Canine Flu Information
(Sept. 29, 2005)
|
|
| |
The American Greyhound Track Operators Association (AGTOA)
announced that it has selected Dennis Tyler of Central
Florida Greyhound Pets of America (GPA) as its 2008
Greyhound Adoption Person of the Year. The award recognizes
individuals who are dedicated to placing former racing
greyhounds into qualified homes as pets. “All nominees
deserve to be recognized for their commitment to finding
homes for greyhounds once they retire from racing,” said
Karen Keelan, president of the AGTOA. “It was difficult to
select only one winner from so many dedicated individuals.”
After a great deal of deliberation, Dennis Tyler was
selected for his 24-hour-a-day commitment to finding good
homes for retired greyhounds including those with special
needs; for caring for the health and welfare of the dogs
until they can be transported to adoption organizations
throughout the U.S. and Canada; for raising funds to support
his adoption activities; and for serving as a mentor to new
adoption organizations.
Since 1996, Dennis and his wife, Claire, have worked as a
full-time team to placed 6,077 greyhounds retiring from
Melbourne Greyhound Park into adoptive homes. They host
fundraisers to pay for the medical expenses for
hard-to-place greyhounds so they can be offered to adoption
groups at no charge.
According to Nanette McClary of Greyhound Adoption of
Greater Rochester, N.Y., “Dennis does an excellent job of
profiling greyhounds, organizing spaying/neutering and
transporting them to groups for adoption. When he and Claire
end their 24-hour dog hauler trips to Buffalo, we can see
the satisfaction in their tired faces.”
Alane Shultz of Springfield, Mo. said that Dennis
“cultivates new adoption groups by mentoring them and
sharing a wealth of knowledge and years of experience with
newbies.”
Dennis, accompanied by Claire, will be recognized on
March 23, 2009 at the AGTOA annual meeting in Las Vegas. The
AGTOA will donate $500 to the Central Florida GPA and pay
for the couple’s travel expenses to accept the award.
“I am very honored to be singled out as Greyhound
Adoption Person of the Year,” said Tyler. There are many
other extremely dedicated individuals who are equally as
committed to finding homes for retired greyhounds. GPA
Central Florida’s accomplishments would not have been
possible without the support of my wife Claire, our
wonderful volunteers and more than 40 adoption groups that
have helped us over the years.
Nominations for the 2009 Greyhound Adoption Person of the
Year will be accepted between April 1 and August 28, 2009.
Anyone involved in greyhound adoption can be nominated for
the award. The recipient will be selected based on the
individual’s dedication and contribution to greyhound
adoption during the year. For more information about the
award, visit www.agtoa.com or call Dennis Bicsak at (561)
615-3916. For more information about adopting a greyhound,
call 1-800-366-1GPA (1472).
The AGTOA, formed in 1946, is a nonprofit corporation
comprised of greyhound race track owners and operators
throughout the U.S.
Dennis Tyler (right) and his wife Claire hold their two
adopted greyhounds, Goyo and Blue Eyes .
|
Racing Ends Once Again
at Melbourne
On April 26th The Melbourne Greyhound Track
discontinued live racing for the
"Season". The Central Florida Chapter of Greyhound Pets of
America was given
200 Greyhounds to adopt locally or ship to adoption groups that
support us
in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware,
Pennsylvania, Ohio,
New York, New Jersey and Canada.
Once again we are challenged to move a large number of
Greyhounds. Although
this is the 11th time we have experienced a "seasonal closing"
since 1996 it
is never easy.
We began adoptions at the Melbourne Greyhound Park, Florida in
1996 and have
successfully transitioned a total of 5782 greyhounds into homes
locally and
in locations mentioned above. We could not have done it without
the
tremendous support of many adoption groups, generous donors, The
Melbourne
Greyhound Park, and some financial support from the racing
industry as well
as race dog owners.
200 Greyhounds will need a lot of food, wormers, health care and
kennel
supplies before they are all moved into homes.
Please consider helping us with a donation or send us your
Purina "weight
circles" on dog food products as we can use them to offset food
costs. We
are a 501(c)3 non-profit agency.
If your adoption group is near any of the locations, mentioned
earlier, and
you can help take any of our hounds, please feel free to contact
us about
our shipping schedule. Please note that we do not ship to
individuals.
