And there was some extra news that I thought you might like.  Amy and Art and Chloee have been joined by Delaney Lee McTaggart who arrived on March 8th at 8 pounds, 8 ounces.   They have a wonderful website for the baby (http://www.coconutjellybean.ky)and you might like to look at it.  Seems all the photos but this one are of humans but we know that Chloee is still happy and being well cared for.

Congratulations, Art & Amy & Chloee. . . And Delaney, too!

Our silent auction was a big hit and so were the raffles.  I still have a few raffle prizes to distribute so if you find something on your doorstep some day with a ticket taped to it, it’s from me!  Only one silent auction item didn’t sell but if anyone is going to California and would like an AMAZING deal on a very special tasting at Freestone Vineyards, home of Fogdogs wine, please contact me.

Our advance sales response was so good that we had almost broken even before we began the event.  All in all, we netted almost $5,000 which we desperately needed.  We had a dog (Cosmo Mohito) fall ill and need emergency surgery which ended up in removal of several feet of her intestines and her spleen.  I cost about $4200.  The dinner took months to put together and we took a week to spend the money!  But, Mohito is fine now and will be available for adoption as of this weekend.

I can’t say enough about the people who worked so hard to pull this together for us.  Thank yous are going out as we speak and I know all of you join me in expressing our gratitude to the many, many people who worked so hard for this.  We even had clubs from Deerfield Beach High who jumped in and walked dogs or sold tickets and helped in so many ways.  And they didn’t even know us until that night!

Next year?  Well, we’ll see.  I’ve got to recover from this one first.  And if I did it again, I’d definitely have people sign up for “committees” to handle the different aspects.  Keep it in mind!

We ended the evening with a “Roo” and Jerry Berlin managed to get a portion of it on his video (Click here to see it).  He also made an interesting video of people and dogs just coming and going.  Our dogs are SO well behaved!  (Click here, too!) They even impressed me.  This was such a strange place to them but they took it right in stride.  Just awesome!   If you have photos from the event, please email them to Jerry@goodgreyhound.com and if they meet our computer’s standards (it’s fussy sometimes) we’ll add them to the array.  And visit the photo and video section on the website under the ‘Michelle’s Blog’ heading.  If you would like to see your formal photo or order another copy of it, go to Larry’s site: www.LarryWarshPhotography.com . click the photos to enter the site and then use the down arrow on the list to find the Friends o Greyhounds section.  Lots of good pictures.  Our crew cleans up pretty nicely!

Thank you all for a wonderful evening and wonderful donations.  We’re already off and running with the next event and I’m already behind.  Thank you for the continuing support and we look forward to seeing you at the kennel sometime soon.  (Surely there’s room for just one more dog in your house, don’t you think? )

Click Here…

To view or download the invitation.
To view or download the RSVP.
For a map & directions to the Woodmont Country Club.

Dress Code

Humans: “Dressy Casual”.  That means, be comfortable but look nice for the pictures.  Jeans are allowed as are jackets or sequins.  Collared shirts maybe.  Nice sneakers are okay.  But no tee-shirts or cut offs, please.
Greyhounds: Collar & 4 foot leash. Belly band (“pants?”) for the boys.  We will have extras for those who come without.

What to Expect

Dinner with the Dogs will be the first time we have ever been able to offer a special night of dinner and entertainment in a gorgeous Country Club main dining room and you will be allowed to bring your greyhound!

Woodmont Country Club - Diningroom

Food: There will be a buffet dinner for the humans and a buffet for the dogs. Human choices will be complete with vegetarian options and the dinner will include wine and a “greyhound”! The buffet for the dogs will be more of a tasting buffet. We don’t want to upset their tummies by overloading them with food that may not be what they are used to getting for dinner. But there still be a wonderful assortment of treats they will all love.

Photos: We’ll have a formal photography area courtesy of Larry Warsh Photography and prints will be available for purchase during dinner. Just like on the cruise ships but with dogs!

