Junkman
Super Member
The following is a e mail that I got today. This is not a joke and fortunately not all the facts in the e mail are true. I have also posted the press release from the track. CT law doesn't allow for euthanizing Greyhounds used for racing. I don't know how many Greyhounds have been place, but I do know that there are more available than they have homes for at present. If you can save one, please contact the person mentioned in the email. Thanks... Junk..
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( From:
Leigh Grady
Executive Director
Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling
17 Laurelwood Road, Sterling MA 01564
978 422 8585 shelter, 978 563 1039 fax
www.sterlingshelter.org
500 Greyhound Dogs to Die!
The greyhound track in Plainfield, CT voted on April 26th that they would discontinue greyhound racing. Unfortunately - they've also decided that rescuers have only two weeks to get the dogs out, and any dogs remaining at the track on May 14th will be euthanized. This is a monumental task because there are at least 500 dogs currently at the track. These are all young, healthy dogs, 2-4 years of age, who would make great family pets.
Why is the track doing this? Greyhound racing is a business and because the track is no longer profitable, they're getting out. To us, dogs are cherished companions. To the greyhound racing industry, dogs are expendable commodities to be disposed of in whatever way isleast expensive and most convenient when they aren't making money.
We've committed to saving as many dogs as we possibly can in the next two weeks. We'll be working with an experienced greyhound rescuer who has been placing retired greyhounds for many years. She will be going to the track and bringing us dogs. As soon as we have more room, we'll do it again. We will repeat as many times as we can before May 14th. After May 14th, there will be no dogs left alive at the track.
In order to save as many dogs as we can, we are going to try something we've never done before; sending as many as possible out into foster care by May 14th. Every time we send a dog into an adoptive home or a foster home, we can take another dog off the track. We will take the fostered dogs back into the Dakin Animal Shelter for adoption over the next few months as spaces open up for them - as long as they're off the track by May 14th, they'll be safe.
How can you help?
a.. Adopt a greyhound They're wonderful dogs - gentle, quiet, sweet, and graceful. The ones we'll be getting will be good companions with other dogs and with cats. Surprisingly, they're couch potatoes. They do need to be in a fenced area or leash walked; they aren't dogs to let run loose. For information on what it's like to take a greyhound home, visit www.greyhoundgang.com.
b.. Foster a greyhound If we can send greys into foster care and out of our Shelter, we can pull more from the track before May 14. We'll get them back into the Shelter over the next few months. We will provide all their medical care and a crate to make their transition easier. You provide your time & love and together we will give them a new life! For information on what it's like to take a greyhound home, visit www.greyhoundgang.com.
c.. Donate money. We are going to need extra funds to help these dogs. We'll be buying crates and other supplies as well as paying all their medical bills. You can send a check to: Dakin Animal
Shelter, 163 Montague Road, Leverett MA 01054, or donate online.
Please mark your donation "Save the Greys".
d.. Donate a large dog crate to send with the dogs going into foster care.
e.. Spread the word! The more people who know about this tragedy, the more help the dogs will get. There are a lot of misconceptions about them.
a.. Greys are not hyper - they're actually couch potatoes!
b.. They love to run - for about 5 minutes - in a safe, fenced area.
c.. Greys spend most of their day snoozing and adore soft sleeping places and all the comforts in life.
d.. They are actually very good dogs for apartments or small homes
because of their low activity level.
e.. They are very clean dogs, and in some ways are very catlike in
their cleanliness and love of comfort.
f.. Most greyhounds - including all the ones we'll be getting - can live with other dogs and cats, once they've been introduced, and actually love living with other animals.
g.. They rarely bark and shed little.
h.. In their life on the track, they live in crates for 22 hours per day, so most things in the 'real world' are a surprise to them.
i.. They've never seen simple things such as: slippery floors (wood, tile); stairs; television; windows; cats; dogs who are not greyhounds!
j.. They generally housebreak very easily because they're completely crate trained (they aren't housebroken because they've never been in a house, so they have to learn what a house is!).
k.. They walk very, very politely on leash - they learn that at the track.
l.. Greyhounds are very good companions for homes with gentle children because of their own gentle nature.
