Kansas City Retired Greyhounds as Pets

Greyhounds are often overbred to support the racing industry. Industry reports from The Greyhound Review indicate that between 1989 and 2000, the National Greyhound Association registered 77,852 litters. With a conservative average of 6.52 puppies per litter, this results in more than 507,596 greyhounds born during that twelve-year period. From the beginning, their lives are challenging. To track the dogs for racing, greyhound puppies are tattooed by three months of age and individually registered by 18 months. However, only 78% of those born were registered during this time. The 22% that were not registered are presumed dead, as very few are found wandering. On average, a racetrack operation requires a revolving baseline of 1,000 dogs. In 2000, around 26,500 greyhounds entered the racing system, and a similar number, aged between 2 and 5 years old, exited. Approximately 13,000 dogs were retired to rescue groups for adoption, leaving about 13,500 unaccounted for. Over its 75-year history in the United States, this sport has conservatively claimed the lives of more than 1,000,000 greyhounds. KCREGAP is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding loving homes for retired greyhounds. Since its establishment, KCREGAP has facilitated the adoption of 4,000 greyhounds into caring homes in the Kansas City metropolitan area and beyond. Unfortunately, due to inadequate track standards, many of these beautiful greyhounds arrive with health issues that require veterinary care. The adoption fees charged by KCREGAP do not cover the actual costs of treating these dogs, which can often reach thousands of dollars.