Can Greyhounds be Emotional Support Animals?
credit to Greyhounds of Instagram
By Matthew W. Dietz
On November 6th, Florida overwhelmingly approved of Amendment 13, which banned dog racing in the state. Voters approved Amendment 13 by 69 percent, clearing the 60 percent threshold necessary for approval. Thousands of greyhounds will need to be adopted! Florida Greyhound Association estimates reach 8,000 racing dogs in Florida, with another 7,000 puppies at breeding farms. While the need is not immediate, greyhound racing will be phased out within a 26-month timeline– by Dec. 31, 2020
credit to Greyhounds of Instagram
Greyhounds are very friendly, affectionate, gentle, quiet, sweet, loyal, clean, loving, sensitive, trusting and good natured dogs that would make great emotional support animals. While they are bread to be racing machines, greyhounds prefer couches. Greyhounds have very little body fat and thin skin, and are very susceptible to extremes of cold and hot temperatures. At the track, Greyhounds live inside in heated and air-conditioned kennels. Also, because of the training that goes along with racing, aggressiveness has been bred out of these dogs. Greyhounds also bark very little, and usually are as friendly with strangers as they are with their own family.
credit to Greyhounds of Instagram
A note on legal issues with emotional support dogs –
Greyhounds are larger dogs. Females weigh between 50 and 65 pounds and stand 23 to 26 inches at the shoulder, while males weigh between 65 and 85 pounds and stand 26 to 30 inches at the shoulder. However, emotional support dogs or service animals are not required to abide by a weight limit. If you are not a small dog person, then you are not required to get a small emotional support animal
credit to greyhounds of Instagram
