The ban, effective Jan. 1, 2010, will result in the closing of two racetracks and will put kennel owners in a dog of a dilemma. What will they do with the greyhounds?

When racetracks close, dog owners are generally faced with two options: They can either race the dogs in other states or put them up for adoption. While many opponents of the ban claim eliminating dog racing is essentially a death sentence for the animals, Brian Adams, spokesperson for the MASPCA-Angell Medical Center says that “most of the dogs will continue to race on the circuit, just not in Mass.”

However, as more states pass legislation to prohibit greyhound racing, that circuit shrinks. According to the greyhound protection group Grey2K USA, nine states have voted to end dog racing in the last 15 years. “Dog racing is a dying industry,” said Christine Dorchak, president of Grey2K USA.

As track revenues decline and economic pressures increase, Dorchak is concerned that there will be less money to care for the dogs. Though Dorchak says she is pleased that voters in Massachusetts chose “compassion over cruelty,” her work is not done. New Hampshire has three greyhound tracks, including one in Seabrook, and Dorchak feels hopeful that state residents have a “real appetite” for ending dog racing.

Jeff McKeon does not share this view. “It is unfortunate, what happened in Mass.,” said McKeon, assistant general manager of The Lodge racetrack in Belmont. He said the individuals who voted in favor of the ban were those located farthest away from the tracks.

With advances in technology and the entertainment industry, McKeon acknowledges that there are many new ways for people with disposable incomes to spend their time and money instead of going to the track. When asked if he agrees that dog racing is a dying industry, McKeon replied, “There is always change. You have to adapt.”

If the racing ban in Massachusetts drives dogs northward to New Hampshire, greyhound adoption agencies and shelters will need to be prepared. Louise Coleman, executive director of Greyhound Friends Inc., said her biggest concern is the current financial strains on everyday families. In this economy, “anything that is extraneous goes, like dogs,” she said.

With fewer households able to afford pets, retired racers might be shelter-bound for longer than usual. Fortunately, greyhounds are “very, very sweet dogs that generally make really great pets,” said Coleman, a greyhound owner since 1982.

For more information on greyhound adoption, visit www.Grey2KUSA.org or www.greyhound.org.