Ole Miss Musings: Walk, But Don't Run

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Becky Tettleton and her husband, Philip, are enjoying the post racing experience of owning a Greyhound. Their beloved Kipp is the apple of their eye (make that rabbit) and has found a home like never anticipated. HottyToddy.com crossed paths with Kipp and Philip recently on the campus.

HottyToddy.com: Becky, thanks for agreeing to meet with us. We love stories about canines and yours is most unique!
Becky Tettleton: We adopted/acquired Kipp in January 2016. He had been racing in West Memphis for three years under the name Otto Luger.
HottyToddy.com: How did you go about obtaining Kip?
Becky Tettleton: Philip wanted a dog he could walk with (we already had a Pomeranian) and as Philip was a former runner, I started looking online for a former athletic breed which led me to the Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Option.

HottyToddy.com: How does the organization place the dogs?
Becky Tettleton: The Greyhounds literally go from racing to the adoption organization, which is directly behind the track. There were about 30-40 dogs to choose from when we arrived. If the Greyhounds do not find homes, they are likely euthanized.
HottyToddy.com: Thank God for families like yours! How was Kipp selected?
Becky Tettleton: We took our entire family to the screening, which included our dog and two Sphynx cats. They brought one Greyhound out at a time. I believe Kipp was the sixth. If the Greyhound’s ears go up and his teeth start chattering, that is not a good sign. Kipp was very friendly, happy go lucky. We were able to take him home for a “sleep over” trial, which turned out great.

HottyToddy.com: How is Kipp as a house pet?
Becky Tettleton: Fantastic! Greyhounds are delightful and are well behaved and very sweet. Since they have been confined all their lives to a small kennel, the run of the house seems “huge” to them. Kipp loves to walk and is waiting for Philip every morning around 7 a.m. They walk two to four miles every day.
HottyToddy.com: When we stumbled across Philip and Kipp, Philip had Kipp on a leash.
Becky Tettleton: You can never take a Greyhound off the leash as they are sight dogs. If Kipp should hear or see something that would peak his interest, he would take off. They can run 45 mph.
HottyToddy.com: (The same day we met with Becky, Daphne was not on her leash, saw two deer and took off after them. Luckily, she doesn’t run 45 mph) What else can you share with us about Kipp’s new life?

Becky Tettleton: Before Kipp retired from racing (he won quite a few races), he weighed in the 70s or possibly 80, where he is now. We feed him six cups of dry dogfood daily. He loves attention and verbal praise. He would rather ride in the car than eat. We bathe him in a tub, which he really enjoys. Greyhounds are not good watchdogs as they seldom bark. While in the car, Kipp is fascinated by construction zones and is very curious about the equipment.
HottyToddy.com: Does the Mid-South Greyhound Adoption Option ever follow up with you?
Becky Tettleton: They have an annual fundraiser in October which you can bring your adopted Greyhound with you. It is a great experience as the dogs lie around the tables during dinner. The cost of adoption is around $250 which covers all of their shots and checkup. The agency wants to ensure all Greyhounds are in excellent condition once they find the ideal home. We had to do our homework also to be informed as to the Greyhound’s likes and dislikes.
HottyToddy.com: It looks as if Kipp has found canine heaven.
Becky Tettleton: Greyhounds are the only dogs mentioned in the Bible, Proverbs 30:29-31. Kipp could not be a better dog. He gets along wonderfully with our other three pets. He is very social and enjoys meeting other canines. He has two comfortable beds to sleep on and has truly become a family pet!
Before we departed from the interview, Becky mentioned her daughter, Candice Bailey, who is an Ole Miss alum currently teaching English in South Korea 60 miles from the DMZ. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her as well as Kipp as they both have found new and exciting homes. Adopting dogs brings out the best in all of us which recalls Will Roger’s famous quote….”If dogs aren’t in heaven, I want to go where they went.”

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Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.
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