Page 16 - 23 November 2012

THANKS
Lessons learned from a foster dog.
We have so
much to be thankful for— far more than the things we complain about every day.
by Stacy Pigott
Many of you who regularly read this col-
umn know that back in April, I adopted a greyhound. But what you might not know is
that just a few weeks ago, I opened my home to foster another greyhound. I picked up Dimmit in early November, having just returned from Los Alamitos where I covered the Golden State Million Futurity and the Los Alamitos Super Derby.
My adopted greyhound, Gypsy, had been in a foster home for a long time before becoming a part of my life. She already knew the ins-and-outs of being a house pet. Dimmit, on the other hand, came straight from the track. He was quite the runner, winning 15 of 63 starts. And while he knew all about life as a racedog, he hadn’t a clue what it meant to live in a house.
In the few weeks I’ve had Dimmit, we have both learned quite a few things. I learned not to set any food or drink on any tabletop within reach of a greyhound’s nose after Dimmit learned not to stick his snout in a mug of hot coffee. I learned not to leave anything soft or fuzzy— such as scarves, gloves or winter hats—where a curious greyhound can reach them after Dimmit scattered them around the backyard. And I learned that no matter how athletic a greyhound might have been on the racetrack, that doesn’t always translate into gracefulness when it comes to using a pet door. Dimmit is still trying to figure out how not to get stuck in or fall through said door.
But in the end, the myriad of things Dimmit has to learn about being a house pet pale in comparison to the lessons he is teaching me about being alive, being present, and, most of all, about being thankful.
All dogs seem to have this unique ability to enjoy life to the utmost each and every day. I’m sure you’ve prob- ably seen the dog’s diary. It goes something like this:
8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing! 10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing! 1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing! 3:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Dinner! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - TV with my person! My favorite thing! 10:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing! No, greyhounds haven’t cornered the market on
living life to the fullest. But given the fact that so many of them walk a fine line between life and death depending on their racing ability, it’s hard for me to look at a greyhound without being thankful for this life and the opportunities we have within it.
Dimmit seems to have an innate sense of gratitude that transcends reason. When he realized he was allowed to lay on any of several dog beds scattered throughout my house, he flopped down and stretched out, then looked at me and wagged his tail. When I brush or pet him he gives himself fully to the moment, leaning into my leg and closing his eyes before using his nose to nudge my hand in appreciation when I am done. And after he has finished eating, he’ll sometimes walk up to me, wag his tail and give me a great greyhound belch.
I guess somewhere along the line he learned the Asian custom of burping to show he enjoyed the meal!
His daily actions are a reminder to me to be thank- ful for the little things in life—a comfortable bed, a helpful friend, a good meal. It’s a good reminder for
all of us as we celebrate Thanksgiving. Because in the Quarter Horse racing industry this year, we’ve gone through so many scandals and heard so much bad news that a lot of us have forgotten we have plenty to be thankful for. We have great racing opportunities, friends who share our passion and people who are try- ing to make a difference. We have a strong sales mar- ket, a healthy breeding industry, and amazing horses that we are blessed to be able to own, breed, race, train, ride and watch. We have so much to be thankful for— far more than the things we complain about every day.
Someday in the near future, Dimmit will be ready to find his forever home. His new family doesn’t know it yet, but their lives are about to change if they are willing to learn a few lessons from a greyhound. I did, and for that, I will always be thankful.
Dimmit is quickly learning the benefits of being a pet.
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SPEEDHORSE, November 23, 2012
UNDER WRAPS
Stacy Pigott: Speedhorse