My first introduction to greyhounds was visiting my great-uncle Al and great-aunt Wanda’s greyhound farm in Indiantown, FL. I remember the first visit vividly. Puppies scampering in long runs. I would race beside them, tiring long before they would. The brood house with a brand new litter. The way my Uncle Al picked each one up and showed them to me with pride. The practice track where the youngsters built stamina and muscle. The ancient retired greyhound lying on a rug while my aunt rocked in a rocking chair with her feet massaging the retired brood’s back.
I was fascinated.
Fast forward through school, the military, college. I ran into a greyhound adoption group at an event and my childhood memories came flooding back. I wanted to adopt a retired racer. My husband cautiously agreed but warned the cats came first. LOL.
That was 16 years ago. I started helping my local “greyhound lady”. She was a stand-alone operation with a barn that could house up to 40 greyhounds. When she broke her arm, my friends and I did feed, turnouts, picked up supplies (remember this, Kim Hedges? ❤️). She was “neutral” and flat-out would not discuss racing. She simply said she was there for the hounds.
I was clueless about the racing world behind the scenes. It was mysterious and unreachable. I noticed looks of pity every time I had my greyhound out in public. I was praised for rescuing her. As I had no current knowledge, I would just nod and not converse with them.
Then I adopted my Kiowa Kay Study. She was so vibrant and alive and happy. I wanted to know everything I could about her life before me. I joined The Pro Greyhound Movement and started asking questions and making connections with people who REALLY knew greyhounds. It brought back the memories of my great uncle’s pride and love he had in his hounds. I wanted to experience that.
I started volunteering occasionally for Sun State’s Greyhound Adoption and met the most amazing pro-racing group. I had found my tribe 😃. I started being very vocal about greyhound racing in public. Especially to anyone who looked at my girl with pity.
I jumped at the chance to join a syndicate of a litter, and shortly after bought a half ownership in my very first racer. I feel like I’ve gotten a crash course in the truth of the racing world in the past 2 years. I am 100% committed to doing everything I can to help our cause, to keep our hounds racing, to give this magnificent breed the fulfilled lives they deserve.
June Kennedy
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