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Local greyhound rescuers brace for hundreds of dogs after Florida bans racing

By Joanna Small
By Joanna Small

SEATTLE — The impact of a Florida vote to end greyhound racing in the state will have an impact in Washington State and across the country.

AJN Texas Nancy's racing career lasted less than a year, but Jasmine has her whole life ahead of her.

"She claimed our bed three days after moving into our house and has been there ever since," explained Relaena Sindelar.

Sindelar rescued Nancy and gave the greyhound her new name as well as her new identity as a family pet, just like her predecessors.

"The husband and I have had five greyhounds and we've fostered I think eight or nine between that—so not nearly as many as the other volunteers because we suck at fostering because we keep them," Sindelar, who lives in Seattle, told us.

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She finds herself once again prepping to foster as thousands of greyhounds are primed for retirement.

For decades greyhound racing has been declining in popularity and tracks have been disappearing as states vote to ban the sport.

Now there are just 19 left: Alabama, Arkansas and Iowa each have one; Texas and West Virginia each have two; Florida has 11 after one already closed.

That's because last Tuesday Florida voters decided they want none. Greyhound racing industry officials say the approval of Amendment 13 means hundreds if not thousands of jobs lost.

"They're obviously going to look out for themselves first and we fear that the dogs are going to come second to that so there's a big rush right now to get these dogs to adoption groups as they become available," explained Bruce Caplin with the Greyhound Pets of America Greater Northwest chapter.

He's leading the charge for adoption in Washington State.

We met him along with Zappa and three other greyhounds — Jasmine, Hetty Lane and Tesla-- inside Queen Anne's Mud Bay where the group often has greyhound meet-ups.

Caplin says they're concerned.

Greyhound rescues across the country anticipate 8,000 dogs will need homes by the end of 2020, when racing is phased out entirely in Florida.

"The wider problem is there are another 7,000 or 8,000 dogs currently on breeding farms spread around the country but the majority are in Nebraska and Oklahoma. Since those dogs are probably not going to have race tracks to go to the farms are looking for adoption groups to take all of their dogs at one time. Those operations are probably going to shut down," Caplin told us.

And they'll need homes too; 80 dogs will be headed to Washington within the next few weeks.

"We're used to having anywhere from 12 to 30 dogs in our system at a time," so foster families are in high demand -- and it takes a special foster family.

"They are a little bit different, particularly when they first get out of racing. They've never lived in a home before and they're essentially adult dogs. There's a learning curve," Caplin said.

There is also a significant cost; so as not burden those who want to foster or adopt a greyhound the non-profit foots the bill. They need to raise $40,000 just for the first 80 dogs, just in Seattle.

"Donate, foster, do something to help a greyhound find a home so all of these rescue groups can accommodate the tidal wave that's coming," Sindelar concluded.

To make a donation to the local organization, click here.

Cox Media Group

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