Greyhounds need homes-fast
Around 70 greyhounds and their people attended the 13th Annual Greyhound Picnic hosted by Greyhound Pets of America Greater Northwest Chapter at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds in September 2017. Art Johnson of Bayview brought five of his six greyhounds to the picnic. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press file)
Trip, a three-year-old, brindle greyhound, stands with his human, Dave Geisert, during the annual greyhound picnic in 2017 at Kootenai County Fairgrounds. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press file)
Tim Devine, president of the local chapter of Greyhound Pets of America (GPA), with Pebbles, a racing puppy from Kansas City.
Tim Devine with Tutu, a greyhound he lost to bone cancer a few years ago.
For a time, Tim Devine’s “girls” were regular fixtures at the Good Samaritan nursing home in Spokane Valley.
In unprecedented numbers, homeless greyhounds are bound for the Inland Northwest and a local organization focused on finding homes for the retiring racers will soon be scrambling to adopt the dogs out.
A dilemma is unfolding as greyhound racing tracks across the country in recent years have experienced a sharp decline in business while voters in Florida last month soundly passed Amendment 13, which bans greyhound racing in that state beginning on Jan. 1, 2021.
Florida’s ballot measure provided no means to take care of the canines once their racing days are over, leaving thousands of greyhounds with no place to call home.
It’s a situation that has the local chapter of the Greyhound Pets of America on edge, said Tim Devine, president of the national organization’s Greater Northwest Division, which covers Idaho, Washington and parts of Montana.
“We’re fighting the biggest crisis that greyhound adoption groups have ever seen,” Devine said. “Most adoption groups are in a bit of a panic right now.”
In the wake of the Florida vote, Devine expects upwards of 70 greyhounds to arrive in this area soon—with more following their footsteps.
Adopting out the sleek speedsters is a top priority, and Devine said his organization is working with four similar greyhound groups in the region to find them all good homes. As a nonprofit with limited funding that relies entirely on volunteers, it’s a formidable challenge.
“We’ve never seen numbers like this in terms of dogs that need homes,” Devine said. “Our primary focus is the care and placement of all greyhounds, regardless of age, colors or even in some cases medical needs into the right loving forever homes.” Devine said.
Relying on donations to support its cause, Devine said money is tight within the GPA Greater Northwest Division and the crunch will only get worse as new greyhounds continue to arrive.
“We have an opportunity to rent out a kennel that will hold about 40 dogs for $1,500 a month, which is affordable, but we’ll go broke incredibly fast,” he said. “But this is what we’re here for and we’re going to spend the money to get these dogs up here and find homes for them.”
Devine said his organization may look to other local agencies to assist in placing the greyhounds.
Vicky Nelson, director of development for the nonprofit Kootenai Humane Society in Coeur d’Alene, said the shelter does not adopt out many greyhounds, but would welcome the opportunity should the need arise.
“I’d say over the past five years, we’ve seen three come through here so it’s not a big number,” Nelson said. “But if (greyhound associations) reached out and we have the room, absolutely we would help out.”
The Kootenai Humane Society has a long-standing policy of not euthanizing any pet, Nelson said.
The Northwest Division of Greyhound Pets of America, which also advocates against euthanizing, works tirelessly to raise funds to support its cause. But it’s an uphill struggle.
A GoFundMe account on the group’s website has a 2018 fundraising drive goal of $20,000 but current contributions total just $6,385 as of mid-November.
“We’re going to run out of money a lot faster than we want,” said Devine, who works for UPS when he’s not volunteering his time to the greyhound cause.
Devine has two retired racers, Hershey and Cleo, and has owned seven greyhounds over the years.
“I tend to fall in love with all the hounds I come into contact with,” he said.
While greyhounds are viewed strictly as racers by many, Devine said they make perfect pets.
“They’re mostly calm, lazy dogs. They spend most of the day sleeping,” he said. “They’re usually good with other dogs and they are very friendly. They’re also very quiet dogs. They rarely bark, and unless they see them, your neighbors won’t know you have them.”
As greyhound tracks continue to close leaving more greyhounds without a home, Devine said groups like Greyhound Pets of America will work painstakingly to place the pets.
“All the adoption groups will mobilize to do whatever we can,” he said. “The truth is, we’re all worried, and we are working as hard as we can to take care of as many hounds as possible.”
Kootenai County was once home to live greyhound racing from 1988 to 1995. The track closed due to fiscal concerns as it was losing about $3 million annually.
To donate to The Greater Northwest Division of Greyhounds Pets of America, visit the local group’s website at http://www.gnwgreyhounds.org/. Or send a check to 417 E.12th Ave., Post Falls, 83854.