College of Veterinary Medicine

The name Eddie DeBartolo may be familiar to you as the former owner of the San Francisco 49’ers and an extremely successful business man. What you may not know is that his passion for Greyhounds exceeds his passion for football and business. Recently, DeBartolo shared with us how he got connected with Greyhounds and why he supports the Greyhound Health & Wellness Program at The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center.

Q:      How did you get involved with Greyhounds?

A:      After my Great Dane passed away in 1996, a friend gave me Frankie, a 5-week-old female fawn Greyhound who was too young to be away from her mom and needed care. I wanted to learn all I could about the breed after getting her. During my research I found out about Hollydogs rescue group in Hollywood, FL. I got actively involved with the group and ended up helping them build a shelter. I also ended up with two more adopted Greyhounds.

Q:      How long have you owned Greyhounds?

A:      About 15 years now. Frankie died from osteosarcoma in January 2006 but I have Samie (male) and Annie who I just recently adopted from the track. Frankie was the best dog I ever had.

Q:      What attracts you to Greyhounds?

Funny story. When I first took Frankie to the veterinarian, he said she had Atrial Fibrillation and that she would need to see a heart specialist. When I took her to the specialist he looked her over and laughed saying all Greyhounds have AFib and she would be fine. I learned Greyhounds have large hearts compared to other breeds. I now know that have “large hearts” in many ways.

Q:      I know you are from Youngstown, OH. Is that how you heard about Ohio State?

A:      As I was doing research online I saw the work Dr. Couto was doing and was impressed. I had been taking my dogs to the University of Florida Veterinary School. I also know their current Dean, Dr. Glenn Hoffsis, who was a former dean at Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Q:      Why do you feel it is important to support Greyhounds?

A:      People don’t like to think or talk about the way racing Greyhounds are often treated. It’s almost a taboo topic. People need to be more aware and be willing to help these animals. I support organizations who want these animals to be treated humanely.

Q:      If people give to Ohio State’s Greyhound Health & Wellness Program what do you see happening?

A:      Dr. Couto will be able to devote more time to research of osteosarcoma and other diseases specific to Greyhounds. His research will carry over and impact the care for other animals as well as humans. Funding for this program will also enable him to help educate people about the breed.

Q:      What would you want someone to know about the GHWP and the Veterinary Medical Center?

A:      They are leaders in the field. As far as I am concerned there are three top vet schools focusing on Greyhounds; Ohio State, Colorado State and UC Davis. They are all making the most strides and need to be supported.

Q:      Would you tell others to give back to Ohio State if they can?

A:      Yes. It doesn’t matter the amount, it matters that they show their support. This, and other programs at Ohio State, need all the funding they can get to continue their research, and funding from the university level on up is being cut. They rely on organizations and individuals to help them move forward. Research is very important and very costly. The results can make a world of difference.

 Support the Greyhound Health and Wellness Program at Ohio State!