by Telma Shaw
The West Coast Greyhound Gathering played host to the February 2008 Greyhound Gathering in Solvang California. A fantastic event it was! The weather was perfect and everyone spent three greyt days enjoying the beauty of Solvang and of course the event! Close to 300 Greyhounds and various Sighthounds attended, including a showing of four fabulous Spanish Galgos, Amistad, Aluna, Carlos and Alita who also graced the affair!
The event began Friday morning at Lemos Pet Supply on Main street. The store has an outside area where the participants congregate to meet and enjoy Danish pastries while our hounds enjoy seeing old friends and making new ones. This year there was a television crew doing a pilot for a possible program on Greyhounds and they were interviewing many of the attendees. Telma Shaw was asked about her �unusual� looking �Greyhound� and took the opportunity to share the whole story of the plight of the Spanish Greyhound!
Throughout the event, G.R.I.N. supporter Dawn of the Creation Station Quilting shop in nearby Buellton had set up her sewing machines in the town center park gazebo and sewed coats for the Galgos and shared information all weekend! She also sold raffle tickets for a beautiful quilt to help the cause. She also accomplished sewing 40 coats which are already on their way to Spain. Way to go Dawn!! That's dedication!
G.R.I.N. supporters were also able to help Greyhound Connection of San Diego to raise some funds for their rescue efforts by hosting the Pizza Party. Thanks to Christie Jacobs (new GRIN board member), Rick and Mary Kidder, and Em Danskin. Mike and Telma Shaw headed up the Pizza Party which went without a hitch! Great job everyone!
Those who spent a lot of time shopping with the vendors at the Veterans Hall no doubt stopped by Sharee's K-9 Design booth and got a special surprise, her newly adopted little galga girl Alita who was taking it all in! Alita had many friends admiring her tiny delicate beauty! Alita spend her time being taken for walks by attendees who oohhed and aahhed over her and of course playing with her Greyhound sister in their ex pen and snoozing! Not to bad for a newby!
Rumor has it Alita may have another galgo friend coming to share her adventures in Solvang next year! Stay tuned..
Many wonderful people donated collars, leashes and coats for the Galgos. Bill Sugden donated a beautiful framed print for one of our auctions to help the Galgos. Information on G.R.I.N. was handed out when people asked about why our �greyhounds� looked so different and many people thanked us for telling them about the plight of the Galgos, the Greyhounds cousins, as some had never heard about them. Everyone had a wonderful time in Solvang, we look forward to next year!
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