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Making Tracks from the Track
[Image: Caliente track gates]

Our greyhounds start their trip to the couch when we pick them up from the track (usually the Caliente Racetrack in Tijuana, Mexico). The photo to the left shows the starting gates for the dogs at the Caliente track.

As you can see from the photo, up to nine dogs can race at one time. Races there are run at night, so the track is usually pretty deserted when we pick up dogs. While we were there, workers were grooming the track surface in preparation for the evening's racing.


[Image: Caliente kennels] At right are the greyhound kennels at Caliente racetrack. The barracks-style buildings on both sides of the road each represent a different kennel business. Each is independently owned. Each of these kennels holds about forty dogs. The kennels are arranged on two levels on either side of a central aisle. They measure about three feet wide by four feet deep by three feet high. The males are generally housed on top. They enter their kennels by jumping up about three feet. This is why a male greyhound is likely to jump into a car more readily than a female--the females have never had to learn to jump up.


[Image: Caliente kennel turnouts] Each of the kennels has turnout pens in the rear, as depicted at left. The dogs are turned out four times a day to relieve themselves. Males are turned out separately from females, and all dogs are kept muzzled when turned out. Caliente has a conditioning area on the other side of the track where dogs are taken periodically for ongoing training. Some kennels readily deal with rescue groups. Others unfortunately refuse to deal with rescue groups, perhaps fearing negative publicity if they turn over an injured dog.


[Image: Joe at Caliente] Some owners manage their kennels, while others pay managers to care for the kennels in their place. At left is a picture of Joe, the manager of one of the kennels with which we deal at Caliente. Joe calls us when dogs are available for pickup from his kennel. We have encountered a number of kennel workers like Joe who seem genuinely to care for the welfare of the dogs. We usually end up with several more dogs than planned, because other kennel workers see us taking dogs and ask us to take some from them as well. Some of the dog handlers at Caliente are very needy folks trying to support families. We have begun collecting and taking used clothing to the employees as a gesture of friendship and compassion (read more about this). Let Joyce McRorie know if you can donate clothing.


[Image: Caliente track pickup] Volunteers take several vehicles to the track. Five or six dogs are loaded into each vehicle, as depicted at left. A passenger rides along to deal with any problems in transit. The dogs are muzzled to prevent any injury during transport. The border control guards are usually a bit surprised to see a vehicle full of dogs, but they have been cooperative and supportive once we explain the situation. The procedure of bringing greyhounds from the track to the kennel facility and heading home (about a 600 mile round trip for those of us living in the Los Angeles area) is accomplished in one very long day.

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