Retired Greyhounds are “Greyt”!

People know greyhounds as sleek, fast runners. Their families know they are 40-mile-per-hour couch potatoes who cuddle up and steal your heart! What’s so special about a greyhound? They greet you with a “roo” and a smile, wriggle around on their backs with those long legs sticking up in the air, also known as cockroaching, and are sweet, docile, 60+ pound lap dogs who want nothing more than to be with their people. That is the joy of a greyhound.

Kansas City Retired Greyhounds as Pets, or KCREGAP, is a 501(c)(3) organization that has been finding forever homes for greyhounds since 1990. We help as many greyhounds as possible, without consideration to their age, health or disability, while ensuring high-quality care, safety, housing and adoptions. In 26 years of service, KCREGAP has placed more than 5,000 greyhounds in homes, including more than 50 last year.

Where do they come from?
Most come from farms in Abilene, Kansas, the racing industry’s primary breeding location. The dogs may have never raced, having been injured or failing racing tests. Others have raced and are no longer successful, or they may have been bred for some time. We take in dogs from shelters—greyhounds and greyhound mixes known as lurchers. People contact us needing to re-home their greyhound for various reasons. Sadly, we also find greyhounds listed on Craig’s List. We do our best to find a spot for all these dogs.

Volunteers are the heart of our group.
Foster families help greyhounds that have never been in a home learn how to climb stairs or walk on hard floors along with the joys of soft beds, toys and plenty of love. Foster homes make the transition to a forever home much easier and more successful. Our wonderful foster families go above and beyond for the love of these amazing animals, and that love is returned unconditionally.

As a 100 percent-volunteer-run organization, we focus money raised on greyhound care and adoption. Our dedicated volunteers serve as board members, foster families, fundraisers and in a number of roles to provide care and support. Veterinary costs are our greatest expense, with costs for vet care in 2015 exceeding $60,000. KCREGAP relies on individual donations, fundraisers, adoption fees and the sale of our annual KCREGAP calendar, sold at kcregap.org and Pooches Paradise, to fund our annual budget. ■

Learn More
To see our adoptable dogs and learn about volunteer opportunities and events, please visit our website, kcregap.org, or follow us on Facebook, www.fb.me/KCREGAP. We hold Meet & Greets several times per month, and these are the perfect chance to socialize with and meet adoptable greys. We may be biased, but we think these dogs are pretty “greyt” and we hope you’ll take the chance to meet our greys!