Alert: Attorney General investigates local greyhound group

During a September 2017 pretrial criminal hearing for animal cruelty against Greyhound Friends founder Louise Coleman, the charity's attorney opposed a records request, telling the judge "the organization is under financial distress and does not have money for business expenses." What many did not know at the time was that Greyhound Friends, a greyhound adoption kennel in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, was already under investigation by the Public Charities Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office due to potential "misapplication of donor funds and/or breaches of trust".

In March 2017, the Attorney General's Office received approval from the Suffolk Superior Civil Court for an extensive review of financial records, board meeting minutes, and correspondence from Greyhound Friends of Hopkinton, its founder Louise Coleman of Sherborn, local vendor John Mottern of Sherborn, and the charity's bank, Middlesex Savings Bank.

In February 2018, the Attorney General's Office expanded its financial investigation of Greyhound Friends, issuing a demand for additional bank records. The Suffolk Superior Civil Court records state, "based on a review of correspondence from documents already gathered from Greyhound Friends, the AGO has reason to believe that certain bank transactions warrant closer scrutiny."

"Whenever the Attorney General believes that charitable funds have not been or are not being applied to charitable purposes or that breaches of trust have been or are being committed in the administration of a public charity, she may investigate under G.L.c. 12 S8H(1) upon application to and approval by this Court."
Greyhound Friends has had numerous run-ins over the years with state and local officials for breaking kennel regulations. This resulted in several kennel closures and fines. In January 2017, the state issued a cease & desist order after several MSPCA and Animal Rescue League inspections. The town then suspended the group's kennel license.

Greyhound Friends was under fire again in March 2017 for alleged mistreatment of dogs. Former insiders accused the kennel of "warehousing" dogs for years and keeping them in cages that an animal behaviorist said were too small. One volunteer had resigned, stating the organization "took in more than $3 million dollars but claimed there was no money for basic things". Half a dozen animal rescue groups also wrote letters of complaint to officials after taking dogs from the facility who appeared to have not received appropriate care.

In March 2017, the Animal Rescue League of Boston filed animal cruelty charges against Greyhound Friends founder Louise Coleman for "continuous unsanitary conditions" in the kennel. In August 2017, Greyhound Friends President Stoddard Melhado wrote to the state department responsible for registering animal rescues, saying that the group had fired its director but did not rule out hiring her in the future in a reduced role. Coleman was acquitted of the animal cruelty charge in December 2017, but problems continued after reports became public documenting neglect of dogs at the greyhound kennel.

The state Department of Agricultural Resources issued a report of numerous dogs with medical conditions Greyhound Friends did not get veterinary care for or or did not treat appropriately, and a dog with bite wounds Greyhound Friends reportedly left in the kennel without medical care for days. In its report, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources explained, "information is collected from witness statements, veterinary records, reports from other rescues, and reports from Greyhound Friends' own files. These dogs' cases are brought forth as examples of the lack of adequate care that pervades the culture at Greyhound Friends."

The kennel has been closed since January 2017. News reports show that Greyhound Friends approached the Town of Hopkinton in May of this year, seeking renewal of its kennel license.

Several animal organizations oppose reinstatement of the license, stating that the long history of violations and the reports of neglect show "the group is unable to properly care for animals". The group responded on its website, stating that "Greyhound Friends fell short primarily in documenting the delivery of care to our dogs, rather than the quality of care itself."

The Town of Hopkinton plans to hold a public hearing, and has assured residents that "we will give every one a fair chance to have their voice heard on the matter."

Update: Hopkinton will hold a public hearing about the Greyhound Friends kennel license on Tuesday night, August 7, 2018 to be held at the HCAM Studio, 77 Main St, Hopkinton, MA.