BeachBound Hounds Annual Royalty Celebration

Every year at BBH, we take great joy in crowning the King and Queen of the Beach.

To the choosing committee, these are dogs that have come long and far to be the family companions they are.  Perhaps they survived a tragic illness or injury, or through no fault of their own have had a long hard road to find their perfect family.

We have only just begun to build this page.  If you have pictures and stories about these dogs, please email me.  We have some that haven't been loaded yet too--- please check back in and watch as the page grows!

JD's Ticked Off  "Jodi"

05/95 ~ 08/02

Adopted from Tennessee Alliance for Greyhounds (TAG) & Foundation dog of Greyhound Rescue Foundation of Tennessee (GRFTN)

Sadly, Jodi left for the Bridge in 2002

King and Queen for 2001

Susan Colflesh and her King PayDay

Mike Kirby with his Queen Jodi

Bohemian Payday "Pay"

~ 2004

Adopted from Greyhound Crossroads

Sadly, Pay left for the Bridge in 2004

Queen Jodi's Story

We adopted Jodi January 1, 1999 from Tennessee Alliance for Greyhounds (TAG), and the history we were given with Jodi was that she had been left with over 300 greys at Green Track in Alabama to die when the track personnel and trainers just packed up and left, leaving the greys behind.  The greys were discovered starving with ticks on top of ticks but most were saved and put into adoption groups. Jodi only weighed 52 pounds, her tail had been damaged and she was missing more hair than she had left when we adopted her.  Every bone in her body showed. Her ideal weight was 68. She was scared of a leaf falling from a tree or blowing across the yard but she loved people and would snuggle every chance she had. She never missed a chance if you sat on the couch to lay her head in your lap and flop over on her back.

Jodi was diagnosed with osteo in May before BBH 2001 and had her front right leg amputated within that same week.  By the time we arrived at BBH2001 Jodi could run like the wind, smooth and graceful and you couldn't notice her leg was missing but walking would tire her very quickly so we would drive Jodi across the street from the Teakwood to the beach so she would have all her energy for playing and running in the water.  She loved life, people, the beach and everyone was amazed at her spirit. Jodi could make everyone smile and she just knew We were so very proud that year when she was crowned Queen of BBH2001. We received a wonderful gift of a video of Jodi running and playing on the beach that year and we have copied and sent the copy out several times to help folks when they are faced with having to make the difficult decision and are asking if a grey can function on three legs. We lost Jodi in August 2002 as her cancer had come back in her lungs and liver but she will always remain in our hearts.

BBH2002 Memorial meant a great deal to us and the many people that came up to us to tell us they remembered Jodi and how she loved the beach. Those memories are so special.

Jodi was a true Ambassador and our inspiration to help form Greyhound Rescue Foundation of Tennessee in September 2000.  I know there was a reason Jodi came to us and now she smiles down and watches over us as we go forward.

Mike and Janis Kirby

King Pay's Story

King and Queen for 2002

"Annie"

September 9, 1992 ~ April 2, 2003

Sadly, Annie left for the Bridge in 2003

King and Queen for 2002

"Prince"

Queen Annie's Story

Annie was a brood mom from a farm in Ocala, FL.  She was nine and a half years old when Marilyn Varnberg rescued her and 7 other broods from a breeding farm where all the dogs were neglected.  Annie and her sister were two of the lucky dogs that made it off the farm that day.  Annie's name most of the time was Lady.

I found out about these girls that were so lucky to be pulled from the farm by this special lady who has helped so many brood moms.  Marilyn put a plea out to the Greyhound List, saying she needed forever homes for them.  I read the plea- John and I decided we would take one.  I emailed Marilyn and she explained that all the dogs were covered in fleas and were way too thin, but with care would be OK.  We chose Lady because she and her sister were in the worst condition.  We made arrangements to pick up our new girl; fleas, smell (even after 2 baths), ticks, skinny little body, and all.  Before we could meet Marilyn to pick up our girl who we named Annie, Marilyn called to let us know that her sister died before she could make it to her forever home.   They were worried about our girl because the fleas were so bad that when you moved her hair, her skin was black with fleas.  We picked her up anyway, but couldn't bring her in the house. Instead she made a vet visit first where they treated her and we finally got to bring our skinny little girl home to join our pack.  Needless to say she became a happy, healthy girl within months.

Annie was the 2002 BeachBound Queen and we were so proud of her.  Our Annie, who lived with us for only a short time (adopted May 2002) went to be with her sister in April, 2003.  She had a very large mass in her chest that must have been there for awhile.  She began to hemorrhage and didn't make it through the night at the vet.

Annie the 2002 Queen is running at the Bridge with her 2002 King Prince, who can now see his beautiful Queen.

John and Bettie Grinsted

King Prince's Story

King and Queen for 2003

"Stryker"

King Stryker's Story

He is the sweetest old man around.  He was a bounce back from a home that had him for about 5 years.  His owner moved to Texas and could not take, so she left him with her roommate, a roommate that did not treat him kindly.  He would go outside and then be afraid to come in; we would have to sweet talk him and make sure the door was WIDE open before he would come in.  Then it would be at a run.  We think he was left outside and might have had the door shut on him a few times.  He was very afraid of any noise out of the ordinary, he would panic and try to run away, like a cartoon dog running in place and getting nowhere.  It would break out hearts when this happened.  He has always been the perfect gentleman.  He came to us wearing a bellyband, and you could tell he just hated it.  After about a week, when we did not see but maybe a drop now and then, which when I am that age is all I hope I do, we took the bellyband off NEVER to be worn again - what a happy greyhound we had then!!

