformation.

Special thanks to Romp N' Run Ranch for allowing us to hold this special event on their fabulous property! The hounds appreciate it!

Winners of the costume contest were (left to right) Rafa, the "watch dog" (2nd place); Francesca, as Mictecacihuatl, Queen of the Day of the Dead (1st place); and Flash, the pirate (3rd place)

"Save the date!" for these upcoming special events

The GPA-Central Texas Board of Directors has been hard at work planning a slew of events that will take you and your hounds all the way into 2009. Grab a pen and your calendar and save these dates! You won't want to miss any of these special events.

• Georgetown Stroll · Saturday, Dec. 6
• Holiday party and winter membership meeting · Saturday, Dec. 27
• 2nd annual Have a Heart 'Grey'la · Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009

Whew! What a list of 'greyt' events! Learn more about these events on the Special Events page as details become available.

2009 Have a Heart Grey'la fundraiser and silent auction
· 2009 Have a Heart 'Grey'la web page

Preparations are underway for the second annual Have a Heart 'Grey'la, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, at the Zilker Clubhouse.

Silent auction donation letters were mailed to area businesses Saturday, July 26.

Our fundraising goal for the Have a Heart 'Grey'la this year is $10,000, so we're going to need everyone's support, financial and otherwise! Visit the Volunteer page to see how you can help.

GPA-Central Texas: SPCA International's Shelter of the Week (Nov. 5, 2007)

On Monday, Nov. 5, Greyhound Pets of America-Central Texas was honored to be named the SPCA International Shelter of the Week. With this honor came a visit from Terri Crisp, the SPCA’s Animal Resource and Rescue Consultant, a donation of $1000, and the privilege of being featured on the SPCA International Web site, www.spca.com. There’s even a link that will allow Web site visitors to support our group with donations. Cara Vacchiano, who gives generously of her time and talents as a professional trainer, nominated us. SPCA International was moved by Cara’s descriptions of our hard-luck hounds -- Lazarus, Raj, and so many others -- whose medical and social needs have challenged us financially. The organization was especially impressed with our commitment to the greyhounds coming from Town Lake Animal Center.

As our members know, GPA-CT has no actual shelter facilities, depending instead on volunteer foster families to house, feed, teach, and love the hounds in our adoption program. (We’ve been helped enormously by the folks at Dog Camp, who have donated hundreds of days of loving care to some of our "overflow" hounds; we’ve also received pro bono care from Hip Hounds and discounted boarding at North Austin Animal Hospital.) Our "shelter" consists of homes from Elgin to Westlake, from Hays County to the north side of Round Rock -- homes linked by a love of greyhounds and dedication to finding each one a forever family. Being so widely dispersed (but so united in purpose) we feel especially fortunate to be named the Shelter of the Week!

Many thanks to SPCA International, to Cara Vacchiano of Buddy’s Chance LLC, to each and every one of our foster families, and to our membership, whose ongoing support helps make this work possible.

THE STORY OF LAZARUS, 2007 A.D.

	Eric and Kris Wyatt, Mack and Lazarus

For everyone who's been following Lazarus' story, GPA-Central Texas is happy to announce he found his forever home with Eric and Kristine Wyatt and greyhound brother Mack on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007. Thanks again to everyone who helped Lazarus along the way to his happy ending!

Read more about Lazarus »

Emergency Medical Fund established, donations sought
Greyhound Pets of America-Central Texas has created a permanent emergency medical fund for special-needs greyhounds in foster care. We need your help to make this fund a success. »»read more

Note: The Emergency Medical Fund was renamed "The Real Ransom III DVM Emergency Medical Fund" in October 2005.