The Sunburst Project safely transports retired racing greyhounds from three Florida Panhandle dog tracks to adoption groups in non-racing states and Canada.

This is not the first time that the Beading Divas have helped retired racing greyhounds get out of Florida. In 2010 and 2011, we raised money for Greyhound Support Transport.

Greyhound racing still exists in Florida (13 tracks), Alabama (2), Arkansas (2), West Virginia (2), Iowa (2), Texas (1), and South Tucson (1). The bulk of dogs tracks are in Florida. That means Florida is saturated with greyhounds who have run their last race.

Safely transporting retired racing greyhounds is vital. Tucsonans may remember the 140+ missing greyhounds from 2005 & 2006. Tucson Tails will never let you forget this travesty. Then in 2010, eight racing greyhounds died on the way from Oklahoma to Arizona. In 2012, a Florida greyhound fell off the hauler vehicle and was left; fortunately a good Samaritan found Petey and an adoption group went to great lengths to save his life.

The Sunburst Project is a collaboration conceived by The Greyhound Alliance, the Northern Consortium, and GPA (Greyhound Pets of America) Emerald Coast. These groups have a long history of working together to move Panhandle greyhounds to adoption. Partnering since 2006, the groups all share a strong commitment to that goal – and were really able to expand and make it happen together with the founding of the Greyhound Alliance’s Sunburst Project and Kennel in August, 2011. It’s a testament to what can be done when groups come together with creativity, cooperation, communication, and compassion — for the hounds.