THE BEGINNING

During my time living in Ballard, Seattle, WA, I was navigating a rough patch—dealing with a breakup, working a stressful job, and lacking the comfort of close family and friends. My neighbor had a striking greyhound named Furmin. I would often see them in the elevator or around the neighborhood and his graceful presence was a beacon of calm. I decided the timing was right for me to get a dog. 

I shopped high and low looking for breeders. I considered basset hounds, labrador retrievers and endless rescue dogs. I spent my free time scrolling through adoption websites looking for a dog to catch my attention. I did a lot of research and decided in my tiny apartment I needed a low energy dog. I found myself leaning towards a greyhound, there was something about them. I knew I needed one. 

Greyhound Pets Inc. (GPI) came out to my apartment to interview me and determined I was a fit candidate. I drove to the shelter. I took groups of dogs out to the yard, giving them the chance to play, run, and to get to know each one personally. The caregivers who worked there asked me to pick a few dogs and I had some in mind. Originally, I had my eye on a black male dog with gold eyes. I had a name picked out, Miele ("honey" in Italian). I sat on an outdated couch and one by one the caretakers brought the dogs out to prance in front of me. Each dog looked right past me. There was no connection. It felt like speed dating and it was not going well.

A PERFECT MATCH

Just as I was about to give up, they said, “We have a wonderful dog for you, but she has a sister and we prefer to keep siblings together.” Curious, I agreed to meet her. In walked the most gentle and endearing soul I had ever encountered. With her black velvet coat and captivating eyes, she ran straight to me, and I knew instantly she was meant to be mine. We took a picture together, and I propped up a pillow behind her head because she blended perfectly with my black puffy jacket and leggings. 

The shelter provided me with information about “Queenie” (her racing name), including care instructions, what to expect with a greyhound, and her racing records. Mila had spent her early years racing under the registered name AMF Her Queen. Her intake form described her as calm, docile, and easygoing. She was not cat tolerant, could work with small dogs, and was agreeable with medium-sized dogs. Her racing records revealed she won 13 of 119 races, secured 2nd place in 19, and details about her wins, including "won by a nose." She was transported from Alabama to Washington, and while I never knew about her life before finding me, I felt it wasn’t necessary.

As I opened the passenger side door of my car, the caretakers chuckled, “You’re going to put this ex-racer in the passenger seat like a person?” “No, she needs to sit in the back.” They were right; Mila wasn’t going to adapt to domestic life immediately. I knew it would take special attention, time, and patience, and I was ready to commit to whatever it took. 

NEW YEAR, NEW MILA

Mila came into my life in late December 2015. I had a Christmas trip planned and was returning to Seattle in the new year. GPI put her on hold for me, essentially a greyhound layaway. My friend Michelle flew in for NYE and my birthday, and as we went out, I was anxious about leaving Mila at home. She was so new to me and I worried about how she might react to the fireworks. We made sure to return by midnight, and when we got home, Mila was calm but clearly happy to see me. I felt deeply grateful to start the new year with her, a gift from above.

When Mila first arrived, she appeared depressed and spent a lot of time in her bed, unsure of how to act like a dog. I encouraged her to jump on the couch or bed and shared snacks with her from my coffee table. She eventually took a liking to my bed, where she slept beside me like a boulder, taking up most of the pull-down Murphy bed in my 450 sq. ft. apartment. I didn’t mind at all; I loved having her close and was willing to do anything for her. Despite being a greyhound, she was quite snuggly and always needed to be touching me. 

Although she was initially distrustful of people and things, I slowly taught her to trust, and in return, she taught me so much more. She gave my life meaning and purpose. I enrolled her in dog training school, thinking it would ease her transition. While other owners shared tales of their disobedient dogs who had difficulty walking, Mila proved to be an exceptional walker, and I quickly realized we didn't need to be there. Needless to say, she graduated at the top of her class. Mila didn’t bark, but the first time I heard her make a sound was when she tried to mimic a fire truck’s siren—a sound that was absolutely adorable. We also attended greyhound meet-ups, where it was wonderful to see the hounds together. Mila was drawn to them; they would howl in beautiful harmony, creating a greyhound symphony.

MY BEST FRIEND

Mila was my companion through countless adventures—dining out at restaurants, exploring breweries, running around Green Lake and Ballard, hiking through the Cascades, and kayaking. She truly embraced her role as a PNW adventurer, and yes, she even had a pink raincoat! 

One time, I had a photo shoot about an hour's drive away and left Mila in the car. Afterward we stopped for lunch, I tied her leash to a chair outside while I went in to get a menu. Suddenly, I heard a loud clunking noise and rushed outside to find Mila trotting down the street with the chair dragging behind her. Thankfully, she hadn’t gone too far and I was able to get her back. We definitely made a scene that day, and from then on, I never left her tied up. On another occasion, while hiking Lake Serene, we encountered a large log blocking our path. With a steep drop-off and a narrow trail ahead, Mila refused to cross the log. I had to lift her heavy, awkward body and swing her over it. Despite our challenges, we reached the summit, which offered breathtaking views. Mila sat beside me while I enjoyed donuts, my hiking snack. The trek was well worth it. 

We also attended a dog charity event at a brewery, where we had a blast. Mila looked stunning in the professional photos we had taken. I enjoyed some great beer and got a souvenir wine glass to remember the night. There was one memorable run where bikes on a rack fell over like dominoes, startling Mila so much that she bolted into a busy intersection. I chased after her, calling her name, but she kept running. Fortunately, a passerby with salami in her purse managed to lure Mila back to safety. That woman truly saved us. 

