By Joshua Huff, sports editor
BIRMINGHAM — Following the recent announcement by the Jefferson County Racing Association that the Birmingham Race Course will no longer host live greyhound racing, the task of rehoming more than 500 retired greyhounds falls to the Alabama Greyhound Adoption Center.
The Jefferson County Racing Association announced on Friday, April 24, 2020, that live greyhound races would end due to declining revenue and lack of interest. The racing association’s Kip Keefer said that while some greyhounds will continue racing at other tracks, nearly 550 remaining dogs will be placed for adoption.
The Alabama Greyhound Adoption Center, which has found homes for thousands of retired greyhounds, now faces the rewarding task of finding the perfect home for the now-retired Birmingham Race Course greyhounds. Helmed by Jennifer Boswell, AGAC’s director of adoption, the center works with more than 40 adoption groups across the country to find homes for greyhounds. Boswell has estimated that she has rehomed more than 30,000 dogs.
That adoption process contains a vetting of the family and a classification of the dogs. The adoption process could take up to eight weeks, especially if a family is wanting a cat-tolerant greyhound. One of the biggest misconceptions is that greyhounds cannot live with cats or other dogs, Boswell said. Fortunately, between 75-80% of greyhounds can live safely with indoor cats, if properly introduced.
That’s why the AGAC “tests” each greyhound before adoption. After each test, the organization will label each dog as either: cat tolerant, cat trainable or not cat safe.
Most greyhounds, surprisingly, are calm, lazy and typically quiet. Boswell best described them as being more like teenagers. Greyhounds are the perfect fit for people living in apartments and condos, Boswell added.
Before a family does take home a dog, the AGAC essentially “match makes” the dogs and the family. The agency attempts to learn all they can about a particular family and match their living arrangements, pet situation and lifestyle with a particular greyhound that best fits.
Take for instance a greyhound that the AGAC currently has up for adoption. Named Cruiseonbackhome, the AGAC describes this dog as “a very affectionate boy that just wants to be with you when he is out of his crate. He follows our staff around the kennel after they come in from a turn out till you decide to put him away. He is very attention oriented and will do anything and everything to get it. Cruiser is a graduate of our injury program with Central Valley Animal Hospital and has a slight limp still. He doesn’t let that slow him down though, and he loves to play. When he was introduced to our small animals he thought they looked like tasty treats, so he would not do well in a home with any. Another dog his size would be a good companion for him to have though.”
Cruise would be best placed in a home with an active family, who is loving and does not have any small dogs or cats.
Despite the common misconception that greyhounds are mistreated, Boswell said that the dogs are taken well care of and make for excellent pets following their racing days.
With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic throwing a wrench into everyday life, the adoption process has become more condensed.
“Unfortunately, with the virus situation, this is thrown everybody into a total loop,” Boswell said. “We’re having to do everything we can to keep everybody as protected as we can. We’re trying to narrow it down to two dogs per meeting. We’re getting more volunteers in to help us with this. We’re going to be visiting with two families at once, making sure that the two families are a good distance apart from one another.”
To adopt, either call the AGAC at (205) 833-6654 or email at AGRACStaff@gmail.com
As a result of the coronavirus, the AGAC asks that you:
- Bring as few people as possible to your appointment
- We are only able to meet with 2 dogs at a time
- If you are showing symptoms, please stay home
- We can always reschedule
There is a non-refundable adoption fee is $400 and is due at the time of adoption. That adoption fee includes:
- Spay or Neuter
- Ultrasonic Teeth Cleaning
- 4DX Snap Heartworm / Tick test test
- Microchipped with lifetime enrollment
- Nail trim
- Up To Date on Heartworm and Intestinal Worm Prevention
- As of January 2020, your Greyhound will now go home with a 6 month box of Coraxis! That’s 6 months of heartworm, roundworm, whipworm, hookworm treatment and control.
- Up To Date on Flea Prevention – a single dose of Simparica is given at the time of surgery by our Veterinarians
- Up To Date on Vaccinations (3 year Rabies, DHLPP, and Bordetella)
- Goes Home With A New AGRAC ID Tag
- Goes Home With A New Houndstown Martingale Collar, leash, and ID Tag collar set
- A weeks supply of Diamond High Energy to allow you to transfer your new hound to the feed you choose to give
- Gets A Lifetime Of Support and Is Welcomed To Come Back To “Camp” To Visit Anytime Mom And Dad Are On Vacation.
- Welcomed To Come Back And Visit With Us During Meet And Greets.