Extra Special Pets & Animals
Sep 11, 2008 7:08 pm US/Central
Greyhounds Look For Homes After Tracks Close
(WCCO)
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On Thursday, some 150 greyhounds from the Woodlands are finding their new home in several Midwest cities, including Des Moines, Chicago and the Twin Cities.
CBS
The slumping economy is forcing dog tracks to close and now the former runners need new homes. On average, one track closes every year somewhere in the country, and each time it happens it can affect anywhere from 500 to 800 greyhounds.
The latest closing was last month at the Woodlands Race Track in Kansas City, Kansas. Now Minnesotans are coming to the rescue of these orphaned animals.
"They need a home and they're just really easy," said Terri Petrin.
She and her family have two greyhounds already, and they are ready to welcome another one to their home.
Petrin has all the dog food she needs and has turned her living room into a doggy lounge for her pets.
"These guys are just large couch potatoes. All they really want to do is snuggle up with you and be loved, and they're just really easy," she said.
It's quite a change from the life that these dogs were used to.
In a press release from July, the Woodlands Race Track said that "the pari-mutuel industry has faced declining revenues for years, and the Woodlands has been no exception, operating at a financial loss for quite some time."
On Thursday, some 150 greyhounds from the Woodlands are finding their new home in several Midwest cities, including Des Moines, Chicago and the Twin Cities. Volunteers filled up a big Greyhound Bus and dropped off a half-dozen dogs to new owners.
The non-profit Minnesota chapter of Greyhound Pets of America is making sure these dogs get all the shots and medical attention that they need before going into foster homes.
In about two weeks, most will move from foster to permanent homes, but Petrin's new dog will stay with her. It'll be a new, much calmer life for a dog that's always been on the run -- literally.
"It'll be fun to take it home and teach all the things it needs to learn," she remarked.
The non-profit group is always looking for foster and permanent homes as more tracks across the country close for good and for the season. For more information on the Minnesota chapter of Greyhound Pets of America click here.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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