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"Oh boy, had I been fooled, and was I embarrassed."

My introduction to the Greyhound was intended merely to be a teaching tool for my daughter and nothing more. I come from many generations of proud "cat people". LOL. As a cat person, I had absolutely NO desire to own a dog. No, not because I didn't like dogs, I adored other people's dogs, but to share my everyday life with one, was not in the cards for me. Enter Emma, my daughter : 10 years old. Always a cat person like her mom, until one day when something misfired in her brain and it began. The endless hounding of me for a dog, but not just any dog... a Greyhound. Nope...not a soft, fluffy, little barking kitten-type dog..but a huge, skinny, long-legged, bony creature. This continued on for 2 years. She researched, sketched, wrote essays and poems about Greys and left them about the house. She just would not let up. So to appease her and put a stop the constant harassment, I finally agreed to foster a Greyhound. We made contact, attended a trai

"This girl walked into my apartment like she owned it."

I have two experiences to share with you. This here is Imark Carol, now called Willow. She raced at the Daytona, Florida track. I adopted her about 15 months ago. She retired and was in a foster home for only a few days before I adopted her. This picture was taken in the first week that she was at my house, so basically right after her racing career ended. As you can see, she came to me as a grinning, happy, well adjusted, physically fit dog who loved her toys, running in the yard and her humans. (She was grinning in this picture because she had just got done running full speed in my yard... doing what she LOVED... and chasing after a ball.) She did not come to me as an abused, scared dog afraid to interact with the world around her. You can tell she was well taken care of. She is actually my second hound. Truth be told there was once a time when I used to be anti-racing before I got my first hound. I assumed (for no real reason other then what I read in the media) that these poor

"And one year later we visit the first time a racetrack."

My Story: so sorry my English is not perfect I hope you understand me?! I am from Germany and in 2002 I met my first greyhound. He was from the last closed racetrack in Italy and was in a shelter in Germany. His name was Teseo (Teseo della Capitale). The beginning of a very deep love to greyhounds. But Teseo was so sad an scared and unlucky ... now we know he was unlucky with us. He was the first time alone ....He missed other greyhounds. But eight weeks later we adopted Zama (Teresas Hope). A female from the same track. And Teseo was so happy! He changed in a lucky and wonderful boy.   At first we hate everything about racetracks. We heard from rescue groups so terrible things about this. This was a very bad area and all people are bad. But we met other greyhound owners in our town and we talked about everything ... and about the racetrack too. They told us so much other stories about the dogs and the people and we changed our opinion. And one year later we visit the f

"What I saw from the very first dog was not an abused, beaten, neglected animal."

Twenty-five years ago, my husband and I were walking in a flea market near our home on a bright sunny Saturday morning. We turned a corner to see a neighbor walking the most beautiful dog I had ever seen. He looked like a deer, trotting through the sunlight with a bouncy athletic step. As they drew close I’m sure I said something meaningless because at that moment he calmly turned his head and looked at me. I was absolutely transfixed. She explained that another neighbor was down the row outside, “giving away dogs to save them.” We went straight there to find the neighbor who I knew sometimes worked at the kennels in Florida. I had never been though and had no knowledge or experience with them. She told me to come in and meet King. To this day I regret not knowing his full name but he was a tall, handsome white-and-brindle male. She explained that she had come up for the weekend with a dog truck full of dogs that were going to be put to sleep but instead she had given them all awa

"He wasn’t tossed aside. In a way his scar helps to engage people..."

My buddy JJ. He was never called by his racing name, even by his trainers. Such a wonderful boy. Like greys everywhere, he loves everyone and is a wonderful ambassador for ex racers. JJ brings a lot of questions and from most “poor thing, was he abused as a racer?” You see my ex-athlete laid down to sleep one night, just after he retired, on a brown recluse spider. He has big scars on his leg, which is why you don’t see pictures of his right rear. The folks at his racing kennel took him right away to the doc when they discovered his injury and the docs there saved his life so he could find me a few months later at GAP of NE Florida. This goes contrary to what the anti-racing folks would have you think. He wasn’t tossed aside. In a way his scar helps to engage people and I can tell them how grateful I am to have an ex-racer. I tell them about his experience when he goes back to the track as well as how my first grey and my daughters greys were so happy, after they retired, when they saw

