Merry Christmas Everybody

All of us here at the house of hound would like to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas. We hope you have a peaceful and relaxing time with your hounds and two legged family.

Peggy the greyhound and Harvey the official GAP testing dog are staying with us over Christmas. They are missing there mum but looking forward to some turkey and ham later today.

Well Readers, stay safe and keep loving your hounds. I'm off for some eggnog and a snooze before lunch. Bye for now - Murphy.

GAP Christmas Party

Hi Readers, after our party was cancelled last week due to the rain and the subsequent flooding of our venue, we headed off today to celebrate a greyt year for GAP. We have had a heap of dogs adopted, introduced a professional and accountable business structure, continued to spread the word about what greyt pets we make and had a lot of fun doing it.

We had a terrific time today with a doggy day spa set up were we hounds could be bathed, have our nails trimmed and a dental exam performed by Karen. Santa Paws was there with Rudolph the red nosed whippet who delivered presents of dental sticks for the hounds and sweets for the kids (although we think it should have been the other way round). Jess, Leanne and Dad looked after the BBQ duties, the bar was open for the adults, raffles were run and won and a heap of terrific GAP merchandise was sold. We raised heaps of funds to kick off the new year with. Thank you to everybody who helped out and who donated.

Several potential adopters dropped by to see how greyt we are for themselves and our foster Freddy went to his forever home today. It was fantastic to catch up with everybody again.

Keep your eye out in the photos for GAP test dog Harvey in his "access all areas" outfit.

I must be off for a snooze and check up on dinner as the word is that some sausages made it home for our dinner. Bye for now - Murphy. 

  

A Smooth Character

We found this chap had paid us a visit when our long billed Corella Beaky sounded the alarm. The birds were quickly rescued and we got some pics of the intruder. It was a beautiful carpet python about two meters long.

"I'm not after the birds, I just heard there was a BBQ on!"

"Why yes, I am quite a long fellow"

"I'll just spend the night if that's OK"


















I understand that nearby Caboolture township got its name from the local aboriginal tribe. The name means "'place of the carpet snake". I can see why.

Anyway Readers, he stayed for a few days and has now moved on. Of course, that begs the question "where is he now?"

I'm off to shut the doors. Until next time, bye for now - Murphy.

Happy Birtday Granddad

Hi Readers, there is another birthday at the house of hound as Monday the 13th is Granddad's birthday. I'm not sure how old he is but I think its 595 in dog years.

Granddad with Cocker spaniel puppy Scootles.

Happy birthday and big licks from all of us here Granddad.

Bye for now - Murphy.

Happy Birthday Prancer

Hi Readers, this Sunday is Prancer's 6th birthday. Happy birthday from everybody at the house of hound big fella.

Prancer on patrol in the dogarium.
















Until next time readers - bye for now - Murphy.

Just Spotted

Hi everybody, I thought you might like to see what I just spotted in one of our gum trees.

Its great to see the little guys back as we didn't see too many last year.

















Anyway, as the koalas are most active at dawn and dusk I'm off to see if I can spot anymore. Bye for now - Murphy

Manly Walk

Hi Readers, Prancer and I joined mum and dad at Manly yesterday for the November GAP walk. There was a great turn out and we greys got a lot of attention from the greyhound muggles (non greyhound folk) that were there.

I hope you enjoy the pictures -

It was another beautiful Brisbane spring day for the walk.












The coast guard were on hand to provide security.

 Whipple the whippet joins the parade.

Lil' Ellie gets a pat while Oskar play bows to show his dad he can do cute as well as anybody else.
 

 But not as well as me, of course.

Many, many hounds along the waterfront.

I get a pat from Kylie during the walk.












Honourary greyhound and GAP testing dog Harvey finally gets noticed amongst the greys and gets some loving.

Pixie the foster who is waiting on a green collar and forever home.

The gang at the walk (we are going to need a panoramic camera soon).

Swapping pics of the fur kids!

A nice paddle at the end of a long walk. Scully gets her paws wet.

After the walk we went for coffee at the local fish cafe, it was a greyt way to finish off the day. Anyway readers, I must help dad with the dogarium he is building. Until next time - Murphy.

GCS

Hi Readers, now that we have our new Greyhound Containment System in place (also called a fence) we have been spending time taking turns watching the world go by.

