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Greyhound Gang |
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Greyhound Gang |
Turning Forgotten Pooches Into Your Patients
Veterinary Economics, April 1996
Claudia Presto spent her Valentine's Day with a very special friend. He came into her life three years ago--a dark, handsome figure with kind brown eyes and a smile that charmed her socks off. Presto immediately fell in love, and they've been constant companions ever since.
He's Slim, a 7-year-old greyhound Presto adopted from WAG, a Connecticut greyhound rescue group. He's also the inspiration for the Greyhound Gang, Presto's own greyhound rescue group.
The dark brindle spent his first four years in cages and on the track, but he quickly adapted to the good life with Presto. She was so taken with his intelligence and good behavior, she established the Greyhound Gang last March. The small, nonprofit group has found homes for 35 otherwise doomed greyhounds--and it's looking for more. Such efforts can send new clients your way.
The group raises money through donations from people who adopt a dog. Presto interviews prospective owners to make the best match.
After the owners fill out adoption papers, Presto travels to a racing track in Tucson, Ariz., to pick up the greyhounds.
The dogs then return to her home, where she introduces them to "house life." After spending years in cages and being let out only to train or race, these dogs need to master the basics of climbing stairs, house-training rules, playing with toys, and meeting other family members. It doesn't take long, though, Presto says. They're incredibly smart.
"They're also the sweetest dogs you'll ever meet," she says. "They're misunderstood because of their racing background. A lot of people think they're hyper. They're actually easier to train because they're used to doing what their owner asks. They only want to please you."
Presto's efforts haven't gone unnoticed. She wrote about her exploits on the road with Slim in the 1995 Dogs USA Annual.She also won a phone management system and $2,000 worth of office equipment in a contest for small businesses sponsored by Creative Labs Inc., an office equipment company. An article about the award and the Greyhound Gang ran in the November 1995 issue of Entrepreneurmagazine.
Although she works as a management consultant, Presto's passion is finding homes for these greyhounds. Before adopting out the dogs, she has them examined by a veterinarian. After each adoption, she follows up with phone calls or visits to make sure the dog and owner are getting along. If it doesn't work out, she finds a new home for the dog.
New greyhound owners also get a booklet to help them through the adjustment period. Among her topics: the "smiling" phenomenon. "Some greyhounds smile, and that can cause people who don't know them to jump," she says. "They show a lot of long, white teeth when they smile. My theory is that they do it to ingratiate themselves to those around them."
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