News
Friday, January 28, 2005
Greyhounds running for charity
From the Omaha World-Herald:
Dogs take bite from boy’s bills
BY JULIE ANDERSON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERCOUNCIL BLUFFS - Five-year-old Cole Jipsen of rural Griswold, Iowa, doesn’t just have people pulling for him in his fight against leukemia.
He has two dogs - prize-winning greyhounds, to be exact - running for him.
The owners of two kennels that race at Bluffs Run Greyhound Park have donated the dogs to Cole and his family to help raise money to cover the cost of his medical care.
Under the agreement, the family owns the dogs and will receive half of all purse money the two dogs win during their careers at Bluffs Run. The Bryon Legg and Plum Creek Kennels will continue to maintain the dogs.
Bryon Legg of Bryon Legg Kennel said donating a dog was the kennel owners’ way of helping the family.
“The purse money at Bluffs Run for the Iowa-bred dogs is real good, so this is an opportunity to help that family,” he said.
David Robinette of Plum Creek Kennel said he and Legg decided on the donation not only to raise money for Cole but also to draw attention to his plight and encourage others to help.
Robinette said the dogs have been good to him.
“It’s the least I can do to help a family out that has had a little bit tougher luck than I’ve had,” he said.
The kennel owners, who are friends, have small-town connections with the Jipsens. All live in rural Griswold, and Cole’s grandfather is a neighbor of Legg’s. Also involved is Mike Muhlbauer of Griswold, a friend and partner of Legg’s.
Kevin Jipsen, Cole’s father, said the family is grateful to everyone who cares about their son.
“They’ll never know how much we appreciate the help everyone has given us,” he said.
Cole was diagnosed Nov. 8 after his mother, Amber, noticed something wasn’t right. He currently is in remission. He just finished his third round of chemotherapy and has two rounds to go.
“It was a shocker, that’s for sure,” said Kevin Jipsen, who farms part-time and works as Griswold’s water superintendent. Cole has two younger brothers, ages 3 and 1.
The hardest thing for Cole is that he hasn’t been able to get outside to play, his dad said. Cole can’t go to preschool or play much with other children because of his weakened immune system.
“That upsets him,” Jipsen said.
Legg said each kennel chose its top pup to run for Cole. Greyhounds typically have a career of about four years.
Speedy Blue of the Legg Kennel has won his first two races and collected a total of $2,420 since November. Jipsen’s Dream, from Plum Creek Kennel, has won his first race and brought home $1,914 this year.
Rory DeSantiago, Bluffs Run’s racing director, said people associated with the track often take up collections to help colleagues with needs. But this is the first time he has heard of anyone donating dogs.
Link to article: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=1642&u_sid=1320643
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Kudos to Race For Adoption
From the NGA Daily news:
Race for adoption
A unique, new program called Race For Adoption raised $54,485 for retired Greyhound placement programs in less than six months in 2004. Figures released to the Greyhound Association of America this week indicated that critical funding to three adoption programs, two in the Florida panhandle area and the other in Connecticut, were generated.
Race For Adoption involves purses earned by active racing Greyhounds being donated to the program by their owners. Funding was also derived through donations in the form of shares for these designated runners. Seven Greyhounds currently racing at Wheeling (WV), Derby Lane (FL), Jacksonville (FL) and Southland (AR) are the Race For Adoption contingent. Five of the participating runners have been donated by a single owner, Larry Birnbaum.
Greyhound Racing Association of America (GRA) has become involved with the Race For Adoption group in an effort to promote and dramatically expand the program.
“ This visionary group of just a few individuals have shown us all what is possible,” said Kip Keefer, President of GRA. “ It’s time for everyone to follow this magnificent example and get on board with this program. With a single dog from each kennel racing for adoption the potential proceeds that can be generated for Greyhound placement is astounding.”
The GRA plans to seek the participation of Greyhound and kennel owners to volunteer 50 percent of a designated Greyhound’s purses. Major Greyhound tracks will also be approached seeking help in enlisting the participation of all contract kennels and Greyhound owners. Proceeds derived from the program could potentially lead to far greater funding of existing programs, formation of new chapters and transportation and logistical support.
Keefer and the GRA believe that the program is the key to realizing a desire held by everyone involved in the modern day racing industry and adoption community, 100% placement.
“ It’s been said that the progress of Greyhound adoption, through the collective efforts of so many dedicated people, is perhaps the greatest success story in modern animal welfare. With wide ranging participation in Race For Adoption, the final, conclusive chapter could be written.”
Link to article: http://www.networksplus.net/nga/ads/2005/jan/25gra.htm