Greyhounds need FPC students

by Beth Tedeschi
Exchange writer

     Fast Friends Greyhounds in Keene is looking for volunteers from the Franklin Pierce community to help socialize abandoned dogs in need of human companionship to bring them one step closer to finding a permanent home.

     Fast Friends Greyhound Rescue was founded in 1992 as a shelter to house greyhounds who failed to succeed in the various race tracks of New England.  The shelter's mission is to educate people about greyhounds and to adopt them out to loving homes.  Marabeth Farmer in the Community Service office was eager to talk about Fast Friends and said, "They are always looking for volunteers."  Even this late in the year the rescue is still desperate to find reliable volunteers. 

      "Programs like Fast Friends or Kitty Rescue cannot exist without the generosity of volunteers," said FPC student Katherine Surgen.  "Without the greyhound rescue, greyhounds whose primes have passed on the track would be shot and dumped unceremoniously into a ditch." She went on to elaborate that "The persons who own the dogs while they are racers care only about winning; they give no thought to the animal's needs as a dog." 

     When Fast Friends rescues a greyhound, they take the maximum care to facilitate the homeless dogs.  Ex-racers typically do not have positive social skills before they are saved by Mary Farnsworth and the other women who maintain the kennel.  Fast Friends and its volunteers teach ex-racers how to simply be dogs- "man's best friend." Surgen gets contacted when people are interested in volunteering.  She has the schedule of times throughout the week, which is everyday from 8-12, 12-3 and 6-9. 

     Volunteers are responsible for helping in the shelter, but mostly for socializing the dogs.  Socialization is an important aspect of getting abandoned animals ready for permanent homes.  It simply means that volunteers are needed to play with, walk and overall care for the dogs. 

     Anyone who would like to help out should email Surgen at surgenk@franklinpierce.edu . The rescue is always willing to accept the help of the FPC community.  If unable to volunteer at the shelter, there are other ways to lend a hand.  On the website eraven.franklinpierce.edu/commservice there is a Wish List for the rescue that includes such things as blankets, treats, and toys.  The rescue is in great need of treats and toys for the greyhounds.  Donations can be brought to the community service office and will be delivered to Fast Friends. 

     Check out the Fast Friends website at http://www.helpinggreyhounds.org/index.html to read about successful adoption stories and the list of available dogs.  The shelter features about a dozen greyhounds right now.