"She was not 'culled' like a puppy farm inmate"

It's about the dogs!

It's been not quite four years since I became a "Crazy Greyhound Lady," retired racers have that effect on a large number of their adopters. NGA greyhounds have amazing careers as athletes and then are fortunate to have an adoption rate of over 95% when those careers are over. Now it's time for all of us who appreciate all that goes into the breeding, training, and care to stand up and defend racing against the endless lies put out by profit-driven extremists.

My husband and I have adopted two retired racers and volunteer extensively with our adoption group, including traveling to the track to pick up new retirees and doing home visits to help match prospective adopters with dogs. We had the oh-so-common experience of mutual love at first sight when we met each of our hounds. Coming up with a testimonial should have been an very easy task. Instead I struggled with draft after draft, they all fell short.

One day I realized that it was not MY story that should be shared, it was the dogs'. There are many greyhounds, but each is unique. They are as unique and valuable to their racing owners as they are to the lucky people who adopt them when their careers end.

So here is the story of a dog.

This is our girl WW's Stillwater.

She is not a conventional beauty, some might even call her funny-looking. But you had better believe that she is "all that" and she knows it. She is absolute living proof that NGA greyhounds are loved and well cared for from farm to track to retirement. Anti-racing activists will tell you that puppies routinely "disappear" from farms for the most trifling of reasons. Our sweet, strong, and sassy Stillwater absolutely proves them wrong.

When Stillwater was a small puppy she lived with her Momma and littermates. They had a cozy indoor sleeping space, fresh air, green grass, and lots of space to run and play. She and her brothers were active and curious as all greyhound puppies are. One day though, Stillwater got a bit too curious and was bitten through the fence by the momma dog in the next pen. The wound involved a large part of her upper jaw on one side. This was no minor injury. She was taken to the vet and stayed there for several days to stabilize and recover. Her jaw had to be wired closed in order to heal. When she was well enough to come home to the farm she had to be fed by hand and kept separate from her brothers and sister until she could hold her own in their tussles—puppies play rough. She did not "disappear," she was not "culled" like a puppy farm inmate. She was given expensive veterinary care and hand fed. She was trained and schooled with the other pups her own age and even got the best (we think!) name in the litter. She got to grow up and "live the dream" every purpose-bred working dog is born to do. She had a relatively long and successful racing career and then was welcomed into retirement. We adopted her when she was five and a half years old.

You may have followed this and wonder how we found out Stillwater's story since we did not meet her until she was retired. The answer is easy, all it took was a call to the NGA to find the contact information we needed. I emailed Stillwater's racing owner, who was also her breeder. She responded quickly and politely and warmly thanked us for giving our girl a good home in retirement. She promised to check for us and in a short time, we had not just an explanation of Stillwater's injury but an invitation to visit their farm during their annual tour! This year I was finally able to travel the long distance from Southern California to Abilene, Kansas. On my trip I saw happy, healthy greyhounds at every stage of their lives, from newborn pups all the way to brood mommas and stud dogs who had raced, passed on their strengths to the next generation, and then retired to a final career as pets. I met the farm manager who remembered Stillwater and filled in the blanks in her story, including the details of her treatment and recovery and even the name of the momma dog who was in the next pen. I was able to meet her racing owner and she graciously signed the Pet Transfer Form in person while I watched (and wiped a few tears).

For those who accuse racing of "keeping secrets," I give you the story of one dog. There are many others like her, and yet they are all unique. Our girl is a testimony to the love and care that racing greyhounds receive no matter what, from farm, to track, to retirement.

Cathy Haas Cameron