This is a tragedy of enormous proportions, and we've decided to throw everything we've got into doing as much as we can. It's easy to get overwhelmed thinking about the scope of the problem - and donothing. If we instead work together as a community, we CAN make a difference. The Dakin Animal Shelter has always relied upon our
community for our support, and we're counting on you now. With your help, we WILL make a difference.
Leigh Grady
Executive Director
Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling
17 Laurelwood Road, Sterling MA 01564
978 422 8585 shelter, 978 563 1039 fax
www.sterlingshelter.org )</font>
Press release from the track.....
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Here is the current press release from the Plainfield Racetrack.
Media Contact: Peggy Mackinnon (303) 320-6082
Plainfield Greyhound Park to Place All Greyhounds Affected by 2005 Temporary Closure Track welcomes the assistance of adoption groups and people who wish to adopt greyhounds
PLAINFIELD, CT (May 3, 2005)-Karen Keelan, executive vice president of Plainfield Greyhound Park in Plainfield, CT, said today that the track is committing available resources to ensure that greyhounds displaced by the decision to cease greyhound racing as of May 14 for the remainder of 2005 will be sent to another track to race; be returned to the farm or owner, whether for breeding purposes or placement in a local adoption program; or placed in homes as pets in accordance with the wishes of the greyhound owners.
"Greyhound welfare is our first priority and we will keep the kennel area open until the greyhounds are suitably placed," Keelan said.
The track will apply for racing dates in 2006 and is committed to a live racing season in 2006. Throughout the remainder of 2005 and 2006, Plainfield Greyhound Park will continue to offer wagering on races from other tracks via simulcast seven days a week.
The track, the National Greyhound Association (NGA) and the racing kennels are in the process of identifying which greyhounds need adoptive homes and are working with local and national adoption organizations to place them. Some greyhounds will transfer to other greyhound tracks to continue their racing careers.
Plainfield Greyhound Park welcomes help from adoption organizations across the country and from individuals who wish to adopt a greyhound.
A special toll-free number has been set up to place these dogs in homes as pets. People interested in adopting a greyhound should call 1-888-267-1099. In addition, people can visit www.greyhoundpets.org to learn more about adoption of these wonderful animals. )</font>
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( From:
Leigh Grady
Executive Director
Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling
17 Laurelwood Road, Sterling MA 01564
978 422 8585 shelter, 978 563 1039 fax
www.sterlingshelter.org
500 Greyhound Dogs to Die!
The greyhound track in Plainfield, CT voted on April 26th that they would discontinue greyhound racing. Unfortunately - they've also decided that rescuers have only two weeks to get the dogs out, and any dogs remaining at the track on May 14th will be euthanized. This is a monumental task because there are at least 500 dogs currently at the track. These are all young, healthy dogs, 2-4 years of age, who would make great family pets.
Why is the track doing this? Greyhound racing is a business and because the track is no longer profitable, they're getting out. To us, dogs are cherished companions. To the greyhound racing industry, dogs are expendable commodities to be disposed of in whatever way isleast expensive and most convenient when they aren't making money.
We've committed to saving as many dogs as we possibly can in the next two weeks. We'll be working with an experienced greyhound rescuer who has been placing retired greyhounds for many years. She will be going to the track and bringing us dogs. As soon as we have more room, we'll do it again. We will repeat as many times as we can before May 14th. After May 14th, there will be no dogs left alive at the track.
In order to save as many dogs as we can, we are going to try something we've never done before; sending as many as possible out into foster care by May 14th. Every time we send a dog into an adoptive home or a foster home, we can take another dog off the track. We will take the fostered dogs back into the Dakin Animal Shelter for adoption over the next few months as spaces open up for them - as long as they're off the track by May 14th, they'll be safe.
