UPDATE, 9/10/08: Saffron’s listing has been removed from Petfinder. I’m pretty sure this means she’s been adopted, as I believe REGAP is mostly a no-kill rescue group.

This week, I’m doing something a bit different for our Featured Adoptables column. In addition to featuring an animal, I’d also like to highlight a local rescue group - Retired Greyhounds as Pets (REGAP) - which will be in need of a little extra help come August 24. What’s so special about August 24, you ask?

The Woodlands Greyhound Race Track is scheduled to close down on 8/23. Consequently, the 600+ greyhounds who previously held down “jobs” there will find themselves “unemployed”. For racing dogs, this means they’ll be homeless. Many of them face euthanasia.

The following is excerpted from Kinship Circle’s July Digest:

2. Race Track Closing. Don’t Let Greyhounds Die

ALERT FROM / REPLY TO:

Buctale13 [at] aol.com
pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/AnimalRightsandActionAlerts/message/3915

BACKGROUND (edited for length):

7/23/08, Woodlands Greyhound Race Track closing in Kansas City: The Woodlands Racetrack in Kansas City is closing August 24th. I have spoken with REGAP (Retired Greyhounds as Pets) here in Kansas City. There are 600 Greyhounds at the track. Greyhound rescue estimates they will be able to get 200 into the rescue network.

The Woodlands is a last-stop track in the Greyhound racing industry, the remaining 400 will be ‘returned’ to the breeders and likely [killed].

CONTACT INFORMATION / TAKE ACTION:

REGAP can be reached at 816-763-3333
REGAP (greyhound rescue) needs urgent help for FOSTERS, ADOPTIONS, TRANSPORTS, etc. Please contact them if you can help and forward to friends you know who may be able to help. REGAP: 816-763-3333

If you can help by adopting or fostering a greyhound (or two!), please contact REGAP today. If you don’t have the room, means or desire to take in a dog, consider volunteering for transport (i.e., driving) duties. It’s not unusual for rescue groups to adopt out animals to homes in other cities or even states; in such cases, these groups need a few kind souls to physically transport the animals to their forever homes. And, of course, a cash donation is always welcome!

You can find out more about REGAP on their Petfinder page, www.petfinder.com/shelters/MO151.html or on their website, www.kcregap.org/public/

For more information on Woodland’s pending closure, here’s a Google News search with the latest.

Sticking with the greyhound theme, this week I’m proud to feature Saffron, a gorgeous greyhound girl:

Just look at that beautiful smile!

Here’s what REGAP says of the lovely Saffron:

This girl always has a big smile for anyone who comes by! Saffron is very outgoing and loving. She is ecstatic to greet the kennel staff in the mornings with tail wags, kisses, and a smile to take on the day! Saffron loves to play and gets along well with other medium to large sized dogs, but small dogs are not good playmates with this big girl. Saffron loves to go on walks in the park and gets so excited she can hardly contain it when she knows it’s time to go on her walk. She needs a home where ear scratching, walks, and love are given freely so she can give her love, loyalty, and silly grin to her special family.

REGAP currently has 11 greyhounds listed on Petfinder (you can also view them on REGAP’s own website), with (presumably) hundreds more to come. If none of these babes strike your fancy, consider calling REGAP about Woodland’s soon-to-be-ex-racing dogs.

Won’t you give these “working” dogs a happy retirement?

UPDATED to add: In case any readers are hesitant to adopt a a racing dog (e.g., “I’m too old/tired/lazy to keep up with a greyhound!”), here’s an excerpt from REGAP’s greyhound FAQ:

What kind of pets do ex-racing Greyhounds make?

Greyhounds thrive on attention and human companionship and make wonderful pets. They are affectionate, intelligent, sensitive and friendly. Raised with their littermates, where they competed for affection, Greyhounds love becoming the center of attention as household pets. (Don’t expect them to be watchdogs, as their friendly nature is just not very threatening.) Greyhounds are extremely clean and rarely need bathed because their soft, short fur is non-oily. As a breed, they have few hereditary health problems. Greyhounds need homes with fenced yards but they do not need an extraordinary amount of exercise. Most Greyhounds are a joy to take for walks because they do not pull on the leash and do not jump on people or other dogs. And in spite of weighing between 50 and 80 lbs, they are very graceful and take an amazingly small amount of space to be happy. Adopted Greyhounds just seem to be extremely grateful to finally experience a home and family. They quickly settle in as the resident ‘40 mph couch potatoes’!

Are they good with children?

Greyhounds are very gentle, patient dogs but they tend to get along best with children over the age of 5 who have a clear understanding of rules about and respect for animals. Most Greyhounds do not want to ‘wrestle’ with children. They are excellent with children who are loving and respectful.

How are they with other pets?

Greyhounds are very social by nature and usually settle in well with other household pets. Cats are often a puzzle to a Greyhound, but a little extra time and care are often all that’s required to make a happy home for all.

How old are retired Greyhounds?

The retired racers are usually between two and four years old. We sometimes receive older Greyhounds that make calm, loving companions as well. Many people have learned that older Greyhounds are exactly right for them.

What is their life expectancy?

These pure-bred athletes enjoy many years of good health. With proper care, they have a life expectancy of 12 years or more.

Are ex-racing Greyhounds already housebroken?

Frequently an adopted Greyhound is completely housebroken right from the start. In their kennel environment they are “turned out” three or four times a day to relieve themselves. Therefore, racing Greyhounds are kennel-broken, which means they’re trained to go outside and keep their kennels clean. Let them out frequently at first, and they quickly learn that their new home is the place they keep clean and outside is where they go to relieve themselves.

To find out more, visit REGAP’s website at www.kcregap.org/public/

UPDATED once more to add: After poking around REGAP’s site, I found a link to Pups Without Partners Greyhound Adoption (pups-without-partners.org), where many of Woodland’s greyhounds are listed:

With the announcement that The Woodlands will be closing its doors on Aug. 24, 2008, Pup Without Partners has teamed up with Kansas City REGAP to make sure that every greyhound currently in the PWP Adoption Program or any other greyhound on the compound that needs a “forever home” finds one. If you are interested in adopting any greyhound on this page, please go to the KC REGAP site and fill out their adoption application. KC REGAP will be screening all applicants and together with the Pups Without Partners program, ALL of the greyhounds will find a place to call home.

Click here to view a full list of the dogs!

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Each Wednesday, the Kansas City Freecycle blog will feature one adoptable animal from a local KC rescue group or animal shelter.

We do this for several reasons:

- To highlight the plight of companion animals in the Kansas City area.

- To remind members of our no-animal policy, and provide an alternative venue for members who wish to adopt an unwanted animal.

- To encourage members to adopt a furry friend.

- To help out out local animal rescue groups and animal shelters, many of which are overwhelmed by the sheer number of animals in need.

- To illustrate these animals’ unique personalities and characteristics, thus underscoring the fact that they are not objects and should not be “freecycled”.

Click here to view past Featured Adoptables.

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