National Adopt-a-Greyhound Month with Grady the Greyhound INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — He may be the face of school spirit at the University of Indianapolis, but Grady the Greyhound is also living proof of what life after the racetrack can look like. April is National Adopt a Greyhound Month, and there’s no better ambassador than Grady himself. The retired racing dog now serves as the university’s full-time mascot. Happy Birthday, Grady! UIndy’s greyhound mascot turns 8 “Grady was born and raised at a racetrack outside of Daytona, Florida, and the university worked with Greyhound Pets of America to bring him from Florida up to Indiana,” said Coran Sigman, Grady’s handler. “After we just did some temperament testing, make sure he would fit in with us, and he was happy there. Now he is a full-time mascot.” The career shift from racing dog to beloved mascot is more than just adorable – it’s inspiring. “He was supposed to be a racer. That’s what he was supposed to be. And the university stepped in and said, ‘No, let’s adopt you. Let’s give you this life and give you all of the attention and pets and just joy that you can hope for,’” Sigman said. “And I think he gives that back to our community too.” Sigman says Grady doesn’t know a stranger. When Grady walked into the WISH-TV studio, he came right up to me like we’d been best friends for years. But Grady’s story is also a reminder that there are many greyhounds out there who deserve the same kind of second chapter. “There are so many dogs, so many greyhounds specifically, that need a home or could use, again, a second life after racing or maybe being a service dog,” Sigman said. She added that despite their reputation for speed, greyhounds are surprisingly low maintenance. “I think a lot of people think that because they are known for racing and known for speed, that you have to be, you know, you have to be a runner, you have to be super fit, you have to give them so much attention and time,” Sigman said. “But in reality, they do take retirement pretty seriously, and these are known as couch potato dogs.” “They’re really great for apartments or, you know, anything that they can just get a quick walk in the day,” she added. “Other than that, they just want to relax and hang out.” Grady came to Indiana through Greyhound Pets of America, but Sigman says they’re not the only group doing the work. “There are a lot of Greyhound organizations and communities all across the United States, actually across the world,” she said. “Some organizations even bring them over from Europe or from Australia or any place too.” So if you’ve ever thought about pet adoption, this month might be the perfect time to consider a greyhound. Grady’s story is proof that life after the track can be filled with love, purpose, and a whole lot of tail wags. To learn more about greyhound adoption, click here or check out a local rescue in your area. ...read more read less