| CGA Looks Back on the Summer |
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As the summer comes to an end, it's a good time to reflect on everything that has happened in the last few months, to update all of you, to look forward to what's coming up, and to let you know where we still need help. Well, it has been in interesting summer! We have experienced events that we would never have dreamed of, and as always, the group stood up and took it on! Track ClosureWhile we still don't know if it is permanent or seasonal, the last active track with live dog racing in the state closed on June 28. The season was planned to end in September, but with nowhere else in the state to race, the kennel operators were negotiating to get the track to keep racing through the winter. Instead, the track ended the season nearly 3 months early. As you all know, this left kennel operators with few choices. Many have chosen to race elsewhere, and many have chosen to get out of the business. These were also the two primary choices for the dogs as well. So the dilemma for the Colorado Adoption Groups (CGA, Recycled Racers, Almost Home for Hounds (with Golden State), FORGreyhounds, and RMGA) was how we could best help the racing dog that had to "get out of the business."It was several weeks of minimal and conflicting information, organizing quickly, and deploying all of our best people, actions and tools. Rick Bender (CGA President) sent out press releases, which resulted in tremendous media attention. Between the groups, we moved the dogs in less than a month, and attracted many new adopters and fosters. While there are still a few dogs available in Colorado almost all that needed to be moved into an adoption program have been. What an amazing feat of teamwork that was! Helping More GreyhoundsAs the number of dogs to be placed wound down, it became clear that we still had many adopters and fosters that wanted to help. We decided to look to our future, and see how we could use our momentum to help Greyhounds in other states. In researching this, we found out about a group based in Oklahoma who works with dogs from not only Oklahoma, but also Texas, Kansas and Florida. Their major function is not only to care for these dogs, and adopt out as many as they can, but also to raise money to bring these dogs to non-racing states for adoption. After contacting them, we found them to be a wonderful organization, and one looking for a long-tem relationship with a group like ours.On August 9, we delightedly received our first "haul" of 20 dogs. They came in a huge hauler-trailer that can carry up to 40 dogs! It was a sight all on its own! Twenty foster families (or their representatives), many CGA Board Members and Coordinators, and volunteers were at Berkley Park in Denver to welcome these 20 wonderful dogs. Several of them had been rescued from a closed farm; some were racing-school drop-outs. One was a racer that had been found wandering the streets of Tulsa after racing in Florida. All of them were beautiful, sweet greyhounds on their way to their new lives. The dogs went home with their new fosters, and many of them have already been adopted!! This haul was a great way for us to try out this new way of doing things, and it went really well! This model does have some interesting twists—the dogs go home to the foster before their initial vet visit. There is the possibility that females could come into season, or that it could take a couple of weeks for a particular dog’s vet appointment to come around. Overall, though, it works pretty well, and this model does allow us to keep on helping as many greyhounds as possible to find their forever couches. We are hoping to do another haul in Mid-to-Late September. If you are interested in fostering one of the dogs and being part of this exciting transition, please let your Foster Coordinator know!! Going ForwardWe Still Need Your Help!!!So, now that there aren't many greyhounds retiring in Colorado, how can you still help CGA? There are still many dogs nationwide, and many ways to help! We are still alive and kicking, and need your help to support a newer way of bringing dogs in, and of getting the word out. Fostering: Fostering is as important now as it ever has been. We will no longer have the opportunity to bring in a few dogs a week. We need to bring them in in larger groups, and therefore have to have more fosters lined up at one time. While in some cases there may be challenges fostering a "haul" dog, in other cases it is easier (for example, some of these dogs have already been in foster care.) We do, however, have to have lots of foster homes for this program to work. Fundraising: We are always looking for more ways to raise money for vet bills, food, and other necessities. There are so many ways to help, including donating, buying from the CGA store whenever possible, bidding on the Auctions (Silent, Live and Carpe Canem in November), selling items on eBay with CGA as a beneficiary of a portion of the proceeds, and many more. If you have additional ideas, and are willing to implement them, please let the Board know. Create Awareness: Greyhounds attract attention, particularly when there are multiples. Use this attention to talk to people about adopting a retired racing greyhound. Attend as many Meet and Greets as you can. Volunteer to work at the upcoming events. Mention our group to your veterinarian, and see if they would be willing to donate or discount services. Carry CGA Business Cards with you when you are out walking your dog. There are many more ways that you can help! Keep your eyes on the e-groups for information about Volunteer positions, upcoming events, and any other need that might come up. CGA wouldn't be able to help the dogs in other states right now if it weren't for all of you. The volunteers are the heart and soul of what makes CGA successful. We show the world our dedication and passion every time we make miracles happen like we did in June and July. Again, please let your foster coordinator know if you would like to foster a "haul" dog. And, once again, thank you all for everything you do everyday for the hounds. Best, Rori Mattson on behalf of the Colorado Greyhound Adoption Board of Directors |
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