NEW INITIATIVE FORMED TO INCREASE ADOPTION SUCCESS IN FLORIDA PANHANDLE

Three non-profit greyhound adoption and support groups have formed the “Sunburst Greyhound Adoption Project and Kennel,” an unprecedented initiative to expand and coordinate the movement of retired racing greyhounds from several Florida Panhandle tracks to adoption groups throughout the country.

The unique project is a joint effort of the Greyhound Alliance (http://greyhoundalliance.org), which will provide funding through membership donations and fundraising projects; the Northern Consortium (NoCo), a coalition of several Great Lakes region adoption groups that has moved more than 900 Panhandle greyhounds in the past; and the Emerald Coast Chapter of Greyhound Pets of America (http://www.GPAEC.com), the largest racing greyhound adoption organization in the nation. Volunteers from NoCo and GPAEC will prepare the dogs and arrange for transport to adoption groups in non-racing states.

Ebro Greyhound Park has donated the kennel space to house greyhounds for the Sunburst Project Kennel, along with Ebro ’s Pet Express Adoption Kennel. Sunburst will take in overflow pets from the pet kennels at Pensacola and Monticello as well as Ebro as needed.

"The Sunburst Project is a wonderful addition to the national adoption landscape," said AGC Communications Coordinator Gary Guccione. "We are so grateful for the commitment and vision of these three organizations."

More than 150 greyhounds will be available at any given time through the Sunburst Project, with that number expected to more than double with upcoming seasonal track closings in September and October.

The Sunburst Project kennel at Ebro will serve as a staging point where the greyhounds will be checked, vaccinated, spayed or neutered by Panhandle area veterinarians, and then readied for transport.

The Project hopes to accept hundreds of retired racers from Florida Panhandle tracks at Ebro, Pensacola, and Monticello, as well as other tracks on a space available basis.