“You know, you should adopt a Greyhound,” a friend of mine once suggested years ago.
“What?” I formed a mental picture of a slobbering, aggressive beast tearing up the ground in pursuit of a defenseless rabbit. What was she thinking?
My opinion changed sometime later when I met my first live Greyhound. Sleek and graceful he quietly stood at the Greyhound Rescue Booth at a local pet expo. I stopped, stared and without hesitation bent down to pet the animal. The fine hair of his coat felt like velvet under my fingertips. This delicate cover was in stark contrast to the massive muscles that lay underneath. From head to tail he was an illustration of agility and strength.
“Is he supposed to be this thin?” I asked the owner.
“He’s actually at his ideal body weight. He was just retired a couple of months ago,” he replied. “Sometimes after adoption, new owners make the mistake of trying to fatten them up. But, these creatures were designed for speed. They can develop problems in their joints if you make them carry extra weight. It’s unnatural and unkind,” he emphasized.
“Greyhounds have on average only sixteen percent body weight of fat. So they are intolerant of extremes in temperature and should never be considered `outside’ dogs,” he added.
“How old are they when they retire?”
“It varies. Usually between sixteen months and six years old. They can live to be fourteen years old or more,” he said.
I was surprised. Somehow I had thought that retired Greyhounds were just stopping off in a loving home before they met their maker. But, these dogs had their whole lives before them.
He went on to inform me that each year thousands of Greyhounds are bred and trained for the track. And, each year thousands of these gentle dogs are euthanized or sold to medical research labs if they fail to perform or are injured. Many go directly from the track to the pound to meet an almost certain fate. But, there are organizations nationwide that take in these retired racers before they are destroyed and strive to find them homes. Information on the plight of greyhounds can be found at National Greyhound Adoption Program and from The Humane Society.
“Most people aren’t aware of how docile and even tempered Greyhounds are. They are very devoted to people and in general, more tolerant of children than your average dog,” he stated.
“Why’s that?”
“Well, from a young age they were handled by trainers and have spent their entire lives with other Greys and people.”
I had been scratching the dog’s neck. When I stopped, he tilted his head up toward me in a refined pose that seemed to say, “Please continue”.
In the weeks that ensued I read everything I could find about Greyhounds. I was amazed to discover that they could reach speeds of over 40 MPH! Because of this an owner must accept that a Greyhound should never be off lead (unless he is in a fenced in area). A Greyhound is a sight hound that is trained to chase a lure. The tantalizing sight of a squirrel across the street may be irresistible to him one day and he may dash away in a split second (literally) and tragically end his life in the path of a car.
A Greyhound’s life on the track is very structured. They are familiar with a crate, a track, other Greys and their trainers. Much in the outside world is foreign to them. After adoption, a new owner must teach his ex racer what windows are, how to climb stairs and how to walk across a smooth floor.
Although Greyhounds are used to high levels of activity they easily adapt to life in a home. Owners testify that these dogs are content to curl their long limbs in a ball and snooze the day away. But, when you open the back door (of your fenced in yard) look out! Your Greyhound may liken it to a starting gate and sprint around ecstatically. And, they are always ready to accompany you for a brisk, healthful walk.
Through my research, I grew more aware of the sad plight of these magnificent animals. I was ashamed of man’s unchecked use and abuse of these dogs for mere monetary gain. As a means by which I could make one small difference, I made a decision to apply to adopt a Greyhound through the Greyhound adoption program of the former Plainfield Greyhound Park in Connecticut.
As I approached the building which housed the kennel, I heard their deep,forlorn barks. Minutes later, having dispensed with formalities, the kennel attendant led me to a room with thirty or so large wire cages. From within some of these compartments peered fifteen pairs of sorrowful eyes. Their barking stopped immediately as if they hadn’t really meant it in the first place.
“Which one do you want to see first?” asked the attendant. I pointed to one, a year old female. The dog, knowing she had been selected, unfolded her long, elegant legs and stood up in anticipation. She came out of her cage exuberantly wagging her tail and bumped me with her nose in gratitude. This process was repeated with several dogs. My heart broke as each one was led back to its cage. They were all so beautiful. I could not make a decision.
Then, I saw Hattie. Hurry Hattie was her racing name and she was four and a half years old. She came out of her cage reluctantly as if she had had her hopes dashed too many times and kept her head bowed unable to meet my eyes.
I bent down to pet her and told her big, soulful eyes that she was going home.
Recent Comments
No comments.