Greyhound Alliance/Sunburst Project – Beading Divas, May 2013
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013
Sunburst moved me!
This month Beading Divas to the Rescue is honored to be raising money for the Greyhound Alliance/Sunburst Project.
The Sunburst Project safely transports retired racing greyhounds from three Florida Panhandle dog tracks to adoption groups in non-racing states and Canada.
This is not the first time that the Beading Divas have helped retired racing greyhounds get out of Florida. In 2010 and 2011, we raised money for Greyhound Support Transport.
Greyhound racing still exists in Florida (13 tracks), Alabama (2), Arkansas (2), West Virginia (2), Iowa (2), Texas (1), and South Tucson (1). The bulk of dogs tracks are in Florida. That means Florida is saturated with greyhounds who have run their last race.
Safely transporting retired racing greyhounds is vital. Tucsonans may remember the 140+ missing greyhounds from 2005 & 2006. Tucson Tails will never let you forget this travesty. Then in 2010, eight racing greyhounds died on the way from Oklahoma to Arizona. In 2012, a Florida greyhound fell off the hauler vehicle and was left; fortunately a good Samaritan found Petey and an adoption group went to great lengths to save his life.
The Sunburst Project is a collaboration conceived by The Greyhound Alliance, the Northern Consortium, and GPA (Greyhound Pets of America) Emerald Coast. These groups have a long history of working together to move Panhandle greyhounds to adoption. Partnering since 2006, the groups all share a strong commitment to that goal – and were really able to expand and make it happen together with the founding of the Greyhound Alliance’s Sunburst Project and Kennel in August, 2011. It’s a testament to what can be done when groups come together with creativity, cooperation, communication, and compassion — for the hounds.
Waiting for transportation
Since 2011, more than 1,600 greyhounds have been safely transported to adoption groups in non-racing states in the Midwest, East Coast, the West, and Canada. That’s quite an accomplishment!
Haul departures vary, but typically, large hauls to the East Coast and the Midwest depart the Florida Sunburst Kennel approximately every 6 weeks – with hauls going West somewhat less frequently. Sunburst tries to accommodate all requests for hauls, but they are in large part, determined by available funds to pay haul fees.
In the beginning of May 2013, 100 dogs were moved going to adoption groups in the East, West, the Midwest, and Atlanta! Heartwarming.
Hauling fees with dedicated professional haulers range from $85 to $100 per dog – no matter how far the distance. Adoption groups taking hounds on a haul share in that cost, paying half of the fee. Haul fees are by far their largest expense -and always a challenge - as anticipated. Unfortunately, many haul requests have been turned down due to the lack of funds to pay the haul fees.
Sunburst is always in need of donations specifically for haul fees — $50 puts a hound on a haul – but any amount is welcome!
You can see the importance of safely moving retired race dogs out of Florida into forever homes elsewhere. Please consider buying a bracelet or three (they make great gifts) or donating directly to this worthy 501c3 organization; monetary donations are tax deductible. Every adoption group who receives dogs from Sunburst, should be promoting the bracelet sales.
Bracelets helping greyhounds
In Tucson, you can buy bracelets here:
–-Silver Sea Jewelry & Gifts, 330 N. 4th Avenue, 624-9954
–-Clues Unlimited Mystery Book Store, 3146 E. Fort. Lowell Road (SE corner Country Club), 326-8533 (closed Sun/Mon)
–-A K Jensen Apparel, (St. Philips Plaza), 4340 N. Campbell Ave., Suite 72, 529-2775
–-Sissy’s Pet Salon, 7350 N La Cholla Blvd (by Albertsons), 229-9898 (limited selection)
Or you can buy bracelets online (add S&H) . Bracelets cost $20 and are one-of-kind, made with donated beads on coiled memory wire and come with a paw charm. One size fits most.
Let’s keep these doggies moving!
