In 2018 Florida residents voted to ban greyhound racing as a sport, leading to the closure of all 11 tracks in the state by January 1, 2021.

Adoption agencies and dog rescue groups have been working to rehome the dogs one-by-one since the ruling passed two years ago but with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the governor’s state-wide stay-at-home order, tracks have had to close much earlier than expected.

Local rescue group Greyhounds In Motion (Facebook | Website) told Bungalower that they are working to rehome an estimated 1,000 dogs from two tracks that closed late last month in Sanford and Daytona. The Sanford Orlando Kennel Club, which had been in business for 85 years, was forced to close on March 28 with a whisper because of restrictions on large public gatherings. Greyhounds In Motion is working with adoption groups across the country to move the dogs into good homes but need all the help they can get.

Greyhound racing is illegal in roughly 40 states at this time. The Humane Society has estimated that as many as 10,000 greyhounds were bred a year for racing alone.

According to the National Greyhound Association, greyhounds are “smart, sweet, calm, gentle, and loving with children and adults.” They can run up to 45 miles an hour and can hit top speed in three strides and will ignore your call if they’re at full-tilt so it’s best to keep them on a leash if they’re not in a fenced area. They’re clean and odor-free and strictly indoor dogs and seldom bark so they’re not good guard dogs, but they’re excellent family friends.

Contact Greyhounds In Motion if you’re interested in fostering, adopting, or donating to their efforts.

Brendan O'Connor

Editor in Chief of Bungalower.com

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