Dogs neglected by Greyhound Friends

A state agency recently uncovered that Greyhound Friends neglected sick and injured dogs. In its 236-page report, the Mass Department of Agricultural Resources said "these dogs’ cases were brought forth as examples of the lack of adequate care that pervades the culture at Greyhound Friends."

These are some of the dogs' stories.

Greyhound Friends left Moe untreated for an aggressive form of cancer for nearly two months.

The state animal inspector found that "the two-month delay may have compromised his long term prognosis.” 

Greyhound Friends left Diamond untreated for advanced heartworm disease, despite the fact that she had symptoms of this often fatal disease. 

Greyhound Friends did not have Diamond seen by a veterinarian for her bad cough that is a symptom of heartworm disease, and did not provide her with heartworm preventative medication during the nearly 60 days she spent at their kennel. Days after being moved out of Greyhound Friends, she was diagnosed with advanced heartworm disease. She may have permanent heart damage as a result. Reports show that after being at Greyhound Friends for nearly two months, Diamond was also filthy, tick infested, and suffering from an additional undiagnosed infection.

Greyhound Friends left Maddie untreated for grey, rotting teeth.

Untreated dental problems can be painful and can lead to serious medical issues such as organ damage. Maddie was at Greyhound Friends for 35 days with severe dental disease but left untreated while she was there. Within days of being transferred out of Greyhound Friends, Maddie was seen by a veterinarian, who removed 18 infected teeth. Soon afterwards, Maddie was diagnosed with a serious infection and organ damage.

Greyhound Friends kept Candy confined for more than four years.

Candy was confined at Greyhound Friends for four years. When she was finally transferred to another animal rescue, the new rescue immediately noticed that she had excessive, bloody urination and had her seen by their veterinarian. The veterinarian found Candy had urinary problems and a bladder stone the size of a golf ball. The veterinarian believes the urinary issues had been present for a long period of time and that the bladder stone would have taken a year to form. The state report found "it is difficult to believe that her excessive urination and bloody urine went unnoticed, undiagnosed, and untreated [by Greyhound Friends]."

Greyhound Friends didn't follow veterinary instructions for Hershel. They euthanized him shortly afterwards.

An adopter returned Hershel to Greyhound Friends after he had surgery for a fractured leg. Greyhound Friends failed to follow the veterinarian's care instructions, and he got an infected suture line. It appears they also did not give him his prescribed pain medication. Greyhound Friends adopted him out while he was still recovering. Like most dogs in pain, he was not acting normal and the adopter reportedly returned him the next day. Greyhound Friends then put him in the kennel -- while construction work was going on -- and put him on a tranquilizer. 

Greyhound Friends Founder Louise Coleman claimed to have put him into another home after that, but the veterinary records conflict with this statement. In reality, Greyhound Friends had Hershel euthanized, without the benefit of a behavior evaluation or proper medical treatment beforehand. He was just two years old. 

Greyhound Friends failed to provide Hook with prompt medical care after he was attacked.

Hook was attacked by two other dogs at Greyhound Friends, leaving him with multiple deep puncture wounds. Greyhound Friends did not have him seen by a veterinarian until four days after the incident.

Greyhound Friends did not remove Hickory's stitches when needed.

Hickory was attacked and bitten by a dog while at Greyhound Friends. Reports show that he got staples for the injuries, and that Greyhound Friends left his staples in for too long (30 days).

Leaving staples in for so long can be painful to the dog, since the skin grows over the staples. This also increases the risk that an abscess can occur.