Our Website is at:
http://www.floridagreyhounds.com
We thank all those who have helped us in the past and look
forward to
closing out 2008 successfully with all your help!
Dennis and Claire Tyler
GPA Central Florida Chapter
3525 Manassas Ave.
Melbourne, Florida, 32934
321-242-9010
MELBOURNE
ADOPTION EFFORT
July 16, 2007
Abilene,
KS—Officials of Greyhound Pets of America (GPA) and the
American Greyhound Council (AGC) announced today that they are
working together to assist a local chapter of GPA in its
effort to find adoptive homes for more than 300 greyhounds
displaced by the earlier than anticipated seasonal closing of
Melbourne Greyhound Park.
GPA President Rory
Goree and AGC Communications Coordinator Gary Guccione said
their organizations have provided nearly $7,000 in grants to
help the Central Florida GPA purchase food, health and kennel
housekeeping supplies for the greyhounds awaiting adoption at
the track.
The sudden closing
of Melbourne Greyhound Park was precipitated by a change in
Florida state law. The state no longer requires the track to
run live racing at the same time its card club is operating.
The sudden closing creates a special challenge for Dennis
Tyler, president of the Central Florida GPA, who said his
organization has never had to place so many greyhounds on such
short notice.
Fortunately, Tyler said,
the Melbourne track has volunteered to pay for kennel help
while the greyhounds are housed there. “With the track’s
cooperation and the assistance from the national GPA and the
AGC, we’re confident that we’ll be able to provide first-rate
care for these greyhounds as they await transport to adoption
groups around the country,” Tyler said.
Central Florida GPA works
with about 40 adoption groups as well as year-round tracks to
find appropriate placements for Melbourne greyhounds. In
2006, the organization found suitable homes for 450 of the
track’s retired greyhounds. Since 1996, Tyler and his
volunteers have relocated 5,000 dogs.
The AGC awards more
than $120,000 a year in grants to independent adoption
organizations nationwide, including GPA. The grants are to be
used for direct services to greyhounds as well as promotion of
greyhound adoption. Organizations also may apply to the AGC
for grants to fund capital improvements to kennel facilities.
More than 90 percent
of all registered greyhounds are adopted or returned to the
farm as pets or breeders when they retire, according to
Guccione. “When greyhound racing and the adoption community
work together, we achieve great success,” he said.
“Ultimately, the beneficiaries of that cooperation are these
wonderful dogs--and that’s the way it should be.”
On June 30, 2007, Melbourne
Greyhound Park announced that they were ending
live greyhound racing until they reopen on
December 26th. This is the most sudden
seasonal close that we have experienced in the
last 10 years at this track. The switch
from year round to seasonal racing was initiated
because of new Florida Legislation.
In
a poll of the 6 kennels here it is estimated that
between 300 and 400 greyhounds
will not be able to continue racing at other tracks
and will be left with us for adoption.
The greyhounds will be SAFE in our care
until we can arrange a Local Adoption
or Transport to a qualified Greyhound Adoption Agency.
We are busy getting kennel supplies (food, wormers,
and frontline).
In the next few weeks, we will be busy evaluating and
profiling the greyhounds left.
This is a major impact to our group.
If you would like to help out by making a donation,
they can be mailed to
GPA Central Florida, 3525 Manassas Ave, Melbourne, FL.
32934
or via Paypal
www.floridagreyhounds.com
Update:
7/12/07
GPA Central
Florida currently has 324 greyhounds in their care and
are making arrangements to move these greyhounds to
adoption groups. If you are associated with an
greyhound adoption group and can make room for some of
these greyhounds please contact GPA Central Florida
cfgpa@cfl.rr.com
Back to top
|
|
Mark your calendars and start making plans. The
National Greyhound Adoption Conference 2007 will be held in
Manchester, New Hampshire September 21-23. For more
information visit
www.gpaconvention.org
Ebro will be closing
for the season in November. If you can take any of the
greyhounds into your adoption programs please contact
GPA-Emerald
Coast. They
will be hauled to you and they will be wormed, Frontlined
and in good condition. You can view pictures of some of the
available dogs at
http://www.gpaec.com/track.html
NGA
BANS SHIPMENT OF GREYHOUNDS TO JUAREZ
Abilene, KS (October 6, 2006)—The Board of Directors of
the National Greyhound Association (NGA) has adopted a
total ban on the shipment of greyhounds to Juarez
Greyhound Track in Mexico, according to NGA Executive
Director Gary Guccione.
