Plainfield Track Updates
Since the announcement from Plainfield Greyhound Park that it will cease all live racing on 5/14 the racing community along with the adoption community has been feverishly working on plans to move all the hounds out of the kennels. The kennels were told that they have until 5/21 to move an estimated 800 hounds!
I’ve started this post in hopes to keep everyone updated and on the same page. I will try and update it daily if needed.
*NOTE: If you have seen an email from the Dakin Animal shelter (I refuse to provide a link to them) about the Plainfield dogs being in danger of being euthanized, it is FALSE! It is not even remotely true due to the fact that CT has laws preventing the euthanasia of healthy greyhounds.
Update as of 5/23 @ 8am:
All the Greyhounds have found places to go!
PLAINFIELD, Conn.—The dozens of greyhounds displaced when the Plainfield dog track abruptly shut down earlier this month now have new homes, Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Saturday.
As of Friday, there were 203 dogs still at the track. About half will be adopted as pets and the rest are moving to other race tracks, the governor said. All of the dogs are expected to leave Plainfield by the end of the month.
“Public concern over the plight of the dogs at the track has been extraordinary and played a big role in helping to resolve this issue in a positive way,” she said.
In all, nearly 350 dogs will be adopted as pets, the governor said.
The track announced last month it was closing to make way for a domed auto race track. Since then, officials say they have been deluged with requests to adopt the dogs. At the time there were about 1,200 dogs at the track, which officially shut down May 14 after three decades of operation.
Rell says the state Agriculture Department of division of Special Revenue will continue to monitor the situation to make sure the dogs are treated properly. The governor praised the cooperation of the track officials during the transition and thanked pet owners who came forward to adopt a greyhound.
“As a dog owner myself, I have been concerned about the welfare of these gracious animals,” Rell said.
The governor expressed her concerns to track owners earlier this month in a letter that sought their promise the dogs would be cared for until homes could be found.
Some of the adopted greyhounds have found homes out of state. A Pittsburgh-based adoption group, for example, is finding homes for 11 of the dogs.
“Usually, we get them when they are retiring. This is totally unprecedented,” said David Anderson of Steel City Greyhounds. “Greyhounds are wonderful pets. When they retire, they really take it seriously. You don’t need a lot of space for them. They call them the 45-mile-an-hour couch potato."
Update as of 5/3 @6pm:
Plainfield Greyhound Park to Place All Greyhounds Affected by 2005 Temporary Closure
Track welcomes the assistance of adoption groups and people who wish to adopt greyhoundsPLAINFIELD, CT (May 3, 2005)—Karen Keelan, executive vice president of Plainfield Greyhound Park in Plainfield, CT, said today that the track is committing available resources to ensure that greyhounds displaced by the decision to cease greyhound racing as of May 14 for the remainder of 2005 will be sent to another track to race; be returned to the farm or owner, whether for breeding purposes or placement in a local adoption program; or placed in homes as pets in accordance with the wishes of the greyhound owners.
“Greyhound welfare is our first priority and we will keep the kennel area open until the greyhounds are suitably placed,” Keelan said.
The track will apply for racing dates in 2006 and is committed to a live racing season in 2006. Throughout the remainder of 2005 and 2006, Plainfield Greyhound Park will continue to offer wagering on races from other tracks via simulcast seven days a week.
The track, the National Greyhound Association (NGA) and the racing kennels are in the process of identifying which greyhounds need adoptive homes and are working with local and national adoption organizations to place them. Some greyhounds will transfer to other greyhound tracks to continue their racing careers.
Plainfield Greyhound Park welcomes help from adoption organizations across the country and from individuals who wish to adopt a greyhound. A special toll-free number has been set up to place these dogs in homes as pets. People interested in adopting a greyhound should call 1-888-267-1099. In addition, people can visit http://www.greyhoundpets.org to learn more about adoption of these wonderful animals.
“I’ve worked with Karen Keelan and Plainfield Greyhound Park over the years, and know how deeply she cares about the welfare of greyhounds,” said Rory Goree, president of Greyhound Pets of America, the largest independent greyhound adoption organization in the United States. “I’m very confident these greyhounds will be treated well. Greyhound Pets of America and other adoption organizations will work with Karen to help find homes for any of the greyhounds available for adoption.”
Goree said that greyhounds continue to gain popularity as pets because of their unique attributes. They are very affectionate animals and most are good with children and other pets
Update as of 5/3 @ 2pm:
- Gary Gucione has said that Plainfield will be putting out a press release tonight and that they will be appointing someone as a point person for groups to work with who can take dogs into their programs.
Update as of 5/2 @ 9pm:
- Greyhounds will be housed for and taken care of until placement can be obtained, hopefully this can be done in a timely fashion.
- They would like to move the hounds in about 8 weeks after they close (5/14). But there is NO DEADLINE.
- Hauling and vet services will be available to the groups that need it. Vet services would need to be reimbursed to the track to assist more dogs get vetted. Hauling expenses need not be reimbursed.
- GPA and many other fine adoption groups will be asked to take as many dogs as possible.
- Adoption volunteers that have been cleared will be profiling greyhounds to fit what the groups can handle.
- If anyones group can take dogs they can email Penny @ Shoreline and she will put you in touch with the proper people.
Update as of 4/29 @ 1:20pm:
- The State of CT is now working with the NGA and AGTOA in coming up with a plan.
Update as of 4/29 12pm:
- GPA has offered use of a hauler and other assistance.
- Still waiting to hear on the results of the CT DOSR meeting.
Update as of 4/28 9pm:
- Taz Meadow Racing who has a booking at Plainfield and will be moving his kennel to Hinsdale Greyhound Park.
- 75 graded racers are headed to Shoreline.
- Penny Zwart of Shorelines Pups Without Partners is working with Taz Meadows & HMS kennels at Plainfield and approximately 10 adoption groups.
Update as of 4/28 5pm:
- The CT Division of Special Revenue held a meeting today to put some plans in place to help with the dogs.
- Many groups have already been contacted by Plainfield Pets and the racing kennels.
- Other kennels have stepped forward and offered to help take some hounds.
- Owners are individually working with adoption groups to place their hounds.
Adoption groups that are confirmed to have offered to help (in no particular order):
- Greyhound Rescue & Rehab
- REGAP of CT
- Connecticut Greyhound Adoptions (CT GPA)
- WAG (We Adopt Greyhounds, Inc.)
- GPA of Virginia
- Make Peace with Animals
- Nittany Greyhounds
- Grateful Greyhounds
- Linda Ann Greyhounds
- Greyhound Pets of Atlantic Canada
- Pups Without Partners
- The Maritime Greyhound Adoption Program
- Greyhound Options
Adoption groups that normally receive or have received hounds from Plainfield in the past:
- Greyhound Friends of New Jersey
- Greyhound Rescue Adoption Team (GReAT)
- Greyhound Angel Adoptions (New Jersey)
- GPAC in Nova Scotia
- Seabrook REGAP
Other adoption groups to potentially contact:
- Greyhound Pets of America
* List of chapters to contact
- Greyhound Welfare
- GPA NOVA
- Maine Greyhound Placement Service
thanks jay, looks great!
Posted by true on 04/28 at 07:21 PM
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