"I went to see what they were like in person"

My journey with retired racing greyhounds began in 2011 after losing my last Bernese Mountain Dog. I loved my Berners but felt I needed to step away from the breed with its extremely high rate of cancer due to a limited gene pool. I also wanted to step away from the AKC show world. Although my two Berners had finished their championships, I had witnessed first hand that the winning dog in many a show ring was more about either exaggerated traits or who was holding the leash. I did some research and came across greyhound adoption. I had very little awareness about racing. No strong feelings really, only some vague notions, most likely from seeing some anti-racing people somewhere along the line. But my research and logic told me that these purporse-bred athletes had relatively few health issues and life expectancy of years. So, off to a meet and greet at a local pet supply store I went to see what they were like in person. While there were no "adoptables" there that day, I did

"But something happened on that trip to Florida..."

I can't add too much to the eloquent and touching posts already here, as many of my reasons for posting are the same. But here's a story: I was first introduced to greyhound adoption in 1992 when my sister Valerie who lives in Tampa adopted a six- year-old greyhound. His name was either Mister Troll or Mister Cobb, we're not sure. Tattoos were not too clear, but he went by "Mister" so all was good! When her household broke up, three years later (1995), she sent Mister to live with me and our Dad In Pennsylvania. The next winter, Mister and I drove down to Florida to visit Valerie. Now, I had heard all the anti-racing propaganda and, being from Pennsylvania where there was no dog racing or track to visit, believed all the earnest, sincere adoption people who were "saving" all these wonderful animals from a horrible fate. But something happened on that trip to Florida that set off the little light bulb in my brain that somehow, what I'd been told did

"I am so grateful that my eyes and mind were opened..."

I like to refer to myself as a "recovering anti-racer." I have always found greyhounds to be so unique and beautiful. When I was younger I was vehemently opposed to greyhound racing. I had never been to a track, a kennel, or otherwise. I had just "heard" stories about greyhound racing. I thought because they wore muzzles, it must be cruel. I was a legal assistant at a law firm that represented the Tampa Greyhound Track and I was appalled that they would do legal work for the track. I was very naive, gullible and, most importantly, UNINFORMED. It took me a while, but about 7 years ago I started volunteering at a re-homing group in South Florida. The re-homing group was located among active racing kennels. When I first started, I was still "anti", but as time went on and I witnessed more, I realized that I had been wrong for so long. What I discovered was the the dogs were well fed, well cared for and loved. The people that I met that worked in racing kenne

"Seeing the joy that running gives her does my heart good."

My Greyhound story is as follows. We had always had dogs, never a greyhound. My children were grown and my oldest son was in law school and working part time in a law office. I was waiting for him outside his office when a lady came down the street walking two of the most graceful, elegant dogs I had ever seen. They entered a office building. Well my son got back to the car and I asked about the dogs. He told me they were retired racing greyhounds and they came to the office almost every day. I was fascinated and decided to look into getting a dog like this. I searched on the Internet and found Southeastern Greyhound Adoption. I filled out an application and talked with the people at the adoption group. Then I met Lacy (CG Heart Tune). She is a magnificent dog and fit in with my family, other dogs and cats. I had never had any contact with greyhound racing and I had heard things about how the dogs were mistreated at the tracks. I quickly determined that this could not be true. I hav

"Obviously, they learned that from the farms and the kennels."

I met my first greyhounds when I was 3 years old. My grandfather had them in Iowa. They weren’t racing dogs, but hunting. Fast forward to late 80s early 90s and I began to go to Dairyland Park in Wisconsin. I always spent more time in the adoption center than the actual racing area. I met some wonderful people who truly loved their greyhounds, mainly a woman named Robin. We became friends and we were able to go to the kennels. Talk about happy, happy pups. I was introduced to kennel workers and trainers. One of pups became the mother of one of my pups. Robin also sent me to Emerald Greyhound where I got to see puppies from a couple of days old to those who were ready to leave for schooling. Again, nothing but caring people and very well socialized pups. She also introduced me to Dr. Jenifer Barker who was the track vet and is our vet for the greyhound adoption groups, Greyhounds Only and Greyhound Alliance. I had it in my mind that my first greyhound must be black and I would name it

"They have all been happy, friendly, easy-going dogs..."