NGA members have been cautioned not to sell, transfer or
give greyhounds under their ownership or care to
individuals acquiring those greyhounds for the purpose
of sending them to Juarez. The organization
established a policy of discouraging such shipments in
June 2005, but had not banned them completely until now.
There are no greyhounds at the Juarez track today.
Even if the track resumes live racing in the future,
NGA board members say they want no more U.S. greyhounds
sent there. They believe the Juarez track now
presents an “at-risk” situation for greyhounds because
of its failure to establish acceptable animal welfare
and adoption policies, its lack of cooperation with U.S.
adoption organizations, and the legal problems of its
owner, Jose Maria Guardia, who has been accused of drug
trafficking and money laundering.
Guccione emphasized that all the greyhounds originally
shipped to Juarez have been returned to the U.S. for
adoption. However, he noted that the recovery of
the greyhounds was not easy because the track reneged
several times on its original agreement to turn the dogs
over to Greyhound Pets of America (GPA) when they
finished racing.
“Largely through the determination and diligence of Pat
Roberts and her local GPA/Lone Star Chapter in El Paso,
and GPA President Rory Goree, all the Juarez greyhounds
were finally brought back stateside,” Guccione said.
“All of them have been placed or are awaiting placement
in adoptive homes.”
NGA’s initial “discouragement” policy came more than a
year ago, immediately after eight greyhounds died of
heat stroke after being driven from Tucson Greyhound
Park to the Juarez track in a manner later found to be
in violation of Arizona Racing Commission regulations.
Lengthy delays at the Mexico border also may have
contributed to the greyhound deaths.
At that time, NGA officials stated that the policy would
remain in place until the issue of border-crossing
delays was resolved, and the track was able to document
that it had established credible animal welfare and
adoption programs to ensure the health and safety of the
greyhounds during and after their racing careers.
The track never fulfilled those conditions, so NGA
declined to rescind its discouragement policy.
After all the greyhounds were safely back home in the
U.S., the NGA enacted the total ban.
Guccione noted that the other Mexican border track,
Caliente, is not affected by the Juarez ban because
Caliente has a good record of cooperation on animal
welfare and adoption efforts.
Back to top
Mark your calendars
and start making plans. The National Greyhound Adoption
Conference 2006 will be held in San Diego, California September
7 - 10.
Sept 22, 2004
Pensacola
was hard hit by Hurricane Ivan. Twenty-one greyhounds were
sent to GPA Louisiana on Sunday and ten more are heading that
way. Pensacola is without power, gas, water and had no
place for these to go. GPA - LA cannot absorb all 31 into
their program. They are currently being boarded in
Louisiana until other groups can be found to take in some of
these dogs.
Sept. 11, 2004
GPA Central Florida
evacuated with 65 greyhounds and 8 personal pets from Melbourne
to the kennels at Sarasota, Florida. They decided to
leave, when Francis was packing 145 mph and heading straight
for Melbourne. The buildings and kennels are only rated for 110
mph. It took two trips to get everyone moved. The traffic
was a nightmare but they all survived.
Thank heavens for cell phones and a network of contacts.
Former GPA MD
volunteers who relocated to Sarasota took in Claire and Dennis
Tyler when their hotel accommodations fell through. They
also helped get them vet support and some kennel help.
Greyhound folks are amazing.
The return to Melburne was delayed because the kennel compound
at Melbourne is without power; however, the clubhouse building
does have power. Since there is no live racing at
Melbourne, they have all of the pets in the track paddock 'jinny
pit' area. Dennis came up with some temporary fencing and
they are improvising and making due. They will be using
this until power at the kennels is restored. Right now
they are worried about generators on the trailer. They are
having problems and both are in the shop for repairs. This could
impact future shipments until they are repaired.
The Melbourne area was heavily hit with rain and wind.
Roofing, fencing,
downed trees and power loss seemed to be prevalent. At
the Tyler house, they lost their fence, some trees and the
cap/flashing on the fireplace chimney. Power was off for
36 hours.
July 1. 2004
Greyhounds Make Great Pets WebRadio Program-
Assignment for the internet radio show - Greyhounds Make
Great Pets - The voice of greyhounds, heard every Friday at
11:00am PST on Voiceamerica.com.
