our small, unconventional family has suffered a horrible loss this week. mahjong, the amazingly sweet and tender greyhound we were lucky enough to have adopted just over five years ago, was diagnosed with an incurable cancer in her stomach. though it broke our hearts to lose her, neither tony nor i could watch her suffer. and so with great sadness, but even greater love she was laid to her final rest on the morning of 12 september 2017.
here are some of our favorite pictures from her over the years so that we may remember all the joy she brought into our lives, and all the love she brought into our hearts.
on the 29th of June, 2012 i drove out to "fast friends", a greyhound adoption agency in western maryland to pick up this leggy fawn colored beauty and bring her to what would be her forever home. she was timid upon entering the townhouse, and wary of such things as stairs and mirrors. but after gentle words and quiet coaxing, she quickly made herself at home!
our girl was the professional athlete of the house. she was rescued from a track in st petersburg florida where she ran 117 races (a very respectable number) under the name "bob's toye". a torn muscle in her chest put her off the track, and eventually into our lives. tall for a female greyhound, she came to us with a sleek and muscular build. from the beginning she was well behaved on her leashed walks. she was gentle with our cat lewis. she was perfectly behaved at the dinner table. quite the little lady she was able to charm even the most hardened of hearts who claimed not to like dogs.
mahjong was well traveled, and often would accompany us on road trips. as she came to know and trust us, her she would occasionally let her inner goofball out!
mahjong became well versed in winery visits. this particular winery off the finger lakes in new york hosted a greyhound appreciation event every year. the "grape hound".
once she learned the game of fetch, it became one of her favorite past times! often she would pull on her leash when we walked by the fenced in ball field to let us know she was ready to run. and run she did! we would throw a tennis ball for her and she would take off like a shot. it was always glorious to watch how swift this born racer was.
to have a hound expose their belly to you means true love! mahjong loved a good belly rub.....
but of all the things mahjong loved, she loved a good nap on her love seat the most. greyhounds are true creatures of comfort. from champion racer to champion couch potato.
mahjong never became a fan of snow. and regarded the cold wet mess with much disdain and confusion.
in her retired years, mahjong was a philanthropist. we enrolled her as a regular donor with the blue ridge veterinary blood bank program. greyhounds almost always carry the blood type that is universal amongst dogs, so to have one as a donor is always welcome. she donated over 2 gallons in her years, saving over 60 lives of dogs that had suffered car accidents and heat stroke.
mahjong made an ideal candidate for playing dress up. her similarity in build and color to a deer worked perfectly at christmas time with a set of reindeer antlers! we never went so far as to paint her nose red....
and the girl could party. when we would have guests over she was always in the middle of the crowd, soaking up the praise and attention she would receive. she was always extra sleepy the next morning.
she suffered many of our shenanigans with grace. even posing for a political spoof during the 2016 election.
our girl was happiest when she had a cushioned seat and loved ones nearby.
we always made sure that she felt comfort and love, even until the end. she was my companion as i drove across the country, sharing in the luxury of hotel beds and pillows.
we will always carry this gorgeous creature in our minds and hearts. the pain of losing her will never outweigh the joy of having had her. rest in peace dearest mahjong.
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