Crown Point resident's education helps her run Greyhound Guardians

Purdue University Calumet student Lee Lavery of Crown Point cuddles with one of her Greyhounds, 8-year-old Blur.

Lee Lavery's education is literally going to the dogs.

Lavery, who received her bachelor's degree in communication on May 22, founded with her husband, Larry, the Greyhound Guardians in 1996.

A local, not-for-profit Greyhound rescue, Greyhound Guardians has placed some 1,600 dogs with approximately 600 families. The Laverys have eight of their own Greyhounds; at one time, they had 14.

"My education has really helped me to better communicate with and direct the Greyhound Guardians," said the 47-year-old Crown Point resident and Hammond native. "I've discovered different ways to talk to and approach people. It's been really beneficial in running this group."

Nationwide, more than 30,000 racing Greyhounds are retired yearly with less than 50 percent adopted and the rest euthanized. The retired dogs are 18 months to 2-years-old.

According to Lavery, doing public speaking and radio and television interviews about Greyhound Guardians are "not frightening anymore" because of her education.

Lavery said she enrolled at Purdue Calumet "on a whim."

"I had never been to college—never wanted to," she said. "One day, I decided 'I think I'll take a class.'"

So, with an interest in writing, she enrolled in an English composition course.

"That's how things happen in my life," Lavery said. "For instance, I happened to be watching a documentary on the killing of these dogs and thought, 'I guess I'll get one.'

"Some people don't know how quiet, affectionate, calm and loving Greyhounds are." Lavery plans to pursue a master's degree in communication. Her ultimate goal is to earn a Ph.D. and return to Purdue Calumet as a faculty member.

"Purdue Calumet is like a second home to me," she said. "Other than my living room, I'm most comfortable here."

Lavery won two critical film review awards, a personal essay award and a humorous poetry award in Purdue Calumet's Starke-Tinkham writing competition. Also, she presented research about novel to film adaptation at Purdue Calumet's annual Undergraduate Research Conference.

"She's a writer and a terrific student scholar," Purdue Calumet Professor of Communication William Robinson said.