Kari and Rory want to hear from you and have a very special
assignment for you:
We would like to hear how your greyhound has changed your life,
or funny stories about your greyhound. Each week Kari and I will
pick one or two stories to read on air. After 10 weeks we will
have a poll for our listeners to vote for their favorite of the
stories read on air.
The winner of the vote will receive a "Hounds
of Royalty" print, and the adoption program you represent or
adopted your greyhound from will also receive a print to use in
fundraising.
Send your stories to
radio@greyhoundpets.org
Please include your name, address, phone number, and the group
you represent or adopted from in the e-mail: Only your name and
the group will be read on the air or posted on the web site for
voting.
Thanks for listening and we look forward to hearing from you,
If you have ideas or a specific subject you would like us to
cover in our 13 week trial run, please e-mail your suggestion
to:
radio@greyhoundpets.org
February 24, 2004
National Greyhound Adoption Conference Update
Join your hosts-GPA and GPA Richmond--at the North
American Greyhound Adoption Conference. We are looking forward
to seeing you all in Virginia for an outstanding conference
filled with great speakers, entertaining social activities and
outstanding hospitality. While you will be hearing more about
conference specifics, as we get closer...we can tell you that we
are honored to feature author and Greyhound Guru, Cynthia
Branigan as a speaker! Cynthia’s presentation is titled Why We
Do It, How We Can Do It Better, Who We Do It For"
Cindy Victor Author of "Leo A Greyhound's Tale" will also be
speaking at the conference. Title of her presentation: "Finding
Leo: A New Breed, a New Life"
Rory S. Goree’ President of Greyhound Pets of America will
be opening up with an address titled Our Identity
Lee Livingood author of Running with the Big Dogs and Retired
Racing Greyhounds for Dummies, will also be on hand with two
different break out sessions where hands on and discussion will
be mandatory. The first will be on Home visits and adoption
applications. The second session will be on fostering.
From sessions on fostering to fundraising, events to public
relations and first aid to selecting the best care for your
Greys when you are out of town...this is adding up to be a great
conference. And, of course, there are plenty of vendors lining
up to bring us the latest, greatest and showiest of Greyhound
merchandise found at any conference anywhere.
It is not too early to make your hotel reservation. The
conference is
Being held at the Sheraton Richmond West at 6624 West Broad
Street. The hotel is very convenient to I-64...so whether you
are coming in from the airport or driving into the city from
just about any direction, the location is easily accessible. Not
only is the Sheraton ready to greet you...but your Greyhounds as
well. Yes, the hotel is dog friendly. There are wooded walking
trails adjacent to the hotel and plenty of green space outside
the doors for doggie breaks.
To reserve your room, you may call the national reservations
number, which is 1-888-565-7654. Identify yourself as a part of
the Greyhound Pets of America group to receive the conference
rate. Also let the hotel know if you are planning to bring your
dog with you. While the conference dates are September 17-19,
the hotel rates are good beginning on the 16th for those of you
who want to make sure and be there in plenty of time to hear our
featured speaker on Friday morning!
Again, we look forward to hosting you in Richmond, Virginia!
K Alferio
Executive Director
citycelebrations
200 S. Third St.
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 788-6466
Back to top
December,
2003
For the second consecutive year, Greyhound Pets of America
has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s
largest independent evaluator of charities.
Receiving four out of a
possible four stars indicates that our organization excels, as
compared to other charities in America, in the area of strong
fiscal management. This consistency in our rating is an
exceptional feat, especially given the economic challenges all
charities have had to face in the last year.
Greyhound Pets of America - Charity Navigator
Back
to top
September, 2003
GPA National announces the Emily Griffin Memorial Injury
Fund. This fund is available to GPA Chapters and
Sub-Chapters to help with expenses incurred when treating
injured greyhounds.
Back
to top
GPA National launches new program,
Paws Across the Pond, to help the sight hounds of Europe.
For more information contact corrsec@greyhoundpets.org
-
Anne Finche's
speech from the National Greyhound Adoption Conference
focusing on the plight of Galgos and other sight hounds
in Europe.
Back
to top
National Greyhound Adoption Conference sponsored by GPA was
held Sept. 5 - 7 in Birmingham, Alabama and was hosted by
GPA - N. AL of Birmingham, AL. Many thanks to all who
worked so hard to make this year's conference a wonderful
success.