My first introduction to greyhounds was in Dewey Beach at Greyhounds Reach the Beach in 2000. I drove through Dewey Beach and they were everywhere! I thought maybe this is the dog for me as I was thinking of getting a dog and had no idea what breed I wanted. So I went back home to Maryland where I was living at the time and looked up a local greyhound adoption group and made a phone call. I told the volunteer that I spoke with that I had never personally met a greyhound. So she invited me to come to her house to meet her five greyhounds! We did the meet and greet in her yard as she said it would be a little chaotic in the house. As I remember, I only met 2 of the 5, but fell in love immediately! It only took a couple of leans for that to happen! I went right home and filled out the application and within about a month and a half, I had my first greyhound, Secret Witness aka Secret. She is my heart dog and I lost her at the age of 12 from liver disease. After I got Secret, I helped out

"Once again the farm gave him over..."

My Greyhound love affair started in 2002 when a poor half-starved dog showed up at my job... He turned out to be a half-starved greyhound that very quickly worked his way into our heart. We had a one-year-old yellow Lab that for her Beauregard was a gift specifically for her... He was double-tattooed so we have no idea his racing history... He turned out to have somehow ended up on the illegal rabbit running racing circuit, but he was the coolest dog! He was the best gift we could have given our yellow Lab: we had five acres and that dog bounced off all four corners and would then come back in and find the softest spot, usually in his crate which always had multiple layers in it. When we cruised in the Motorhome, he laid on the couch and would get up and like the little kid look to see if we were there yet...nope not yet so he would then lay on the other end of the sofa. We never knew his racing history as we could on read the tattoo that told us he was born in 4/1998 and he was pupp

"But then the day arrived for our daughter Rachel and I to start our puppy road trip."

November 2018 will be the twenty-fifth anniversary of our adopting our first greyhound, Alex (racing name: Sanja Blackeyes; breeders: Jim and Sandy Hicks of Bristow, OK). In those twenty-five years we've adopted six greyhounds. But let me share a little story of how we got our fifth. In September 2013 we'd lost our fourth greyhound, Katie (racing name: Leading Home; breeder: Mary Robinette) to lymphoma, leaving us with only our third adopted grey, Sadie (racing name: Carla Tar; breeder: Darwin Smith). Sadie did okay as an only dog, but we really wanted to get her a dog. So we thought we'd look into getting a greyhound puppy for Sadie to play with. We talked to a very good friend of ours if she wouldn't mind looking out for a puppy, especially since she made trips to a particular greyhound farm over a number of years. A few months passed. Then she messaged me that the breeder at this farm had a four-month-old female who injured her leg somehow and was going to b

"I had the first Therapy Greyhounds in Birmingham with Crash, Biznes, and Dynasty."

Growing up, I was exposed to Greyhounds and racing via my godmother, Fran Petral. She and her husband owned racers. She would come into my Gran's beauty shop every other Saturday evening to get her hair done and she'd generally bring one of her racers from Greenetrack with her. The first Greyhound I ever met was Joe Dump, a world record holder. After graduating from High School, I got a job as a leadout at the Birmingham Race Course. I quickly went up the ladder to Patrol Judge, Clerk of Scales, Starter, Brakeman, Lure Operator, and Kennel Master. I loved the hounds though, and thanks to Melony Cleveland, I went on to work with Alan Oleson at the Southern New England Kennel. I couldn't get enough of the hounds. From there, I went to the Magic City Kennel and was the assistant trainer when "Rudy" (Twilite Review) broke the world record. Then I went to work with the Kenny Allen Kennel with Kevin Whitehouse. A kennel with 70 crates in it, and we had 68 girls an

"She retired from racing, in Florida, as a very well socialized, perfectly trusting, friendly, healthy, physically fit dog"

