JAY — Although Jay resident Normand Leclerc received the North Jay Grange’s 2015 Community Service award, he was quick to deflect the praise to his former greyhound, Louie.

“He was the star of the show,” said Leclerc, who mentioned that he had to have Louie put down on March 6. “He loved his therapy work. I loved taking him.

“I feel very honored to be accepting this on his behalf,” he said tearfully. “I tell everyone I was a retired non-paid driver for a professional athlete.”

Years ago, when he went to a pet store in Auburn, Leclerc spotted a greyhound in person for the first time.

“I fell in love with them,” he said.

In 2008, he retired from a job at Verso in Jay.

“I couldn’t wait to retire,” said Leclerc. “I wanted to play more golf. I got into greyhounds.”

On the Saturday after he retired from the mill, he adopted his first greyhound, Louie. The two formed an instant bond, and visited nursing homes all over the region.

“Besides all the nursing homes we went to, we went to a few schools,” said Leclerc. “He was always with me. He was a rare color for a greyhound. He was a blue brindle.”

They make great pets, he said.

“They’re very well behaved. They like people. They’re quiet for the most part. They’re also good with cats.”

Now, he has Murphy, who is four years old and has raced 110 times. She is now retired, and is a therapy dog.

Not only does Murphy love people, she loves to play. One of her favorite “games”, said Leclerc, is taking boots and sneakers from around his house and placing them all on a rug.

He noted that his favorite day of the week is Thursday, when he gets to go down and work with the greyhounds at Maine Greyhound Placement Service in Augusta. Scott Bruns and Lexi Scott, two volunteers at the Maine Greyhound Placement Service, were present at the awards ceremony.

North Jay Grange lecturer Marilyn Morse said, “We applaud people such as Norm. If everyone gave one hour a week or one hour a month, it would be a much better world.”

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