Because there are not enough adoptive homes for them to go to upon retirement. In the past five years, the number of greyhound tracks has fallen to 48 from 60, and every few months another shuts its gates or seeks bankruptcy-court protection. Many operators are trying to acquire licensing for slot machines in order to stay in business. Greyhound racing's peak year was 1991, when it had 26.6 million patrons, making it the sixth most popular spectator sport, the association says. Greyhound racing got its start in the U.S. during the Depression as a cheaper, faster-action alternative to horse racing.
Some tracks have races in both the afternoon and evening.
But these days, casinos are open day and night, and the greyhound fan base is aging. Most gamblers prefer faster casino games. Casinos also offer gamblers better odds than greyhound tracks, which are far more costly to operate. Greyhound adoption programs are often sponsored by tracks and sometimes mandated by state regulators. Greyhound adoption agencies need help.