Click here for pictures of this year's conference
Back to top
Pet Greyhounds to Descend on Tampa September 1-4
Greyhound Pets of America Hosts Greyhound Adoption Conference
*Tampa, Fl. *(August 22, 2005)-More than 200 greyhound adoption
leaders
representing 59 Greyhound Pets of America (GPA) chapters and 12
other
greyhound adoption organizations are expected to attend the
Greyhound
Adoption Conference being held at the pet-friendly Wyndham
Westshore
Hotel in Tampa from September 1 to 4. Sponsored by GPA, the
largest
non-profit pet adoption organization in the United States, the
conference brings together leading experts to discuss the latest
tips
and trends for owning a pet greyhound. It also provides the
opportunity
for people who own pet greyhounds to socialize.
"Adopting a greyhound is more than owning a pet; it's a
lifestyle" said
Rory Goree, president of GPA. "People love to get together,
learn more
about this magnificent breed and boast about the prowess of
their pet."
Pam Iorio, mayor of Tampa and Mike Fasano, Florida State Senator
who
will declare September, "Greyhound Adoption Month" will open the
conference. Other speakers include leading greyhound
veterinarians who
will discuss greyhound health and the development of a vaccine
to
prevent kennel cough, a disease that has plagued the greyhound
racing
industry; animal behaviorists; and several leading authors of
books
about greyhounds.
The conference is pet-friendly and many attendees will bring
their
greyhounds with them. The pets listen attentively or sleep at
the feet
of their owners, while speakers discuss everything from
communicating
with your pet, to handling separation anxiety, to learning about
the
advantages of greyhound acupuncture.
Attendees also will learn more about the former career of their
retired
pets by visiting Derby Lane greyhound racetrack in St.
Petersburg.
There, they will tour the kennel, participate in a blessing of
the
hounds, discuss the working lives of greyhounds with kennel
owners and
learn more about the history of greyhounds from local expert,
Louise
Weaver, Derby Lane historian and granddaughter of Derby Lane
founding
president, Thomas Lee Weaver.
"What makes greyhounds such wonderful pets is their career as a
racer,"
Goree said. "They are used to being handled, they are mature and
they
love to curl up and sleep much of the day. The more we can do to
facilitate the interaction between the greyhound racing industry
and
people who adopt greyhounds, the more successful the adoption."
Tampa was selected from a number of cities to host the largest
North
American greyhound conference that brings together greyhound
owners from
across the United States. It is estimated that there are more
than
180,000 pet greyhounds nationwide.
Greyhound Pets of America (GPA) is a tax-exempt, non-profit
corporation
founded in 1987 for the purpose of finding homes for ex-racing
greyhounds and educating the public on the suitability and
availability
of greyhounds as pets. At the end of 2004, GPA placed more than
68,000
greyhounds in homes as pets. GPA has more than 10,000 members
and 59
chapters across the country. To learn more about what wonderful
pets
greyhounds make, call 1-800-366-1GPA or visit
www.greyhoundpets.org
<http://www.greyhoundpets.org/>.
Media Contact: Peggy
Mackinnon (303) 320-6082
Back to top
NATIONAL GREYHOUND
ASSOCIATION
June 27, 2005
ANIMAL WELFARE CONCERNS MUST BE ADDRESSED
BEFORE
ANY MORE GREYHOUNDS ARE SENT TO JUAREZ, NGA SAYS
Abilene, KS—Officials of the National Greyhound Association (NGA) said today
that the organization is taking steps to discourage further shipments of
greyhounds to Juarez, Mexico, in response to a recent incident in which
eight greyhounds died of heat stroke while being driven from Tucson
Greyhound Park to a track in Juarez at the request of racing officials
there.
“We’re strongly advising our members not to ship any more greyhounds to
Juarez until some important animal welfare concerns have been addressed,”
said NGA Executive Director Gary Guccione.
Last
week, Jesse Burgess, a greyhound trainer and the driver of the vehicle in
which the greyhounds died, was suspended from racing for sixty days and
fined $500 by the Arizona Department of Racing. Today, Tucson
Greyhound Park confirmed that it has permanently terminated its contract
with Burgess, effectively making it impossible for him to resume racing at
the track after the state suspension has expired.
Burgess
reportedly transported 35 greyhounds in a trailer designed to hold only 20
dogs. Arizona state rules prohibit loading more than two dogs in each
crate, and Burgess’ trailer contained ten crates. Although it
was air-conditioned, the cooling apparently was insufficient for the number
of dogs in the vehicle. Lengthy delays at the Mexican border may have
contributed to the overheating problem.
