Greyhounds: Lost and found

Mary Johnson is known throughout campus as "the Greyhound Lady." Her van proudly sports a "Got Greyhounds?" sticker in the back window and the cabinet behind her in her office, located in the SSB, is covered in pictures of her two greyhounds, Chancey and Mattie.

The home she shares with her husband and fellow greyhound enthusiast Keith Johnson is lovingly decorated with fascinating greyhound memorabilia, right down to the greyhound statue guarding the front door.

With all due respect, she truly is "the Greyhound Lady."

What few people really know, though, is Mary and Keith share an overwhelming passion to rescue and protect these "gentle giants."

Mary and Keith got involved with the Greyhound Protection League after they got their first greyhound named Pi.

Pi became a family member to the Johnsons and they were soon informed of the atrocities many greyhounds experience while in the racing industry.

After being exposed to the horrors of greyhound racing, they became involved and haven't looked back since.

As many people may or may not know, greyhound racing is a multi-billion dollar sport in America.

Purses upwards of $85,000 are won on single races and on a single dog's performance.

Much like horse-racing, dogs are groomed and bred for optimal proficiency on the race track. Their performance is vital to their lives-literally. One mistake can cost a greyhound its very life.

The Greyhound Protection League Web site and the Johnsons both said greyhounds begin racing anywhere between the ages of 18-24 months old.

Their first race is considered their "maiden race" and their placing in this race determines which class they will run in later races.

The highest class in greyhound racing is an A. Below that is the B class, then the C class, and so forth until the F class.

If a dog cannot place first, second or third in three consecutive races, then the dog drops to a lower class.

Once a dog has dropped so far, they begin to race in the "end of the line" racetracks, where a race is essentially the last chance a dog has before it is abandoned, sold to medical research or simply killed.

According to the United States Humane Society, in 2003 between 7,500 and 20,000 greyhounds were euthanized because they could not perform to the standards set for them.

While greyhounds are not racing, they are kept in 3-by-5 inch crates that are stacked two and three high.

They are only let out for 15 minutes to an hour at a time at a minimum of three to four times a day.

Both Mary and Keith described the conditions greyhounds were kept in and the way they were eventually euthanized. There have been cases of several greyhounds dying in kennels because of excessive heat, being fed unfit meat and unsanitary cages. Some are bludgeoned to death, starved, sold to medical research labs or left for dead.

"The lucky ones are shot," Mary said. "They have a way of communicating with you. They know you've saved them."

Being left for dead isn't an uncommon occurrence, as this was the case of Lando, the greyhound owned by professors Mick and Karin Sehmann of the music department.

Lando's leg was broken and instead of it being properly fixed, he was dropped at a farm and left for dead.

Karin Sehmann estimates that Lando walked around on his broken leg for over nine months before the Sehmanns rescued him.

Not only have they given Lando their love, but their financial support as well, going as far as taking him to a specialist in Louisville to fix his leg. After one metal plate, 10 screws and 6 months of recovery, Lando is as good as new.

Some greyhounds will never be so lucky.

In a Detroit News article, it said the state of Kansas has determined greyhounds to be property and not animals.

The Greyhound Protection League reports that greyhound racing is legal in 15 states in America and hasn't officially been banned in 42 states.

In the 1700s and 1800s, it was illegal to even harm a greyhound. What happened?

The Sunday sun shone brightly on Mattie, Chancey and Lando as they bounded outside in the Johnson's backyard.

While one cannot be certain why these practices are not illegal and why people do not pay dire consequences for their actions, one thing is very certain: the Johnsons and the Sehmanns are doing something incredible.

If you would like more information about adopting greyhounds or getting involved in the Greyhound Protection League, then e-mail Keith or Mary Johnson at Keith.Johnson@eku.edu or Mary.Johnson@eku.edu.

You can also visit www.greyhoundrescue.org or www.cincigreyhounds.org/GAGCHome.asp.

Reach Kara at progress@eku.edu