With new legislation in Florida that bans the sport of racing greyhounds by December 2020, thousands of greyhounds will have to find new homes.
Hundreds of greyhound adoption programs in North America work with the breeders and owners to find forever homes for the dogs.
President and Founder of the Maritime Greyhound Adoption Program Deb Levasseur says this may mean an increase in numbers, but they’ll all work together to do what is best for the dogs.
“The numbers I have heard, that there are around 8000 that are racing in Florida, and there are more that are being trained. So, it could be between 10, 000 and 15, 000 over the next couple of years that are going to need to find homes. But there are a lot of really amazing greyhound groups out there and we are all working together. Our hope is to get them all into loving homes,” Levasseur says.
She says what they do need is more foster and forever homes.
“The Legislation puts pressure on us in a timeline way. We, the racing owners and the adoption groups, all have to ensure the dogs are adopted and find their forever homes,” Levasseur adds.
Donations are also required to help care for the dogs when they arrive in Canada.
Since its creation in 2003, Maritime Greyhound Adoption Program has found homes for over 1100 dogs in Atlantic Canada an in Montreal and Ontario. Levasseur typically brings around 12 greyhounds to Canada every couple of months. Before they are adopted, they are spayed or neutred, receive their shots and are checked over by the veterinarian. Owners are also provided with training.