More dogs?

[Bella's Pack]

I don't know if this is a dumb question or not. After this big wave of moving and adopting dogs from our Dairyland track has settled down, and with there being no more tracks in Wisconsin, will GPA continue to bring in dogs from other tracks out of state? So we hound lovers don't go into withdrawal?
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Amy, Nick, Bella (Duncan: BB's Done Again), Daisy and Spider, and Brie our angel at the Bridge

[Arikauf]

I'm no expert---we've got 2 of those driving to Kentucky right now , and more here on the forum; but YES, GPA will be bringing in out of state pups to place. There is/will be NO shortage of dogs==subsequently, no withdrawl for you!
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Chris, Tina, Uma the "vocal one", Ari AKA"Biff," Lola-forever "the momma," Rosie "the incredible!," NickyNackers, and Ami-the kat.

[PhylS]

And the Dairyland hounds should be coming back when they retire, so that's a few more to give us our 'fix'.
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Phyllis - Watertown - (and Aaron and Miriam)

[pauprint]

Chris is right - we'll just get dogs from other locations. The haul this weekend is coming from Daytona and the people we are working with are so excited we can help. That was the same reaction when we got the 12 from Orlando on New Year's Day, and the 6 from Sarasota last weekend.

This is a good problem to have. No shortage of dogs in the forseeable future! The Midwest groups are really going to be able to make a dent in the overflow in places like Florida. I can't say all the dogs in Florida will get into adoption, but we can work our tails off to make sure as many as possible find their way to Wisconsin and other regional states to find homes.

And of course, Phyllis is correct too - some of our Dairyland racers will be coming home to find there families here as well.
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The Paulus Printing Gang
Bob & Ellen, McGrady, Sugar and Quaker.........at the bridge: Dewey, Abbie, Del, and Lucky

[pauprint]

A few people now have asked me about the differences in our state and other states regarding retired racing greyhounds, the overflow, the shuffling of dogs, why there are so many in Florida, etc. Let me try to explain a few things without getting too much into the details. Just some points to ponder....

In the Midwest, we've had basically one full time track (Dairyland) and one seasonal track (Dubuque) providing dogs for adoption for the last several years. For the most part, those two tracks have provided enough adoption dogs to keep our entire region supplied for our programs. So, dogs from these two tracks went to WI, MI, MN, IL, IN, IA and often OH. That's 6+ states kept busy placing dogs from just 2 tracks and there were still plenty dogs waiting at Dairyland at any given time. We had no shortage of dogs - ever.

Now, consider that Florida has 13 tracks in one state. That's more than half the tracks in the entire country in one area! Think of how many dogs are retired and out of a job in any given week or month in a situation like that. Lots. Hundreds. Probably thousands. What does that mean? It means that many dogs in Florida do not have the option to get into adoption. Other GPA groups from that area have told me that dogs just simply disappear. Florida does not have the same regulations that keep tabs on the dogs like we had here in Wisconsin.

So what does this mean? It means just what is stated above. That we are:
1) Going to try to bring back as many of the Dairyland dogs who went to race other places as we can. All we can do is offer those trainers who left WI the option of placing their dogs through us and hoping that they'll be willing to partner up with us. Two trainers have all ready committed to doing that. Other groups in our region are reaching out and providing similar options with the trainers they know and I'm told some additional trainers/owners have agreed to bring their dogs back here. This is good news! However, do I think all the Dairyland dogs who went on to race in other locations will find their way into adoption? Truthfully? No. But we can try our best to do all that we can to provide options for them. In the end, its up to their trainers and racing owners what will happen.

2) It also means that by taking dogs from Florida, many that were displaced recently due to Dairyland or Raynham racers moving in, we will be significantly helping our sister GPA chapters in Florida and other adoption groups who work so very hard doing the same things we do, but are just simply in a position to have many more dogs than they can possibly find homes for.

In Florida many GPA Chapters do adoptions, but their main focus is on hauling dogs out of their state and into areas where dogs are fewer. GPA Central Florida moved over 500 dogs last year up the east coast to get into adoption. GPA Daytona and GPA Emerald Coast have been hauling dogs to other locations also - including up into Ohio and Indiana. We'll now get on their routes to get dogs from them too, such as the haul coming in this weekend of 20+ greyhounds. That haul will be supplying GPA-WI, RGA, GPA-MN, and MNGR with dogs. This works out nicely because some smaller groups or groups who work exclusively with foster homes (no kennel) can only take a couple of dogs at a time. By working together, we can keep the supply of dogs coming on a regular basis.

The outpouring of gratitude we have all ready received from our colleagues in Florida has been exceptional and heartwarming. They are so thankful for our help and even a few dogs here and a few there is making a difference. So far, we've taken 12 dogs from the Orlando area, 6 from Sarasota, and now 12 from Daytona. We'll be making arrangements to get dogs from other locations too. Its not just Florida that has tons of dogs. Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma, as well as Alabama are all overwhelmed with dogs also. We hope to be able to help a little in all these areas and are now in a position to do so.

So the bottom line is - there will be no shortage of dogs any time soon. Probably not for the next decade at least. We still have our work cut out for us and with over 100 applications in process - yes, I said 100! - we are going to be able to help find a lot of homes for some lucky hounds. So lets keep at it folks. Let's keep ridin' the wave of the closing as long as we can.... the ripple effect of it is far reaching, and I for one am inspired to continue working hard and pushing forward. The hounds are depending on us to do that.

Ellen
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The Paulus Printing Gang
Bob & Ellen, McGrady, Sugar and Quaker.........at the bridge: Dewey, Abbie, Del, and Lucky

[OurDogIsEarl]

Wow.

One of the (many) reasons Jessica and I chose to go with a Greyhound when we decided to get a dog is because we were so impressed with how well this organization is run. Reading this post (and many of the others pertaining to the Dairyland closure) reinforces that observation ten-fold. It's just amazing not only the amount of work everyone puts into placing these dogs but how organized and coordinated everything is. The idea that dogs from an area with a surplus can get placed half a country away through the work of several small groups (staffed by volunteers no less!) working together is just phenomenal. My hat is off to all of you!
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Jessica & Bill
Earl "Iron Guts" Greyhound, aka Early Bird, aka The Beast (Racing name: Tulsa Turnaround)
Earl's photo album: http://www.ruefsmeatmarket.com/earlpix/

[pauprint]

^Greyhound people are an amazing bunch of folks. No doubt about that. And Welcome! - because now you are one of us!
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The Paulus Printing Gang
Bob & Ellen, McGrady, Sugar and Quaker.........at the bridge: Dewey, Abbie, Del, and Lucky

[EmmaZoom]

I have been SO impressed with the extraordinary diligence and compassion of the folks in GPA-WI. When I talk with other people about my experiences with GPA, especially if they have had experiences with other adoption or rescue organizations, they are always surprised and impressed with the obvious organization the folks at GPA-WI exhibit. The care taken in the adoption process - to make sure that these beautiful greys are placed in their "forever homes" is a credit to the organization.
The work you do is SO much appreciated - a huge hats-off to you.
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Ann and Paul, missing our sweet Emma