A new life for retired racers

BY BRIAN BISHOP (STAFF WRITER)
Published: January 30, 2010

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Review Photo/BRIAN BISHOP Hal Lambert discusses what it's like to have a Greyhound as a pet.

SAYRE - The Sayre Public Library was host to some of the second-fastest mammals in the world Thursday night - retired racing Greyhounds who have found a new life as family pets.

The Sayre Satellite of Keystone Greyhounds, a non-profit group that helps find homes for retired racing greyhounds, presented a seminar on racing greyhounds at the library.

Sam and Debby Moore of Sayre, who have three greyhounds themselves, presented information on the breed and racing, once known as "the queen's sport" after England's Queen Elizabeth. The breed was used to put food on the table in antiquity, Debby Moore said, and were later trained to race each other in contests to see which owner had the fastest dog.

From that grew the modern sport of Greyhound racing, in which the dogs follow an artificial lure around an oval track. Racing Greyhounds start their training at around six months of age, Debby Moore said, and compete in their first race at about 18 months old.

Keystone Greyhounds tries to find homes for the dogs after their racing careers have ended.

Greyhounds are sweet, affectionate dogs that adapt to retirement quickly, Debby Moore said, but there are things to be aware of when adopting one. The dogs have a short coat and very low body fat, she said, so they can't handle extreme cold. They also need exercise in either a fenced-in yard, or need to go on one or two walks every day, she said, and should never be off a leash in an open area, as they can go from standing still to top speed (up to 45 mph) in three strides.

The Moores also discussed the life of a racing Greyhound, and how it differs from life in a home. Racing dogs are used to a routine, waking up early, being handled by humans, walking on a lead and are also used to having music in the background constantly, as many kennels continuously play music to keep the dogs calm, Debby Moore said. When a Greyhound first comes off the track, they also have no calluses developed on their paws, which makes smooth and slippery surfaces a challenge for them initially, she said, though after a while of life outside the kennel, their feet toughen up.

Hal and Janet Lambert, adoption representatives from Keystone Greyhounds, were on hand at the event with advice on adopting a new four-legged friend. The organization schedules a home visit with would-be Greyhound parents before adopting a dog out, he said, and matches the dog to the home. Each dog has a different personality, he said, and needs to be matched with the right environment. Color is not a consideration for matching, he said, only temperament. An adoption fee of $225, with a $100 deposit before the home visit and the remainder paid on receipt of the dog, is required, he said, which includes veterinarian care and transportation costs.

Before deciding to adopt, though, Lambert suggested researching the breed and their requirements. More information is available at the Keystone Greyhounds Web site, www.keystonegreys.org; or by calling the Lamberts at (570) 888-9999. There are also currently two foster dogs in the Valley, he said, and the group holds meet-and-greet events often, if anyone interested would like to meet a Greyhound in person.

Brian Bishop can be reached at (570) 888-9652; or e-mail: bbishop@thedailyreview.com.

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