The
greyhounds reportedly were being shipped from Tucson to Juarez because the
Mexican track needed more dogs for its live racing program. The Juarez
track, which operated for several decades until discontinuing its live
racing program in 1995, re-opened late last year with a limited racing
schedule.
Guccione said the NGA board of directors may also hold a disciplinary
hearing on the incident. Under NGA rules, the organization may impose
its own penalties if a member has been found guilty of violating state laws
or racing rules. “Any time a violation results in the death of a
greyhound, our board takes the matter extremely seriously,” said Gary
Guccione, executive director of the National Greyhound Association (NGA).
He noted that members accused of rule violations are entitled to due
process, and said the NGA board will review the results of the Arizona
investigation before proceeding with any action of its own. NGA
members found guilty of serious animal welfare violations may be banned from
the sport for life.
Before
NGA will support further shipment of greyhounds to Juarez, Guccione said
that the issue of border-crossing delays must be resolved, and the track
must be able to document that it has established credible animal welfare and
adoption programs to ensure the health and safety of the greyhounds during
and after their racing careers.
GREYHOUND PETS OF AMERICA
June 27, 2005
Phoenix, Arizona.-- Greyhound Pets of America is pleased with the actions
taken today by the National Greyhound Association (NGA) to discourage
further shipments of greyhounds to race in Juarez, Mexico until
greyhound welfare issues can be addressed. This action was in response to a
recent incident in which eight greyhounds died of heat stroke while being
driven from Tucson Greyhound Park to a track in Juarez at the request of
racing official there.
“Our
number one concern is the welfare of greyhounds, whether racing or retired,”
said Rory Goree, president of Greyhound Pets of America (GPA). “We
support any action that protects these wonderful animals from abuse or
cruelty.”
Goree
said that his organization is in the process of opening a chapter in Juarez
to assist in finding homes for greyhounds that retire from the track and are
eligible for adoption. The NGA said in its press release that it will
not support further shipment of greyhounds to Juarez until the track has
established credible animal welfare and adoption programs to ensure the
health and safety of greyhound during and after their racing careers
Plainfield
Track Closing
Press Release
(May 3, 2005)
Daily Business News (May
16, 2005)
Associated Press (May 21, 2005)
Please check back for
future updates
|
Plainfield Greyhound Park to Place All Greyhounds Affected by 2005
Temporary Closure. Track welcomes the assistance of adoption
groups and people who wish to adopt greyhounds
PLAINFIELD, Conn. (AP) (May 21, 2005) -- The dozens
of greyhounds displaced when the Plainfield dog track abruptly shut
down earlier this month now have new homes, Gov. M. Jodi Rell said
Saturday.
As of Friday, there were 203 dogs still at
the track. About half will be adopted as pets and the rest are moving
to other race tracks, the governor said. All of the dogs are expected
to leave
Plainfield by the end of
the month.
"Public concern over the plight of the dogs
at the track has been extraordinary and played a big role in helping
to resolve this issue in a positive way," she said.
In all, nearly 350 dogs will be adopted as
pets, the governor said.
The track announced last month it
was closing to make way for a domed auto race track. Since then,
officials say they have been deluged with requests to adopt the dogs.
At the time there were about 1,200 dogs at the track, which officially
shut down May 14 after three decades of operation.
Rell says the state Agriculture Department
of division of Special Revenue will continue to monitor the situation
to make sure the dogs are treated properly. The governor praised the
cooperation of the track officials during the transition and thanked
pet owners who came forward to adopt a greyhound.
"As a dog owner myself, I have been
concerned about the welfare of these gracious animals," Rell said.
The governor expressed her concerns to
track owners earlier this month in a letter that sought their promise
the dogs would be cared for until homes could be found.
Some of the adopted greyhounds have found homes out of
state. A Pittsburgh-based adoption group, for example, is finding
homes for 11 of the dogs.
"Usually, we get them when they are
retiring. This is totally unprecedented," said David Anderson of Steel
City Greyhounds. "Greyhounds are wonderful pets. When they retire,
they really take it seriously. You don't need a lot of space for them.
They call them the 45-mile-an-hour couch potato."
