Cosmo:     Hello, my name is Cosmo. The really nice people at IGCA rescue have been taking care of me for a while. They say they just haven't found the perfect home yet, so I thought I better let you know what you're missing out on. I guess some people think I'm all washed up just because I'm 6 years old but I've got more energy than my whippersnapper of a younger foster brother - besides, Italian Greyhounds often live 12 to 15 years, so I'm not that old.  I'm a little bigger than the average IG at about 16 pounds, and I have a very distinctive face because my lower teeth jut out a little to the left-hand side, so my tongue sticks out a little sometimes. I've been told it's quite adorable. It doesn't affect my ability to eat or chew at all.

Boy do I love to meet people, and dogs, and cats, and even children. Not every Italian Greyhound can say that. I'm not scared of new situations or loud sounds. I even like big dogs, if they're calm. I think it would be very nice to live with another small dog because I prefer not to be alone. Don't get me wrong, I'm not clingy, it's just nice to have a buddy to cuddle up with in the kennel when there are no people around.
Yes, I'm kennel trained, I even sleep in it at night, but I really wish I could sleep in the bed. Maybe my forever home will be nicer than my foster home. They say it's something about training me, blah blah. For those of you with children, I would be a very good example because I love to eat my fruits and vegetables. I guess I'm not supposed to sneak them off the kitchen counter, but I can't help it - bananas, carrots, broccoli, cucumber, berries, they are so good.

I'm very good at coming when I'm called. In fact, if I don't come right away it's probably because I'm trying to get some more of those tasty vegetables.  I really like to go on walks and I don't even pull on the leash. And of course, I love to get petted and to curl up under the covers.

OK, so for most of my life I never learned that I was supposed to tell someone to let me outside when I needed to go potty. I still forget to a lot of the time. It was great during the summer because my foster parents were able to leave the doggie door open to the back yard (which has a 5ft, secure  fence) and I could go out whenever I wanted. I almost never had an accident in the house, but now that it's getting colder I get tempted to poop indoors.  Its cold out there for a skinny guy like me, folks. But I do not mark, that's not my style. I guess I just need someone who is patient and will help me learn that I always need to ask to go outside.

Cosmo is being fostered in Portland, OR. Oregon and Washington residents who want to begin the process to adopt an IGCA Rescue dog, write igplaygroup@mac.com to learn about the IGCA adoption process and receive an application. We are always willing to consider placing a dog out of state, but applicants are asked to apply to and work with us through their local IGCA Rep.