I'm Teisha Casasanta, the house mom at the Sighthound Hotel. I grew up having a dog named Tootsie. She was golden lab mix and my best friend as I was a very shy little girl. I was very lucky to have had her because I learned if you love an animal, you in turn teach them how to love and I truly believe they are greatest relationship we can have. Our unconditional best friends. 

I first learned about whippets in 2002 but I had never seen one in real life. I went to a dog show and I was immediately drawn to their grace, prancing feet and gentle long neck and sweet face. In that moment I knew that I had to get one. My partner at the time had a rat terrier and I took her to the vet and while I was waiting in the room for the vet, the door flew open and I saw a man being dragged behind 2 whippets and I was so excited. He emphatically apologized for barging in the wrong room and I told him my dream of owning one. We exchanged numbers and about 6 months later in 2003 he told me that he had a litter. We went to his house which had puppies all over the place and it was more than he could handle. I picked one out but my partner saw the chaos and laid his foot down and said no! I left broken hearted and couldn't stop thinking about the puppy. A few weeks went by and the gentleman begged me to take a puppy so I put my foot down and of course I got wish. That day was the happiest day of my life because I officially became a mother. I named him Max and for the next 13 years he was my everything. We went through so much together as a bonded duo. Sadly, he passed away beside me in my arms from congestive heart failure. It shattered me and I lost my most loved being in the world that day. 

In December of 2017 I got Whipper, my second Whippet. Two weeks after having him he started having non stop seizures. He had 26 in 12 hours and I was told he had brain damage and I'd have to euthanize him. They told me that it's inhumane to keep him alive. He was 11 weeks old and I already bonded with him. The vet was just about to give him the first shot and whipper looked up at me and licked my face and I literally grabbed the vets wrist and pulled him tightly to me and insisted that they give him anesthesia so he could rest and I was going to find out how to get him better. Well, Whipper is seven years old now and doing well. He only has about three seizures a year and his medicine is keeping it under control. 

Mazzy came along in 2023 and she has a big welcoming personality. 

In March of 2024 I got extremely sick and in the emergency room the Dr. asked me what my final wishes were. First I thought to be comfortable and home with my pups. I started to panic and cry because I thought, this is it? I'm going to die in the hospital and I will never see Mazzy and Whipper again! No! I was in the hospital for 5 days in agonizing pain and reflecting on my life. What do I love the most in this world and what haven't I done? What about other dogs that are left without their owner and my poor father came to be by my side but knew I only trusted him to care for my dogs, which he did so I didn't have to worry. Four days in and I thought if I get better I want to care for other whippets and I can do that from my house and socialize Mazzy. I was determined to get out and I asked them to release me the next day and denied further treatment. Being in my own bed with my pups would make me better. A week after coming home and building my strength up I offered to board on the Atlanta Whippet group and a week later I got to take care of Zinni for 10 days. This was my turning point and they say if you survive it's because you still have work to do and now I'm fulfilling my purpose in life. The rest of the year whippets kept coming in and some friends that have other breeds came too. I have a steady flow of long snoots, cuddles, beautiful runs in the garden and so much love for my life now. Turning pain into purpose is the secret to life and I have a lot of love to give. I want every puppy parent to feel secure and safe leaving them with me.