GPA National

The Greyt Greyhound Crossing
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At last, GPA/Lone Star Greyhounds got the word...................three Greyhounds were ready to retire from Juarez Race Track. After months of building not just a working relationship, but trust and friendship, the time had come. Unlike many people across the country that choose to believe untruths and send out misinformation, GPA/LSG president Patricia Roberts knew in her heart that yes indeed, her group would be getting the Juarez dogs once they retired. When word spread (and it spread like wildfire), GPA/LSG was again condemned and criticized for it only being three. The pyramids started with just a few stone blocks. Everything has a beginning.

A week before the BIG DAY, Pat went to the Zaragosa Bridge border crossing to make sure of everything that was needed to get the dogs back into the States. She also checked with three Customs Agents asking it they could use part of the Customs parking lot as the place for friends, volunteers, supporters and the media to meet the returning Greys. They were thrilled and said it would be fine.

The next few days were busy making sure all papers were in order. They didn't want any slip ups at the crossing. Foster homes were put on alert. Everyone was invited. The media was notified. Everything seemed to be going too well.

On Thursday before the dogs were to come on Saturday, things started going south. And not across the border. Pat got a call from the Customs Public Affairs Officer saying they could not use their parking lot. After a little brainstorming and a lot of riding up and down the road leading from the border, they decided on a public park. Volunteers, friends, supporters and the media had to be notified....again.

Saturday morning dawned bright and beautiful. Pat and GPA/LSG vice president Diane set out to cross the border. heading for the Juarez Race Track kennel. Even though Pat has lived in El Paso for over twenty years, she had never driven in Juarez. Clenching her teeth, a death grip on the steering wheel and Diane lending moral support, they made the kennel with no problems.

Everything was ready and waiting. The three were gone over, ear numbers checked against health certificates, vaccination certificates were checked for names and dates. Everything was in order and ready to go. Drew Blitz, Bc Rodger Dodger and Flyer didn't know it, but they had just taken the first step into a new life. With the help of the kennel master, Nacho, and kennel workers, the Greys were loaded into the van. As Pat and Diane were ready to pull out, they looked over at Nacho. There were tears in his eyes. Pat had to stop and she and Diane assured Nacho the dogs would be fine and promised pictures. They had to leave right away before they teared up also.

Since Pat had no idea how to get to the Zaragosa Bridge from the kennel, Dr Saenz and Dr Garcia Mora lead the way. The line waiting to go into the United States wasn't too bad, but there was a good bit of stopping and starting. All along the way, people were pointing and waving. It seemed everyone knew. The hounds were more than glad to give their best grins and wagging tails.

When they got to the American check point, low and behold, the agent there was one of the ones that Pat had talked to the previous week. With a huge grin he said "We have been waiting on you! Are the pups OK? How are they handling the trip? Where is the media?" Pat explained that there had been some last minute changes that had to be made and ask if he wanted to see the health and vaccination certificates. Still grinning, he said no, but please pull into bay number 2. Pat pulled into the bay thinking the agents were going to inspect each dog and their paper work. By the time she put the van in park and glanced up, the van was almost surrounded by Customs agents. Pat's first thought was Oh my Lord! The look on Diane's face was pretty much the same. It took only a minute to see that everyone wanted to hug the hounds and welcome them in. There were plenty of hugs and petting for all three. After loading the dogs back in the van, Pat and Diane set off again. With a wave and a huge thank you to Dr Garcia Mora and Dr Saenz, the first leg of the journey was done.

Cell phones started ringing. "Where are you? Have you crossed yet? Is everything OK?" "YES!! We have crossed and are on our way to the park."

Volunteers, friends, supporters and the media came right behind Pat, Diane and the babes. It was all new, but very exciting for the three new retirees, but they loved every minute of the attention. Drew Blitz, being the exuberant guy that he is, wanted to see everything and meet every body. Flyer didn't want to be away from her van mates and Rodger Dodger choose to hang back and check everything out for a few minutes before he jumped right in. With ribbons on and people giving treats and tons of love, the furkids decided this was going to be a good thing.

After the park, they were off again to Pat and her husband, Alan's, home. With volunteers in tow. Everything went wonderful with the greeting of Pat and Alan's herd of Greys. After much sniffing, pottying and some play time, the volunteers all noticed a couple of odd things. First, all three were, if anything, a bit pudgier than they were accustom to seeing in new track dogs. And the second was that they were clean. Very clean. Pat told the foster parents they might want to give a quick bath, but it didn't appear any needed scrubbing. The first report was that Drew Blitz seemed to enjoy his bath the most. Very politely standing in the tub while foster mom Amy wet him, lathered and rinsed him. At which point he laid down in the tub and proceeded to fall asleep. Leading everyone to believe that either Amy gives a really good bath or that our happy bouncy boy had finally run out of steam.

Next came the big test. Meeting Pat and Alan's kitty, Weasel. This is usually more trying on Pat than it is on Weasel or the dogs. Weasel always handles it like a trooper. Flyer turned to run and had to be coaxed to sniff of Weasel. Drew Blitz just wanted to play. And our oldest, quite lover boy Rodger Dodger wanted Weasel. Real Bad.

Then suddenly, they were off to their foster homes. It left Pat wondering if it really happened at all. Her babies were already gone. But the memory of what had just happened will live in her heart forever. Rodger Dodger wanting to go in the direction of the track instead of the van and watching out the windshield with huge eyes at everything. Drew Blitz being a happy bouncy boy, mostly in the van and insisting he has a driver's license. Flyer not real sure, but ready for the next adventure in her life. And all the kisses and nuzzles while driving in a country she had never driven in before and didn't have a clue where she was going.

A personnel note from Pat;

That night, after I finally wound down enough to take my book and go to bed, it dawned on me. I sat straight up, threw both hands up in the air and whispered (Alan was already asleep) YES!! We all came together and did it! This IS going to work! But not without a lot of help and advice from many people. There are way too many for me to thank each and everyone. They know who they are. And I don't want them being slammed yet again all over the internet. On days where all the bad was flying all over the internet, I was ready to throw my hands up in the air and walk away. But I refuse to turn my back on the Greyhounds in Juarez. This time it was three, and next time maybe just three more. But that's OK. It's a start.