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No Dogs Allowed signs were replaced with welcome mats as 1,500 dogs and their owners filled Dewey Beach and spilled into nearby resort areas for the 14th annual Greyhounds Reach the Beach event, held Oct. 9-13.
Possessing gentle spirits, most of the dogs’ stories begin with their rescue from greyhound racetracks. Once simply destroyed when their racing days were over, national organizations like The Greyhound Project and countless regional groups have devoted themselves to finding homes for the dogs when they are retired.
The people who rescued the greyhounds also share similar stories about how the happily-ever-after endings to their greyhounds’ careers created even happier beginnings for their new owners.
Gina Coady, a mail carrier from Long Island, N. Y., who acquired her first greyhound five years ago and soon after acquired three more, says rescuing the greyhounds is her calling.
“Everybody asks me, ‘Who rescued who?’ I rescued them, but they rescued me. They gave me purpose in my life. Every day with them is a gift,” Coady said.
The Dewey celebration
After enjoying educational seminars, photo opportunities, art shows, free runs on the beach, a costume ball, mixers, auctions, raffles and the opportunity to view the wares of hundreds of vendors, greyhound owners joined for a brunch at the Baycenter in Ruddertowne.
Having endured cold, wet weather in recent years that even included a nor’easter, the first thing The Greyhound Project President Michael McCann did was thank God for the weather.
In existence for 15 years, the project is seeking a 100 percent adoption rate for retired racing greyhounds. To further their goal, McCann and Melissa Cook presented a series of 10- and 30-second public service television spots promoting greyhound adoption to an enthusiastic crowd.
Enthusiasm grew as keynote speaker Kathy Helmke, owner and trainer of the greyhounds used in the recent film “Charlie Wilson’s War,” took the podium to tell of her adventures working with her dogs, Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks.
Asked for advice about how to work with a dog in filming, Helmke said, “Take care of the animals’ needs first and then they will take care of you.” She later added that her special home-baked liver-peanut butter brownies also helped produce the right results.
A trip to the beach started it all
Pat Tyson, Judy Dillon and Martha Sherman are the women responsible for starting the annual Greyhounds Reach the Beach event, and they love telling the story of how it all came about.
Each of the women owned a rescued greyhound when they met at a picnic 15 years ago. They decided to go away for a weekend and their search for a dog-friendly beach led them to Dewey Beach where they were welcomed at the Atlantic Oceanside Motel. They spoke to some friends and soon their numbers grew from three to eight. Then someone contacted people on a greyhound rescue mailing list to ask if anyone else wanted to go to the beach.
“At first we jumped to 12 people and then it expanded to 85. We were calling the motel, at first adding rooms and finally adding whole floors,” said Sherman. “It was all very casual. We had pizza on the deck.”
The next year the women named the weekend “Greyhounds Reach the Beach,” and in the third year they started a raffle. The event began doubling every year for several years and the women turned it over to The Greyhound Project.
The 2008 weekend drew 1,200 greyhound owners and featured events at locations throughout Dewey and Rehoboth, including hotels, motels, restaurants, nightclubs, churches, schools, shops, parks and a fire station.
The women agree they’re amazed, grateful and that they still love their weekends together at the beach.
Want to learn more? Visit: www.adopt-a-greyhound.org
Doggie Brownie recipe:
Liver and Peanut Butter Brownies
(all quantities are approximate)
1-1.25 lbs raw liver (chicken,beef,pork,lamb, whatever)
1 cup peanut butter (creamy, not crunchy)
1/2 cup honey
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
Blend the first 4 ingredients in food processor. Don't watch as it whirls around as it's pretty gross.
Place this disgusting mixture in bowl and stir in the flour. I use a stand mixer for this part, but it can be done by hand. This should be approximately the same consistency as brownie batter. Don't try licking the beaters!
Grease a 9 x 12 cake pan (I use spray Pan) and fill with the brownie mixture.
Bake at 350 for 30 - 40 minutes. The edges should pull away from side of pan and the top may be crusty. Let cool and cut into small bars. Freeze some, and store the ones you are using in the fridge. Remember, there are no preservatives.
Some dogs like it slightly underdone, the centers are still pinkish and slightly mushy. Your dog may like it fully cooked.
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