FLORENCE — Golden Ticket once raced on the greyhound tracks in Florida, but he’s now a genuine couch potato who is waited on hand and foot by his owner, Kristen Hudson.
Ticket, 9, rarely signs autographs, although he will come out of retirement long enough to meet and greet people Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Woofers Pet Store, 2420 Hoffmeyer Road, Florence.
“We want people to see why these retired athletes make such wonderful pets,” Hudson said. “They have a very gentle nature and are friendly and outgoing. They aren’t hyper and don’t require a lot of exercise.”
Hudson has another greyhound named Patty Cake, who is 11. She came from a racetrack in Texas, Hudson’s home state.
“I really got interested in greyhounds through Patty Cake,” she said. “They are very easy to get attached to, plus they make great indoor pets.”
Both Ticket and Patty Cake also earn their keep by being therapy dogs.
Hudson said the goal of the meet and greet Saturday is to introduce the public to greyhounds. She works through the South Carolina chapter of the Greyhound Pets of America to place rescued greyhounds in good homes.
“Greyhounds are easy going,” said Hudson, a dental hygienist. “They seem to be really appreciative when they are adopted because they work so hard in their racing careers.”
Greyhound Pets of America was founded in 1987 for the purpose of rescuing ex-racing greyhounds. Since that time more than 80,000 greyhounds have been adopted into loving homes.
GPA works with the racing industry to encourage its involvement with adoption efforts. GPA has fielded thousands of inquiries about greyhound adoption and sent prospective adopters to the nearest adoption agency.
IF YOU’RE GOING
WHAT: Greyhound meet and greet
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Woofers Pet Store, 2420 Hoffmeyer Road, Florence
COST: Free
INFO: Call (843) 669-8828
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