Entertainment: We have booked a professional magician to bring out the childlike wonder in all of us. His specialty is Magic to Music. We did ask him to leave the doves & rabbits at home! What an act that would have been!

Raffles & Silent Auctions: Please remember this is primarily a fundraiser so bring your credit cards and your friends.  The more the merrier.

If you buy Raffle tickets in advance with (or without) dinner tickets, we are using labels to put your name on the raffle tickets before they go in the drum. If you are coming to the dinner, you will receive your stubs but your tickets will already be in the drum. If you want to purchase more tickets in advance while we have time to label them, feel free to do so! You may also bring address labels for tickets that you buy at the dinner!

You do not have to be present to win raffle items. We will get them to you.  The raffles and silent auction are both bringing in some beautiful donations.  Very unique items!  And we’re making sure it’s not ALL doggie items.   And – If you have anything you’d like to donate for raffle or silent auction use, please, please call Michelle’s cell – 954-937-9663 – We can always use help in that area – right up until the party!

You will need to be present to win a silent auction but there will be “buy it now” prices on the items, too. If you need to leave early, you can “buy it now” and take something wonderful with you – - – for a price!

Drinks: Soft drinks and wine will come with dinner. The regular wine menu will be available for our discriminating guests who want more choices. There is a full cash bar in the Silent Auction area adjoining the main dining room. Your greyhound is NOT your designated driver!

Parking: The Woodmont Valets have graciously donated their time for our event and will provide valet parking without charge for you so that the dogs do not have problems with the high rise of the driveway and can walk right into the main entrance. We, of course, hope you will show your gratitude with a gratuity when you leave.

Dog Walking: There are grassy areas adjoining the front and side entry of the dining room. The front has no steps but less grass area. The side has a few steps and more grass. We hope to get some student groups to help us provide “valet” dog walking service for you. Please bring your belly band with you if you have one for your boy dogs. We’ll have some available but may not have enough.

Seating: Yes, the dogs will be served in the main dining room of the club! We will leave room for each ticketed dog by moving out some of the chairs. We hope to have beds and comforters for each dog to lie on but our source of these has raised the price and we may have to “rough it” by lying on the deep pile carpet or you may want to bring your own blanket or throw. We may have an update on this later.

Payment: We will accept cash, checks (payable to Friends of Greyhounds) and credit cards in advance and on the night of the event.  If the checks are no good, we let you keep your auction item but we repossess your dog!  (just kidding – sort of)

Silent Auction & Raffle Items

- this is just a sampling…

• Statue of 5 running dogs
• Framed artwork – two greys – gorgeous frame!
• Basket of collars/ leash/ bandana & matching poopie bags!
• 2 tickets to the Miami Heat – Section 124 – Row 20 ($144 face value- if you could get them!)
• VIP experience at Arkadia nightclub in Fountainebleau.  Table for 6 with spirits bottle.  ($500 value)
• Statue – Deco lady with her greyhound
• Several other incredible paintings
• Autographed book:  Mutts Shelter Stories (cartoons by Patrick McDonnell)
• Man’s silk tie by MC Esher featuring intertwined greyhounds! – with matching pocket square
• The Bond autographed by Wayne Pacelle
• Entry to the FoG Poker Tournament
• Black and gold martingale collar from Around the Hounds
• Private wine tasting for 4 at Freestone Vineyards (Freestone, CA) ($300 value)
• Karaoke Machine with CD & Graphics & on screen lyrics
• $100 credit towards anything on DailyDealMania.com (they donated $50 & $25 for the raffles, too!)
• Just received a special bottle of “Grgich Hills Violetta 1995” It was signed by the owner of the vineyard!
• Priscilla Bakes of Dog Dude Ranch in Miami just donated a free weekend at the ranch for your greyhound. She’ll include transportation to and from the ranch with a stay of Friday, Saturday & Sunday plus a free bath before going home! Value is $125 plus more.

