Hi, my name is Marbo.

I’m one of the lucky greyhounds from Guam that has been relocated to the U.S. mainland. Since you, a donor have become part of this wonderful effort to save my greyhound friends on Guam, I would like to share some of what I have experienced since being saved.

Dave and Noni Davis with Mabel and Marbo the day they were found, January 26th, 2009.

I won’t elaborate on what Noni and Dave Davis have written on www.guamgreyhounds.org, except to say that everyone working for the greyhounds on Guam is a real hero, especially Noni and Dave. I would not be here if they hadn’t found me and my girlfriend Mabel at the Marbo caves (yes, that’s how I got my name). When I first arrived at the GAIN shelter, I was not sure we had long to live. I weighted 44 pounds, Mabel 41. Luckily we had the support of many GAIN volunteers and the expert advice of Dr. Kevin Malakooti who took care of us when we were close to not pulling through. Now Noni calls us “miracle dogs”, Nina, Tara and Louie who were found starving like us.

The plane flight from Guam on May 21st with Mabel, Turbo and Misty in “giant’ 48” long airline crates was rather tedious (seven hours) and boring. We got a short stay in Hawaii, and then we were off to Los Angeles. When the four of us got into LAX, the Continental staff carefully took us over to the cargo terminal where several people were waiting. They got us out of our now slightly soiled crates (no potty breaks on the plane) and gave us a nice walk. When we got back the crates were clean and had new linens. The ride to Homestretch in Fillmore of 1 ½ hours gave me time for a nap and then all kinds of nice things began to happen.

Jean Smith and Barbara Davenport with Mabel and Marbo on May 21.

First, Jean Smith,a regular volunteer at Homestretch, got us a small meal, gave each of us a bath and cleaned our ears. The ears are really important because some of us Guam greyhounds have or have had bad ear infections. Some are so bad, in fact, that a few of us have cauliflower ears from scratching which makes it impossible to read our ear tattoos. We brought a lot of the Guam dirt with us, so Jean gave us another bath on Friday.

We seem to get attention here at Homestretch almost all the time. My friend Turbo likes to start making noise at 5 a.m. which gets Bob up at 5:30. He turns us out making sure we all get along. Because there are three males here who don’t like their brothers, we all don’t get to go out together. Breakfast and dinner are pretty much the same, Eagle Pack chicken and rice kibble, a scoop of canned pumpkin (for coat and fiber), fish oil and some powdery stuff that aids digestion. After breakfast we get to go out again. When someone poops, it is picked up immediately to prevent spread of worms (some Guam dogs have hookworms like our relatives in Arizona and Oklahoma). It seems there is always some laundry to do as I can hear the washing machine going day and night.

Yes, that's me on the right at the vet's January 26th. Here I am today with Diane Seno and Brenda Christianson.

I personally want to thank you for helping Homestretch make our arrival safe and full of love. Homestretch is taking care of us until another greyhound rescue can put us into their adoption program. You might think this is a large operation with a staff, but in actuality, Homestretch is just a couple, Barbara Davenport and Bob Smith, with the help of a few volunteers Jean Smith, Diane Seno, Lee Campbell, Denise Patwell and Chris Janni who give us regular walks. Today I got to go with Mabel on a long walk through the lemon grove next door. It was so peaceful, I could have stayed out all day. Everyone here and at the Greyhound Protection League (which paid for our care on Guam and our transportation) is a volunteer, so all of your donation is going to help the Guam greyhounds (food, medications and shipping the crates back to Guam).

It amazes me how resilient us Guam greyhounds are. After some idiot dumped us to starve to death, we still love human companionship. We only want a good home with caring people. After all we have been through, in such unpleasant circumstances, we are all still full of love and affection. I, for one, can’t wait to start my new life with my very own family!

Thank you for being part of my story and giving a life to me and 149 of my brothers and sisters.

Warmest regards,

Marbo

Note: The 125 Guam Greyhounds that stayed at Homestretch were there from one to two weeks before they were relocated to another rescue group and available for adoption. Marbo went to Greyhound Friends for Life in northern California on May 27. He is still looking for a permanent home.