In high school, my friends and I would occasionally hang out at the dog track for its whiff of action, of lives and money squandered. Droopy-face seniors and dopey guys in blazers rooted sullenly for dogs with funky names like Dapper Suzy and Hiawatha Rosa. The order of each race's winners was a mystery, and the dogs' tremendous speed lent beauty.
This was before I learned of the abuses greyhounds suffer — from beatings to neglect to the mass slaughter of dogs found unfit for the track.
Greyhound racing is a waning industry, but of the country's 42 live-racing pari-mutuels, 14 are in Florida. No other state has more than three. So while the industry may be in decline, the concentration of tracks in Florida continues to create demand for thousands of dogs — the cream of a fast, short-lived crop — many of which are unwanted come season's end.
Arguably, the only bright spot in the industry's equation are the rescue and adoption organizations. Of the Bay area's groups, Greyhound Rescue and Adoption of Tampa Bay (GREAT) is one of the more visible. GREAT volunteers make regular Saturday appearances at local pet supermarkets, letting people know what ideal companions the dogs make.
Misconceptions about the breed abound, since they're frequently only seen muzzled and sprinting around a track at 40 miles per hour. Many people think they're hyperactive, unmanageable and violent. The reality is they're lazy little snugglers, affectionately called the world's fastest couch potatoes. Bred for centuries to chase small game, they're great sprinters, but they're used to hours of idle time. At the racetrack, they're typically kept indoors in air-conditioned cages 22 hours a day and run only twice. At top speed, one lap of the track takes them a whopping 30 to 34 seconds. But the dogs need to be walked only twice daily in order to stay in shape in retirement.
The volunteers at GREAT are pros at matching dogs with homes. Greyhounds are a smart breed and adapt quickly to new things. They also love human interaction. For most dogs, it's an easy transition from a kennel coop to a doggie bed beside a sofa. But some animals' temperaments are trickier. Dogs who've been beaten often dislike men, and so they require an all-female home. Responsible rescue and adoption groups take all of this into account. Question is, would you like a sleek 70-pound sweetie loaded with fast-twitch muscle fiber that sleeps all day?
Think about it.
If you've got some spare time this summer and would like to spend it accruing good karma, you might enjoy volunteering with a greyhound rescue and adoption group. Volunteers aren't expected to adopt a greyhound, though some volunteers find they can't help themselves. Many people volunteer simply because they can't have pets where they live but love to be around animals. Volunteers also aren't required to attend weekend events or assist on rescues — where group representatives visit area kennels and receive unwanted dogs. Volunteering may include answering phones, stuffing envelopes, sending out e-mails, etc.
You sure you don't want a 40-mph, 70-pound lap pillow?
Area greyhound rescues: GREAT: 813-971-4732; REGAP (Retired Greyhounds as Pets): 813-343-4824; Greyhound Pets of America-Largo: 813-595-7852; Racing Greyhound Project-Sarasota: 941-379-3278.
This article appears in May 14-20, 2003.