I am a proud adopter of a retired racing greyhound. I support greyhound racing. I regularly socialize with many other greyhound adopters and longtime greyhound fosterers, as well as some highly dedicated volunteers for a greyhound adoption group. All are devoted to greyhounds. Many have been to racing kennels and greyhound farms to transport the dogs ready for adoption, or they simply go to visit. They often photograph and record video of the happy, healthy greyhounds. I do not believe for a moment that my greyhound, Glory, was abused, neglected, harmed by hormones, or "forced to run". In fact, nothing gives her more joy than running! She sprints in the yard at least twice a day, until she is out of breath, even in snow. She retired from racing, in Florida, as a very well socialized, perfectly trusting, friendly, healthy, physically fit dog. Racing greyhounds benefit greatly from their careful breeding -- for athleticism rather than for appearance, unlike most other breeds,

"That was the moment our opinion of track treatment changed."

For us it started in 2004. We lost our two dogs within a month of each other leaving us and our 3-year-old daughter with a hole in our hearts. My husband and I had been to tracks in different parts of the country and always watched when the dogs were brought out. We always commented on how beautiful the dogs are and how we'd like to have one someday. Neither of us felt any particular way about their treatment; we had heard old stories but it didn't match what we saw at the tracks. We thought the dogs were just there. Not mistreated, but not treated great, if that makes sense. We just knew we wanted one eventually. We met a few at a meet and greet, went home and picked our perfect greyhound from the adoption group's website only to be told "NO! That one!!" by our daughter. Being the suckers we are, we let Emily pick (because, get real...what parent won't let the kid who lost both her dogs pick). Best decision ever. Our first boy, Pat

"I know, I spend countless hours every year volunteering my time doing this!"

Racing greyhounds come to us right off the track on Fridays, and attend their first meet and greet events (adoption events) in Gainesville the next day. If they were 'abused' we wouldn't be able to do that! They are beautifully behaved, in great condition, and loving as could be from the moment the adoption groups get them. People fall in love with them at first sight! Greyhounds love to run. No one forces them to. In fact, if you adopt one, the first thing they do is run ovals in your backyard. Our adoption group takes in dogs that raced anywhere from zero races to 200+ races. Even the ones that did not have a knack for racing are placed for adoption by their trainers, and are just as loved. There is no breed of dog in the US that has a better adoption program in place than the one in place for greyhounds. None. I know, I spend countless hours every year volunteering my time doing this! Think about that before you donate money to a group whose sole reason for existence

"I have moved over 2,700 greyhounds to adoption by working with 15+ farmers in Abilene and countless adoption groups."

In 1993, I was a young college student looking for a summer job. My sister's boyfriend (now husband) worked at the Woodlands as a security guard, and he knew I loved animals and said why don't I put my info up in the guard shack? So I did. Ironically, that did not lead to a job at the track, but an assistant job with Robert Gillette who owned greys and had his own veterinary practice. I took over care of his 12 greyhound farm and worked at his clinic also. Since I still didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life, this was a very formative time for me. But the greyhounds spoke to me. When he didn't feel like he had enough work for me, he hooked me up with Harvey Brown a trainer at the Woodlands, where I started as a helper and worked my way up to trainer. I spent 15 years of my life training greyhounds and it was my favorite time of my whole life, and it solidified in me really quickly that I wanted to follow my dream and become a veterinarian. I was accep

"I tried arguing like ARs do..."

My story of how I came to love these wonderful dogs we call greyhounds. Way back in the 90's I was watching a National Geographic program and they had greyhounds on it. Talking about how they are disposed of when they are no longer able to race. Then they showed video of greyhounds being dumped into mass graves. There were at least 50 or more greyhounds at a time just being dumped into these mass graves. I just sat there and cried. I promised myself that one day soon I would rescue and save a greyhound. So a few years later when our old shepherd/collie was starting to slow down and we knew her time was limited, I talked to a lady from an adoption group at a pet expo our city was having. I told her I was interested in adopting but we had to wait until we no longer had our Lucy. I truly believed at that time that all greyhounds had to be saved and rescued from that horrible fate. So after we lost our Lucy I called the lady from the adoption group to see if she had any available greyh

"This really cemented what I was already beginning to realize about how much these owners, trainers, etc. care about their dogs."

