Retirement may mean death to some
Greyhound Lifesavers have been rescuing greyhounds since 2002

By Jessica Cross

Greyhound Lifesavers of Lexington is dedicated to rewriting the end of the "tale" for racing greyhounds.

Joyce Jackson, a volunteer for the organization and a greyhound owner, said the racing life of the dog is marked by confinement to crates and the dogs are only let out a few times each day.

The most tragic chapter in the life of a greyhound is the final one. The chapter often ends in putting the dog down when its racing career is over.

In 2002, Judy Horton and some of her dog loving friends heard a true story about a group of greyhounds that was to be put down. The group rescued the dogs, and Greyhound Lifesavers was born. Horton says the organization started with 18 volunteers and 11 foster homes.

Today, Greyhound Lifesavers' network has expanded to nearby cities like Charlotte, North Carolina and Augusta, Georgia, but the organization welcomes volunteers for tasks such as taking the dogs to the vet, providing a temporary home for a greyhound until it can be placed into a permanent one, and educating people about the breed at Meet and Greet gatherings.

These Meet and Greets, usually held at local Petsmarts, provide a venue for possible greyhound adopters to meet and find out about the breed. They are also occasionally a place at which new greyhound adopters can pick up their pet.

The adoption itself includes a fee of $25 for the application fee and $200 for the adoption fee. The cost of adoption covers a number of expenses such as spaying or neutering and de-worming.

Jackson and her husband decided to pay this fee in 1999 when they received their first greyhound, Snuffy Sternberg. Named for a pitcher of the New York Yankees, Snuffy "was the perfect dog," according to Jackson. Just as the pitcher was famous, so was the dog. Jackson says that even if the neighbors did not know her family, everyone in the neighborhood knew Snuffy.

And when Joyce's husband, Bubba was sick in the hospital in intensive care, Snuffy was allowed inside for a visit. "I still think he pulled through because of his bond with the dog," says Jackson.

After Snuffy's death two years ago, Jackson decided to become an active participant in saving the lives of greyhounds. Having Snuffy made her want to be involved with the dogs, she says, "they need a better life when they retire." In addition to her involvement as a volunteer with Greyhound Lifesavers, Jackson is currently providing a permanent home to two greyhounds: seven-year-old Daniel and four-year-old Misty Dee.

The Hanleys are another couple who has helped to rewrite the story for the greyhound through their own adoption of Foxy in August 2006. Nicknamed Ms. Fox, Shirley Hanley says, "She's a wonderful companion...and she is so grateful. It's fun to have her."

Hanley says she and her husband wanted to get another dog when they had to give away their Jack Russell Terrier.

"We're so excited to have her, we don't know what to do," continues Hanley, "It's one of the best things we've ever done...because we rescued her."

For further information on greyhound adoption, visit http://greyhoundlifesavers.org, or call 957-3866. Greyhounds are not our whole life but they do make our life whole.