All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Aurora & Sammi
2007

Hard to imagine our last Ballinger Girl – Aurora passed away 3 weeks ago. Sammi, the other Ballinger Girl, who was taken by the Marbach Animal Hospital and lovingly used as a universal blood donor until returned to HCGA (now TxGAP) crossed the rainbow bridge about 6 months ago. Hard to imagine, but we had them since that “interesting” day in Ballinger. Sammi had been getting shaky and old, but she still loved us and followed us around the house. Sammi was sent to the Rainbow Bridge July of 07 from bone cancer. Aurora passed away while on the table also from cancer 11-07. God they were old and lived long and fruitful lives. Jym & Lisa

Coal, beloved companion to Jeff and Evelyn Troxler and friend to Victor, has gone to re-join her loving family. She was very sweet and had such a gentle soul. Thank you, Miss Coal, for staying with us for the brief time you had. Your joy and peaceful spirit was so special! We miss you, sweetheart!

Odd Victor
April 4, 1995 - July 17, 2006

Victor was originally adopted by Jeff and Evelyn T. after failing fostering 101. Jeff first passed away and then Evelyn had to give up Victor when she entered a hospice. Victor was then adopted by Rhywnn where he lived out his final years. He was lucky enough to have not one but two wonderful, caring homes in his lifetime.

Chardonnay
April 1998 - July 19, 2006

It would take us too long to say everything we could about her, but mostly she was a very sweet, gentle and a “ladylike” darling. Chardonnay was just a love. She loved getting and giving attention. She could also “sit” unlike a lot of greyhounds, and would be very still to get her favorite treat, ‘Greenies.’ She loved to go for car rides. If you even looked at her leash, she became very excited because she knew it could mean a hop in the car. She was very much loved by her family and will be very missed. Dirk and JoAl Sheridan

Kiowa was returned to HCGA several years ago just before Christmas as a result of a divorce. What I didn't know at the time was that Kiowa adopted me upon his return to HCGA. I fostered Kiowa for several weeks and he was the ultimate "good dog". He did nothing wrong. He was placed in an adopted home several weeks later and was returned to me for misbehaving within a few days. Inappropriate potty breaks in the house, barking and hollowing at night, keeping the household awake were just a few of the complaints. The was not the Kiowa I knew. I figured he didn't like the household for some reason.

Again, while in foster care Kiowa was the ultimate "good dog". After a month, another home (previous greyhound adopters) was found. I thought this was the perfect home. Kiowa was returned within a week for very similar behavior as listed above. Again, this was not the Kiowa I fostered. After picking him up from the adopters, I looked at Kiowa and said "What am I going to do with you?" He looked me straight in the eye and seemed to say "I like living with you. Why do you keep putting me with people I don't like? If you let me live with you, I promise I'll be good until my time comes!" I looked back at him and told him "OK, if you will remain the "good dog" you've been before, I'll let you become part of the "pack" at my house and love you until your time comes. Kiowa kept his end of the bargain. He was always the "good dog". No problems of any kind. I also kept my end of the bargain.

I held Kiowa in my arms while he crossed to the Rainbow Bridge.
Kiowa will be missed by both his humans and his canine friends. Bill Torrey.

ALVIN "GIPPER" RUDOLPH
November 1, 1993 - January 16, 2006.

He was 12 yrs, 2 months and 15 days old. He was originally adopted out by GPA SA years ago. He was returned to HCGA after GPA SA closed. Gipper was almost 9 years old at that time. He was returned because his adoptive home had too many stairs for him to go up and down getting to the yard and this hurt his back. I volunteered to foster him because of his age and shortly thereafter knew he would not leave my house. He still was able to run and play with the other greyhounds and enjoy life. When we moved to the country, he enjoyed the extra room to run and play and he even felt in charge of the cows in the pasture, barking at them if they were too close to his fence. Gipper was the senior greyhound at the house and the other greyhounds paid him the respect he was due. Whenever a new foster greyhound came to the house, Gipper would go to the foster crate and give him fits (barking) telling the foster that he was in charge here and that he/she (foster) had better tow the line. Gipper's back legs finally gave out on him. He couldn't walk out to take care of business any longer. In honor of Gipper, I have named my home workcenter the "Gipper Greyhound Adoption Center"!! Gipper is missed by both his human and canine family. ~ Bill and Kathy Torrey.

January 28, 2006 saw the passing of another great soul to the rainbow bridge…Franco, aka Rapido Franco. Born July 26, 1992, Franco saw a long racing career, retiring at the age of five. He went into one home and later came home to us at the age of nine. He taught us just how wonderful it could be to adopt a senior…set in his ways one moment, and as playful as a pup then next.

Franco was quite the character…Affectionately known as Cranky Frank because of the way he kept all the younger dogs in line. He was so charming…loved to stand in front of someone and just look at you with those eyes, until you got out of your chair, so he could climb into it.

He was a spry old thing…Franco was also known for his table dancing…his mom came home from work one evening, and Franco didn't greet her at the door. She found him standing in the middle of the dining room table, unable to get down due to poor depth perception (and cataracts). We speculated that he had been playing with the cats, chasing them, and somehow ended up on the table.