This is my blind boy Seymour (Los Lobos). I was told that the whole litter suffered from PRA and all had vision loss. Of the 6 puppies in the litter, only 1 raced and he only ran 10 races. Four of the dogs went to adoption groups right away. Seymour and his sister, Wendy were kept by the owner on his farm until a local group picked them up. I emailed Seymour’s owner to thank him for this wonderful boy. His response brought me to tears when he said he never thought anyone would want Seymour and Wendy so he was just going to let them live out their lives on his farm! This really cemented what I was already beginning to realize about how much these owners, trainers, etc. care about their dogs. Wendy got adopted locally but unfortunately passed away suddenly last fall. Seymour will soon be 5 and is a therapy dog. He is a very happy, well-adjusted dog thanks to his upbringing! -Pam P Lexington, KY

"I didn't have a firm opinion either way before adopting."

I'm pretty new to the greyhound world, adopted our first boy in February. To be honest I didn't have a firm opinion either way before adopting. I had been to the races a few times, but considered myself an animal lover which conflicted in my mind. We had decided in January to adopt/rescue a greyhound. One of the first things I discovered is greyhounds are not available outside the greyhound community. This frustrated me at first because I was impatient and wanted one now, lol. I searched shelters within 100 miles and found nothing. However, I came to appreciate the care that is taken in vetting out adopters. From checking vet references, personal references, to the home check. The adoption rate for retired greyhounds is nearly 100% and these are all to vetted adopters. I find that amazing and is something most animal advocate groups and shelters cannot say. The 3-4 weeks it took to complete the adoption process provided the needed time to really research the breed. When we fi

"...I saw nothing but happy, well-conditioned dogs."

I guess it's time to explain my journey to racing proud. I adopted my first greyhound in 2000. I was basically a cat person, but my mom had terriers (or terrors, as I called them.) I wanted a cat-like dogs and someone at work suggested a greyhound. Hal was my first and my best greyhound. Even if he wanted a second career in law enforcement. At that time I didn't know much about racing and believed all I was told. Much of it I later learned was incorrect. But I loved my dog, and within months was fostering with intent to find him a buddy. And even after his buddy Ranger came along, I kept fostering. Over the years I got to meet trainers and see the "back-end" of racing. My feelings toward it started to change. When the Geneva Lakes track closed I was up there for Octoberfest and went to the races every day. The final day I saw a littermate to the female I had, and of course I had to have her. I did end up adopting her and picking her up at the track. I remember being

"She obviously came from a positive and decent environment."

My husband and I recently adopted a beautiful 3 year old female, Pat C Velvet Lace, (Lacey) from Greyhound Pet Adoption in West Palm Beach. I could say a million wonderful things about our new pet but I will focus on this point: there is no way this sweet, docile, calm, easy to handle retired racer was abused or mistreated. She is trusting and alert, has no bad habits, and is a happy little girl. She obviously came from a positive and decent environment. -Rachel T

"I educated myself about racing..."

Four years ago I was in Halifax NS, going through a hard time. I always had dogs but as I lived in an apartment was not sure about getting one of my own. I researched and found Greyhound Pets of Atlantic Canada (GPAC). I decided to volunteer. From the first moment I got there I fell in love with all of the adoptables. After volunteering for a few months one of the dogs chose me. Flying Suburban ( now Suburman aka Subu) came home with me and my life was changed. He was the most gentle amazing dog I have ever owned. All my other dogs came from the SPCA and were puppies. This was my first grey and first older dog. I continued to volunteer a few times a week and have met so many amazing people through the group that are now my best friends. I educated myself about racing (as GPAC is racing neutral) and am personally in support of racing for so many reasons. People like Ashley , Jennifer Ng and Jenn have completely changed my world and opinion. I cannot imagine a world where these a

"Thank goodness I had an open mind and was willing to learn."

