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Following are profiles of our key team members:

Stoddard and his wife, Ky, have been involved with Greyhound Friends since 1994 when they adopted their first two greyhounds. After thirty-eight years in education as an English teacher and high school guidance counselor, Stoddard retired and began devoting more volunteer time to Greyhound Friends, where he serves as the Volunteer Coordinator, Educational Outreach team leader, and a Vice President of the Board of Directors. He and Ky have adopted eight greyhounds through the years and currently share their home with four: Benny, Ernie, Finny, and Grady.

Ernie, racing under the name Movin Backside, was retired from the track in April of 2008 at the age of five after a long racing career. He raced exclusively in New England, running in 176 races, the majority at the Raynham/Taunton track.  Outgoing and friendly, Ernie has become a true greyhound ambassador, meeting over 1,000 students in the past year and appearing on stage in Shakespeare on the Common in the summer of 2009. Ernie loves adventures, especially visiting schools and meeting children, always standing patiently as he is hugged and petted. A large red brindle, Ernie is seven years old and lives in Littleton with three other greyhounds.

Grady retired from the track in July 2009 at the age of four, with a recurring leg injury. Under the name Snapper Good, he ran in 70 races, some at the Wonderland track in Massachusetts, but the majority at the Mardi Gras track in Hollywood, Florida. Grady is enjoying his new career as an outreach dog and can often be seen “smiling” at children as he meets them. Grady is an unusual color, known as a blue brindle.  He is five years old and lives happily in Littleton with Ernie and two other greyhounds.

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Carla is a volunteer at Greyhound Friends. She became involved with greyhound rescue after attending a seminar discussing the plight of the racing greyhound. Carla has since adopted two greyhounds, Gill and GT, who also share a home with three Italian greyhounds and two cats. When not volunteering, Carla works as a therapist in private practice, specializing in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder.

Gill was born Dec 6, 2005. His racing name was Holidayhoodlem. Gill is a mellow greyhound who loves to sprint in the backyard with his greyhound buddy, GT.  He also enjoys sleeping a lot, taking walks, riding in the car and soaking in a shallow pool on hot summer days.  Gill especially enjoys meeting people and their pets at “meet and greets” at the local pet stores. Gill is often at the Greyhound Friends events and loves when people approach him and scratch his back. He is a very gentle, well mannered and enjoys any opportunity to meet people and help teach others about greyhounds and about how to be kind to all animals, big and small. Gill lives in Stow.

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Carol and her daughter Brianna came to Greyhound Friends in the spring of 2009. Shortly thereafter they brought home their first greyhound, Mira. In fall 2009 they started providing foster care to greyhounds in need of some extra TLC before they could be adopted. When not working with the dogs, Carol rides horses and competes in the discipline of Dressage. She is on the board of Directors for Charles River Dressage Assoc. and has been the membership coordinator since 2001.

Mira raced under the name DL’s Shania. She was born April 7, 2003. Mira began her racing career at Orange Park in Florida. Later she was moved to Mobile Greyhound Park in Alabama. She quickly became her trainer’s favorite and he would bring her home with him at night from the racetrack. When Mira was retired from racing she was shipped up to Greyhound Friends in May 2009 for adoption. Mira is a very sweet, kind girl. She loves meeting new people and going on adventures. Mira lives in Medfield.

Doolin was born on November 28, 2007 and raced under the name New Mint.  He began his racing career at Orange Park, FL with all his littermates; then was moved to Mobile, AL, and a short time later to Pensacola, FL, where he retired in September 2010.  Doolin is a large, black and white "cow dog" with mesmerizing caramel eyes that bought him a ticket home in November 2010.  He has never met a stranger he didn't like.  He loves everyone - big or small.  When not meeting new people, Doolin loves playing with anything that squeaks, going on long walks, or just being a couch potato.  He lives in Medfield with Mira and two other dogs.

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Kathy is President of the Board of Directors of Greyhound Friends. In her other life - before children and dogs - she was a high school math teacher and taught for almost twenty years in Dedham, Wayland, Wellesley, and London. In 1996 she adopted her first greyhound, Pops, after much pleading from her then 12-year-old daughter, Alana. Kathy has been volunteering since 2000, and joined the Board in 2002. She has had seven greyhounds - though not all at the same time! Three are currently with her: Parker, whose bio appears below; Dana, an 11-year-old male who raced under the name Cranbrook; and Henry, a 13-year-old adopted in July of 2009. 

Parker joined the Outreach Team in August 2010, when she was 8 years old.  Parker had been returned to Greyhound Friends because her previous owner was ill and could no longer care for her.  Luckily, Kathy readopted her a short time later.  Parker immediately adapted to her new life and to her new job on the Outreach Team.  She is very social and affectionate.  She especially loves to grab stuffies and race outside for "walkies."  Parker now lives in Wellesley with two other greyhounds, Dana and Henry, and Angie - an 8-pound Yorkie who rules over all the dogs in the family. 

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Peter has been volunteering with Greyhound Friends since 2010.  He adopted Larry that summer, and now plans to adopt a second greyhound after trying her out in foster care.  Peter lives alone with his dogs and a 20-year-old cat, all of whom get the royal treatment.  For example, Larry gets a different route on every walk every day, so he won't be bored with the same scenery.  Peter has a long history of volunteering with nonprofit organizations. 

Larry will be 3 years old in July 2011.  He is an outgoing brindle boy.  He gets along with a 20-year-old cat as well as young kids, little dogs, and practically everyone else.  He climbs stairs like a trooper (not common for a greyhound new to home life) and has adopted Peter's house as his own.  Larry is very lazy (some would say "laid back"), and his disposition makes him a wonderful companion.

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