FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

David and Janele Peck

2274  Private Rd.  935

Stephenville, Tx. 76401-8754

 

What happens when a CTW dog can not run anymore?

      We watch closely the status of all of our dogs running at the race track via the track web sites on the internet.  We also stay in contact on a regular basis with the trainers/owners of the kennels on the track who run our dogs.  When one is ready to retire we either bring them home here to adopt out with one of the greyhound adoption agencies we work closely with or the trainer arranges for an adoption agency there to take the dog.  If a dog has had some kind of injury we have him sent back to us where we make sure he is fit as a fiddle before adopting out.

 

      What actions do you take when one of your racers is injured?

       Should one of our CTW greyhounds become injured, such as a muscle strain, while on the track, the trainer will take the dog off the active list and attend to the injury.  If warranted, the trainer calls in the track veterinarian.  Whatever the veterinarian recommends is done.  The kennel owner pays for this, and we, as the owners, are notified.  If the injury sustained in one that prohibits the dog from running for an extended period,  CTW pays for the greyhound to be returned to us here.  We attend to whatever therapy or rehab is required.  Once the injury is healed, we start to work the dog back into racing shape as with any athlete.  If the trainer, the vet and we determine the injury will end the dog’s racing career, the trainer takes the dog home until it can travel to us or be adopted out in that area.   

 

 

     What happens to any of your dogs who aren’t fast enough to be sent to the race track?

       Every puppy born on this farm gets individual care and is worked with on that basis.  I would liken our job to being schoolteachers.  Some pups have to be worked with a little more or longer than others.  No CTW greyhound leaves this place until it is ready to be competitive somewhere or adopted out to one of the agencies we work with.  There are different tracks around the country.  Some run the more competitive dogs and some are puppy tracks for pups who need more confidence at the beginning of their careers or who don’t seem to be able to race with the faster pups.  We send the pups to the appropriate track.

 

Comments from a wonderful adoption agency about her role with greyhounds:

“You know I love doing this.  I think of how happy my greys have made me and I really promote them to anyone who will listen.  The history of racing and the breeders & owners have put so much time, thought, planning and money into the breeding, raising and general care of these dogs that I think they are probably the dog best suited for pets.   I know for a fact that most dogs do not get the care that the greys do.  Once people get their first retired grey – they never look back.  Other dogs are bred with intelligence as an afterthought in so many cases. I used to have AKC dogs and was appalled by the fiddling around with the breeding just to get a certain look at the expense of intelligence and health.  I had a gorgeous German Shepherd that had to be euthanized due to her hips.  This was way back before surgeries etc.  You will never have that problem with a grey.  Or and eye problems of the smaller breeds.”