Travel Tips

Angus is our one-year old Italian Greyhound. We got him through the Mid Atlantic Italian Greyhound Rescue League after a three-child family that lived in a no-pets apartment building had to give him up. Like all Italian Greyhounds, dental hygeine is one of his main concerns. His predecessor in our house, Conrad, came to us as a rescue after his previous owners wouldn't pay for expensive dental surgery. Angus says "No way!" to that fate.

Angus would now like to tell the story in his own words (he is quite eloquent, but speaks with an Italian accent, of course):
"Here I am in my earlier months with Mom actually brushing my teeth. I have been embarrassed by the lavender brush and hope Mom will get me a new manly one."

Here she shows me how to brush way back and get those molars clean. She scared me with stories of Conrad having half his teeth pulled because he NEVER brushed his teeth. I could never give up chew chews.

Now I finally have the hang of it and I can do this myself. Climbing up on the stool to lean over the sink is a chore in itself but with practice, I’ve gotten pretty good at this. Though spitting into the sink is still hard.

My favorite toothpaste is peanut butter flavor. I don’t like those Crest and Colgate brands. Here I am brushing my molars. I Can’t forget the back teeth. I don’t want to end up like Conrad with any of my teeth being pulled. I am such a good boy, maybe I’ll get a new toothbrush in green or blue.

Angus never got a chance to meet Conrad. Rescued at the age of ten, Conrad only lived with us for two years before succumbing to cancer on Election Day 2004. Still, Angus is reminded every day how Conrad lived, chewing with out teeth, yet still managing to max out at 24 pounds. Angus swears that, if he bulks up, it will be the easy way -- by chewing all that food!