Search for escaped dogs continuing
Staff writer
Volunteers and law officers are still searching for several greyhounds on the loose after they were released from a burning trailer on US-56 after a deadly crash.
Sheriff’s deputies have gone out at least once a day, maybe twice, sheriff Robert Craft said.
Up to 20 dogs owned by James L. Potter, 70, of Emporia, who died in the crash, were thought to be involved.
Three of the greyhounds perished at the scene and two are in the care of local vets, one at Marion Animal Hospital, where veterinarian Jessica Laurin has set up a fundraising effort to help them.
Jim Gartland, executive director of the National Greyhound Association, and friend to Potter, said 11 greyhounds deemed healthy enough to travel have been placed at farms in Abilene.
Potter raised and raced greyhounds as a member of the association since 1993, Gartland said.
“He’s had a lot of success over the years,” he said.
Potter had cut back on the number of pups he wanted to raise each year, but Gartner surmised he had been on his way to Abilene to train them.
“This might have been his last hurrah, so to speak,” he said.
Potter’s family has asked that the dogs be cared for until they can decide whether to keep them or find homes.
In the meantime, three or four still are reportedly loose and volunteers are searching.
“I went down there yesterday looking myself,” Gartland said.
The dogs have proved to be very skittish when sighted.
Laurin said that is to be expected — the dogs are pretty traumatized and scared.
“My fear is that too many strange people will go looking for them,” she said. “They are not going to come up to people after the trauma they have gone through.”
Gartland says the dogs can survive for quite some time.
“It really depends,” he said. “If they got their muzzles off or if there are animals that could harm them. I don’t know.”
He encouraged anyone who spots the dogs to inform authorities or, if possible, take the dog to a vet.
Anyone who wants to help can donate on a GoFundMe page Greyhounds in Marion County crash.