National Greyhound Association

The National Greyhound Association, a voluntary non-profit association operated in accordance with the laws of Kansas, is the sole registry for racing greyhounds in North America.

Organized in 1906, it has functioned as a registry, maintaining records on the breeding, whelping, ownership, transfers, leases, etc. The National Greyhound Association’s identification system plays a role in maintaining the integrity of greyhound racing. The association's primary goal is to promote the improvement and development of the greyhound breed by maintaining pedigree and stud-book records dating back to the latter part of the 19th century. The organization is an associate member of the World Greyhound Racing Federation and a charter and founding member of the World Alliance of Greyhound Registries.

In 1987, in conjunction with the American Greyhound Track Operators Association, the NGA founded the American Greyhound Council, an organization that oversees greyhound health, welfare and adoption programs.[4]

More than 95 percent of all registered racing greyhounds are adopted or returned to the farm as pets or breeders, thanks to cooperation and communication between greyhound track and adoption organizations across America. The National Greyhound Association, greyhound tracks and industry organizations spend more than $1 million annually on track-based and independent adoption efforts. They include adoption grants, a national adoption hotline (1-800-366-1472), adoption events and conferences, training and support for adoption volunteers, and transport for greyhounds entering adoption programs.[5]

As of 2023, it has been increasingly uncommon to find greyhounds in need of adoption, to the elimination of all but two commercial greyhound tracks in the United States.[6]

The National Greyhound Association has imposed regulations on greyhound owners and kennel operators. People who own a racing or breeding greyhound must register with the association and must agree to accept responsibility for their greyhound's welfare at all times. There are consequences, including possible expulsion from the association. Such expulsion effectively means permanent banishment from participation in greyhound racing throughout the United States.

To ensure proper greyhound care on greyhound farms and in racing kennels at the track, the association has established animal welfare guidelines based on veterinary recommendations. The guidelines cover many aspects of greyhound care, including nutrition and diet, kennel facilities, exercise, health management, sanitation and disease control, and operational supervision.

Each year, the nation's greyhound breeding farms and kennels are subject to unannounced inspections by the National Greyhound Association through the American Greyhound Council to verify compliance with the industry's animal welfare guidelines. One full-time inspector travels the country, and their work is assisted by 56 part-time inspectors who are called upon to make unannounced visits to farms in their area.

More than 99% of all greyhound owners comply with the guidelines. Fewer than half of one percent of the 2,000 greyhound owners in the country are found guilty of serious violations each year.

The Association is governed by a board consisting of nine members. The nine directors are elected by nine geographical districts. The President of the Association is Julia Ward and the Executive Director and Secretary-Treasurer is Jim Gartland.[7]

• Nationa Greyhound Association