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/