Many of us have read or heard about the fate of ex-racing greyhounds. This is not that story, but rather the story of some dedicated people who decided to do something about these wonderful and loving dogs. This is their tale, as told by Joyce McRorie…
Daphne, Chip, Flicka and Zeus (tag numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4) were our very first greyhounds. On October 1, 1995, we received our 501(c)3 nonprofit status. On Oct. 7, we heard that there were four greyhounds ready to be picked up at the Agua Caliente Greyhound Park. Those of us on hand that day will never forget seeing those four dogs jump out of the back of an SUV and into our arms. One month later, we got our first “broken” dogs, Andy and Adam.
We quickly found that there was more than we had realized to bringing in greyhounds and finding homes for them! Our “staff” was one vet, who was helping us, and one vet tech. We had four foster homes, about 10 volunteers and $1,500 from a garage sale. We worried that the dogs with the over/under bites would be hard to place. We thought no one would want the “broken” dogs or dogs with scars. We were shocked when we got our first bounce-back. We were sure the older dogs would never find a home.
Our biggest obstacle seemed to be that the public really didn’t know about greyhounds, so our first PR task was getting the word out about what great pets greyhounds make. A significant development in our relationship with the track came in 1997 when the management agreed to allow us to put a pet kennel on the track premises. For the first time, retired greyhounds had a place to go and be cared for until an adoption group could pick them up. When a wonderful volunteer donated a dog hauler/trailer, the trip from the track became easier for both the humans and canines.
Over time, we have found that every greyhound has a forever home in his future. We have learned that without a large, dedicated volunteer base, we are nothing. We also know that, somehow, our supporters manage to give us the financial resources to provide the best care for all our greyhounds. We take pride in knowing that 15-plus years since we started, we have never left a sick or injured greyhound behind and we have always been able to provide excellent veterinary care for each of them. Most of all, because of all the work our dedicated volunteers have done, almost everyone knows about greyhounds and what great pets they make.
On Jan. 8, 2011, a little, red, female greyhound came to us with a broken hock (ankle). Her name is Heidi, and she is the 192nd “broken” greyhound we have rescued. Daphne wore tag #1 and Heidi wears tag #3,000– and that’s something we’re very proud of!
Homes for more than 3,000 greyhounds! It’s a milestone we could barely have imagined when we started in 1995. The credit for this accomplishment belongs to you and everyone who has supported us so faithfully through the years. Your continued support will mean that we never have to say “no” to a greyhound in need of a home or medical care. Thanks to you, Daphne, Heidi, all the greyhounds in between and those yet to come will have their own forever homes.
To volunteer, send a donation, or adopt a greyhound, contact FastFriends at: 1210 N. Cypress St., La Habra Heights, CA 90631; call (800) 298-5743; or visit their website at fastfriends.org.

John Keisler

By Steven Piper
Staff Writer

John Keisler, who has worked as manager at Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) since 2008, was recently promoted to business operations bureau manager for the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department.
Keisler’s tour of duty at ACS began when he was selected for the position in the wake of negative publicity– a dog at the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St., had been inhumanely euthanized. “I was assigned to help reform operations, improve communication, and create relationships with the surrounding community,” Keisler said. Subsequently, he took the helm of the shelter and turned the center into what the animal care community largely regard as a shining example of government dollars at work.
During the transition period, Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department Director George Chapjian and Keisler will continue to ensure operations at ACS run smoothly. The bureau is still in the process of finding a new manager.
To his credit, and even though it was only his first year at the Village, Keisler innovated a new committee– Pets Always Worth Saving (PAWS), which linked the shelter with the local community and animal advocates. “We created a local animal advocate committee,” Keisler said. “PAWS is a group of local animal advocates and residents that help build better future for animals in Long Beach.” On a monthly basis, the committee meets with the bureau manager and ACS staff.
Additionally, during Keisler’s term at ACS, a spay and neuter program, low-cost pet clinics, and a wildlife watch program were implemented. “All of the programs were designed to improve the community in both Long Beach and Signal Hill,” Keisler said.
Prior to working at ACS, in 2006, Keisler worked as a performance management analyst in the Department of Financial Management, where he helped to implement the City’s performance management program. Projects with which Keisler was involved include: Port of Long Beach Information Management Business Plan and Intranet Development, the City’s Custodial Services Optimization and the Long Beach Challenge Community Outreach on Potential Tax Measures.
With bachelor degrees in philosophy and religion from St. Olaf College, Keisler was involved with Teach For America. For three years he taught at the elementary school level in Newark, New Jersey, where he received the “Best Practices Award for Innovative Practices.”
Subsequently, Keisler involved himself with local politics– working for two years with the League of California Cities, Orange County Division and the Orange County Council of Governments. At the same time, he earned a masters of public administration at the University of Southern California’s School of Policy, Planning and Development.
As he ventures into his new position, Keisler will continue to serve on the International City/County Management Association Committee for Preparing the Next Generation and the Municipal Management Association of Southern California in South Los Angeles.

