And while it’s wonderful to know that some discarded dogs are finding a second chance at life in loving homes, sadly, the problem of over-breeding and discarding of ‘unviable’ and unwanted greyhounds means that there are still far too many not being afforded the ‘greyt life’ that all dogs deserve. Healthy dogs and puppies are killed every year because of greyhound racing. They may die after being injured on the track, when they are deemed not profitable enough to race anymore, or they may simply ‘disappear’.
Learn more about the history of greyhound racing here.
Greyhounds are renowned for being very gentle, affectionate, and loving. Despite being known to many only as ‘racing dogs’, many are quite relaxed and low-energy — and while they will enjoy bursts of energy like all dogs (aka “zoomies”) are often happy to just laze about, especially if their beloved human companion is near.
If you’ve ever thought about welcoming a dog into your life, a greyhound just might be the right dog for you! And even if you’re not ready to commit to adopting, you may wish to foster a greyhound temporarily. Foster carers play a crucial role in animal rescue, and particularly greyhound rescue. This is because greyhounds often come directly from a racing kennel environment — and they need help to transition into beloved ‘companion life’. It can be an incredibly rewarding experience to teach a dog — who has only ever been valued for how much gambling money they make — how good life is when they’re loved and valued as the individual they are.
You can help give a greyhound the chance to be the companion they were born to be by adopting or fostering one through a greyhound rescue group.
