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Greyhound Gang |
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Greyhound Gang |
Winning The Race
Entrepreneur, November 1995
In June, Entrepreneur announced the PhoneBlaster Contest, sponsored by Creative Labs Inc., in which one lucky business owner would receive an all-in-one phone management system and $2,000 worth of office equipment. Our thanks to all who entered the contest. Now, meet the winner!
Claudia Presto is a strong believer in karma. "If I've learned anything, it's that what you give out, you get back in return," she says.
As owner of Greyhound Gang, a nonprofit organization in Kanab, Utah, that rescues, rehabilitates and adopts former racing greyhounds, Presto certainly has done more than her share of giving. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, more than 13,000 greyhounds per year are killed after they're no longer profitable to the many gambling tracks around the country. Sadly, most of them are lucky to even live to the age of 2 or 3. That's where Greyhound Gang steps in. Presto's home-based business solicits people with loving homes to adopt the dogs.
Since she began her business in March, Presto has already matched some 13 greyhounds with dog lovers. She says she conducts interviews with prospective owners "to make a good match between dogs and people." Once the owners have filled out an adoption form, she makes the trip to a racing track in Tucson, Arizona, to pick up the newly adopted dog.
The 42-year-old entrepreneur's involvement doesn't stop here, though. Presto brings the dog back to her home and introduces it to the typical life of a house pet. The animals must be taught such simple things as how to climb stairs, play with toys and other everyday canine habits. Once the dog is trained, Presto releases the greyhound to its new owner--and starts the process all over again.
Greyhound Gang operates on a shoestring budget, generating its money through donations from caring people who adopt dogs. With her new PhoneBlaster and the Gateway P/75 multimedia computer she selected, Presto says she now has a more professional way to handle incoming calls, as well as the ability to generate newsletters, mailing lists and direct-mail pieces for Greyhound Gang.
Presto, a former corporate manager who also works as a management consultant, says becoming a small-business owner is the most rewarding thing she's ever done. "Greyhounds are very special creatures," says the entrepreneur, who owns two herself. "They bring a lot of joy into the lives of everyone who adopts them."
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