Guy and Melody Joyce live in the rural countryside near Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. Guy is a retired master electrician who worked at Hobart and William Smith Colleges for 26 years, and who now volunteers for the Harbor Habitat For Humanity ReStore. Mel is a senior supply chain specialist for Whirlpool Corporation and webmaster for several show dog breeders including Sue Carbajal (Coreymore Whippets) and Sharry Boyers (Springhill Papillons). They married in December 1995, and between them have 3 sons (John Joyce, Brad Ellis and Jeremy Ellis), 3 daughters-in-law (Dawn Joyce, Meredith Berman Ellis, and Tiffany Ellis) and 6 grandchildren (John and Dawn's children, Austin, Cheyenne, Logan and Mackenzie Joyce; and Jeremy and Tiffany's children, Conner and Skyler Ellis). Both Guy and Mel sing in the choir of Yore Community Church, and Mel is also the church's webmaster and contributor to the monthly YCC Newsletter.

September 2001:

We were spectators at a Wine Country Circuit show in Romulus, NY. An unidentified Whippet breeder left this sweet little girl in our care for a few minutes. By the time the "mystery breeder" came back, that darling little dog had crawled up onto our laps and wiggled her way into our hearts, solidly hooking both of us on this fabulous breed.

January 2002:

We acquired Shannon (DenGayle N Loranne Sure Shot) from Pam Murphy of DenGayle Whippets and Italian Greyhounds.

February 2002:

Mel and Shannon began to attend conformation classes held by Kanadasaga Kennel Club in Canandaigua, NY.

September 2002:

We moved from Canandaigua, New York to Dowagiac, Michigan.

November 2002:

We acquired Girl (Rafina City Snow) from Barbara Wheat of GoldStar Farms.

December 2002:

Girl and Shannon were both CERF tested; both normal.

January 2003:

Girl was bred to Shannon.

March 6, 2003:

Girl whelped our first litter of 8 puppies, sired by Shannon. We placed six puppies in pet homes, one male as a show prospect with a newcomer (but he was never shown), and we kept one female (Reva / ReJoyce Riverdancer).

June 2003:

Shannon was bred to Angie, a DenGayle bitch owned by Kathy Tucker of South Haven, Michigan.

August 1, 2003:

Shannon was diagnosed with diabetes insipidus.

August 17, 2003:

Angie whelped three puppies sired by Shannon. Kathy placed two of the puppies as pets, and kept the third (Jelly Bean / Odysseys Diamond in the Ruff), a fawn and white bitch who looked just like Shannon.

August 20, 2003:

Shannon was neutered.

September 2003:

We acquired Phoebe (CH Rylstone Morning Glory) from Patricia Casterline.

September 2004 to
March 2005:

Mel researched and wrote (text and programming) the "So You Think You Want a Whippet?" quiz for the American Whippet Club web site.

October 2004:

Girl and Phoebe were both CERF tested. Phoebe's results were normal. Girl's results were abnormal: vitreous degeneration, cataracts, and abnormal findings in lens nucleus.

January 2005:

Girl was spayed.

July 2005:

Phoebe was bred to Casey (Select CH Vic's N Rantina's Private Treaty).

September 21, 2005:

Phoebe whelped our second litter of 8 puppies. Four puppies were placed in pet homes, one female went to Sabine Salo (Karli), another female went to Trish Casterline (Meg), and we kept two males (Junior / ReJoyce Just Right, and Neo / ReJoyce Not Exactly Ordinary).

March 23, 2006:

Reva was spayed and placed.

April 2006:

Mel became manager of the Show Whippets International and Whippet Sites World Wide web rings.

July 2006:

Mel became editor of the DMOZ Open Directory Project's Whippet categories.

July 29, 2006:

Junior was neutered and placed.

August 31, 2006:

Debbie Syrja (Free Wynd) and Jean Schroeder (Willabe) informed us of the extensive occurrence of epilepsy/seizure disorders in multiple generations of the descendants of CH Merrimac Free Wynd The Boz (Phoebe's maternal great-grandsire).

September 30, 2006:

Neo was neutered and placed.

November 18, 2006:

We acquired Renner (Rantina's Autumn Renaissance of ReJoyce) from Sabine Salo of Rantina Whippets.

January 2007:

Mel becomes a member of the American Whippet Club.

January 25, 2007:

Phoebe was spayed.

August 12, 2007:

We acquired Kaila (Rantina's Derby Hat of ReJoyce) from Sabine Salo of Rantina Whippets.

September 23, 2007:

Due to grave complications caused by diabetes insipidus, Shannon was euthanized.

December 2007:

We moved from Dowagiac, Michigan to Benton Harbor, Michigan.

July 13, 2008:

Neo came back to ReJoyce.

September 6, 2008:

We attended our first ASFA lure coursing event, and Renner and Kaila completed their first practice runs at the Wind Chaser's Lure Coursing Club trials in Hobart, IN.

February 13, 2009:

Girl celebrated her 12th birthday.

April 2009:

Kaila was bred to James (CH Woodbrooks Ask Me How I Feel).

June 9, 2009:

Kaila whelped our third litter of 8 puppies.

April 17, 2010:

Due to kidney failure, Girl was euthanized.

May 13, 2010:

Mel and Guy, with Dixie, Prissy and Manny, attended conformation classes held by Berrien Kennel Club at Mutterly Love in Saint Joseph, MI.