E-mail from Rori Mattson, CGA Vice President, dated June 21, 2008:

To all of our wonderful members and volunteers:  WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

It has taken me some time to send this email, as I wanted to be sure of as many facts as I could before I asked as much of more of you than we have ever done in the past.  I certainly didn't want to inadvertently spread information that turned out to be rumors, or panic unnecessarily, and so I have been talking and listening and researching to try to find out as much as possible to share will all of you.

For those of you that were at the dinner last night, this email will just put into writing all of the things that Rick told you about last night.  For those of you who could not make it to the dinner, here is the scoop as we know it, and what we can do about it!

As you can imagine, there are not too many kennel owners who can continue to feed, house and train their dogs for the next 9 months without income.   Over the last two years, we have already seen many kennel operations close down their racing businesses, included the Long kennel, Erwin kennel, Golden Acres, and others.    Those that remain have a few choices now.   One is to move to another state.  Another is to race their dogs in another state, but keep their operations here.   Another is to shut down completely.   I think quite a few are still deciding which is the best way to go for them.  
 

What does this mean for the dogs? 

I think the bottom line is that only the strongest racers in Colorado will continue racing in other states, either by moving with their kennel, or by being raced in another state.  Some may also be used for breeding.    All of the rest will need to find new homes.   Right now, our best guess is that number is around 200 dogs.   It could be 150, and it could be 300.      Right now, CGA has 78 of these dogs on their procurement list.   We know of about 50 more that we are going to be cat testing over the next couple of weekends.  There are definitely more out there, but we are waiting to find out what their kennels are going to do.

The latest that we have heard is that the track management has told the kennel operators that they can keep the dogs on track property for 45 days after the end of the meet.   (This is definitely subject to change! )    For the kennel owners with facilities off of track property, their time line is probably more based on their financial ability to continue caring for the dogs and maintaining their property.  In any case, the time line is SHORT, and there are a lot of dogs!!

Right now, we are trying to identify all of the dogs that will need our help.  We are also trying to get the best information we can about exactly how long we have to do it.   I am working with Marnie from Recycled Racers to set up a meeting of the heads of all of the Colorado adoption groups.  Rene and Rick will join me at this meeting.  We will pool our information and our resources to be sure we know about all of kennels and dogs, and the opportunities available to us to help these dogs, including out-of-state transports, boarding facilities, etc.   AND---we are talking to you--our wonderful and RESPONSIVE volunteers.  

Unfortunately, with rising vet costs, more older dogs in the system, and the suffering economy, CGA is not in the strongest position to face this "Defining Moment".   We have fewer foster homes with dogs in them than we have in a long time.  Because of some big vet bills, our funds are dangerously low.   And now, we are facing an event that leaves more dogs needing us than ever.   However, this group is all about standing up to a crisis!    I am confident that we can successfully tackle this one too--just like we did the Pueblo closing!

Obviously, the NUMBER ONE WAY TO HELP IS TO FOSTER!!    If you are a foster family without a foster dog, PLEASE consider fostering at this time!!   If you have one foster, and could foster two dogs, PLEASE consider doing so!      If you have never fostered, but would be willing to do so now, even if only as an emergency option, please contact Beth Morgan at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  , our Foster Set-up Coordinator, and she can get you going!   PLEASE consider fostering one of these hounds.

Also, any fundraising ideas that you might have, that you would also be willing to implement, please bring them to the attention of the Board of Directors!  

And spread the word!!   You can call inactive fosters and ask if they would be willing to foster during this crisis.   You can recommend fostering to anyone you know that has been interested in greyhounds, but aren't ready to commit to adoption.   You can attend our Events and Meet and Greets and talk to the visiting public!   

Whichever of the above works best for you will be a huge help to CGA!   If there ever was a time to ask you to commit to just one more notch of involvement, this is it!!   

CGA is a strong organization.  The Board of Directors has already been discussing the many ways we can continue to help place retired racers in their forever homes, even if there isn't active racing in Colorado, including working with out-of-state groups,  for many years to come.  It is our full intention to remain solidly active in this endeavor for years to come...it is only HOW we do it that may change.   

The Board of Directors wants to thank each and every one of you for all of the heart and soul you have always given to the group and to the hounds.  I KNOW we are going to make this one of the greatest successes we have ever had! 

Thank you so much! 

Rori Mattson, on behalf of the entire CGA Board of Directors:

Rick Bender, Rori Mattson, Rene Rieser, Mark McKay, Nathan Lorne, Tara Lindburg, Jody Laughlin, Jennifer Zanella and Clark Sonderby.