Progress Report

The RSVP deadline was extended from the 3/17 date that was printed on the invitations to 3/27.  Our invites were hung up at the printer and then arrived after the weekend which is when we have our student volunteers so it took an extra day for me to get them stuffed, stamped & sealed.  Plus, the added time lets us accept RSVPs while we are at Horses & Hounds.   Please remember – bring friends & relatives & neighbors!  Even non-greyhound owners are invited although we cannot bring in any pets other than greyhounds.

Yes, we will have raffle tickets on sale at Horses & Hounds and that night, too.

Looks like we’re going to do a “wall of wine”, too.  That’s a separate raffle just for wine bottles.  The bottles are all wrapped up and numbered.  We sell the same number of tickets as there are bottles and then you draw a number to see what you won.  It’s a nice way to be sure you take something home for your donation. (PS – I’m still looking for a few more good bottles of wine to be donated.)

I can’t wait!  It’s going to be so much fun!  Jimmy Buffett sings about “Gypsies in the Parlour” but we’ll have “Greyhounds in Dining Room!”   See you there!   (Now, what can I wear?  No cutoffs.  No t-shirts.  Oh, no!  Those were terrible rules to make!)

The Wall of Wine is going to be awesome. We received a wonderful donation of 7 nice bottles. One is valued over $100! Will it be the one you get?

Just met with the Photographer. We’ll have professional portraits with a seamless black backdrop when you come in. The prints will be done on premises & you will have the opportunity to purchase them there. Our photographer is donating his time and all proceeds will go to the dogs!

I confirmed with our entertainment. Hope you are all ready for Dylan Ace, a world renowned illusionist from right here in Miami. I told you it would be a Magical night!

And we finalized the menu for the dog buffet. Greyhound people are wonderful. No one asks what the humans are eating. Everyone wants to know what’s on the dogs’ buffet!

We took the shot – it didn’t work. Thank you all so very much for your support.

Love, Peace & Greyhounds,
Michelle
Friends of Greyhounds, Inc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UCwOTR_dHo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Horses and Hounds – Our wonderful hosts in Lake Worth are throwing their third annual dog party fundraiser on Sunday, March 25th (2:30 – 5). This is a nice chance for us to get together with some of our Palm Beach County adopters who don’t get south too often. Click Here for the flyer with details. It’s always a wonderful day at their beautiful horse farm and Jane and Jeri are great hostesses. They’ll be doing doggie portraits again and our home-grown “dog show” is on again, too. We’ll bring a few adoptable dogs from the kennel, too. Maybe a few of you will fall in love and want to take another greyhound home. See you there!

Dinner With The Dogs – (DWTD) – We’re actually starting a separate webpage for all the details and information about the evening. Everyone and their greyhounds are invited to this dinner. If you did not receive your invitation, there will be one on the web page that you can print out and there is a response card with instructions on how to confirm your reservation. Click here for information, the invitation and RSVP card. Bring the neighbors! Bring the dogs! For a wonderful evening of wining & dining at the Woodmont Country Club. We’ll have great food, entertainment, neat auctions and raffles and you can bring the dog – - – for less than dinner at Applebees or Carraba’s! Make your reservations now. If you use the digital response card, you may fax it to 954-578-0107 to confirm your reservation, or mail it to Friends of Greyhounds, 2621 NW 105 Lane, Sunrise, FL 33322

I’ve been so busy and so short of help that I have not given the procurement of Silent Auction items for DWTD the attention it needs. After all, that’s going to be our income maker and FoG really needs to make this Fundraiser raise some serious funds. We have a few wonderful items and beautiful pieces of art but we really need more. We hope to have several hundred people at this event! If you can, please see if there is something you could donate (a fancy bottle of wine, a business service, art piece, gift card?) or perhaps ask at work if the company could share something. (We will send the appropriate thank yous, of course, and donations are tax deductible within the limits of the tax laws.) We will have raffles, too, so even smaller items are valuable. Nothing goes to waste with FoG! Call me (Michelle 954-937-9663) if you have questions or need me to pick something up.

