11/09/2018
Greyhounds Only, Inc.
Bring Home the Hounds - Help Needed for the FL Racers
On Tuesday, November 6, the citizens of the state of Florida voted to pass a constitutional amendment ending dog racing in their state by 2020. As a result, upwards of 8,000-10,000 greyhounds will be displaced and in need of adoptive homes. Only six tracks in the U.S. will still be operational after Florida racing ends, so there may also be greyhounds from farms in other states that will be in need of homes as well.
According to Greyhound-Data.com, Greyhounds Only is the third largest greyhound adoption group in the U.S. To put the number of dogs being displaced into perspective, GO has rehomed a total of about 3,000 dogs in the 23 years the group has been in existence, currently averaging around 200 dogs per year.
While Greyhounds Only and Greyhound Alliance have had experience with track closings, mobilizing to take in displaced greyhounds when St. Croix, Geneva Lakes and Dairyland tracks closed, we have never dealt with a situation nearing this magnitude.
We are currently working with owners in Florida to devise a plan to handle this emergency. Not only will we need money for veterinary care, transport, and boarding, plus short- and long-term foster homes for the dogs, but we may need to send aid for the greyhounds before they ever leave the state of Florida. This amendment passing will leave many good people with no income to support themselves or their dogs when racing ends.
We do not yet know the number of greyhounds we will receive, or the timetable. Here are three things we know for sure:
1) The number of retired racing greyhounds available for adoption in the U.S. will soon spike, but will then dramatically, permanently decrease. For that reason, if you have been considering adopting, now and over the next several months will be a great time to do so.
2) Greyhounds Only, Greyhound Alliance/Sunburst Project, and all other greyhound adoption organizations are going to need immense financial assistance to transport and care for the displaced greyhounds through 2020 and beyond.
3) Greyhounds Only will be in dire need of short- and long-term foster homes in northeastern Illinois for the huge influx of greyhounds we anticipate receiving.
We appreciate the support of the Greyhounds Only family, but we also need to collaborate with other adoption groups. We need to set aside our differences and come together to help these remarkable dogs that we have spent our lives protecting and loving. The greyhound is a very unique breed, unequipped to easily transition into a typical shelter environment, therefore the collaboration of all experienced adoption groups is crucial for us to succeed.
In addition, we need to reach beyond the greyhound community for assistance. We need to collaborate and think outside the box as how to accomplish the common goal of making sure every greyhound finds its forever home. We need your creativity and your manpower. We need your help, we need your friends’ help, we need your relatives’ help, and we need the help of every breed adoption group in the country.
If you want to be part of a steering committee, please email [email protected]. If you have an innovative idea, please let us know.
We look forward to hearing from you, and we will be reporting back as we learn more about the situation and formulate a plan of action.
We are facing a greyhound tsunami. We are seeking safe shelter for these unique and remarkable dogs.
DONATE NOW:
http://www.greyhoundsonly.com/component/content/article/6-community/545-donate-to-greyhounds-only
Sincerely,
Greyhounds Only, Inc.
