OHIO GREYHOUND GATHERING AND ADOPTION

05/30/2026

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Behind the Zoomies: An Interview with Stephanie B.

Interviewer: Stephanie, thank you for sitting down with us. Let’s dive right into the man of the hour. Who exactly is the legendary greyhound sharing your home?

Stephanie B.: His official call name is Fitty, known professionally as MRL Fifty Proof, though his title changes daily depending on his mood! He actually came to us as a "bounce-back." We were warned that he had a bite history and required knowing what his boundaries and expected behaviours were. Thankfully we respected the Going Home Protocol and set Fitty up for success, to be his forever home.

Interviewer: That sounds incredibly intimidating. How did you navigate that transition?

Stephanie B.: With following the advice from our adoption group, the only thing this boy will bite now is a treat, which he prefers to gently accept while lying completely horizontal. Frankly, Fitty is the clumsiest, laziest greyhound I have ever encountered. Our running nickname for him is "Mr. Fitness." Even our veterinarian laughs at his absolute dedication to doing nothing.
Interviewer: A true athlete of leisure. Does "Mr. Fitness" have any particular habits or quirks that keep you on your toes?
Stephanie B.: We are entirely convinced he can tell time. Dinner is strictly at 5:00 PM. If 5:05 PM rolls around and his bowl is empty, he stands up, stares me dead in the eye, and delivers a look that translates directly to: "Woman, where the heck is my dinner?"
Interviewer: Incredible precision. Let's take a step back. Where did your passion for this specific breed begin? What was the original spark?
Stephanie B.: Our love affair with greyhounds began back in 2012. We were researching breeds for a family dog for our three children, who were 7, 9, and 12 at the time. In our research, we kept encountering the phrase "the world's fastest couch potatoes." We had no idea how literal that description was until we brought one home. Fitty, however, has elevated couch-potatoing to an Olympic sport.
Interviewer: To close our interview, what is the ultimate truth about your bond with Fitty?
Stephanie B.: The ultimate truth is that Fitty is the absolute best greyhound to ever exist because he knew exactly when we needed him most. He entered our lives just a few months after we lost our previous greyhound. Simultaneously, we were facing a completely empty nest as our youngest child had just departed for university.
I desperately needed another living creature to look after and dote on, and Fitty gladly accepted the position. He has thoroughly reveled in his role of being pampered, and he fills our quiet home with immense sweetness and love.

05/24/2026

From Gillian Lee
And now for a little something different than DNA posts 😉 If your adoption group places Wheeling or Tri State/Mardi Gras retirees, would you please consider reaching out to your adopters to see if they would like to participate in the
Keepwvgreyhounds's "Where Are They Now?" series?
"We want to celebrate the incredible lives our greyhounds are living in retirement. To do this, we need your help! If you currently have a racing or retired greyhound with lines from Wheeling Island or Mardi Gras/Tri State, we want to hear from you!
Either click on over to
Keepwvgreyhounds and add to the pinned thread, or email [email protected]
- Who your greyhound is: Share their name, racing name, and their unique personality quirks.
- Your spark: How did you first get interested in greyhounds?
- The ultimate truth: Why is your hound the absolute best greyhound to ever exist? (Spoiler alert: You are 100% correct, and so is everyone else!)
Please attach 1–2 of your favourite photos of your greyhound relaxing, playing, rooing or anything else you would like to share.
We cannot wait to feature your stories and show the world how wonderful life is with our West Virginia racers and retirees!"

05/24/2026

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05/10/2026

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A selection of original watercolours available..
Check out the link below for more details ☺️
https://sandersonart.net/drawings

05/08/2026

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05/07/2026

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Anabolic Steroids

Grey2K’s Claim: All female dogs are given steroids.

The Fact: The use of estrus-suppression medication is a standard veterinary practice to protect the health of the female dog.

Health and Safety: "Heat" cycles in female dogs cause significant hormonal shifts and physical stress. Low-dose suppression (often testosterone-based) is used under veterinary supervision to prevent the physical toll of frequent cycles and to ensure the dog is not racing while physically compromised.

Regulation: These are not "performance-enhancing" steroids in the athletic sense; they are reproductive health regulators approved by the FDA for canine use.

Human women frequently use hormonal birth control to manage cycles, prevent pregnancy, and mitigate the physical toll of menstruation. In the same way, female greyhounds use testosterone-based suppression as a reproductive health tool. While the word "steroid" is used by activists to imply cheating, these medications are functionally no different than a human athlete using a hormone patch to stay at peak health and avoid the physical exhaustion of an unmanaged cycle.

The Reality of Hormonal Support
- Testosterone is a Hormone: Just as estrogen and progestin are used in human pills, low-dose testosterone is the biological regulator used for canines.
- Medical Necessity: In humans, birth control is used to treat endometriosis or severe cramping; in greyhounds, it prevents "split heats" and hormonal depletion.
- Dosage vs. Abuse: There is a vast difference between "anabolic abuse" for muscle mass and "therapeutic suppression" for cycle management.
Athletic Parity: If a human Olympic athlete takes birth control to ensure she doesn't suffer a performance-crushing cycle during competition, it is called "smart healthcare." When a greyhound does it, activists call it "drugging."

05/07/2026

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05/04/2026

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The proposed federal ban on commercial greyhound racing represents a significant economic threat to the state of West Virginia, with repercussions that would be felt far beyond the racetrack gates. If enacted, this legislation would dismantle a self-sustaining industry that currently serves as a vital pillar of the state's financial and social infrastructure.

The immediate human cost would be substantial, as the industry supports more than 1,700 direct and indirect jobs across the state. These roles include specialized veterinarians, trainers, and track staff, as well as local farmers and suppliers who provide the essential agricultural products needed to maintain a premier racing program. For many families in the Northern Panhandle and the Kanawha Valley, these are not just jobs, but lifelong careers tied to the state's unique heritage.

The fiscal impact on public services would be equally severe. Under West Virginia’s current revenue-sharing model, racing-related funds cover approximately 40 percent of the pension obligations for municipal police officers and firefighters. Removing this funding source would create an immediate multi-million dollar deficit, potentially forcing local governments to choose between cutting essential public safety services or significantly increasing property taxes on residents to bridge the gap.

Furthermore, the state’s educational and transportation systems would lose critical support. Revenue generated by the "racino" model is a key funding source for the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA), which provides healthcare for thousands of teachers and state employees. Additionally, the loss of direct pari-mutuel taxes would reduce the available budget for the State Road Fund, impacting the maintenance of secondary roads and bridges that West Virginians rely on every day.

The total economic footprint at stake is estimated at 321 million dollars annually. Forcing the closure of this industry would not only result in the loss of 100 million dollars in annual employee compensation but also risk the creation of vacant "ghost buildings" that could haunt local economies for years. By preserving regulated racing, West Virginia protects its agricultural legacy and ensures the continued funding of the essential services that keep the state safe, healthy, and moving forward.

- Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA): PEIA Financial Plan for Fiscal Years 2025–2029 (Final Report). (January 3, 2025).
- The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register: "Greyhound Racing Could End Now That U.S. House Has Passed Farm Bill". (April 30, 2026).
- West Virginia Legislative Code: W. Va. Code § 19-23-13b: Greyhound Breeding Development Fund.
- West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT): Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025. (December 22, 2025).
- West Virginia Municipal Pension Oversight Board (MPOB): Independent Financial Audit for Fiscal Year 2025. (June 30, 2025).
- West Virginia Watch: "West Virginia is the last state with greyhound racing; new federal bill would end it". (October 14, 2025).