Springfield, MO - There are currently over 500 Greyhounds at various Greyhound race tracks throughout Florida looking for a chance to find a loving home. Volunteers for Greyhound Pets of America and other Greyhound adoption programs across the country are working feverishly to find homes for these intelligent, good-natured, clean and gentle ex-racers said Rory Goreé President of Greyhound Pets of America. While adoption volunteers are performing miracles, assistance from animal lovers and supporters of Greyhound adoption is urgently needed. It is estimated that it will cost upwards of $200.00 per former racer in order to place each one into a loving, forever home. Current estimates place the financial needs of Greyhound adoption groups at approximately $100,000.00 to cover the expenses of transitioning the Greyhounds from tracks to their ultimate homes. The individual tracks and the American Greyhound Council, the racing industry’s Greyhound welfare arm, are providing some financial assistance, but their income has been reduced as tracks close, and they are unable to provide 100% of the funding needed. “The volunteers in these groups are well-versed in pet adoption and will go above and beyond to ensure the care and safety of these Greyhounds,” said Alane Shultz, co-chair of the United Pathfinders Committee in the Greyhound adoption community, “But right now what is crucial to the volunteers working day and night to find homes for these Greyhounds is funding, foster homes and adoptions.” “The volunteers are in place, but we need to be able to provide them with the funding they need to do what they do best - transport these Greyhounds to places where loving homes can be found for them,” added Goreé. Greyhound racing has seen a decline in the United States with 9 tracks closing in the last 12 months alone. This is above and beyond what has been the norm in the past, and is causing what many describe as a “Greyhound tsunami” said Goreé. It is critical that the funding required to provide for transportation, housing and veterinary care be available immediately for the hundreds of volunteers assisting in this unprecedented emergency situation. Greyhound Pets of America, a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 corporation and the largest Greyhound adoption agency in the United States has formed a national committee called The “United Pathfinders Committee” comprised of leaders of Greyhound adoption groups from across the country. As with previous track closures, there is a great need for all to pitch in and help “make a difference,” and more so now than ever due to the staggering number of Greyhounds seeking homes. You may ask "What can I do to help the hundreds of Greyhounds seeking a forever home?" Goreé said the greatest assistance would be to make a monetary donation and to consider adopting or fostering a Greyhound. Visit the GPA-National web site at www.greyhoundpets.org to find information on Greyhounds as pets and to locate a chapter near you, and you can also join the discussion board www.greyhoundsmakegreatpets.com, where you can ask questions and receive a response from across North America. For those interested in making a tax-deductible donation, you can send checks payable to GPA-National (please make a notation that it is for the "Track Closure Fund") and mail to: Greyhound Pets of America – National Track Closure Fund c/o Vicki Phanco GPA National Treasurer P.O. Box 40 Highlandville, MO 65669 Media Contacts: Rory S. Goree’ President – Greyhound Pets of America Rory.Goree@yahoo.com 602-510-6951 Alane Shultz – Co-Chair – United Pathfinders Committee agreyhound2@mchsi.com 417-839-3138