Dog rescue groups around the country have rallied in recent days after reports that 900 greyhounds may be euthanized if adopted homes aren't found for them. Dairyland officials are saying this isn't true.
One RacinePost reader received this email from a Dairyland official today:
Thank you so much for your concern for the dogs! There are some nasty rumors running around out there stating that 900 greyhounds will be euthanized if homes and/or rescue groups are not found for them within the next 6 weeks. This information is completely untrue, and I encourage you to pass that on to anyone circulating this rumor.Here's the response from Greyhound Pets of America President Rory S. Goree':
The dogs are safe and have a place to stay as long as needed after the track closes. All dogs will be accounted for. If you would like more information, please visit our forum topic discussing this issue at: http://www.gpawisconsin.org/forum/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=18
An e-mail has been circulating recently with some figures and statements that to the best of our knowledge contain outright bogus or misleading information about the closing of Dairyland.
This is the information I can share with you all regarding this tracks closure from our volunteers heavily involved in assisting these greyhounds:
1) Currently the number of dogs at Dairyland (DGP) is unknown. A State official indicated they would have a list ready in 2 weeks. 900 was the number given in a recent newspaper article, but we anticipate that number is high and the realistic number is somewhere between 300-500 dogs.
2) There is confirmation from the track veterinarian, who is a State of Wisconsin employee, that no dogs will be left behind. The facility will stay open as long as it takes to find adoption groups for all the dogs that are left at DGP.
3) Hauls are being organized to move the pet dogs out of the track prior to the closing to relieve some of the burden. This is going smoothly. Racers can't be moved until January 1st, since racing will continue until Dec. 31st. A haul going east through Ohio is scheduled to leave Dec. 5th. Another haul is leaving for Canada around the same time. Both of these hauls are going to groups that are approved to accept dogs by the State of Wisconsin.
4) All of the regional adoption groups are all ready in communication with each other and are strategizing how to move the dogs and increase adoptions. Its a good team and confidence is high in their abilities to get the job done. The groups are from WI, IL, MI, MN, IN, OH and IA (the neighboring states), but we anticipate support from well beyond that perimeter.
