Pocono Greyhound Group Still Barking 4 years 200 greyhounds later

By Wayne Witkowski
For the Pocono Record
June 24, 2009
Animal rescue groups are cropping up around the Poconos these days, but Pocono Greyhounds has a uniqueness and a presence during its four years that has assured its steady growth even though there is no brick and mortar headquarters.
"We do a lot of e-mail, I'll tell you that," said Pocono Greyhounds president Joan DiMondo with a laugh.
The nonprofit group, formed in 2005, exceeded the 200 mark of dogs with four more coming in this week. Many of the greyhounds are retired from the racetrack where they experienced harsh treatment. Families in the region keep the dogs in foster care until they are placed.
With the group of seven board members and 30 dedicated volunteers parading their pooches at various events, including the Dog Expo in Smithfield; Stroudfest earlier this month in Stroudsburg; the Tamaqua Summerfest last weekend; the Barrett Halloween Parade, in which they sport costumes; and St. Patrick's Day Parade in Stroudsburg, where they're bedecked with green berets on their heads, the animals enliven the festive atmosphere of events.
And Pocono Greyhounds' reach has broadened.
"It's really expanded," said DiMondo, who said her group the last couple of years has adopted dogs as far as Easton, Wilkes-Barre and Allentown and Carbon County.
If they're not at events, they go to elementary schools in Barrett and Tobyhanna and recently Stroudsburg Elementary. They visit PetSmart on Route 611 in Stroudsburg once a month, usually the fourth Saturday.
"You can't get dogs adopted if they're not in the public eye," said DiMondo. "That's our mission."
It's a simple but effective business plan, but not an easy one. Many greyhounds are physically or emotionally scarred, but still adoptable.
"We've taken in quite a few with broken legs," said DiMondo. "That's what we're in the business to do, to get good homes for them."
Enter Dimples. She arrived this past Saturday from Florida by way of Gold Coast Greyhounds in Orlando, which works closely with Pocono Greyhounds. Dimples had a broken leg that had gone untreated. Gold Coast could not finance the costly surgery and contacted Pocono Greyhounds. They took on the standard $2,000 bill, which includes screws and pins typical with that type of surgery on humans as well.
"She looks great," said DiMondo.
Dimples will go into foster care, which ranges from three weeks to six months, depending on how quickly they're adopted. Amazingly, only four have been returned, said DiMondo.
"The economy really has no impact on our greyhound adoptions," DiMondo said. "Other groups have dogs returned because of (owners') lost jobs and things like that, but it's not had that here. Dogs have been able to stay in their homes."
In fact, the group is ahead of last year's pace. "We're really doing well. We place 30 to 40 a year and this year, we have about 30 dogs, and applications are coming in," DiMondo said.
What helps is the affordable $225 that helps fund the organization — less than half of what it would cost to spay and neuter these dogs if they had come from other sources.
"Usually, they're very well behaved," said DiMondo. "They are crate-trained because that's how they come off the track, so we housebreak them and most do very well. It's not too hard of a sell."
And they stay healthy and can live long lives of 12 to 14 years with no specific canine disease related to them, like the hip problems experienced by German shepherds.
Another major source of revenue is the annual picnic held in late May.
DiMondo said she first was exposed to greyhounds at a meet and greet, which is what her group does.
It was love at first sight as she and husband Ralph and some close friends volunteered for another greyhound adoption group near Philadelphia, the closest one to the Poconos at the time.
"There was no presence in the Pocono Mountains and we thought we'd start our own group," DiMondo said. "We got incorporated with a 501c3 classification, so all donations are tax deductible."
She also adopted greyhounds. "I had a Welsh corgi and could not bring another dog into the house because my dog was not receptive to another, but when that dog passed away, we adopted one (greyhound) and within a year and a half, we had three," DiMondo said.
She said it "was tough in the beginning" for her organization. "We did not have the money and had to lay out our own money to incorporate ourselves and sent out fees (of $1,500) to the state and the IRS and liability insurance for the group as well. Once you get your designation, you can tax deduct anything previously given out. We have recouped it and done very well. Of course, our biggest expense for greyhounds is medical expenses."
Donations are always welcome, and there is a jar out at events attended by Pocono Greyhounds. Supporters also can pay online.
For information, visit www.poconogreyhound.com or call (570) 856-0377.