Swift as the wind, elegant as a gazelle,
greyhounds have been prized throughout history for their intelligence, speed, and beauty. Today, this ancient breed, which was once the companion of kings, has been claimed by a new master—the multi-billion dollar greyhound racing industry. In 21st-century America, the once noble greyhound runs for his life.

Tens of thousands of greyhound puppies are born into the racing industry every year; thousands of these puppies will be cast aside just months into life. At 18 months of age, survivors who have demonstrated the potential to make money for their owners will be sent to various racetracks across the country. Most will race for a year or less, and only a small percentage will generate enough money to continue racing to the mandatory "retirement" age of 5 years.

On average, each racetrack supplies cage space for about 1000 greyhounds. The dogs are housed in a dozen or so kennels buildings, each with 60 to 80 dogs. Country wide, hundreds of occupants of those cages grade off (become unprofitable) every day, leaving kennel owners with expenses but no income from the uncompetitive racers. The goal of every kennel is to keep a constant supply of money making animals available for racing. Some kennels will hold on to failed racers for as long as possible, but for many… it’s strictly business. This is the flash point that puts the lives of hundreds of greyhounds in peril day in and day out. Despite the best efforts of adoption groups throughout the country, thousands of gentle, beautiful greyhounds are killed or sold for medical experimentation every year.

Greyhound Friends for Life is a nonprofit, volunteer greyhound rescue, adoption, and advocacy organization, dedicated to finding loving and qualified homes in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California for former racing greyhounds. The reward for adopters is the joy of sharing their homes with an affectionate, loyal, and grateful companion who will be a friend for life.

The majority of greyhounds in our program are 2 to 4 years old. While finding forever homes for these ex racers is our primary mission, we are also committed to finding homes for any greyhounds found in shelters and providing long-term foster care for older greyhounds coming from breeding farms or other situations.  Although some of our dogs are placed in foster homes, the majority are in our foster kennel in Auburn.

Because the welfare of the racing greyhound is compromised at every turn for financial gain, Greyhound Friends for Life does not accept greyhound industry funding; we believe that to support a system of animal exploitation to which we are unalterably opposed would undermine our effectiveness and ethics.