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Hazel, Evelyn, & Florence

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Hazel was a retired racing greyhound, forever beloved. 🌈
Evelyn & Florence are whippets.
my name is meghan & i am a kpa ctp @sunflowercaninecoaching

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Hazel: December 22, 2010 - February 29, 2024.

Hazel was born in Kansas. She moved on to a kennel in Florida sometime in the summer of 2012, where she raced a grand total of ten times before retiring at the tender age of one year and seven months old. She then traveled up the coast, finding her way to Greyhound Friends of New Jersey, her wonderful foster mom Marybeth, and then at last to me. I picked her up at the GFNJ annual greyhound picnic, on September 23, 2012.

She will forever be the most opinionated dog I have ever known. She always knew exactly what she wanted to do, and where she wanted to go, and she could never be convinced otherwise. I often have said that she is not a dog, but an alien pretending to be a dog, or a person pretending to be a dog. Hazel has always been special, above mere dogdom.

No description of Hazel is complete without including her penchant for thievery. In her younger days she was immensely clever and strategic about stealing food. She had a particular taste for pizza and bagels, being at heart a Jersey girl. She also, memorably, once swiped a brownie right out of a child’s hand. She amazed and astounded at every turn with her cleverness and persistence. While she mostly retired from crime in her senior years, she would sporadically remember her love of thieving and get into the garbage, or somehow, impossibly, get up on her weakened hind legs and steal something off the counter.

On today, her last day, she managed to steal the bread I had left out on the counter, which I was going to give to her anyway.

She wasn’t much of a racer, but she loved to run for fun. She loved the sun. She loved children, and she was kind to all creatures (except chickens, to which she was allergic).

We had over a decade together. Many greyhounds do not make it to be thirteen years old, and I was so happy to celebrate her official teenagerhood this past December. (She even had a crown and sash.) I was so careful about taking so many photos, trying to capture and remember every special moment. And to me, they were all special moments.
These beautiful photos are by @melanieruskinphotography.

I will miss Hazel for the rest of my life. by @sighthounding

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Evelyn appreciation post ✨⚡ by @sighthounding

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I'm a bit late, but June 29th, 2026 marked 2 years since Florence came home.

I am not sure of most things. I second-guess, hedge, go back and forth and back and forth around in an endless circle: pros and cons lists, coin tosses.

But I was sure of this: I wanted to raise a puppy. And when I saw her I did know right away she was the one. I still made my careful deliberations and consulted my wise council because that is how I approach everything. But I knew she was the one. I was sure of her. I was so sure of her that I already knew her name.

Together with one of my closest friends, we drove around eight hours or so roundtrip to bring her home. She threw up at least twice along the way, carsick and uncertain. But I was sure.

Evelyn wasn’t. Evelyn took about 12 hours to warm up to her – and then she welcomed her like a long lost sister.

Florence.

Goofy, silly, beautiful and sweet, rambunctious and brave, steady and sure when it counts, and everyone’s best friend. Just a couple of days after she came home, I wrote, “It’s so apparent just how much Evelyn & I both needed Florence in our lives.”

My first puppy. Brought home in the midst of grief over losing Hazel, the first dog who was mine and mine alone. I brought her home four months after Hazel passed away and left Evelyn and I in a fog of silence. It was exactly the right time.

Florence. Jumping brave and wild into the creek at the nature preserve, this past spring. Galloping all through the apartment every morning after her potty outing. Carrying her beloved Little Duckie everywhere she goes. Greeting strangers with joy. Running joyously through fields. Sticking to her guns. Teaching me more and more as she grows into who she will be.

She is 2 years old now. 27 months old. That trip to bring her home was 2 years and 2 days ago. She is a good dog: self-possessed, creative, intelligent and also clever, honey-sweet and sometimes troublemaking and always brave, brave, brave.

Florence. Before I knew her, I knew her name. I was sure she was out there. And the day I brought her home – even in the midst of grief – was one of the best days of my life. by @sighthounding

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3 months ago

by @sighthounding

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I always felt silly taking selfies with Hazel but I'm so glad I have them now. I have a million pictures of her but I do wish we'd gotten more pictures together. by @sighthounding

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Happy happy birthday to my friend, my KPA training partner, my little lightning bolt dog who keeps me on my toes. She is my shadow and my constant companion. I can always count on her. Happy 5th birthday, Evelyn Marie! by @sighthounding

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