As Jacks-of-all-Trades go, Rosemarie Sima clearly stands out.
If it can – and must – be done, Rosemarie has done it. She was kennel manager and medical coordinator for four years at GAC’s old Lakeside facility. She’s done turnout. She’s done landscaping. She was involved in merchandise sales. She’s answered phones.
One of our on-call-we-need-you-now heroes, Rosemarie recently helped out at the photo shoot for next year’s calendar. She says the dogs were cooperative, except one. “It was very funny watching Rhonda (McAllister) rolling around with squeaky toys trying to get the dog’s attention.”
Rosemarie has been associated with GAC for 27 years. “Our first greyhound came out of Darren and Candy’s backyard,” she says. “We had a cocker spaniel that needed a companion. My husband wanted a small, black female. They didn’t have one, but this huge brindle boy sidled up and hugged him – and that was all it took.” The first order of business was to get a bigger dog door to accommodate Judd (GAC’s Jud); he still holds a special place in her heart.
In those very early days, Rosemarie says Darren used to send the dogs who were not quite cat-safe to her. “Our all-white cat, Meowzette, would immediately put each dog in its place.” That’s one way to create a cat-safe greyhound!
She’s adopted seven greyhounds over the years, but she’s been most prolific as a foster parent. She’s been a magnet for older dogs, bounce-backs and those with special needs; her last one – Grady (GAC’s Turmoil) – had an auto-immune deficiency, but they were able to enjoy each other for seven years until he passed away two years ago at the age of 14.
Rosemarie retired three years ago from her job in a medical office. She has no adopted or foster greyhounds at the moment, but she is “mom” to a 12-year-old Labrador (Cody). However, the next special-needs grey that lands at the kennel just might find its way to Rosemarie’s Clairemont Mesa home.
From all of us at the Greyhound Adoption Center: thank you so much, Rosemarie, for being a part of our special team of staff and volunteers!