When I started working in Tacoma and commuted from Ballard, I tried hiring a dog walker, but Mila wasn’t fond of any of them. They would call me while I was at work, “Your dog won’t get up” or “She doesn’t want to walk.” My neighbor, a retired man who adored Mila, also tried to walk her but faced similar issues. Frustrated, I decided to have Mila commute with me and stay at a doggy daycare near my work. The facility had cameras so I could check on her throughout the day. She mostly lounged on her dog bed and occasionally enjoyed splashing in the kiddie pool.

ROAD TRIP

When my luck ran out in Seattle and the universe was sending me on my way, signaling to me that it was time to come home, I packed up my apartment in my VW Jetta, Mila lied down in the back and down the coast we drove. It was the summer of 2016, and the heat was intense. We made several stops along the way; at one gas station, I let Mila out to relieve herself, only to realize later that the hot pavement had burned her paws. 

We planned to stay at my mom's apartment for a night, but Mila refused to get out of the car and whimpered when I tried to lift her. My mom was disappointed that we didn’t stay with her, so we ended up at a budget motel for the night. With no extra money until I started work again, I had to find the cheapest option available. The motel turned out to be in a sketchy area with a loud party in the room next door. Mila slept in one bed, I slept in the other. It was a long, restless night. She ended up peeing on the bed in the morning and we left in a hurry, like a greyhound chasing a rabbit. I expected the motel to charge me for the mess, but I figured they had probably seen much worse. 

After moving from Seattle to Encinitas, Mila and I shared our new home with a roommate named Duke. Whenever Duke’s owner was out of town, we would swap dog-sitting duties. Mila was a breeze to look after—she needed a daily walk and some affection, and she never caused any trouble. Duke, on the other hand, was a mischievous and energetic Weimaraner who kept me on my toes. He once ran away, another time, he tried to eat toothpicks and even a can of dog food!

HOME SWEET HOME

I decided I needed to move closer to home. I found a studio apartment I loved near Balboa Park. This apartment specifically said NO PETS in the contract. I called and told them about Mila. The landlord was open to meeting us and we toured the place. I was ready to sign the lease. He agreed to make an exception and he rewrote the contract: ONLY NON-BARKING Greyhounds. Mila and I had many scenic, lovely walks around the neighborhood. I loved taking her to the park. She was my running buddy. 

One time, my friend Jesse and I were training for a race and we were doing sprints back and forth across the grass. Mila became excited; she zipped around us so fast, in circles. We were cracking up. We realized she was running laps because that’s what she was trained for. She ran like the wind. It was the most beautiful thing to witness. I would take her to open parks and she would just go. We were at Balboa Park one time and she spotted a squirrel, she sprinted so fast and ran that squirrel straight up a tree. 

Mila was amazing. She was polite; she never wanted to hurt anyone’s feelings or to be in anyone’s way. She was thoughtful, considerate and intuitive, she had wisdom well beyond her years. She had a special connection with certain people, especially old and kind souls. People would stop us on the street, “Is that a Whippet?” They needed to know all about her racing and her history…they were fascinated. 

MILA MEETS KYLE

Mila also helped me pick Kyle! She didn’t love everyone, but it was obvious she fell for him. Their love for each other was instant. He took special care of her, he was patient and calm. He took her on walks and enjoyed her company. He didn’t mind sharing my bed with her. The three of us piled on top of each other in my queen size bed. 

We brought Mila camping with us at Crystal Cove. For dinner, we had charcuterie and shared some with her. We set up our tent and she slept on a tarp next to us. In the middle of the night, we heard wolves howling, so we brought her inside. Unfortunately, she ended up vomiting all over our bed—the cured meats didn’t agree with her. We felt awful! We loved taking her to Kate Sessions park. There she was in her element, off-leash, wild and free. 

Down the street there was a deli. The owner, Romi, from Japan, adored Mila. She gave her meat every time we stopped by. It was part of our routine we both looked forward to. Mila’s ears perked up and her tail swished excitedly on the way to see Romi! We also met Dan, a dog walker from St. Louis who was friendly and down-to-earth. He loved Mila and would take her on long walks, including trips to the pool and his own house. He enjoyed spending time with her and often asked if I could pick her up from his place after work.  Dan was an interesting character, frequently hosting people. On one occasion, a man opened the front door in a robe. Despite Dan’s great care for Mila, it was eventually time for us to move on.

GROWING FAMILY

Kyle and I were walking Mila at Pioneer Park, where he proposed to me. Afterwards, we celebrated at Thorne Brewery, a dog-friendly spot down the street that we frequently visited. Prior to our engagement, we traveled to Thailand, where I thought he might propose. He later shared with me that he preferred to do it at home, in a familiar place with Mila by our side. I am forever grateful he chose that setting and will always cherish that she was part of our special day. 

Our neighbor, Walt, was very fond of Mila. He would give her treats and always brightened up when he saw her. I often felt that he needed a greyhound, as he had a unique bond with her despite going through several adopted dogs. Walt introduced us to Kitty, who turned out to be a godsend. She adored Mila and became our dog sitter for years to come.

When I was pregnant with both of our babies, Mila brought me so much peace. We would take walks to the ocean and sit by the waves. She was a part of both labor experiences. With Audrey, Mila comforted me during my initial contractions, keeping me calm and trusting in the process. She seemed to sense something significant was about to happen. With Jackson, we took her on a walk when my contractions began.