Many people don’t think of the Greyhound when they think of buying a breed of dog for their family. They tend to dismiss them as just “racing” dogs. But the secret is that these gentle animals make wonderful family pets when they’re retired from racing. The mission of most of these state chartered agencies is to educate and inform the public about the breed specifically. But they also play a hugely important role in saving the lives of dogs who would otherwise be put to sleep when they’re retired from racing.
The breed has been around for well over 2,000 years and is one of the very oldest breeds still around in it’s pure form today. It may well have been around for up to 6,000 years! It is the only breed of dog specifically mentioned in the Bible. They may have originated in Egypt or Greece and then were taken to far-off lands and given as presents to nobility. Because they were bred for sporting dogs because of their keen sense of smell and their speed, they became very popular and were used to hunt gazelles and other game. In Elizabethan England, they were immensely favored for hunting rabbits. Finally they began to be used for competitive racing and that is how we know them today.
The breed is unbelievably suitable for raising as a family pet, with their very gentle nature and their responsive nature. The greyhound is especially good around little children, which is so important for any parent considering a family dog. The most wonderful aspect of chosing a Greyhound from a rescue group such as The Greyhound Rescue of Tennessee (http://www.greyhoundrescue.org/) is that the dogs offered for adoption have been well cared for and nurtured by loving caretakers, all of whom see this as a mission in life. With a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years, the dogs are retired after only 2 to 4 years of age, so it’s not like the retired Greyhound is at all an “older” dog. This web site will allow one to adopt using the links for the dogs who are still needing a home. Adopters are screened and a home visit by one of their reps is even set up after adoption to see that the dog is doing well and getting along with the family and all other pets. Because of their thin build there are some guidelines for Greyhound owners to be aware of and follow strictly, like avoidance of extreme temperatures and regular grooming. The agency makes certain that the people adopting know and agree to follow all the guidelines required for owning and raising a healthy, contented family dog.
Two more agencies are also headquartered in Knoxville, TN, and they both have sn easy means of getting in touch with them: http://www.gpatn.org/ and the Greyhound Rescue Foundation, which you can email at
[email protected]
Another more generalized group, which specializes in rescuing animals, who are older and who may have been abused or neglected, has several Tennessee listings: http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/agencies.html.
While East Tennessee has been the site of most of the greyhound rescue activity in the state, the popularity of these sleek, wonderful animals has prompted the growth of more agencies to the west of Knoxville.
http://www.gpanashville.org/ is the TN site of Greyhound Pets of America and is located in Nashville, of course. This site is tons of fun to navigate and, heck, a wonderful place to meet other pet lovers. You might even say it is a good place to socialize with a pre-selected bunch of people who are all dog lovers, who are all interested in the welfare of animals and who share the same interests overall. Dates for their “Meet and Greets” are listed on the front page of their site so anyone who’s interested can just saunter on over to the nearest location for a fun social gathering with like-minded people. Greyhound Pets of America (founded in 1987) is actually one of the oldest organizations devoted specifically to the rescue care and adoption of the retired Greyhound. The national site even lists a web-based radio broadcast that goes out every Friday, called “Greyhounds Make Great Pets!”
All of the sites listed are non-profit, tax-exempt organizations that depend on donor contributions that are also tax-exempt for the contributor. Had they not begun this effort which has spread all over the country we might still not ever think of Greyhounds as anything but “throw-away” animals who race their hearts out for a quick profit for their owners. It is because of their efforts that this magnificent, noble breed is becoming recognized and valued for its intense worth as a family pet.