In April, we will have one – possibly two – days of working the door at Publix in Coral Springs just before Easter. We’ll need volunteers for that as it is labor intensive but so very, very worthwhile.

And then April 20th to 22nd is the Pompano Seafood Festival – and this year it is re-located. Where we used to be was the north end of the show but it will now be the south side of the show as the beach is undergoing renovation. The new show layout is on their website: www.pompanobeachseafoodfestival.com Still a great show!

Our own Leslie Glynn of Miami and her dog Skye (Where’s Niurka) won both prizes for the most Facebook “Likes” as well as the final judging from the United Greyhound Racing Board of Directors. The winning photo below shows Skye cuddling Leslie’s Skechers.  Leslie says Skye will grab just that one shoe and her stuffie and head for her dogbed.  She doesn’t know why Skye needs just that one shoe but it has served Leslie and FoG well.  

The winner received a $300 donation to the greyhound group of her choice and Leslie graciously arranged for that money to come to us.  Thank you Leslie & Skye and all those big-wig Greyhound people.  We’d like to see more photo contests like that!

Florida Renaissance Festival - Quiet Waters Park, Deerfield Beach  – Every Saturday and Sunday from February 11 thru March 11 plus President’s Day, Monday February 20, and Student day Monday, February 13th.  Festival Hours are 10 AM to Sunset except Student day which is 9:30 to 2:30.  

Collar Lady’s Coming! – Lynn Piper who makes those wonderful Martingale collars will be at the kennel with her entire inventory on Sunday, February 12th.  (open house hours 10- 3)  This may not be an “event” to others but to us Greyhound people, it is!

Horses & Hounds – Lake Worth.  This lovely day at Simpatico Farm  has become an annual fundraiser for FoG. This year it will be held on March 25th.   Our success has been mixed in the past so we are going to point blank state that a minimum $20 donaiton is suggested.  

Dinner With The Dogs – Woodmont Country Club, Tamarac – Saturday, March 31st will be the first time we have ever been able to offer a special night of dinner and entertainment in a gorgeous Country Club main dining room and you will be allowed to bring your greyhound!  We’ll have entertainment, Silent Auctions and Raffles.  Watch for your invitation.

Pompano Beach Seafood Festival – On the Beach at foot of Atlantic Ave in Pompano. – Friday, April 20th (5 pm to 10 pm), Saturday, April 21st (10 am to 10 pm – but it always runs late) and Sunday, April 22nd (11 am to 8 pm).  One of our most popular events!

Poker Tournament & Slot Machine Tournament – Friday May 18th. – Mardi Gras Casino, Hallendale/ Hollywood – This is our first Poker Tournament and it should be a lot of fun.  The more people, the better! Buy in is $100 for Poker with first prize of $1500.  We’ll have lots of other levels, too.  Ticket includes valet parking, drinks, prime rib buffet and the tournament. Re-buys will be allowed.  Slots Tournament is a $50 ticket which also includes dinner, valet and drinks and there will be lots of prizes.  You must be 21 to play poker or 18 for the slots.  Registration starts a 6 pm and play begins at 7:45.  

And while I’m begging, please remember we have some big events coming up and could use high-end silent auction items. Greyhound items (statues, etc.) and non-greyhound items of all types are in need.. If you need something picked up, just call me! See you at the kennel.

Can I buy this, Mom?

    You may even want to set up your own booth.  The fee is only $25 and it goes to help out this struggling lodge that has worked for so many years to help our community.  So please come on out – and bring your friends to shop or to sell.  They’ll even rent you the tables and tents if you want!  (Contact russgevents@gmail.com for reservations) Tell your friends!  We’ll see you there!