Are you looking for a good pet? You may want to consider adopting a Greyhound.
Most of these dogs were once used to turn a profit for their owners at the track. If you've ever been to a race track, you've seen these beautifully graceful animals. The terrible tragedy is, that if one of the dogs isn't turning a profit for the owner, the dog is usually destroyed. It's very unfair, because these dogs are the kind that love to be loved. A Greyhound will go through his racing "career" and live in a kennel with next to no human contact. Because of this, most Greyhounds don't even know their own names. After a short lived career, most put to sleep. There are other alternatives to this.
According to "The National Greyhound Adoption Program"(NGAP), an estimated 30,000 Greyhounds are killed in the US each year because they "can't run fast enough". The NGAP, a non-profit corporation which has it's headquarters in Philadelphia, PA., rescues these Greyhounds, and places them with loving families across the country. To insure the dogs get good homes, families place an application with the NGAP and after a the family meets the criteria, they are allowed to adopt. This screening process is very important to insure that the dogs are placed in a non-abusive home. Part of the criteria is that you must have a fenced-in yard. Greyhounds live to run, so a fenced yard is a must. There is an adoption fee of $260.00. This includes air transportation, DHLPP, rabies shots, spaying or neutering and a complete Adoption Package.
If you've ever had any contact with a Greyhound, you'll never forget it. These dogs are so docile and sweet, You'll fall in love before you even know what hit you. The Ohio chapter take some of the dogs to local pet stores here in N.E. Ohio, and I've had the chance to meet some of the adorable "adoptees" as well as some that are waiting for families. A greyhound is never really happy unless someone is loving them. The dogs at the store were in absolute heaven because so many people were petting them. Some people have this misconception that because when they race they have muzzles on, that it's because they are vicious. Greyhounds are the total opposite. They're a very gentle breed. They are not "high strung" or "ill tempered". They're also better with children than some of the other breeds. The greyhounds are also kennel broken, so housebreaking is very easy, and it's not unusual for them to already be completely housebroken.
Main Headquarters: National Greyhound Adoption Program 8301 Torresdale Avenue Philadelphia, PA. 19136 USA Telephone: 800-348-2517 or 215-331-7918 FAX: 215-331-1947
Affiliate NGAP Groups: NGAP Virginia Sam and Gay Latimer Telephone: 757-486-7956
NGAP of NW PA Glenn and Ruth Sprague PO Box 10002 Erie, PA 16514 Telephone: 814-456-4969
NGAP of Ohio Larry Prather 330-928-6096
NGAP of Delaware Terry and Leroy Myers 302-697-1479
