Karyn’s Corner-October 2026
he year of 2019 began with a successful Greyt Winter Festival at Agustin Kitchen. Proceeds benefited SA Greys’ Emergency Medical Financial Assistance Fund.
And 2019 presented a growing challenge to our traditional operations. With the closure of Tucson Greyhound Park in 2016, we were forced to develop strategies to source hounds from out of state. Track closures fell like dominoes, most notably in Florida, where a total of 12 greyhound tracks shut down following the 2018 ballot initiative with 69% of voters in favor.
The intake was 39 hounds vs. 45 in 2018 and 44 adoptions vs. 45 in 2018. Monthly meetings were held at the Woods Memorial Library and Murphy Wilmot Library. Hounds decompressed at Lazy Grey Ranch. Adoptable hounds became available in southern New Mexico.
Eight hounds were relinquished while others came from Kansas (including puppies), California,* Pinal Animal Care Center, and the Southwest Greyhound Exchange (SWGX) transporting hounds across the country to the Southwest in the winter and the Northwest in the summer.
There were 36 meet-and-greet events, eight spa days and many opportunities to volunteer for home visits and to transport hounds to vet appointments. There were 60 volunteers, not including foster parents. Events included the spring ice cream social, autumn RooUnion and participation in the community-wide Adopt Love Adopt Local at the Tucson Expo Center.
Beading Divas celebrated their 10th anniversary and chose SA Greys to be their May fundraising partner. The well-attended co-event was held at (the old) Corbett’s and featured live music, raffles, special cocktails and bracelet sales raising $3,352. Giving Tuesday garnered almost $9,000. An online store headed by Outreach Director Michelle Tuck bought $900 worth of merchandise and two-thirds of sold items raised $1,500, deeming the venture a success.
Veterinary expenses were consumed by hookworm treatments and dental care. However, there were no broken legs. Adoption cost $375, yet SA Greys spent $1,200 to provide adopters with a healthy dog.
Some of the incoming hounds were Rush, Gus, Linkin, Lucia, Sally, Petunia, Jangle, Kappy, Kelsie, Tommy, Apollo, DeNiro, Josie, Annie Sue, Raquel, Phoebe, Kohana plus more. If you adopted a hound in 2019 and he or she is lolling about on your couch, please send a photo to communications@sagreys.org so we can post on Facebook. We love updates.
*Hemopet was a blood bank in Orange County, Calif. It has since closed. In 2018, SA Greys received three hounds from another blood bank in Cherokee, Texas. A whistle blower alleged that more than 150 retired racing greyhounds were being kept in squalid conditions, confined to small crates and denied adequate veterinary care while being continuously drawn for blood sold to veterinary clinics (Google it). Three hounds came to SA Greys, two that I knew personally, and their people shared how fearful and spooked these dogs were; one hound did not know how to run. Pictured is Mayzie, (fka Mayra), who turns 11 next month and is living her best life on the Oregon coast with the Hall family. No hound left behind.
Mea culpa: Last month I failed to mention Taryn Westergaard was the Operations Director and Lorre Wisham, Communications Director, both for 2018-2019.
If you missed the 2018 entry, find it here. If you want to contribute to the history, please email communications@sagreys.org.
Karyn Zoldan volunteers on the communications and marketing teams.