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STOP PRESS! Check out our new whippet calendar!

Whippet Calendars and Diaries still available!!!!!!

It is still not too late to purchase one of our lovely 2010 calendars or diaries.  We still have a few left so hurry and get your order into me.  It’s a few weeks off yet til the beginning of 2010.  So drop me an email at raemitch@hotkey.net.au to double check the availability before sending me a cheque.  Calendars $12- including postage. Diaries $17- including postage.

Thanks for your continued support and take care,

RCM

Hi All Whippet Lovers,

Here is an interesting website. I have ordered a copy of "The Narrow Dog of Carcassonne"
It has to be a "must read" for whippet lovers.

http://www.narrowdog.com/

Cheers Rae

Dear Whippet Lovers,

 
Firstly we are really sorry that mainly due to lack of helpers our last Fun/Race Day for the year had to be cancelled.  Since then I have received many emails from people offering their help and rest assured I will ask if you can still lend a hand at our Fun Days in 2010.  Thank you sincerely for your kinds offers.

Perhaps the following will explain what our Club is all about and you will then understand why we are so limited to holding Fun Days.  Our Association is a purebred dog club affiliated with Dogs Victoria and as such we are obligated to hold at least one Championship and Open Show a year and at least two Breed Competitions. We also hold an AGM and bi-monthly General Meetings.  We are also members of The National Whippet Breed Council of Australia so therefore from time to time we hold a National Show over two days and there are meetings involving this national council too.  All the above is a part of being the custodians of the breed in Victoria. In fact our Club is the most pro-active in Australia. To give something back to our “pet” people we decided that we would try our best to hold at least three “Fun Race Days” a year by having racing at Healesville. We are lucky that we have a breed that loves to participate in this sport. 

So please visualize just how full our club calendar is and how hard sometimes it is to try to fit everything in.  Especially considering that most executive and committee personnel also hold down full time jobs and have “another life” outside the Club!!!!  Please let me know if you can commit some time to helping out at our “Fun Days” because “many hands make light work” as the saying goes.  Thank you to those who do come along regularly and help. 

It angers me to hear about whippet puppies being sold through Pet Shops.  Contrary to what some people think these puppies are not from registered breeders.  A “Pet Shop” is not a “registered breeder”.  There are “puppy farmers” out there “supplying” these establishments with puppies.  The cost of a puppy through a Pet Shop is no cheaper than buying from a reputable registered breeder.  Pet Shops should not be allowed to sell any live animals.  This is impulse buying and unlike buying a toaster or TV you cannot return “it” after 7 days because it’s pooing on the carpet!!! Sometimes I pass Pet Shops and see in the puppy or kitten window, “Sale, price reduced” which means that the poor creatures are “growing” so are to some people no longer “tiny and cute”. I shudder to think what happens to these in the end.

The vast majority of whippets that end up in pounds and shelters come from these sources and “puppy farmers”.  If you are considering buying a puppy please go through the correct channels.  If there are no litters available on our website at the time of your search please contact me or another of our members as there is bound to be litters being planned so please be a little patient.  It will pay off in the long run.  You may see puppies advertised “cheaply” in the Trading Post or other newspaper but it’s generally a matter of “what you pay for is what you get”!!!!  Check out all the pages on our most informative website. 

There is interesting stuff there for all to read, reinforcing the importance of what I have just said.
Times are getting tough with people losing their jobs or having their hours cut back.  You don’t need to spend a lot to feed your whippet.  Whippets really don’t need a lot of food to keep them looking trim taut and terrific.  There are reputable brands of dry food available at supermarkets, some Aust owned and made.  Wet food!!  What about chicken necks?  Chicken shops sell these very cheaply.  Or for red meat, buy from a reputable pet supplies.  NOT one that sells live animals!!!  I know Vet bills can be very expensive but shop around, make some phone calls.  You will be surprised at the difference.  Speaking to various people I am shocked by the cost some folk pay just for vaccinations and neutering operations.  Don’t forget that some dog shelters have Vet services available for a very reasonable price and, at the same time you are helping to support the shelters.   

The hot weather is upon us again with a vengeance so please remember to make sure your whippets have lots of shade and plenty of cool water on hand. On a hot day like we’ve had the temperature in a car can reach 80 degrees C in ten minutes with the windows up so don’t leave your dogs in the car for any length of time.  It’s all about common sense isn’t it??   
As I have said before if you are finding it hard to contact me during the week it’s because I work very strange shifts but try the weekends as I am home most times then.  If the phone is engaged I just might be catching up with sleep so please keep trying.  Otherwise send me an email and I will endeavour to get back to you as soon as I can.  At least with email it might be the middled of the night but at least it won’t disturb YOUR sleep.  Thank you for your patience lovely people, cuddles to all your whippets and until next time “HAPPY WHIPPETING”, SEASON’S GREETINGS and have a great NEW YEAR!!!!
RCM

Meeting Dates

The next meeting is our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING on Wednesday February 10th at KCC Park, Classic Room at 8pm. A General Meeting will follow. Please bring a plate for supper. 

These meetings are open to all current members of the Association. Please come along and support your club. Future dates and venues will be announced on this web page.

We look forward to your continued support and hope to see you all there on the day. Future dates & venues will be announced on this web page.

ATTENTION!!!
A reminder to all members

Our financial year now ends on December 31 st of each year. Memberships are due and payable by January 31 st . This should be easy to remember now. Put a note on the final day of your calendar. If you miss out on the first newsletter of the year (or any newsletter for that matter) please check you membership status with me, preferably by email: raemitch@hotkey.net.au or else call 03 9725 0486.

Dual - $35-, Single - $25-, Junior (up to age 13) $7-

Please make cheques payable to The Whippet Association of Vic. Inc and post to: Secretary, Rae Mitchelson , 44/79 Bayswater Road , Croydon, 3136.

We thank you sincerely for your continued support!!!!! Without you, the members, our Club could not continue!!!!!