Greyhound racing in Florida ends next week, but what will happen to the dogs?

[Zorro]

The 1,200 racing greyhounds in Florida will either be adopted out or go to race in one of three remaining states with the sport. But exact breakdowns are unknown.

Nearly a century of greyhound racing at St. Petersburg’s Derby Lane ends for good Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. matinee. The final race in the state will take place at Palm Beach Kennel Club on New Year’s Eve at 11:59 p.m., the very last minute allowed by law.

In November 2018, Floridians voted overwhelmingly to pass Amendment 13, which would ban greyhound racing in the state by the end of 2020. Since then, nine Florida tracks have already ended the practice, leaving the final two in the state running about 1,200 dogs down to the wire.

As greyhound racing in Florida phased out over the past two years, most owners have retired and adopted out their dogs, according to animal welfare advocates and industry players. A smaller number sent their animals to the handful of other states that still had the sport. But the exact journey of hundreds of former Florida racing greyhounds is impossible to know. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which oversees the industry, does not keep a paper trail on the animals.

What is certain, however, is adoptions of Florida greyhounds have been just as political as the campaign that forced their permanent retirements. Adoption groups that supported the passage of Amendment 13 have been blacklisted from receiving dogs retiring from tracks, with the National Greyhound Association only endorsing groups that are pro-racing or neutral on the matter, executive director Jim Gartland confirmed.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2020/12/23/greyhound-racing-in-florida-ends-next-week-but-what-will-happen-to-the-dogs/

[Arne]

1. Beautiful dogs, loving pets but really high energy.

[Zorro]

2. Yes you need a really big yard for them

[exboyfil]

3. They do have an off switch

Still looking for one with my daughter's border collie.

Greyhounds do make great pets. A little big for my taste, but I have had friends with them.

[Bayard]

4. Greyhounds are wonderful pets!

If you understand them. They are actually more like cats in personality, and they need some help adjusting to domestic life. But its SO worth it. They are usually couch potatoes, except for short bursts of energy. So beautiful, so elegant, so loving, and so darn smart.

I've had three of them in my life, and so wish I could take some now.

[Midnight Writer]

5. I have a neighbor who has adopted many "retired" greyhounds over the years.

She loves them, and she tells me they are not as hyper as people think.

She says they mostly like to cuddle.

[SeattleVet]

6. Greyhounds are the world's biggest couch potatoes.

They'll lay around all day -- but get them outside and let them see a squirrel and you'll see what they've been saving all that energy for!

[csziggy]

7. There used to be a greyhound track in Monticello, Florida

In Jefferson County, just to the east of here. It closed in 2011, which was a shame since it had given jobs to many locals. Most of the dogs were adopted out and there are still quite a few greyhounds in this area.

The site won't let me copy even the title, but this article covers the history of the track: http://www.ecbpublishing.com/jefferson-county-kennel-club-a-50-year-empire-now-sitting-empty/