Greyhound motif leaps all over benefit quilt

Quilter Eleanor Greenwood of Camden went to the dogs when she worked on the quilt she calls “Eleanor Loves Greyhounds.” Done in shades of pink and purple, the quilt presented a stitching challenge – all those long, slender legs and tails. Greenwood hand-appliqued 20 greyhounds – running, trotting or standing – on the quilt blocks. Greyhound owner Peggy Voakes of Lyndonville, Vt., designed the quilt background, pieced the blocks and quilted the top. The two women volunteered their time to create the piece.

The greyhound motif quilt Greenwood and Voakes collaborated on is a fundraiser for the Maine Greyhound Placement Service in Augusta, a volunteer organization Scot Bruns and Mary Towle established 14 years ago.

Fabric for the quilt came from Greenwood’s “stash” and from fabric family and friends collected. The quilt measures 58 inches by 72 inches. It is the fourth Voakes has worked on to raffle for benefit of greyhounds. Volunteer Andrea Martel of Auburn also has helped with the quilting projects.

Two more quilts stitched by Eleanor Greenwood also are in the works to benefit the placement service. A quilt is raffled each year, generating more than $3,000, said Louise Sawyer, volunteer kennel manager at Maine Greyhound Placement Service.

Scot Bruns and Mary Towle rescue greyhounds that have outlived their racing lives and find homes for the fleet-footed dogs. The pair are in the process, with the help of volunteers, of turning an old farm property into a kennel, shop and dog clinic. Plans are for the dog clinic to be available to other groups that rescue other breeds of dogs. It will cost $500,000 to build the facility.

Maine Greyhound Placement Service will be the host for the premier showing of the documentary film “The Final Run” at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 8, at the Elks Lodge, Civic Center Drive, Augusta. The film traces the life of a greyhound from puppyhood in Florida, through its racing career, and on its journey to a loving home through Maine Greyhound Placement Service. The film is open to the public and there is no admission charge. Raffle tickets for the quilt will be available for sale at the event.

The winning raffle ticket for the quilt will be drawn Oct. 8 at Greyhounds Reach the Beach, a gathering of greyhounds and owners in Dewey Beach, Del. More than 3,500 greyhounds are expected at this “gone to the dogs” beach gathering. Events include walks on the beach, a group blessing, remembrance of dogs gone, beer and biscuits, an art gallery, vendors, speakers and workshops.

To obtain raffle tickets or information, call Sawyer at 626-2893.

A photo of the “Eleanor Loves Greyhounds” quilt and more greyhound adoption information are posted at www.greyhoundplacement.com.

Call Ardeana Hamlin at 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net.