The Homeschoolers EastRoots & Shoots team recently helped support the 8th Birthday of the Greyhound Adoption League of Texas (GALT).  Although the weather tried to storm on us, our conviction to have this event must have staved it off because it never rained a drop once we got to the park where the party was being held.

Since January, approximately 12 kids in our Roots & Shoots group learned about the history of greyhounds, the uniqueness of the breed, its plight and about GALT, an organization that works to rescue greyhounds once they are retired.  The kids read about greyhounds, attended Meet & Greets to see greys available for adoption, met and interviewed those who foster greys and came up with lots of creative ideas for a booth to promote GALT at their birthday party event.  In addition, we contacted the Gilley Girls Dancing Greyhounds who performed at the party.

Some of the items the kids worked on for the booth included greyhounds made from Legos, others made from clay, a diorama entitled Greyhound Freedom, which included a miniature greyhound chasing a rabbit in a forest, a drawing of a greyhound decorated with dog treats, garland strung with dog bones and treats, a pretty donation box decorated with dog prints, decorated gift bags filled with items from GALT's wish list, a poster promoting the breed, a display board filled with information the kids had researched about GALT's mission, the breed and how to help GALT, two large sheet cakes with the GALT logo on it and finally a 4 foot long papier mache dog bone with a cut out to fill it with dog treats to give out to passers-by.  In addtion, we were able to get a banner made with the GALT logo to donate and we collected a few dollars at our booth to give to GALT too!

The birthday party was a huge treat for all the hard work the kids and parents had put into preparing for the event.  Close to 100 greyhounds were in attendance!  In every direction there were majestic and beautiful greyhounds of every color and size.  I have to say, personally, it was quite spectacular.  Although our family has a grey of our own, being around so many of them really made me appreciate the breed even more.  There is something very special about these dogs.  I felt it when I met a grey for the first time.  His name was Titus.  He was such a gentle boy.  I get the sense that these dogs seem to have more to give than many other breeds, which is amazing since the retired racers come from an environment that doesn't treat them as pets.  One of the funniest traits of greys is their tendency to lean on you, which is quite amusing and this showing of affection goes straight to your heart.

Back to the event....the kids had the opportunity to share on a GALT video what they had learned and also sang two songs for the crowd.  One was the Roots & Shoots theme song by Raffi.  The words are:

Roots and shoots,roots and shoots
We are the roots and shoots of a living world
Roots and shoots, everywhere
The hopes and dreams of a living world
We dig the earth and we reach for the sky
We root so low and we shoot so high
We love the birds and we love the trees
We love the whales and the chimpanzees
We are the seeds and we are the buds
Grow through the concrete grow through the walls
The power of life, the power of love
From the earth below to the heavens above
Dig dig dig, reach for the sky
We love the earth and well tell you why

The other song came from a quote by Abdu'l-Baha in regard to compassion for animals. The words are:

If an animal be sick, let the children try to heal it,
if it be hungry, let them feed it,
if thirsty, let them quench its thirst,
if weary, let them see that it rests.

After the event was over and everything was packed up, GALT gave each family a decorative metal cut out of a greyhound and a very nice letter thanking the kids for their participation and service.  Overall, the event was a great success and every family enjoyed spending the day supporting GALT.  We hope to continue serving GALT in the future as this is a very worthy and important volunteer organization that strives to rescue the beautiful greyhound that deserves to be loved and cherished.