Dear Friends and Family,

Twenty-two years ago, we adopted our first greyhound, Spinoff, from REGAP of
Connecticut, with the help of Eileen McCaughern.
Eileen has continued adopting out greyhounds for all these years - one at a
time, through thick and thin, she just keeps going. She is in the finals
for Animal Planet Hero of the Year - please vote for her and help greyhounds
everywhere find forever homes!



http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/hero_of_the_year/poll/poll.html


Please forward and cross-post, so Eileen and the greyhounds win!

for hounds, hugs, and life,

Lynda
Josie, Red, Jake, & Seven!

Live every day with GUSTO!!!



********************************************************************************\
*******************************************************************


Meet Eileen McCaughern
Nominated by: Pam Hollifield


She huddled alone in a borrowed tent, tears, mingled with soot, streamed
down her face. The smoke-filled air burned her eyes and lungs. She had
just watched her home completely burn; yet she was thankful because she
saved her 15 cherished greyhounds. Saving greyhounds isn't new to Eileen
McCaughern. She's rescued over 5,000 greyhounds, one at a time.
Eileen pioneered greyhound rescue. In 1973, greyhounds were routinely
destroyed because there were no greyhound rescue groups yet in existence.
Eileen formed REGAP of CT and established this nation's first matching funds
greyhound retirement home. Eileen's efforts gained the attention of
national and local television networks, magazines, newspapers and radio.
Most times, REGAP had more greyhounds than finances, but Eileen persevered,
even when she lost her job. Eileen lobbied for, and received, state grants.
Her home was rebuilt and she found new employment. Things were improving,
or so she thought.
In 2005, the Plainfield Connecticut Greyhound Park announced it would close
forever. Approximately 800 greyhounds had nowhere to go-an almost
insurmountable challenge until Eileen became involved. Eileen, with support
from volunteers and the media, found homes for 200 of the approximately 800
dogs. State grants, funds from the American Greyhound Council, assistance
from businesses and individuals recently enabled Eileen to open a kennel.
Eileen works a full-time job and two part-time jobs to help defray the costs
incurred in rescuing greyhounds.