by Christine A. Dorchak, Esq.

President and General Counsel, GREY2K USA Worldwide

                                                   Headquartered in Arlington Center, GREY2K USA Worldwide is a non-profit team dedicated to passing stronger greyhound protection laws and ending the cruelty of dog racing. I co-founded the organization with political strategist Carey Theil, veterinarian Dr. Jill Hopfenbeck and the Reverend Tom Grey in 2001.  We advocate for greyhounds in the legislative and judicial process and also promote the adoption of our gentle friends worldwide. 

The inspiration behind GREY2K USA dates back to 1992, when my dog Kelsey and I were struck by a speeding train while out for a walk one morning.  Kelsey managed to pull us slightly off course, preventing a head-on collision and saving our lives.  When I awoke from a coma, my first words were, "How's Kelsey?"  I promised right then and there that if I could ever walk again, I would devote my life to helping dogs, and that she and I would do this work together.

 My dear Kelsey had suffered a broken hip the day of our accident, but she was to live until the age of fifteen, dying just a few days after I finished law school.  She helped me through a long rehabilitation, four years of evening law classes and the early days of our campaigns, staying by my side as long as she could.  It is Kelsey's inspiration that continues to motivate my work for her fellow dogs each day.  

Our Work

In recent years, GREY2K USA has phased-out dog racing in many states and successfully prevented its introduction to countries such as South Africa, Jamaica and the Philippines. The organization's most rewarding campaign involved a voter referendum in which four million people were asked to shut down the two tracks of Massachusetts.  In November 2008, Bay State citizens voted overwhelmingly in favor of the greyhounds, starting a chain of events that quickly led to the prohibition of dog racing in our sister states of New Hampshire, Rhode Island and most recently, Colorado.  

All told, we have helped close more than half of all US tracks over the last decade, and we are now working to apply our strategy to help end dog racing worldwide. 

Greyhounds suffer terrible injuries while racing

At tracks nationwide, greyhounds routinely suffer serious injuries. These include dogs that suffer broken legs and spines, paralysis, head trauma, puncture wounds and death from cardiac arrest.  Since 2008 alone, more nearly 12,000 injuries have been reported and in Florida, a dog dies every three days. 

Small cages are greyhounds' only homes

When not at the track, racing greyhounds endure lives of terrible confinement. They are kept inside warehouse-style kennels inside stacked cages that are barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around.  They stay in cages that measure 32 inches high by 31 inches wide by 42 inches deep for twenty or more hours a day!  There are no toys for them and no play.  This is no way to treat a dog! 

You can help save the greyhounds

Please watch our video and sign and share our petition to end dog racing now.  Together, we can end the cruelty of dog racing worldwide.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].

Photos show Jessica with Pinot (above) and Anita and Joan, with Tim and Kathy in the background.