Stryker loves to run and go for walks.  We have a big yard, and he will start at the back left and run to the front right before coming into the house.  His racing record reflects that desire.  He won the first 7 or 8 races and even when retired was finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd. 

In the last year he has had some challenges.  He injured his leg, still do not know how.  I came home one evening to find he could not stand up.  So off to the vet we went.  What a dear vet and a great dog.  They had to take x-rays of his leg, and then his back, and Stryker never growled or tried to get away.

Dr. Hardin said most dogs they have to give them something to relax them when they take the back x-rays because of the position and pressure.  The x-ray showed a compressed disk in the lower back, by this tail, and a compressed one up about 7th vertebra.  The leg was ok, no break or tear.  So we took drugs and got better.  We had to carry him in and out of the house for a week because he could not do stairs, and we had to walk him on lead, which he hated.  Running and jumping were no-no’s!  

Then in mid-summer he got a bite by a spider, we think?  Our vet and the emergency room vet are not sure.  He was limping again and did not want to put weight on his leg.  So we thought he had hurt the back leg again.  So again he had all those x-rays, and meds for soft tissue injury.  Well that time I sleep on the floor with him, and his foot and leg keep getting bigger and bigger, it swelled so much it looked like the foot and leg of a Newfoundland.  So much that we thought it had split open, because of the swelling.  And it had split open, but because of infection, it was and opening about the size of a 50-cent piece. That is when the doctors decided it was a spider bite.  We almost lost him then.  He couldn't and would not eat, he lost 8 pounds, and could not stand up.  I sleep on the floor with him for 4 night and Miles, my husband would come by the house from work and take him out for me.  Then Miles slept on the floor with him for 2 nights.  Finally he started eating and was interesting in going outside.  Using the ramp we had build.  He still had to go out on lead, but at least he was interested in getting up.

Then in late summer, he hurt his leg again, this time it was because of the disk in his back.  One of the compressed and fragmented and the other had become more compressed. We discussed surgery, but decided against this because of his age.  Now he can never jump again, or use stairs.  This has been tough because Stryker loves to jump, in the van, out of the van, Up the stairs, down the stairs.  He never walked them.  So a bigger ramp was build for the back steps, and if you go outside with them sometimes you will see our booger boy stop at the end of the ramp and jump off.  Now the bottom of the ramp is 2 to 3 inches off the ground at most.  Stryker is just such a loveable brat and at 13 1/2 year old he can be that.  What a joy he has been for us.  Seniors are great.  He is our second.   

THANKS FOR VOTING HIM KING OF THE BEACH!!!

Marti and Miles Weaver

Now he is 15-½ years old (June 9, 2005)

King and Queen for 2004

"Misty"

Adopted from

Sadly, Misty left for the Bridge in 2005

"Jake"

Queen Misty's Story

King Jake's Story

Special Award, Queen Emeritus

Queen Dolly's Story

Robert and I had our for several years before we started thinking about adoption....the idea that we could perhaps help OTHER people find the joy given to us when we adopted the three littermates Angel, Stubby, and Sunshine.  There weren't really any adoption groups active in South Carolina at the time.  We knew a few people who 'helped'

Sadly, Dolly left for the Bridge in 2005

Behn's Dolly "Dolly"

Foundation Foster of Greyhound Crossroads

"Emeritus" means 'honorary standing'....as in Dolly is now the traditional 'honorary Queen of BBH'.

This was a total surprise from Susan Colflesh, our GC area Rep, and the rest of our Core Group. 

As you see from her story, Dolly was the first official GC foster, and the first and only foster we kept for 8 years after starting the group.  She is truly the 'Foundation Foster' of GC.

Robert and I are honored by the love showered on our old girl and will hold this memory in our hearts forever.

King and Queen for 2005

"Susan"

Adopted from Greyhound Friends of NC

CPF Little B "Angel"

Foundation Dog of Greyhound Crossroads

Queen Susan's Story

In 2003 we adopted beautiful Susan, age 6, from Greyhound Friends of North Carolina. 

Two and a half years ago Susan was diagnosed with osteo in her left back leg.  We were told nothing could be done to save Susan's life.  Four veterinarians later; Dr. Crawfod of Lawndale Hospital amputated Susan's back leg.  Dr. Crawford reminded us that, even with amputation, she probably had less than six months to live.

Soon after the operation, we received a call from Dr. Crawford suggesting we try a medication that had recently been tried as an experiment drug, Fosomax.  Susan immediately began taking the medication and has continued, once a day, with no side effects.

Now, two and a half years later, Susan is a very proud three-legged Grey.  She doesn't have her complete energy back but looks forward to playgroup and visiting with her greyhound friends.  Sometimes she even chases our neighbor's cat!  Susan loves the beach and will lay in the ocean water forever!

Susan has a wonderful spirit and functions well on three legs.  Dr. Kenny Crawford is truly our hero.

Eileen and Arnie Jeremics
 

King Angel's Story

Sadly, Angel  left for the Bridge in 2005

King and Queen for 2006

"Brodie"

Adopted from Greyhound Friends of NC

Queen Angel's Story

Kathy & Bill Helm

Important Notice:

Welcome to a new page under construction!

If you are the proud parents for a BBH King or Queen, please email Kim to help us make sure we get all the information correct!  This page will be a feature of the website permanently, with pictures and stories added every year.

We hope you enjoy it!