I think that the sign Dad put up is redundant as the sight of our noses poking out through our viewing window leaves no doubt that hounds are about.

Friendly Freddy the foster wonders about the "Beware" part of the sign.

Despite being a sight hound, Prancer also likes to have radar backup.

Jess wonders if a smile will sooth people's concerns about entering the yard (maybe not!)

















Anyway Readers, I must be off to continue my surveillance activities. Bye for now - Murphy.

GAP October Walk

Hi everybody, GAP had it's October walk this morning. It was a bleak day in Brisbane but we had a terrific turnout. It was great to catch up with my old hound friends and to meet the hounds that have been recently adopted out.

Mum and the gang enjoyed coffee afterwards and chatted about, well, me of course.

The gang at the beautiful Roma Street Parkland.

  Afterwards at the cafe.














Anyway, I must go and check the Sunday papers and make the most of the rainy weather by having a snooze. Bye for now - Murphy.

Foster Carers' Information Evening

Hi Readers, following on from the greyt recruiting work Prancer and I did on the show circuit, GAP held an information session for current and potential foster parents at Albion Park raceway on Monday night. Heaps of people turned up to meet the team and to hear Dr Karen speak about Greyhound heath, diet, socialization and hound logic!

The group even got to meet some greys after they had won a race. The greys seemed delighted with all the attention and happily posed for photos and cuddles.
 

A roomful of our great foster carers, we would be lost without them.

Fi congratulates the winner.

Hound #8, or Giggling as she is known to her fans, laps up the after race attention. 

The GAP girls Bronny, Karen and Jude pose with third place winner Midnight Lee. 

Thanks to everybody who attended and I'm looking forward to meeting you all at the next Greyhound walk on the 3rd October. Bye for now - Murphy.

Gold Coast Pet Expo

Hi Readers, what a busy weekend we have had. We clocked up over 500 kms travelling to the Gold Coast Pet Expo that was held on the 4th and 5th of September. Saturday was very hot, humid and windy while Sunday was rainy. Despite the horrible weather, and the local council "losing" the key to my car park, heaps of people turned up to see me and the rest of the show.

Here are some photos taken around the grounds and on the journey -

We stopped off at the top secret GAP installation on the way to the coast. We also visited the brewery, Super Butcher and Yatala pie shop while we were there but I can't tell you its location.

The Aussie War Dog group was there as well.

Saturday was hot and humid but a nice day to pat a grey.

Margy and I entertain a young visitor to the stand.

Tabaqui looking cool in his bandanna.

This cool fellow was enjoying the heat on Saturday but trying to climb into umbrellas on Sunday.

Margy gets some attention from a fan.

Paris the pretty Saluki dropped by to make eyes at me.

A future customs officer frisks Gypsy.

Me doing my thing at the Advance display next to a  weeks worth of snacks.

One of the more unforgettable partnerships at the show!

Local pooch Holly dropped by the stand to say hi.

Yes, some eejit bought a cat on a lead to a park with about three hundred dogs in it. Don't get me started on responsible pet ownership but all I'll say is that the owner should be smarter than the pet!

This Jack Russell was in fine form at the show.

Former house of hound foster and favorite Pepe who now lives on the Gold Coast dropped in to catch up. She lives with another grey called Tiger (who is our Homer's brother, its all very  sands through the hourglass stuff!). She is much loved and doing fine.

The handsome Tiger looks so much like our Homer that we had to look twice.

Cami and Gypsy wonder if the rain will ever stop.

This big girl was at a stand near us and had paws almost as big as Dad's hands. 

Some small fluffies discuss hairstyles and Britney Spears.

"And its the brown border collie by half a length". The fly ball was very popular with the active set.

Go the kelpies!

A great super dog impersonation.

What a dynamo this fellow was. He just loved it.

 The CKCS rescue group was there as well.

Even the rain couldn't keep my fans away.

The canine equivalent of being promised a trip to movie world and ending up at the dentist.

That reminds me, Christmas is three months away.

Another border collie doing his thing.

Security is always a concern for my public appearances but help was at hand.

"Officer, can you get my kitty cat out of the tree?"

Margy looking cute.

"Must...catch...Frisbee"

That's all for now Readers. I must go for snack and a snooze now. Bye for now - Murphy.