Lily and her entourage, including Lizzie Mead

Greyhound rescue is often a grim business. My friend Karyn spends endless hours unearthing the conditions under which racing greyhounds labor — caged most of the day, fed decayed, steroid-laced food, discarded like trash after their working days are done — to provide ammunition to reporters like Tim Vanderpool (here’s his latest on the topic) and others who bring public attention to these facts. She’s leafletted the dog track, organized email chains and events, created websites…

Her impetus for devoting this time and effort to the cause? The dogs, of course. Karyn and her friends adore their sweet, sleek rescued greyhounds.

I was privvy to some of that puppy love this past Sunday, at a birthday party for Lily, Karyn’s doggie drama queen, who recently turned 12 1/2. The Beading Divas — a group of crafters whose stylish bracelets help support greyhound rescue and other animal causes — were out in full force.

Some highlights:

Getting some love from Michelle

Along with being a Beading Diva, Michelle Caillet runs The Greyt Escapes hotel for greyhounds in Tucson as well as an Etsy shop where she sells her gorgeous greyhound oriented collars and leashes (yes, Lily got one of each for a gift).

Lizzie Mead (aka Lizzie Stardust), in the first picture of this post, runs the Etsy shop where the Divas’ beaded bracelets are sold.

Party girl Lily with Mama Karyn
Lily checking out her gifts
Wide eyed with delight at all the attention!

Did I mention April was Greyhound Rescue Month?

24 thoughts on “Girls – & Greyhounds – Just Wanna Have Fun!”

  1. Love this post! Drama Queen really does look quite happy with all the attention she is getting. If anyone is in the Orlando FL area this coming weekend, there is a really great event for greyhounds hosted by GPA/GO called the Greyt Spring Roo

    They really are pretty dogs 🙂

    1. You *are* all about the crafts Karen, o’ queen of DIY and contributor to The Bark on that topic, so I’m pleased you’re here to put your seal on the divas!

  2. My hat is off to Karyn. The courage it takes to see suffering, abuse and the amount of dogs that need help is beyond my ken. I would be a mass of jello after doing what she does.

    God bless people like Karyn. They are the real heroes.

  3. I am devoted to end the cruel sport of greyhound racing and will start with that dump in Tucson known as Tucson Greyhound Park. Fortunately, I am not alone in my efforts.

    Thanks for this wonderful post commemorating Lily’s special day. The beauty being that Lily just knew it was her special day.

    Here’s another article about the party and the food served at the party:
    http://www.circleoffood.com/blog/2010/04/20/tucson-restaurant-amazing-customer-service-zivaz/

    1. I think I’d be wide eyed with excitement too getting all those great presents..and what a cute hat…! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few miniature greyhounds here at our local doggie park. I don’t think they were rescue dogs since we don’t have any race tracks here in Hawaii, but they were the sweetest pups you’d ever meet…and fast too!

      Congrats to Lily on her extra special day…!

  4. I realize your post was about the positive side of Karyn’s rescue efforts. I just have a hard time getting past the whole dog racing thing. It would never occur to me to go to a dog race, and I don’t get people patronize this “sport.”

    1. A lot of people just don’t know, Rod. There are similar abuses in horse racing — horses bred to the point that their legs are overly thin, sold for meat after their racing days are – but the stakes are higher so the industry is a bit more careful.

  5. That last shot is a beauty! What beautiful eyes she’s got, and the bling – quite the glamour girl. My first reaction was, wow – she’s 12 1/2??? How wonderful that she’s aging so well – do I sense a regal demeanor?

    1. Lily had some health problems but in the last year she had acupuncture and other nontraditional treatments and now she’s doing great. She is definitely regal.

  6. Karyn – I’m so glad Lily had fun. She’s just darling.
    And Edie, I think it’s wonderful that you covered Lily’s special day and Karyn’s important work to help racing greyhounds.

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