Nov. 4th 2011, The Greyt Prince Able Rodney Jones was born. In our lives, he’s always gone by Able, but he was born Unstoppable Me, with the need for speed. Able raced at Bluffs Run in Council Bluffs, a job he both loved and was greyt at. He ran over 100 races between May 31st 2013 and November 11th 2014, making it all the way up to Grade A, the highest level of racing. Able loved his time racing, as evident by his excitement to revisit the track after retirement and seeing his beloved trainer Monty.
Able went to his foster home on Christmas Eve 2014. He couch surfed for a little bit before landing with Kathleen and Mike. Dedicated fosters who switched his name from Stop to Able, as stop isn’t the best name for a house dog. On Jan 24th 2015 Kathleen took Able back to Bluffs Run for a meet and greet. This big loveable 85 pound hunk of a greyhound was set to meet a couple who was to adopt him.
Upon getting to the meet and greet Able laid his eyes on Mitch and I. He decided we were his people, not the other couple. Able did not want to leave our sides. Everyone present could see that Able had chosen his family, and it was us. A week later we did a home visit, followed by an adoption soon after. The long running joke quickly became that I liked my dogs like I liked my men, tall and handsome.
Shortly after adopting Able, my first dog, we got very involved in the cult that is the Omaha Greyhound Community. We started to foster greyhounds right out of our downtown Omaha apartment. Over the years Able helped teach over 40 greyhounds what retirement and stealing human hearts was all about. Even if we didn’t have a foster we’d often be stopped by greyhound owners who recognized Able by his extensive bow tie collection or simply by strangers taken aback by his giant beauty and calm demeanor. He truly was an ambassador for greyhound racing and their retirement lives.
After a few years of downtown living we moved on up to midtown into a duplex with a large fenced yard for Able to explore. After time he warmed up to our neighbors two yorkies, eventually falling in love with the younger of the two, Bella. We’d often joke that she was his girlfriend, being much like his dad and liking much shorter women.
Able went everywhere with me. We explored many markets, expos, and campsites. He went to every single friend’s house and job I had. He was my best friend and napping partner. As he slowed down Mitch and I decided we never wanted to be without a dog in our lives so we began the hunt for a second dog.
Since Able was so amazing we thought another greyhound would be added to our family. Able had different ideas. While he served as a greyt foster brother he made it quite clear that he wanted to be the only greyhound in our home. Feeling a bit defeated, we went on a family trip to Colorado to visit friends. Able spent a long weekend with a mixed pack of dogs and suddenly showed a new zest for life. We quickly realized he was okay with another dog in our family, just not a greyhound.
In entered Oliver into our lives. The rambunctious, lovable, half Ables size, basset hound/german shepherd mix. Oliver continued to give Able that extra pep in his step. Able must have thought he had to keep an eye on this wild child or didn’t like the competition. Maybe Able just wanted to show us he still had “it”. Whatever may be true, we believe that Oliver helped give us extra years with Able.
Around his 11th birthday Able started to have sneaky poops. Every once in a while a little turd would fall out. So we got disposable diapers for him to wear. Then we noticed he couldn’t walk as well. A trip to the vet showed probable “doggy ALS”. This led to us getting a huge stroller for Able so that he could continue to go on our many adventures. It was the throne for a king. Mitch decided that summer that since he had the chariot, age, and regality about him, Able’s title should be changed to King Able.
Last night, February 27th, 2024, when I got home from work I was putting a sweatshirt on Able so he could stay warm in the cold front. When putting it on Able’s legs gave out, a common occurrence with his ALS diagnosis. This time though, he let out a yelp and couldn’t get up. Mitch was out pickup Oliver from doggy school. I mustered my strength and got Able to his favorite bed, the slumber ball.
Upon Mitch’s arrival home we loaded up the car and took Able to the emergency vet. Here his condition continued to deteriorate to the point he couldn’t put weight on any of his legs. Being 13 years old he had anticipated that someday this would happen. We had brought his favorite bed, treats, bow tie, and crown. Surrounded by Oliver, Mitch, and I, we had a few last facetime calls with his favorite people and then he drifted off to that forever sleep we mortals call the rainbow bridge.
May the prince live on in everyone’s hearts. Go take an extra nap, have some bathtub trash food, or a nice long roo for the old guy today. Heck go have your own sneaky poop if you feel so inclined. And thank you for loving him too.