Signal Hill resident Carmen Pacheco and her dog Chispita at the June 5, 2010 “Hounds on the Hill”

The City of Signal Hill will host the 2nd annual “Hounds on the Hill” event at Signal Hill Park, 2175 Cherry Ave., on Saturday, June 11 from 1pm to 4pm.
This pet-friendly event will feature more than 20 vendors, including Bark! Bark! Day Care, Pussy & Pooch, Fast Friends Greyhound Adoption, Uptown Animal Hospital, Enchanted Pet Photos, Usual Suspects Flyball Club, and Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Available will be pet products from custom leash holders, leashes and collars to professional pet photos, as well as a variety of children’s activities: a jumper, crafts, and a children and pet story time.
The park amphitheatre will feature demonstrations and the sounds of the Rusty Steel Band, a steel drum band that fuses the unique sounds of the Caribbean.
Events will include:
1pm–4pm All vendor booths and activities will be open
1:30pm–3:30pm Music provided by Rusty Steel Band
1:15pm Pet and owner look-alike contest
1:45pm Flyball demonstration by Usual Suspects Flyball Club
2pm Story time at the Signal Hill Library booth
2:20pm Discussion with veterinarians from Uptown Animal Hospital
3pm Flyball demonstration by Usual Suspects Flyball Club
3:20pm Story time at the Signal Hill Library booth
3:45pm Rescued dog parade

More Information
cityofsignalhill.org

LaunderPet co-owner Doug Mayhew, Wags to Whiskers founder Dara Samson, and LaunderPet co-owner Eric Hatch

LaunderPet is now the owner of Wags to Whiskers Pet Grooming in Los Altos. Dara Samson, who founded Wags to Whiskers Pet Grooming 12 years ago, sold her award-winning grooming business to LaunderPet so she can focus on hotbows.com, her other successful and rapidly growing business. LaunderPet was “born and raised” in Long Beach and now has three locations, two in Long Beach (Belmont Heights and Bixby Knolls) and one in Seal Beach (on Main Street).
Based on the strength and success of both brands and businesses, LaunderPet plans to operate Wags to Whiskers Pet Grooming with the current staff and under the current name and brand.
“Wags to Whiskers Pet Grooming is the busiest and most successful single-location grooming business in Long Beach,” said Eric Hatch, co-owner of LaunderPet. “Dara Samson, the founder and a close friend, has built a tremendous brand and business. We are proud to have Wags to Whiskers Pet Grooming as part of the LaunderPet family. We will work hard to continue to deliver the outstanding customer service for which Wags to Whiskers Pet Grooming is known and loved.”
In the weeks and months ahead, LaunderPet plans to identify and share best practices at all four stores in the LaunderPet family. In addition, and based on customer input, LaunderPet will soon add selected premium dog and cat foods and more supplies to the inventory at Wags to Whiskers Pet Grooming.
For more information, visit the store at 5505 E. Stearns St., call the store at (562) 430-5161 or visit wagsgrooming.com.

More Information
(562) 989-7330
cityofsignalhill.org

Bark! Bark! Daycare & Grooming hosted its grand-opening celebration on Saturday, April 2 from 10am to 5pm at 2655 St. Louis Ave. in Signal Hill. Festivities included a Signal Hill Chamber of Commerce-sponsored ribbon-cutting ceremony, a tour of the facility and refreshments provided by Bark! Bark! owners Vivian Dominguez and Danielle Portillo. Featuring not only doggie daycare and grooming, Bark! Bark! also offers self-wash to clients who enjoy bathing their own dogs. For more information, contact Vivian Dominguez at (562) 437-3655 or barkbarkdaycare@gmail.com.

Applauding after the official ribbon was cut: Henry Rodgers (with his canine companion) representing Congresswoman Laura Richardson, Signal Hill Chamber representative Denise Damrow, Mayor Larry Forester, Danielle Portillo of Bark! Bark!, Signal Hill Chamber President Shari Blackwell, Vivian Dominguez of Bark! Bark!, Pat Haney of the Haney Co., and Ken Davis, Chamber member with his puppy pal.

Julie Voltin, DVM, who recently became owner of Uptown Animal Hospital, is offering free exams to new and returning customers through the month of April.

The microchip identification system has been reuniting lost pets with owners for more than 20 years. Although it has dramatically reduced the number of lost pets in the system, there are still many pets that are not microchipped. Even more alarming is the number of pets that are microchipped but were never registered with their owner’s information. It is important to know exactly what a microchip is and what it can provide for pets and their owners.
The microchip is a tiny computer chip with a unique number programmed into it. The whole device is small enough to fit inside a hypodermic needle and is simply injected under the skin where it remains for a pet’s life. A radio signal scanner is used to read this number through the skin of the pet.
There are several different microchip companies on the market. AVID and Home Again are the most widely used companies. Most of the scanners that read pets’ identification numbers are “universal” and will read all microchip numbers, regardless of the brand. Once a pet has been microchipped, the number must be registered with the owner’s information. Many veterinary hospitals will automatically register pets at the time of implantation or give their owners the necessary information to register their pets themselves. If the pet owner moves or there is a change of ownership, the information must be updated. If a shelter or animal hospital finds a pet with a microchip, they will call the microchip company. If the pet is registered, the shelter or hospital will be given the owner’s name and contact information.
It is important to know that a microchip does not “track” an animal like a “LoJack” system for a car. It is similar to an ID tag on their collar, only better because it can’t fall off. The microchip provides a permanent, positive identification which cannot be lost, altered or intentionally removed. It is a safe, simple and inexpensive way to protect a pet against loss or theft. As long as the owner keeps their information current, if their pet ends up at an animal shelter or veterinary hospital, they can be notified.
Uptown Animal Hospital is located at 3350 Atlantic Ave., and can be reached at (562) 424-8541.