The QCG "Super Weekend" is almost here!

Eight events. Ten dogs. One weekend. Buckle up, amigos; It's going to be a very busy week!

The fun starts Saturday morning, November 13th at four area PetSmart stores for their Adopt-a-thon events. You'll find us at:

• Colerain
• Eastgate
• Huber Heights
• Bridgewater Falls

We'll be at these locations from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. With four Meet & Greets running simultaneously, we'll be using VolunteerSpot to coordinate which QCG volunteers will be working which locations. Please be sure to sign up through this website if you are planning on working one of the shifts. Just planning on visiting? Then no need, and we'll look forward to seeing you there.

If this is your first time attending the PetSmart Meet & Greets, you can get directions to each location on the Events section of the QCG website.

Also starting Saturday is a "Cut-a-thon" fundraiser sponsored by our friends at Aveda in Kenwood Towne Centre. This is one sweetheart of a deal. By calling 513-985-9855 (as soon as possible!) to schedule an appointment with them on either Saturday, November 13th or Sunday, November 14th (Kenwood location only), and mentioning it's for Queen City Greyhounds, a $20 donation will get you one classy hair cut & style. QCG gets to keep all of the proceeds! I mean, seriously, does it get any better? Most people spend $20 or more on a hair cut anyway, and in this case, your $20 helps save greyhounds.

A fringe benefit? You'll look snazzy for Sunday.

And what's on Sunday you ask? Well, now that you mention it...Sunday is going to be incredible. Clear your schedules and get ready for a busy day!

Sunday begins with both the Aveda Cut-a-thon AND a Meet & Greet at Moochie & Co. at Kenwood Towne Centre. For those who have not stopped by yet, we are lucky to have a partner like Moochie & Co. There is so much foot traffic at Kenwood, especially during this time of the year, that we've gotten to introduce the greyhound breed to tri-state residents that normally have not had this exposure. We have met all kinds of great potential families and individuals who are falling in love now with greyhounds and will likely look to Queen City Greyhounds to help them adopt their next pet. NOTE: Unlike other Meet & Greets, it is vital that you NOT bring your own greyhound to this event. Kenwood and Moochie (due to limited space) are understandably limiting the number of greyhounds we can have in the mall at any given time. If you are interested in volunteering for this Meet & Greet and want to bring your greyhound, please sign up through VolunteerSpot.

Once these events are over, we will move over to Paul & Carol Beaird's for the rest of the day. First, QCG will hold it's open Annual Meeting at approximately 3:00 pm. Click here for directions to Paul & Carol's home. At this meeting, we will review the events of the last year, preview what's coming in 2011, and announce the results of the election for the next Board of Directors. Voting is open to 1) Members of Queen City Greyhounds 2) Fosters of Queen City Greyhounds 3) Board Members. Tom has sent out the link to the ballot via email. If you have not received the link to the ballot, and believe you should have, please contact us immediately (click here to do so). Voting ends at 10:00 pm on Saturday, November 13th.

The annual meeting should wrap up just in time for... *drumroll*... the November Haul. TEN (yes, ten) former racing greyhounds will being their retirement, be greeted by the QCG family, and then head home with their foster families for a few weeks. For anyone contemplating adoption, this is a GREAT opportunity to take a look at all of the available greyhounds we will have. Many potential adopters find their match at these events. (Or, if you ask us, it seems to be that the greyhound picks out his/her family.)

This will also be the inaugural haul of our new greyhound transportation vehicle. Special thanks to Tim and Ed for the time they've been putting in getting it ready for its voyage!

We've updated the "Available Dogs" section of our website with a list and basic stats on the 10 dogs we are bringing up from Birmingham. There is a great variety this time, ranging from a petite 58 pound brindled female (PJ's Devil) to an 89 pound fawn male (WDR Evil Design). We'll get pictures uploaded to the site as soon as possible once the event ends.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Blogging during a "down" week

Ok, not exactly a down week, but for the way we've been going it is. For the first time in many weekends, we only have one event scheduled. While we always like to be out there doing something, having only one meet and greet is a welcome break.

In actuality, this is quite an important weekend. A couple volunteers are traveling to Abilene, KS to pick up a greyhound hauler for us! That's right, our very own hauler. While we're lucky to have this opportunity, hard work has gotten us to this point. We were offered a deal that was just too good to pass up and, sooner than later, will save us a substantial amount in travel costs throughout the years.

Let's see... what else to report? Well, we have found forever homes for 69 dogs in 2010. That's 12 more than in 2009! Everybody involved should be very proud of that. And we've still got two more months to go.

9 more greyhounds will be arriving in November (almost assuredly the 14th) in our new hauler. Several of them already have applications pending on them.

Our blood donor girls at Grady Vet are doing great. Kim's tail doesn't stop when you visit her and Glamour Gal is a smiler! They will both be available for adoption in January, but don't be afraid to stop by Grady to visit them until then. Their staff will be happy to let you love on them.

And chances are that if you're reading this, you have seen our new website. While that's not exactly news, it's still pretty cool. And soon, in this blog we'll have contributions from different types of experts, including veterinarians, nutritionists, fosters, and more. So don't be afraid to subscribe. And if you have something to contribute, let us know!

Until next time...

October 16-17 Weekend Events

A busy weekend ahead!

On Saturday, we have Moochie's at Kenwood Mall and it will be the last regularly scheduled Saturday M&G until the new year. Tom is arranging the hounds for that M&G. Email Tom at tomhawver@gmail.com if you're interested in coming.

We also have Macy's Shop for a Cause and we are going to be outside at the Macy's Anderson Town Center from 12 to 3. We'll be by the men’s clothing entrance.

The final event for Saturday is the Huber Heights PetSmart. Jen and Hernan would really appreciate any of the folks up towards Middletown / Dayton area that would be willing to help them out in HH. Moochie's & PetSmart are scheduled for noon to 3 p.m.

On Sunday, we are scheduled to be at the Howl-o-ween event at Red Dog in Hyde Park. The event runs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. We are going to be indoors at this event and we need folks to help out as it now overlaps the new arrivals. Please let me know if you are able to attend this event. We have done many events with Red Dog and we always have a greyt time!

Sunday is also the haul around 2:30 p.m. Once the haul arrives in Louisville I will send out an arrival update. Depending upon the temps outside, we may have to move the bathing part to Doggie Depot.