PLAINFIELD, CT (May 3, 2005)-Karen Keelan, executive vice president of
Plainfield Greyhound Park in Plainfield, CT, said today that the track
is committing available resources to ensure that greyhounds displaced
by the decision to cease greyhound racing as of May 14 for the
remainder of 2005 will be sent to another track to race; be returned
to the farm or owner, whether for breeding purposes or placement in a
local adoption program; or placed in homes as pets in accordance with
the wishes of the greyhound owners.
"Greyhound welfare is our first priority and we will keep the kennel
area open until the greyhounds are suitably placed," Keelan said.
The track will apply for racing dates in 2006 and is committed to a
live racing season in 2006. Throughout the remainder of 2005 and 2006,
Plainfield Greyhound Park will continue to offer wagering on races
from other tracks via simulcast seven days a week.
The track, the National Greyhound Association (NGA) and the racing
kennels are in the process of identifying which greyhounds need
adoptive homes and are working with local and national adoption
organizations to place them. Some greyhounds will transfer to other
greyhound tracks to continue their racing careers.
Plainfield Greyhound Park welcomes help from adoption organizations
across the country and from individuals who wish to adopt a greyhound.
A special toll-free number has been set up to place these dogs in
homes as pets. People interested in adopting a greyhound should call
1-888-267-1099. In addition, people can visit www.greyhoundpets.org to
learn more about adoption of these wonderful animals.
"I've worked with Karen Keelan and Plainfield Greyhound Park over the
years, and know how deeply she cares about the welfare of greyhounds,"
said Rory Goree, president of Greyhound Pets of America, the largest
independent greyhound adoption organization in the United States. "I'm
very confident these greyhounds will be treated well. Greyhound Pets
of America and other adoption organizations will work with Karen to
help find homes for any of the greyhounds available for adoption."
Goree said that greyhounds continue to gain popularity as pets because
of their unique attributes. They are very affectionate animals and
most are good with children and other pets.
Plainfield
Officials Optimistic on
Greyhound Adoption PLAINFIELD
(May 16, 2005) -- Kennel operators, greyhound owners, adoption and
track officials working to relocate greyhounds displaced by Plainfield
Greyhound Park's decision to end its 2005 live racing season tomorrow
(May 14) say an outpouring of public support for their efforts is an
encouraging sign that their mission may be accomplished sooner than
expected.
'I can't empty my voicemail fast enough,'
said Karen Keelan, Plainfield executive vice president. 'We have been
swamped with calls every day from individuals and adoption
organizations wanting to help out. The response has been tremendous.'
Participating adoption organizations have
already succeeded in locating prospective adoptive homes for more than
300 greyhounds, according to Keelan. Those dogs will remain at the
track while kennel employees and volunteers prepare them for the
transition to their new homes, a process that could take up to two
weeks.
Under racing rules, greyhound owners have
the final authority over where their dogs go when they leave the
track. 'We work with them to determine whether the dogs will be moved
to other tracks, adopted out, or returned to the farm as pets or
breeders,' Keelan said.
Adoption groups from nearly a dozen
states and two Canadian provinces have pitched in to help. Among those
assisting in the effort are Greyhound Pets of America, the nation's
largest independent adoption organization, and members of the
Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), who have contacted
colleagues requesting that they add greyhound foster care to the
services they offer at their veterinary clinics. The American
Greyhound Council, an industry animal welfare organization, is
assisting with transportation for some greyhounds to be relocated
outside the Plainfield area. A national retailer has donated funds for
necessary supplies. A special toll-free hotline has been set up to
field calls from prospective greyhound adopters. The number is
1-888-267-1099.
Keelan said several dozen dogs remaining
at the track will participate in the final race of the season on
Saturday. After Saturday, she said, officials will be better able to
determine the number of greyhounds still to be returned to their
owners, moved to other tracks or placed in adoptive homes. Kennel
facilities will remain open until all greyhounds have been moved to
their final destinations.
'We're doing the right things in an
orderly and methodical way,' said Keelan. 'We've put a lot of effort
and resources into adoption over the years, and we're still doing so.'
Plainfield will remain open for simulcast
wagering daily, and live racing will resume in 2006.
For adoption info:
http://www.greyhoundpets.org/
Source: American Greyhound Council
CONTACT: Marsha Kelly for American
Greyhound Council, +1-612-812-2514,
mkelly@skypoint.com
Web site:
http://www.greyhoundpets.org/
|
|
About Us