Lily at the back door, getting ready for playtime in the yard. April 2012

On March 25th, 2002, Miss Lily Ann McCollister was born. With her white fur, tan spots, perky ears, and beautiful (and now toothless) smile, Lily continues to bring incredible joy to our lives. She may be turning 11 today, but she has incredible spirit, and still loves exploring all that the world has to offer.

Lily and Cousteau “circling” Mommy while on a hike in Tomales Bay, Mar. 2013

Family photo while hiking on Ring Mountain, Jan. 1, 2013. Clockwise from top left: Jake, Meg, Lily & Cousteau

I will always be grateful for KCREGAP (Kansas City REtired Greyhounds As Pets) for matching us with our little girl. Both Lily and Cousteau are so much fun, and we’ve continued to be involved with greyhound rescue ever since. If you are thinking of rescuing a dog, I highly recommend considering a greyhound. Nicknamed the “40mph couch potatoes,” they are gentle, loving creatures. After hard lives on the track, they simply want a human to love and a soft pillowly surface to sleep on (which is typically most of the day!). Please visit www.kcregap.org if you live in the Kansas City area, or www.greyhoundfriendsforlife.org if you live on the West Coast. Both of these groups do incredible advocacy work for greyhounds, and they always have greyhounds in need of a forever home.

We’re so excited to celebrate Lily’s 11 years today. She is a spoiled little girl, but she’s so darn cute, we just can’t help ourselves. Happy Birthday Lily!