As dog racing drops, need for greyhound homes rises

Carrie Antlfinger and Bob Salsberg

Associated Press

Associated Press photos

Sharyell Highland, adoption coordinator at Dairyland Greyhound Park, shows off one of the greyhounds up for adoption in Kenosha, Wis. The track closed at the end of 2009.

Racing assistant trainer Nikki Hudson, of Taunton, Mass., right, uses a hose to wash the paws of Computer Glitch following a race last month at Raynham Park dog track, in Raynham, Mass. Although dog racing has existed in the state for 75 years, it came to an end Dec. 26. Trainer Mike Curran, of Stoughton, Mass., left, cleans greyhound Hammer It Chuck.

Rhonda Mack, of Lake Zurich, Ill., poses with recently adopted greyhounds Jack, back left, and Lexi, center. She adopted the dogs from Dairyland Greyhound Park.

KENOSHA, Wis. – Greyhound advocates are scrambling to find homes for hundreds of dogs that will no longer be racing.

Tracks in Wisconsin, Arizona and Massachusetts ended dog racing just last week, bringing to seven the number that pulled the mechanical rabbit in 2009. Two tracks closed in Massachusetts, where voters have outlawed greyhound racing.

Michael McCann, president of The Greyhound Project Inc., is among those who fear that there will be more dogs available than prospective homes.

A Kansas man, Kevin Neuman, recently started the non-profit greyhoundcentral.org, which he hopes will serve as a clearinghouse for greyhound adoption. Neuman has adopted 11 greyhounds over the past 16 years.

Greyhound lovers say the dogs are calm, easy to care for and make great pets.

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