Watch CBS News

Retired Greyhounds Up For Adoption In Northeast Philadelphia

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's not unusual for Florida residents to come to Philadelphia at this time of year to escape the sub-tropical summer, but one group of recent arrivals escaped more than heat.

Things are hopping at the National Greyhound Adoption Center in the Northeast since 33 new dogs arrived from Daytona Beach on Saturday, shipped off when they reached the end of their racing career. Five of the dogs were about to be sent to Monticello, which Adoption Program Director David Wolf describes as the "greyhound equivalent of the glue farm."

"The Monticello track is, in our view, a kill track, so if you're a greyhound, if you're not winning, if you get there, chances of leaving there alive are pretty small," Wolf says.

Wolf says he took all the dogs, despite logistical challenges. The hauling trailer only has room for 32, so one of them had to ride with the driver. These dogs join more than 60 other greyhounds at the kennel, filling all available space. Now, starts the real challenge-- finding them homes.

"Every time we get one into an adoptive home, it means we have room to take one more in," Wolf explains.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.