How can you help?
a.. Adopt a greyhound They're wonderful dogs - gentle, quiet, sweet, and graceful. The ones we'll be getting will be good companions with other dogs and with cats. Surprisingly, they're couch potatoes. They do need to be in a fenced area or leash walked; they aren't dogs to let run loose. For information on what it's like to take a greyhound home, visit www.greyhoundgang.com.
b.. Foster a greyhound If we can send greys into foster care and out of our Shelter, we can pull more from the track before May 14. We'll get them back into the Shelter over the next few months. We will provide all their medical care and a crate to make their transition easier. You provide your time & love and together we will give them a new life! For information on what it's like to take a greyhound home, visit www.greyhoundgang.com.
c.. Donate money. We are going to need extra funds to help these dogs. We'll be buying crates and other supplies as well as paying all their medical bills. You can send a check to: Dakin Animal
Shelter, 163 Montague Road, Leverett MA 01054, or donate online.
Please mark your donation "Save the Greys".
d.. Donate a large dog crate to send with the dogs going into foster care.
e.. Spread the word! The more people who know about this tragedy, the more help the dogs will get. There are a lot of misconceptions about them.
a.. Greys are not hyper - they're actually couch potatoes!
b.. They love to run - for about 5 minutes - in a safe, fenced area.
c.. Greys spend most of their day snoozing and adore soft sleeping places and all the comforts in life.
d.. They are actually very good dogs for apartments or small homes
because of their low activity level.
e.. They are very clean dogs, and in some ways are very catlike in
their cleanliness and love of comfort.
f.. Most greyhounds - including all the ones we'll be getting - can live with other dogs and cats, once they've been introduced, and actually love living with other animals.
g.. They rarely bark and shed little.
h.. In their life on the track, they live in crates for 22 hours per day, so most things in the 'real world' are a surprise to them.
i.. They've never seen simple things such as: slippery floors (wood, tile); stairs; television; windows; cats; dogs who are not greyhounds!
j.. They generally housebreak very easily because they're completely crate trained (they aren't housebroken because they've never been in a house, so they have to learn what a house is!).
k.. They walk very, very politely on leash - they learn that at the track.
l.. Greyhounds are very good companions for homes with gentle children because of their own gentle nature.
This is a tragedy of enormous proportions, and we've decided to throw everything we've got into doing as much as we can. It's easy to get overwhelmed thinking about the scope of the problem - and donothing. If we instead work together as a community, we CAN make a difference. The Dakin Animal Shelter has always relied upon our
community for our support, and we're counting on you now. With your help, we WILL make a difference.
Leigh Grady
Executive Director
Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling
17 Laurelwood Road, Sterling MA 01564
978 422 8585 shelter, 978 563 1039 fax
www.sterlingshelter.org )</font>
Press release from the track.....
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Here is the current press release from the Plainfield Racetrack.
Media Contact: Peggy Mackinnon (303) 320-6082
Plainfield Greyhound Park to Place All Greyhounds Affected by 2005 Temporary Closure Track welcomes the assistance of adoption groups and people who wish to adopt greyhounds
PLAINFIELD, CT (May 3, 2005)-Karen Keelan, executive vice president of Plainfield Greyhound Park in Plainfield, CT, said today that the track is committing available resources to ensure that greyhounds displaced by the decision to cease greyhound racing as of May 14 for the remainder of 2005 will be sent to another track to race; be returned to the farm or owner, whether for breeding purposes or placement in a local adoption program; or placed in homes as pets in accordance with the wishes of the greyhound owners.
"Greyhound welfare is our first priority and we will keep the kennel area open until the greyhounds are suitably placed," Keelan said.
The track will apply for racing dates in 2006 and is committed to a live racing season in 2006. Throughout the remainder of 2005 and 2006, Plainfield Greyhound Park will continue to offer wagering on races from other tracks via simulcast seven days a week.
The track, the National Greyhound Association (NGA) and the racing kennels are in the process of identifying which greyhounds need adoptive homes and are working with local and national adoption organizations to place them. Some greyhounds will transfer to other greyhound tracks to continue their racing careers.
Plainfield Greyhound Park welcomes help from adoption organizations across the country and from individuals who wish to adopt a greyhound.
A special toll-free number has been set up to place these dogs in homes as pets. People interested in adopting a greyhound should call 1-888-267-1099. In addition, people can visit www.greyhoundpets.org to learn more about adoption of these wonderful animals. )</font>
