After welcoming former racing dog into home, Oakmont woman becomes champion for helping place others Published: Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 3:59 a.m. Last Modified: Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 11:49 a.m.
Despite having a career in veterinary care, Sue Rowlands had never seen a greyhound until she and her husband had a chance encounter with several of the dogs at Santa Rosa’s downtown market.
Like most greyhounds, the dogs on display that summer evening were formerly used for racing. and like most, they were considered of no value anymore to their former racing masters.
But Rowlands and her husband, Chuck, were transfixed. A few weeks later, the couple submitted an application to bring a greyhound into their Oakmont home.
They didn’t quite know what to expect when Badger padded in. but the relationship turned out beautifully.
“Golly, he’s been a great dog,” Sue Rowlands said.
In addition to getting a new companion, Rowlands also found a new outlet for her altruistic ways by becoming a volunteer with Wine Country Greyhound Adoption.
“She’s done just about every volunteer position in our organization,” said Heather Castro, who co-founded the nonprofit rescue organization in 2004. “She’s just very dedicated.”
Castro was working with a different rescue group when she visited the Rowlands’ home for a site visit, which was part of the couple’s application to get Badger.
Rowlands has since made similar visits to homes as a volunteer with Wine Country Greyhound Adoption. Castro said one of Rowlands’ strengths as a volunteer is her good sense in determining who would be a suitable host for one of the dogs.
Castro said her own interest in the breed came about when she was a teenager and saw a TV show that included the graphic images of two greyhounds being euthanized after their racing days were over.
“I couldn’t believe that someone could take these beautiful dogs and put them down after they were done racing, especially because there was nothing medically wrong with them,” she said.
Castro said the number of greyhounds that are killed needlessly has decreased significantly over the years, a fact she credits to rescue organizations finding homes for the dogs.
Castro has three greyhounds: Chiquita, Tempest and Shelby.
“They are a large dog,” she said of of the breed, “but they can live very easily in the house because they are so calm and clean.”
Sue Rowlands and Badger used to make weekly rounds at Sutter Medical Center to visit patients. but that ended this summer when the 10-year-old dog began experiencing health issues.
Now the pair mainly enjoy walking around their Oakmont neighborhood together.
Castro said Wine Country Greyhound Adoption has about 30 active volunteers, in addition to about 200 people who are members of an online chat group.
She said the agency’s greatest need is people to foster greyhounds until the dogs can be placed in permanent homes. There are other volunteer opportunities available.
For more information, visit the agency’s website at winecountrygreyhounds.com. Or call (800) 924-7397.
You can reach Staff Writer Derek Moore at 521-5336 or derek.moore@pressdemocrat.com.
Recent Comments