‘He picked us’
Island couple adopts retired racer
SUMMERSIDE – When Sarah Gillis and Corey Miller entered the dog kennel, they knew they’d be leaving with a forever friend.
Cages lined the walls, and dozens of eyes turned their way, as greyhounds waited for adoption. Their names hung on the door along with special notes.
The first cage the kennel worker opened said “Herky Jerky, not cat safe.”
“The second they let him out of his crate, he ran right over to me and was stuck to my side basically the whole time we were there. It wasn’t even a decision really, he kind of picked us,” said Gillis.
Herky Jerky, now known as Nash, is recently retired from an American race track. Gillis and Miller were at Greyhound Pets of Atlantic Canada (GPAC) in Nova Scotia.
The Upper Musquodoboit-based kennel has been re-homing retired racers for over 25 years.
But the breed will be harder and harder to adopt in the years to come.
Most of the greyhounds that come to Canada are from tracks in Florida, but the state has banned dog racing by 2021.
Mary MacDonald is the branch representative for GPAC on P.E.I. and has two greyhounds, Bailey and Pogo.
“I was hooked once I adopted Bailey,” said MacDonald and started volunteering with GPAC.
In the six years since then, she has helped 70 greyhounds find forever homes on P.E.I.
MacDonald conducts home visits, takes in applications, helps new dog owners with the transition to pet life and organizes fundraising events on P.E.I.
She has admired the breed since she saw them racing in Florida years ago.
“Racing greyhounds are unique for sure,” said MacDonald.
Florida has 11 race tracks representing the majority of the tracks in the U.S. This means there won’t be many dogs retiring because there won’t be as many dogs in training.
“We feel bad people are losing their livelihoods. It’s kind of sad all around.”
GPAC is in favour of greyhound racing, they have a good rapport with the tracks they deal with and know the animals are treated with care.
There will still be dogs available, but MacDonald cautions there might be a wait.
Gillis and Miller were glad to get their pup in around six weeks.
Gillis had been considering a dog for some time when she discovered greyhounds. She knew she didn’t want a puppy.
“I just wanted to adopt a dog that was already here that needed a home.”
She found GPAC online. “After looking at them and hearing about them I was stuck with them. I couldn’t get anything else but a greyhound.”
Gillis started reading up on the breed and soon enough she and Miller decided to adopt one.
“Cory actually filled out the application form,” she said. “It was a Christmas gift for me.”
After the application was accepted, a GPAC representative made a home visit to let the couple meet a greyhound. After that, there was some training required and then the Miller and Gillis waited for a match.
“We went to the kennel and had the choice of two dogs,” said Gillis. “(Nash) was the one they took out first to show to us.”
The transition to house pet has gone pretty smooth.
“Even though they’re large dogs they’re so easy to look after. They’re very lazy. Once they get their daily exercise in, really all they want to do is lay around.”