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Greyhound Adoption - From the racetrack to life as a lounge lizard
From the racetrack to life as a lounge lizard
Dr Harry Cooper discusses his love of greyhounds and his patronage of the Greyhound Adoption Program.
-Words Dr Harry Cooper
IT WOULD be well over 75 years ago that as a very small child, I went with my father to his brother’s home in Five Dock, a Sydney suburb. Uncle Bert’s house was new to me, and I felt a little lost standing in the doorway of the loungeroom. Out of nowhere came this seemingly huge – well it was of course huge to a two-year-old – furry, black, and brown bundle of long legs and tail that knocked me over and then immediately began to lick my face and hands. Rather than cry at this situation, I started to giggle. The licking felt good. This was Rosie. She was my uncle’s retired racing dog, a female, and the first greyhound I ever met. I guess the name ‘Rosie’ really struck a chord with me, as I went on to give my gorgeous Border Collie the same name.
Looking back at that meeting, I feel it must have in some way guided my career. After graduating from Sydney University in 1966, I joined Gladesville Animal Hospital, and became introduced to thoroughbred racehorses and greyhounds as patients. It took very little time to become involved in the greyhound industry and much as I loved horses, they were hardly something you could carry round in the back of a panel van or a station wagon. So, I bought one, then another, and another, even bred a couple of litters.
Working as a locum vet in England allowed me to come in contact with the greyhound industry through veterinary colleagues over there. I thought why not race one. So, I bought and trained ‘Ginger Lashes’. She was a full sister to two very famous litter mates but had only won three races at a lowly rated track. To qualify for the top-grade circuits the dog had to record a specified time.
It’s a very different setup to Australia. Training was simple. Every night a walk and a slip over 200 to 300 metres at the local park, a vastly improved diet and getting rid of Hook Worms, was a simple approach. Incidentally I was reliably informed they didn’t occur in the UK. Well, they did, and to get something that would eliminate them necessitated importing a wormer from the USA!
There was considerable doubt that ‘Ginge’ as she was known, based on her previous form, could possibly qualify for the premium track, White City. She did it in a breeze, running half a second faster than necessary. She went on to win 16 more races over everything from 400 to 700 metres.
Finally, the pups that I was breeding started to win races. I’ll admit it, I was a semi professional punter, and managed to purchase my first house from the proceeds. I was in practice at Annangrove, with many greyhound clients. I truly loved the dogs. They set me up for life. I travelled the world talking about greyhound veterinary medicine. It was a great ride. Then along came television and the chance to give something back. I met a fellow vet with a passion for our long tails and she was intent on rehoming as many retired greyhounds as possible. It was a long time ago. I threw my hat in the ring and have been patron of what was ‘The Greyhound Adoption Program’ or GAP as we now know it.
So, what does GAP do in helping to rehome greyhounds? Well, there are a few criteria that people must satisfy before they can adopt their very own 60KPH lounge lizard. Greyhounds available for adoption have usually been trained to race, that is to chase a mechanical lure around a circuit. They live in a kennel facility, usually with several other greyhounds, and have a daily training routine that involves regular walking, either outdoors, or on a walking machine. They have regular meals that are formulated to maximise performance and keep weight steady, and of course ‘trialling’ or racing every four to five days. I suppose you could look on it as somewhat institutionalised, but better trainers form strong bonds with each individual dog in the kennel.
It is quite a change going from this style of living into what is, I guess, retirement. Many dogs enter GAP because they are injured and unable to race soundly, while others are simply too slow to win races. There are both dogs and bitches and they may be up to three years old, and some perhaps more.
Trainers have formed a great relationship with GAP and working together they have a pretty good idea of which individual dogs will suit their new lifestyle. All are desexed, microchipped, wormed, vaccinated, and then placed in transition homes, where they get to behave like other retired greys. They are exposed to other animals, like cats, small dogs, birds etc. They learn to walk upstairs and sleep in a comfy bed. Some even get to enjoy the lounge. The carers usually have one or two retirees to help the new dog adjust. They can assess the sort of home that this ‘new’ dog will adjust to.
Greyhounds are truly the gentlest dogs you will ever meet. My youngest daughter learned to walk hanging onto the tail of an old, retired greyhound. His name was ‘Steve’. He was imported from Ireland. I adopted him directly from the owner. He lived a wonderful life on the family farm in the Hills District of Sydney. He took no notice of the other dogs or the cats. He was just happy to be there. I was just as happy to have him hanging around.
The greyhound is my favourite dog. There will never be any doubt about that. Their athletic ability is second to none. Their temperament is just superb, and the only downside of this superb animal is that the average life expectancy is less than 12 years. Like the most beautiful of flowers in the garden that only bloom for a moment, they are gone far too soon.
There are always greyhounds up for adoption. They are lounge lizards, who find time just once or twice a day for an attack of the ‘Zoomies’, where they literally race around the place chasing some imaginary object. They are short coated and thin skinned. They need a coat in the winter. They come house trained and bark very little. They love life and they love people. Next time you see a greyhound on a lead, without a muzzle, it will be an adopted dog. Stop. Say ‘G’day’, and ask the question, ‘Why a greyhound?’ Then allow plenty of time for the answer. Be careful, it’s contagious.
