GROUP HOPES TO SPARK INTEREST IN LOCAL ADOPTIONS OF GREYHOUNDS

After living with two greyhounds for the last five years, Brad Thomas says he'd never want to adopt any other breed of dog.

Thomas' dogs, Carousel and Elsa, will be among 15 greyhounds at Jungle Gems at West Park Shopping Town from noon to 5 Saturday to let people see what this breed is like. If they like what they see, they can get more information on adopting greyhounds.

"Because they are a racing animal, many people have the misconception that greyhounds are aggressive and hyperactive. Actually it's just the opposite," said Thomas.

Thomas is working with Greyhound Pets of America to educate the public on greyhounds and to try to find good homes for dogs bred for race tracks.

The dogs adopted in this area generally come from the greyhound track in Memphis. Dogs not suited to racing or who get too old or injured to race are put up for adoption.

Thomas said greyhounds make great pets in the right homes. Because greyhounds have little fur and no body fat, they need to be house dogs. "You can't leave them outside in the winter or they would freeze," Thomas said.

Of course, not every home is suited for this breed that stands 26 to 38 inches tall from floor to shoulder and generally weighs 50 to 85 pounds.

On the other hand, Thomas said, greyhound don't have oily skin so there is little problem with odor. They don't shed. They seldom bark. And they sleep most of the time.

"They are really a low-key, laid-back breed," Thomas said.

Also, he said, because racing greyhounds are handled frequently from the time they are born, they are generally good with people and in homes with children.

Thomas said owners do need to be careful with greyhounds when they take them outdoors. "If the dog isn't on a lead and it sees something to chase, it's gone. And they are so fast, there's no way to catch them."

Thomas became involved with Greyhound Pets of America five years ago when he attended an adoption event like the one that will be held Saturday.

"I had just moved to New Orleans with my job and I wanted a dog," he said. At the event he decided to adopt a greyhound, then he went on to help with such events.

Now that he's moved back to Cape Girardeau, where he is marketing director at Interquest, he wants to start having greyhound adoption events on a regular basis here.

The dogs at Saturday's event belong to the three local families who own greyhounds plus owners from Padacah, which has been having adoption events for several year. While these animals are pets, not dogs up for adoption, they will allow people to see the range of sizes and colors in greyhounds and the owners will be there to answer questions.

Those who are interested in adopting a greyhound can look over the adoption contract, which spells out the care that will be required, and fill out an application.

In the application, prospective owners can request the size, sex and color of the dog they want.

It costs $150 to adopt a greyhound. The fee includes spaying or neutering, shots, vet check, nail clipping, teeth cleaning and deworming.

Before being placed in a home, the greyhounds generally go through a week of foster care, Thomas said. This time is used to see how the dog gets along with other animals and what personality traits it may have.

"You don't know how these dogs were treated at the track," Thomas said. "Most aren't beaten but they may not have received good care."

Once the dog is placed, there will need to be some training, he said.

"These dogs have always lived in a kennel," he said. Not only must they be house-trained, which he said usually doesn't take long, but the dogs also may be unfamiliar with windows or television sets.

Still, for a loving pet, greyhounds are hard to beat, Thomas said.

"These dogs have not gotten any love before," Thomas said. "So once they are placed in a loving home, they soak it up."