Five severely malnourished greyhounds arrived in Leawood Sunday after being removed from an Oklahoma property, beginning what rescuers expect will be a long rehabilitation. The dogs were so fragile that veterinary staff had to monitor their blood sugar before they could safely begin rebuilding their strength.
According to KMBC, Kansas City Retired Greyhounds as Pets drove about five hours to help after learning that several dozen greyhounds were living in deplorable conditions. Rescuers believe the dogs had been neglected for an unknown length of time and may have come from a breeding operation.
The five dogs are recovering from a grim list of problems, including ticks, fleas, anemia, skin infections, minor injuries and extreme malnourishment. Volunteers gave each dog a bath and began offering small portions of food, while the greyhounds responded positively to the attention despite everything they had endured.
Recovery Will Depend On Slow Feeding And Constant Care
At an emergency veterinary facility, the dogs showed unstable blood sugar, making the early stages of treatment especially delicate. KMBC reported that KC REGAP plans to focus first on nutrition, veterinary treatment and human interaction before beginning the spay-and-neuter process.
Julie Morrison, president of KC REGAP, described the rescue as one of the worst situations she has encountered during her years working with greyhounds, but said the dogs have also shown unusual resilience. The organization gave them names based on characters from “Ted Lasso,” whose fictional soccer team is nicknamed the Greyhounds.
Kansas City Rescuers Are Seeking Foster Homes And Donations
KC REGAP says it has placed more than 6,000 greyhounds and sighthounds in homes since its founding in 1990. The group’s normal process includes veterinary care followed by foster placement, where dogs can learn the basics of home life before moving to permanent families, according to the organization’s background information.
The five Oklahoma rescues will stay at a boarding shelter in Leawood while preparing to find foster families, and the organization is looking for volunteers and financial support to help cover their care. KC REGAP lists transportation, kennel visits, socialization and fostering among its volunteer needs, while its donation page directs supporters to its general fund.
According to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, its Animal Care Public Search Tool lets the public query information about facilities, inspections and annual reports. According to APHIS, its Animal Care records page provides inspection and annual research facility reports and allows users to search licenses and enforcement actions.