It starts for me with an older shepherd mix, not even a greyhound. Rex aka Mr. Grouchy just didn't like any other dogs. We took him to classes to learn manners and get socialized but he just was not interested in having a doggie buddy. Until that fateful day we took him on a trip to the pet store.....near the front door was a meet and greet! Greyhounds! They were so beautiful and calm and of course I had to walk over, keeping Rex very close on a short leash. I was dumbfounded when one of the greys got up and stood next to me, you guessed it — and leaned♡ All the while Rex just stood there watching. The next thing I know Rex and the Grey are standing side by side as if they are best friends. I had tears in my eyes and immediately thought about adopting this amazing dog. It turned out that she was already a senior and had recently lost her home due to her owner becoming ill. A week later Gracie came to live with us. She was awesome and perfect and did become best friends with Re

"I saw how happy and healthy the dogs are..."

As a veteran teacher, I readily accept that my students are a product of both nature and nurture. However, prior to adopting my first retired racer in 2015, I believed the anti-racing rhetoric that I had read and heard. When I adopted Janey, who raced until she was 4 and then spent a year at a breeding farm in West Virginia, I believed I had rescued her even though she was healthy, good-natured and gentle from the day she arrived. My lightbulb moment occurred when I started fostering for my adoption group and noticed that every foster dog that came to Delaware from the Charleston, West Virginia adoption kennel was healthy, good-natured and gentle, right off the track. I started thinking that, if children are a combination of their genetics plus how they’re raised, why wouldn’t the same be true for dogs? It’s just common sense that, if I adopt a dog at 5 years of age, the credit for her disposition has to go to whoever owned and raised her before she became my pet. I joined The Pro Gr

"I drove many dogs for Halfway Home during their busy years."

My Greyhound story began with the opening of Geneva Lakes in 1990. We went to the the track and cashed a quinella on Blue Duck and we were hooked. We started as volunteers for GH Pet Connection which had a racing kennel to support her adoption kennel at her house. Through the years from 1990 to 2002, we drove over 5,000 dogs to the Michigan welcome center. We bought our first racer, DK Blue Thunder from a guy in Sparr, FL. Thunder never raced nor his brother. We got them adoptive homes. When Thunder’s family got divorced, we kept him. He died at age 6 of an autoimmune disease. We kept buying dogs. Started breeding dogs on Jim Sanderford’s farm in Cheyenne, OK. When Jim got sick, things went downhill. We used a substandard farm because no one else had room. And two entire litters became instant pets. I continued buying a dog now and then. I also continued Greyhound adoption when I moved to Maryland. I drove many dogs for Halfway Home during their busy years. Most of the adoption peopl

"So I visited Derby Lane shortly after that and my view of racing turned upside down."

Here is my story and why I support the continuation of greyhound racing: I adopted my first greyhound in 2012 and my second one in 2013. They are both currently 8 years old. I had never seen a greyhound race but knew of a couple people who had adopted greyhounds. They seemed like such sweet dogs so I decided to adopt. However, all I had heard was the negative propaganda about racing so I believed that I was “rescuing” a greyhound. After my first one made such an easy transition to my home, I began to wonder why, if greyhounds are “abused”, she had shown no behaviors common to abused animals. At the same time I had some conversations with one of the leaders of my local adoption group in Pennsylvania who sensed I had a negative view of racing but didn’t have any facts to base it on. She encouraged me to go see a greyhound race if I had never been to the track before, and make up my own mind about racing. (Thank you Ellen!) She suggested that I go right up to the fence at the edge of t

"I finally came to realize that these dogs were happy ..."

My love for the NGA greyhound started in the year 2001. I was working at a PetsMart and came across some swag in a cabinet for a local greyhound society. I saw the beautiful silhouette of a greyhound and was oddly intrigued. You see, I was a cat person at the time. I had no interest in noisy, slobbering dogs. Shortly thereafter, a woman brought her greyhound into the store and I became very excited having never seen a greyhound in person before. She wasn't very personable and seemed annoyed when I asked to pet her grey. I paid no mind to her grumpiness. It was love at first sight. I researched the breed online and came across horrifying photos of what I now know were Spanish Galgos. I bought into the online propaganda, hook, line and sinker. At the time, I was in my early to mid 20's and knew I couldn't responsibly afford a dog, so I decided to wait. While waiting, I found a greyhound adoption group about an hour and a half away and decided to volunteer to get to know th