Attention all dog lovers: Florida racing greyhounds are retiring and looking for new homes. In 2018, voters in Florida decided to end all greyhound racing by 2020 which means greyhounds from eleven tracks will need new, loving homes in the coming months.

Greyhounds are one of the fastest land mammals in the world. It takes them only three strides to reach their full speed, up to 45 mph. Because of their immense speed, they require special care and need to be on a leash and have a fenced area available to them. They are also sighthounds. In the wild they would have relied on their excellent eyesight for hunting and tracking, whereas other breeds rely on their nose.

Retired racing greyhounds adapt very well to their new career of being a pet. From their time on the track, they like routines such as being fed at a certain times each day. With a little patience they will adapt to your schedule.
Greyhounds sleep up to eighteen hours a day. They are sprinters so they expend their energy in short bursts before resting. I like to say they take their retirement seriously!

Adopting the Racing Greyhound by Cynthia A. Branigan and Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies by Lee Livingood give more information. If you feel your family could provide a loving home for a retired greyhound, you can contact Heart Bound Greyhound Adoption (HeartBound.org) or Greyhound Pets of America – Wisconsin (GPAWisconsin.org). Please contact one of these groups to learn more and see if a greyhound would be a good fit for your home, family, and lifestyle.

Courtesy – Todd Yaekel