Greyhound Adoptions of Florida

How Dancing Bug found her forever home
by Marilyn Varnberg

In spring 2008, Dancing Bug broke her leg on a track in Birmingham, Alabama. She came down to Grey Haven to recover. Two surgeries were required to repair her badly broken leg.

Dancing Bug's photo gallery

Bug then spent over four months with Vince Chesterfield and his pack, learning to walk again on her repaired leg and how to be a real greyhound pet.

In September 2008, the last stretch of Bug’s journey to her final home began. She rode back up to Birmingham with Barbara Pietrangelo and me.

In Birmingham we met Bill Becker, who took Dancing Bug to her new home in Tennessee.

Bug joins Bill and his wife Irene along, with two greyhounds and a mixed breed.

***

Homecoming for Dancing Bug
by Irene Becker

On September 25, 2008 my husband Bill and I adopted Dancing Bug (“Bug”). Bill drove to Birmingham, Alabama, to meet Marilyn and Barb and bring her back to the Memphis area where she started racing.

It was pretty obvious from the get-go that she was going to be a mischievious dog; she got into the treats while Bill was driving by eating a hole in the bag.

When Bill arrived at our home, he took Bug right to the back yard to get acquainted with the smells. We let the other dogs out one by one – first Happy, our mixed breed ran out, then Richy Rich, our big red fawn. Richy’s tail was wagging so hard and fast it looked like a propeller.

After they looked like they were getting along fine, Bill brought Tucker out. Tucker is also a 3-year-old, solid and muscular, so we were a little afraid he could possibly knock her over, especially with her weak hind leg. But he was amazingly restrained and just sniffed her a couple hundred times.

After everybody was properly introduced and Happy had washed everybody’s faces and ears, we all went inside where she started investigating her new digs.

Despite weighing 59 pounds (according to the scale at the vet), Bug is petite and delicate. She is an enthusiastic eater, happy, adjusted incredibly fast, and is ingratiating herself with everyone who meets her.

We’re happy that fate (a.k.a Marilyn and Greyhound Adoptions of Florida) handed us this delightful brindle girl who had such an unfortunate bad leg break that ended her racing career.

***

Special thanks from Marilyn

Bug, have a wonderful life, little one … you sure deserve it!

Congratulations Bill and Irene. You couldn't have a more precious girl to call your own.

Thanks to Vince for allowing Dancing Bug the time to heal and giving her the guidance she needed to be a house dog.

Thanks to Barbara P., for schlepping along with me and helping make that drive from Florida to Alabama and back.

And also thanks to all the kind people who helped with the original transport and those who sent this little brindle girl so many kind wishes!