By Mary Owen
Paul Hartwell has a soft spot in his heart for greyhounds, especially retired racing dogs that, he said, are no longer “fast enough to make the track.”
“I was born and raised in England where I got my first taste of greyhound racing, and through my travels in the British Merchant Marine, I got to see greyhound racing all over the world,” said Hartwell, a Stayton retired restaurateur with a penchant for world travel and oceanography.
Now retired, he loves growing Shitake mushrooms, playing golf, gardening, investing in real estate, and volunteering for the Feral Cat Coalition and Greyhound Pet Adoption NW.
Hartwell first got interested in greyhound adoption when he owned and raced them at Multnomah Greyhound Park in Portland.
“We relied on the adoption groups there to help place greyhounds when their careers were over,” Hartwell said. “When Multnomah closed in 2005, the greyhounds I owned were sent to other states to race. When I couldn’t find homes for them with other adoption groups after their racing careers were over in those states, I called GPA-NW and we worked out getting the dogs transported back to Oregon to be put up for adoption. Over the years we have brought many dogs back to Oregon to be couch potatoes.”
Greyhound Pet Adoption Northwest not only finds homes for aging retirees, but educates the public about the value in adopting these graceful dogs. No greyhound is turned away regardless of age, injury or where its life began, organizers say.
GPA-NW reports with a life span of 12 to 15 years, retirement comes early for racing greyhounds, typically between the ages of 1 ½ to 6 years.
Most are healthy, gentle, well behaved and make excellent pets, according to web information. The organization holds many “Meet a Retired Racer Day” events in its adoption area and also introduces dogs to potential owners by appointment.
“I still own one race dog, named PDH Stonecoldgal,” said Hartwell, who has been volunteering with GPA-NW for two years, helping with events and fundraising. “She is racing at Daytona Beach Kennel Club.”
Hartwell explained when a greyhound’s career ends, the owner is responsible for finding the dog a home or surrendering it to an adoption group.
“Because of recent overcrowding within these adoption groups, they look for other groups nationwide and in Canada to take dogs,” he said. “GPA-NW gets four or more shipments every year, usually from Florida or Southern California. When they arrive in Portland, they are checked out for injuries, fixed, spayed or neutered, all shots brought up to date, and then they go to one of our foster homes to be socialized, ready to be placed for adoption.”
GPA-NW volunteer Susan Strible said one-third of the greyhounds placed by the organization this year were seniors, whose care averaged $750 per dog, in part because of inadequate care in the past. The organization, Strible said, can only cover a portion of these costs through adoption fees. To make up the difference, fundraisers are held and donations sought, she added.
“In the 25-plus years GPA-NW has been operating, they have placed more than a hundred greyhounds every year,” Hartwell said. “The challenges of working with an adoption group or most any nonprofit is to be able to raise enough funds to do the work you want to do. Last year alone we paid out more than $25,000 in medical expenses. We rely mainly on private donations. The reward is obvious: once you have hands on with one of the dogs, you tend to fall in love with each and every one. Just one look from them tells it all.
“I’m lucky to be able to stay in touch with many of my former racers that live in the area,” he added. “Greyhound adopters tend to become volunteers over the years, and we’re grateful for that.”
Most anyone can adopt a greyhound, whether living in an apartment or house with a yard, as long as the dog can be walked and well-provided for, he said. Cost to adopt a dog is $255, which goes toward the cost of all health work prior to adoption, Hartwell said.
“Look to spend lots of time with your foster or adopted dog, and to work with them on adapting a daily routine with playtime, feeding and exercise,” he said. “Greyhounds are sight hounds and need to be in a fenced area or on a leash at all times. They can see a half mile away and their chasing instinct will kick in if they see something they would like to chase. They interact well with other pets once properly introduced.”
To help GPW-NW, Hartwell and his wife, Sue, will sell 5 pounds of Shitake mushrooms for $35 and local fresh-cut Christmas trees, ranging from $2.75 to $5 a foot.
“We have Nobles, Grands, Fraziers, Douglas Firs, ranging from 4 to 12 feet,” he said. “We are offering free delivery starting Dec. 1 in a 5-mile radius of Stayton and for a small additional fee to other areas.”
Volunteers are always needed to help with GPW-NW adoption events and fundraisers, Hartwell said.
“We welcome any group or business that would like to sponsor an adoption event,” he said. “We have events at stores and farmers markets, assisted living communities, and do visits to nursing homes along with festivals. We always draw a large crowd.”
For a full list of events or for more information, visit www.gpa-nw.org. To order mushrooms or purchase a Christmas tree, call Hartwell at 503-769-2863.
