2025 Membership Drive

A Message from Tom Marinello, President and Joyce McRorie, Past President

IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS

Our journey began in 1995 when we welcomed Jessie, Chip, Flicka and Zeus, the first of many greyhounds coming to us from the Agua Caliente Hipodromo in Tijuana. In those days, there were 70 tracks across the United States and two - yes two - in Mexico. Some of those tracks were seasonal but the majority operated year-round, each with approximately 600 resident dogs. Today there are only two functioning tracks in all of North America, both in West Virginia. By the time you receive this letter, FastFriends will have helped close to 5,000 greyhounds.

FastFriends has always relied upon our volunteers for everything from picking up dogs at the track, processing them upon arrival, finding foster homes for them, and eventually facilitating their adoption. Their hard work and dedication have allowed us to focus every penny received in donations on the best care for our dogs. Most hounds go through our normal intake processing but, there are others needing additional care: those with broken bones, others with behavior issues, etc.

Sometimes our responsibility for these dogs goes beyond adoption. For example: Cowboy and Rhonda were adopted with plates in their legs. When it became time for them to be removed, FastFriends paid for the removal surgeries.

As the number of greyhounds available to us has diminished, our costs have risen at a rate that exceeds our costs even when we were bringing in 10-20 dogs per month. The dogs we recently have been getting from West Virginia have cost us about $650 each. The cost of plate removal surgery has quadrupled.

But our adoption fee remains at $400.

This Membership Drive has been the mainstay of our financial support over these many years, and we are hopeful that you will continue your support as we continue to take care of and find homes for our precious greyhounds.

In the meantime, we want you to know that we will still be bringing in greyhounds although maybe not as often or as many as we have in the past.

Again, we’re still getting dogs. There are many ways you can keep in touch with us: register for Greyhound Gab, subscribe to our email updates, connect to our FastFriends Facebook group, check our calendar and other updates on the website, take a look at the Available Dogs List, join us on our Walks, come to our quarterly Dog Washes and, if you are willing to wait a bit for your greyhound, fill out an application while you are there.

2025 Membership Donation Levels

$50 Pack Member

2025 FF Membership decal

$250 - Greyt Heart

2025 FF Membership decal
+ 1 free dog wash at a FF Dog Wash

$500 - Winner's Circle

2025 FF Membership decals (2)
+ 1 free dog wash at a FF Dog Wash
+ 1 FastFriends Lapel Pin

If you would rather send in your donation and sign up form through the mail, click here to download the paper brochure. Print it out and mail it to us along with your donation!

 FastFriends Greyhound Adoption

is a non-profit, 501(c)3 charitable organization (Federal ID #33-067770). Donations, less the value of merchandise received, are tax-deductible.

We are a 100% volunteer group; there are no paid or salaried positions within our organization. All donations are used to defray the costs associated with preparing greyhounds for their new homes. We are asking through our Membership Drive, for you to help supply the needed funds to make it all happen. We have never had to make important decisions based upon our bank balance. We hope, knowing the critical impact of your generous membership contribution, will inspire you to support our ongoing efforts.

Membership is not required to participate in FF activities. We look forward to seeing you at our events!

Check out the available fosters & keep up with activities at www.fastfriends.org.