Franco and his mom were the most perfect match from the first moment they met, he was never far from her side…more time together would never have been enough time. ~ Linda Franz and James Morris

Summit June

June suffered a stroke at the age of 14 on June 5, 2005 (one day after her birthday). Although she was a bit "shaky" when she would stand in one place, she could keep up with the other dogs when they decided to play chase. June came from the Corpus Christi Race Track and raced until she was 2 years old. June and I spent many weekends at the Texas coast socializing with the locals and from time to time, other retired greyhounds that lived on the island in Key Allegro. She enjoyed the boat rides in Little Bay (she would insist that I bring her pet bed and purple bear). She especially enjoyed the walks we would take at various marinas. She met many friends, who would fall in love with her beautiful black coat and her soft brown eyes. She especially loved little children (perhaps because she was able to see them at eye level). June loved to take rides in my old Ford Bronco that was equipped with a long bench seat. She would sit right next to me and when we would stop at an intersection, I would either hear a roar of laughter from a group of guys or an "aaaaawwww" from the ladies. Either way, June and I took it in stride. June also had the opportunity to fly with me one weekend. It took her a good 30 minutes to get used to the new sounds and motions of an airplane, but after that, she was right at home like she was in the ol' Bronco! I miss her dearly, especially when she would meet me at the door after a long day at work. She had a way of making me forget everything. Thank you Juney-June for being such a greyt friend. You will live in our hearts forever...Vincent S. Granato

Molly passed away at the age of 15 years after suffering a stroke. She was the first greyhound that we adopted from HCGA in May 1993. Molly was born in Florida and ended her career at the Corpus track. Thanks to Patsy and Ray she was given a chance to enjoy life after racing. Molly was always the lady “in charge”, even until the very end. When it was time for our nightly walk, she would push our other greys out of the way, in order to be the first one out the door. She now joins: Megabucks, Kasey, Glory, Davey and Mitzi (the Schnauzer) at Rainbow Bridge.

Thank you Molly for starting us on our “Greyhound Adventure”. You will always be #1 in our hearts. ~ The Snyders

Belle or "Ma Belle" as I called her, came to HCGA in July 2001 right around the 4th of July Holiday. Her and her sister Unique Essence were picked up by the SA Pound and we were called about them. Ma was full of fleas and ticks and was heartworm positive. I told Patsy I would foster Ma Belle. When they spayed her they also pulled all but four (4) of her teeth. They left the four canine teeth. Ma's heartworm treatment had to be delayed until she gained some weight. That took six weeks. Having only four teeth never stopped Ma from eating. That was one thing she loved to do. Ma went through her heartworm treatment with no ill effects and was pronounced healthy toward the end of October. During heartworm treatment I decided that Ma would remain at my house for however long she had left. Her time came yesterday. Ma is credited with 39 races, however, I suspect there were more. She had an untold number of puppies. She was the matriarch of our family for almost 4 years. We'll miss Ma Belle as now there is no one to keep the younger greyhounds we have in line. Bill & Kathy Torrey

Maddie and Wilma Morris

Duncan

Duncan crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Valentine's Day 2005. He was a beautiful, sweet natured, super intelligent boy who could open doors and garbage cans with little to no effort! He enjoyed being an "only dog" but not being a lonely one so he suffered from moderate separation anxiety when he was left alone in the house. This of course, caused him to get into trouble on more than one occasion. It took the purchase of 4 different types of garbage cans before one was found that he could not open even though he was still trying. He tried very hard to be a "lap dog" even though all he could get in a lap were his head and shoulders. He went out for his morning "business" trek at 7 am on the 14th and somehow broke his left rear femur. The x-rays showed a number of malignant tumors in that leg and the options for treatment and quality of life for him were not good so that heart wrenching decision to help him cross the Rainbow Bridge was made. He will be MISSED by many people for a long time. ~ Peggy Mott

DA Copper Penny.

DA Copper Penny was born October 1, 1989 and passed away May 28, 2004 at the age of 14 years and 8 months. She was a big money winner in Memphis and retired as a brood matron at the age of 10. She was adopted by Ray and Patsy Massey. She was ehrlichia positive and was counted "out" by 2 different vets on 2 different occasions. Instead of putting her down, she was brought home on both occasions and made a complete recovery back to normal as normal could be for her. She had a strong will to live and was a real little fighter. Penny had a unique and spunky personality. She remained bouncy (even though wobbly) to the very end. Special thanks to Bill and Kathy Torrey who were taking care of all the hounds while Ray and Patsy were on a much needed holiday. Out of respect for her, they loaded her up and took her to the vet where she was cremated because they knew that is what Ray and Patsy would want. Penny was quite an old "pistol" and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

JRJ SQUARE ANGLE

J.R. became very ill Thursday night, 8/26/04 and by Friday could no longer stand or even lift his head. He had been healthy, but a little weak and shaky because of his age. He died Friday afternoon at the age of 14 yrs., 3 months. J.R.'s racing name was JRJ SQUARE ANGLE. He won the $10,000 Puppy Stakes at the Corpus Christi Greyhound Race Track when he was 21 months old. He raced until he was close to 5 yrs. old, having to retire when he blew a shoulder muscle. J.R. won many races and his picture is on the "WALL OF FAME" in the private dining room at the Corpus Track. We loved him very much. ~ Joyce Quinn