Episode 39: Recorded August 27, 2023

"Some would argue I've got the best job in the world..."

Sean Stanton, Animal Welfare Strategic Projects Manager at Greyhound Racing Victoria

Show Notes

Sean Stanton (Australia), Rory Goreé (United States) and Tina Kelly (Canada) all share the same mission. They are dedicated to international Greyhound rehoming. Specifically, they collaborate to find new homes for former Australian and Irish racing Greyhounds.

Sean serves at the Animal Welfare Strategic Projects Manager for Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV). He has spent the past ten years in the role with GRV's Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP). His family has a background in Greyhound racing, and he previously managed one of Australia's racing clubs for 3-4 years.

Tina's journey in rehoming former racing Greyhounds started in Ontario in 2003 with her first Greyhound adoption. She attended a conference to learn about Irish Greyhound racing, evoking an epiphany about where Canadian Greyhound adoption should be moving. She partnered with Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) and the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT) to bring Irish Greyhounds to Canada, setting up FLIGHTS (Finding Loving International Greyhounds Homes Together & Salukis). In 2023, FLIGHTS expanded its mission to include former Australian racing Greyhounds.

Rory Goreé, a former president of Greyhounds As Pets - National (GPA), recognized the long-term need to find adoptable Greyhounds as the passage of Florida's Amendment 13 impacted track operations and breeding numbers in the United States. The general public in the U.S. perceived the closure of Florida's tracks to mark the end of adoptable Greyhound availability. Rory partnered with Irish and Australian Greyhound adoption groups to welcome a new source of dogs for eager adopters in the U.S.

In this episode, John sits down with these pioneers of international Greyhound adoption to talk about their efforts and the outcomes of the programs to date. Sean shares details about GAP and the impact it's having on Australian Greyhound adoption. Tina and Rory both discuss their experiences in traveling abroad to establish relationships with international Greyhound adoption organizations. Finally, Sean and Rory preview an Australian Greyhound conference for all interested volunteers and adopters, tentatively slated for 2024 in Victoria, Australia.

Links

Greyhound Racing Victoria (Website)

Greyhound Adoption Program (Website)

Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) (Website)

Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (Website)

FLIGHTS - Finding Loving International Greyhounds Homes Together & Salukis) (Website)

Greyhounds As Pets - National (Website)