"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 not compute at all, because of the experience I had on that trip with Mister.

You see, as soon as we crossed the border into Florida from Georgia, Mister, who had been the consummate calm well- adjusted traveler, started to "rootch around" (as we say here in PA). Every time he sprang up, perked his ears, and showed excitement and I wondered what was going on, I would see a sign for a dog track! Mister knew where we were!

This dog thought he was going back to the races and he couldn't contain himself! He obviously enjoyed his career and would have been overjoyed to be at a track again.

It's been 23 years now that the Francisco household has been home to a greyhound or two. Dad and I had Mister for three great years until he crossed the bridge at, we believe, the age of twelve.

That's the story of my first moment of enlightenment about racing. It would be a shame to eliminate a sport that gives both the dogs and the people who love them such enjoyment. Look at and listen to your greyhound. He will tell you the truth.

Sue Francisco

Comments

"As a person who helps connect humans and Greyhounds..."

As the President and Founder of Forever Home Greyhound Adoptions, as well as having 13 of my own Greys, I feel like it's important to weigh in with my views as not only a Grey mom, but as a person who helps connect humans and Greyhounds, every day for over 20 years now. With all the allegations and controversy surrounding the Greyhound racing industry lately, I feel like it's high time that more of us on the adoption side of the road make our thoughts and feelings known. Having been in the adoption world for well over 20 years now, I think I have seen and heard just about everything, and I am here to tell the world that all the anti-racing slandering of the industry is shameful, hurtful, and untrue. Most of the AR mouthpieces that spout toxic lies the loudest, have probably never ever seen the inside of a racing kennel, and maybe never even witnessed a Greyhound race. Well, I HAVE, and I can truthfully say, that most kennels are cleaner than some people's homes, a

"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

"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

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