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.
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.
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.
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.
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.