Today, I received an email, forward through at least three different people before it made it to me. It is important, so I'm posting it here, as is (with perhaps a little formatting).

500 Greyhounds Need Rescue Before May 14th!

CONTACT: Dakin Animal Shelter (in MA) at 413-548-9898

http://www.dakinshelter.org/news.html

The greyhound track in Plainfield, CT voted on April 26th that they would discontinue greyhound racing. Unfortunately - and heartbreakingly - they've also decided that rescuers have only two weeks to get the dogs out, and any dogs remaining at the track on May 14th will be euthanized.

This is a monumental task because there are at least 500 dogs currently at the track. These are all young, healthy dogs, 2-4 years of age, who would make great family pets.

We've committed to saving as many dogs as we possibly can in the next two weeks.

How can you help?

Adopt a greyhound:

They're wonderful dogs - gentle, quiet, sweet, and graceful. The ones we'll be getting will be good companions with other dogs and with cats. Surprisingly, they're couch potatoes. They do need to be in a fenced area or leash walked; they aren't dogs to let run loose. For information on what it's like to take a greyhound home, visit www.greyhoundgang.com. To find out what greys we have available for adoption, call us at 413-548-9898 or visit our dog adoption page.

Foster a greyhound:
We will provide all their medical care and a crate to make their transition easier.

Donate money:
We are going to need extra funds to help these dogs for crates and medical bills. You can send a check to: Dakin Animal Shelter, 163 Montague Road, Leverett MA 01054, or donate online. Please mark your donation "Save the Greys".

Donate a large dog crate:
We need these to send with the dogs going into foster care.

Spread the word! The more people who know about this tragedy, the more help the dogs will get.

Greyhounds are lovely, gentle dogs... Greys are not hyper - they're actually couch potatoes! They love to run - for about 5 minutes - in a safe, fenced area. Greys spend most of their day snoozing and adore soft sleeping places and all the comforts in life. They are actually very good dogs for apartments or small homes because of their low activity level.

They are very clean dogs, and in some ways are very catlike in their cleanliness and love of comfort. Most greyhounds - including all the ones we'll be getting - can live with other dogs and cats, once they've been introduced, and actually love living with other animals.

They rarely bark and shed little. In their life on the track, they live in crates for 22 hours per day, so most things in the 'real world' are a surprise to them.

They've never seen simple things such as: slippery floors (wood, tile); stairs; television; windows; cats; dogs who are not greyhounds!

They generally housebreak very easily because they're completely crate trained (they aren't housebroken because they've never been in a house, so they have to learn what a house is!).

They walk very, very politely on leash - they learn that at the track. Greyhounds are very good companions for homes with gentle children because of their own gentle nature.