2008 Woodie Awards
Greyhounds: Lost and found
Two Eastern faculty members take time out of their lives to rescue abused and abandoned Greyhounds, finding them a new home
Kara Lairson
Issue date: 4/12/07 Section: Features
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Mary Johnson is known throughout campus as "the Greyhound Lady."
Her van proudly sports a "Got Greyhounds?" sticker in the back window and the cabinet behind her in her office, located in the SSB, is covered in pictures of her two greyhounds, Chancey and Mattie.
The home she shares with her husband and fellow greyhound enthusiast Keith Johnson is lovingly decorated with fascinating greyhound memorabilia, right down to the greyhound statue guarding the front door.
With all due respect, she truly is "the Greyhound Lady."
What few people really know, though, is Mary and Keith share an overwhelming passion to rescue and protect these "gentle giants."
Mary and Keith got involved with the Greyhound Protection League after they got their first greyhound named Pi.
Pi became a family member to the Johnsons and they were soon informed of the atrocities many greyhounds experience while in the racing industry.
After being exposed to the horrors of greyhound racing, they became involved and haven't looked back since.
As many people may or may not know, greyhound racing is a multi-billion dollar sport in America.
Purses upwards of $85,000 are won on single races and on a single dog's performance.
Much like horse-racing, dogs are groomed and bred for optimal proficiency on the race track. Their performance is vital to their lives-literally. One mistake can cost a greyhound its very life.
The Greyhound Protection League Web site and the Johnsons both said greyhounds begin racing anywhere between the ages of 18-24 months old.
Their first race is considered their "maiden race" and their placing in this race determines which class they will run in later races.
The highest class in greyhound racing is an A. Below that is the B class, then the C class, and so forth until the F class.
If a dog cannot place first, second or third in three consecutive races, then the dog drops to a lower class.
Her van proudly sports a "Got Greyhounds?" sticker in the back window and the cabinet behind her in her office, located in the SSB, is covered in pictures of her two greyhounds, Chancey and Mattie.
The home she shares with her husband and fellow greyhound enthusiast Keith Johnson is lovingly decorated with fascinating greyhound memorabilia, right down to the greyhound statue guarding the front door.
With all due respect, she truly is "the Greyhound Lady."
What few people really know, though, is Mary and Keith share an overwhelming passion to rescue and protect these "gentle giants."
Mary and Keith got involved with the Greyhound Protection League after they got their first greyhound named Pi.
Pi became a family member to the Johnsons and they were soon informed of the atrocities many greyhounds experience while in the racing industry.
After being exposed to the horrors of greyhound racing, they became involved and haven't looked back since.
As many people may or may not know, greyhound racing is a multi-billion dollar sport in America.
Purses upwards of $85,000 are won on single races and on a single dog's performance.
Much like horse-racing, dogs are groomed and bred for optimal proficiency on the race track. Their performance is vital to their lives-literally. One mistake can cost a greyhound its very life.
The Greyhound Protection League Web site and the Johnsons both said greyhounds begin racing anywhere between the ages of 18-24 months old.
Their first race is considered their "maiden race" and their placing in this race determines which class they will run in later races.
The highest class in greyhound racing is an A. Below that is the B class, then the C class, and so forth until the F class.
If a dog cannot place first, second or third in three consecutive races, then the dog drops to a lower class.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 34
Susan Breininger
posted 4/12/07 @ 3:49 AM EST
FYI - GPL leaves a lot to be desired in the realm of accuracy! For instance:
"While greyhounds are not racing, they are kept in 3-by-5 inch crates that are stacked two and three high. (Continued…)
dogroom
posted 4/12/07 @ 6:29 PM EST
Interesting that a typographical error is the only thing Susan can come up with to argue about, while telling the readers to do their own investigation. (Continued…)
ugogirl
posted 4/13/07 @ 11:02 AM EST
I wish this publication would check the facts about a story before publishing it. I am a greyhound owner, and I'm truly offended by this article. These people have obviously never been anywhere near a racing kennel. (Continued…)
Ken Strawbridge.
posted 4/13/07 @ 5:39 PM EST
It's been a long while since I've seen a reporter just repeat the Hate Speech lies of the so-called Greyhound Protection League like this.
This crap isn't true. (Continued…)
redsoxfan
posted 4/13/07 @ 7:50 PM EST
Was this article published in a junior high school paper?If so kara in the future please get some of the facts .kara ,please do a little investigating in the future and get both sides of the story . (Continued…)
dogroom
posted 4/14/07 @ 12:08 AM EST
Now I have heard it all. A 13,000 margin for error?
Thirteen THOUSAND??!! Maybe the racing industry wouldn't need that coushin if they just counted the actual number of dogs being killed. (Continued…)
Martin Roper
posted 4/14/07 @ 8:53 PM EST
This article is typical of the nonsense that continues to be put forth by people with only a passing knowledge of Greyhound racing. These people get almost all of it second-hand from websites put together by people who exaggerate, misinterpret, misrepresent, and outright invent "data" that fits their agenda. (Continued…)
Ken Strawbridge
posted 4/15/07 @ 6:55 PM EST
I think dogroom is trying to change the subject.
If the article had only said that some Greyhounds are put down after they finish racing, we couldn't kick. (Continued…)
dogroom
posted 4/18/07 @ 6:09 PM EST
"But yes, they are groomed and bred for optimal proficiency. That means taking the best possible care of them to give them every possible edge. If they don't finish in 4th place or better, they don't make a nickel. (Continued…)
dogroom
posted 4/19/07 @ 3:20 AM EST
Kate, thousands of dogs are still being killed each year at the direction of their owners because there aren't enough people to take them. That is far from a few. (Continued…)
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