From: betsy@rainbow.uchicago.edu (Betsy Weatherhead)
Subject: We can't save them all, but ...
Organization: University of Chicago
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 05:57:19 GMT

Perhaps I shouldn't get so involved with one dog, but every once in a while,
a single critter just jumps out at me and grabs my heart.  This one is
a beautiful (by any standards) borzoi, otherwise known as a Russian Wolfhound.
He's at least a few years old, possibly older than a few, but he doesn't
look or act it.  I wrote about Zoro a month or so ago.  He was found by
animal control, when his owners refused to pick him up (can you imagine?),
he was slated for euthanasia.  The West Suburban Humane Society outside
of Chicago took him in just in time.  He was severely thin and weak at 
the time, but his sweet personality still shone through.  He soon became
the favorite of everyone at the shelter, and that's really saying something
considering how many dogs go through there.

Well, I talked my parents into fostering him, and he's really blossomed.
He's put on most of the weight he needed and has managed to charm the
entire neighborhood with both his good looks and his personality.  His
specialty is charming cat lovers and little, tiny kids.  The neighborhood
kids come and ring the doorbell to ask to play with him.  He's very calm,
but has plenty of energy when it comes to walks or playing on the beach. 
He's very well mannered (stays away from the table when eating, leaves
the neighborhood cats alone, but does tree the squirrels etc., etc.).
He's perfectly housetrained.  He's mildly obedience trained.  He does have
a flaw, which I'm sure a little ingenuity could overcome.  He's a 
ridiculously sloppy drinker.  He loves to drink out of deep water.  He
sticks his whole long snout in and blows bubbles as he drinks.  Then when
he picks his head up, his whole muzzle is wet and he drips all over.

My parents are just too old to keep him any longer.  They've asked me to
find a home for him.  They love him, but they're not in good health, and
have had some recent problems that make the responsibility just too
much.  I've promised to have him out of the house by the end of the month.
If I can't find a new home for him, he'll have to go back to the shelter
and he HATES it there.

This is one great dog--very calm, very responsive and loyal.  Not at all
the yippy or domineering type.  He just needs a nice home.  Unfortunately,
I think a lot of people are intimidated by a borzoi.  They are so big some
people think they wouldn't work out in apartments, but they do!  He can
handle stairs beautifully.  Right now he can go out as often as he wants,
but really only goes out in the morning and before bed.  Suprisingly he
requires minimal grooming--once a week or so.  He sheds very little.
He has almost none of that doggy smell.  He's in perfect health now.  He's
very responsive and great with visitors and kids.  He seems to know who 
to leave alone, and pretty soon they're all over him remarking that he's
the first big dog they ever felt they could trust.  I can't describe what
it is about this dog that has captured my heart, but I just would hate to
put him back in the shelter.  He's too big for the beds and will have to
sleep on the concrete floor.  Could I ask you netters to give me a hand
in finding a home for him--soon?  I will help pay/arrange for shipping
anywhere in the country to a good home.

-- 
                              O             betsy@rainbow.uchicago.edu
_          __                  \            
  \      /    \       -- >      O           E. C. Weatherhead
   \ __ /      \ __ /          /            5734 S. Ellis  Chicago, 60637