Enthusiasts' hearts race over missing greyhounds

[bigdoglover]

Ledger-Enquirer

By Anslee Willett

The Gazette

(MCT)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Authorities are trying to determine what happened to more than 150 greyhounds from Arizona that a Colorado dog trainer and breeder was paid to place with adoption groups.

Some greyhound advocates fear the retired racing dogs that Richard Favreau, 37, of Calhan, Colo., was paid to haul away may be dead.

"He has been unwilling or unable to provide any documentation that the dogs are still alive, well and cared for in a proper facility," said Susan Netboy, president of the California-based Greyhound Protection League. "Hopefully, they're alive somewhere."

Between November and July, Favreau contracted with the Tucson Greyhound Park to take the dogs to Colorado and place them with adoption organizations, according to the GPL. He was paid $150 per dog - more than double the average price of $60 to transport each greyhound, authorities said.

Only eight of the 150 dogs have been accounted for, Netboy said. The eight placed in 2005 with Colorado Greyhound Adoption in Littleton have been adopted.

Greyhound advocates nationwide have put up a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the missing dogs.

"All we can do is pray that someone will respond so that these dogs don't become casualties of the greyhound racing industry like the other 15,000 greyhounds that disappear every year," Netboy said. "They just disappear. Basically, in our opinion, they are destroyed."

When contacted Monday at home, Favreau refused to comment on the allegations against him.

"All of the dogs were placed," he said, but he didn't say if he took them to adoption groups.

He was fined $1,000 last week, and his racing license was suspended for 60 days by the Arizona Department of Racing, authorities said. The ruling came after racing authorities determined he violated record-keeping and welfare regulations.

The general manager of the greyhound park that contracted with Favreau didn't return a call Monday. Details of the contract weren't available.

The Arizona Department of Racing investigator assigned to the case referred questions to the director, who wasn't available Monday.

Some retired greyhounds are sold for rabbit or coyote hunting, and others for medical research.

The dogs are bred for racing, and an estimated 28,000 are retired each year in this country.

"Racing is a business, so dogs that do not come in the money are really not kept around," said Chet Hover of the Colorado Greyhound Adoption, which has about 25 dogs in foster care.

She described greyhounds as well-rounded family dogs that are "40-mph couch potatoes."

"It's really concerning," she said of the missing greyhounds linked to Favreau. "We don't know what happened to those dogs. You think, `Who did what?' These dogs just disappeared."

Anyone with information on the missing dogs is asked to call the Greyhound Protection League at 800-446-8637. Callers can remain anonymous.

[KennelMom]

Unfortunately, I don't think anyone is under any illusion about whether or not these dogs are still alive. The hauler was fined the max amount the board could fine him ($1000) and recommended his license be revoked. Unfortunately, again, that is the reach of their power. The question in my mind is whether or not these dogs were humanely euthanized or not.

I also don't think anyone is under any illusion that all retired greyhounds make it to an adoption spot. It has made huge leaps and bounds in the last 5, 10, 15 years thanks to the hard work and dedication of both adoption and racing people, but idiots like this hauler and Tuscon Greyhound Park that paid him to haul these dogs give a black eye to the entire sport. I think racing is at a critical juncture where they all need to ensure that ALL dogs make it to adoption and quit disappearing or going on dead-end trips in the hauler. This case just highlights what goes on in many racing states and some changes need to put into place to stop it.

[bigdoglover]

I thought you could shed some light on this, Kennelmom, and you did. I didn't realize things like this went on (the mass hauling of dogs to another location) and I couldn't believe it when I read it.

I'm sure you are right, and I agree....I hope they felt no pain. It's a sad situation indeed.

[KennelMom]

I thought you could shed some light on this, Kennelmom, and you did. I didn't realize things like this went on (the mass hauling of dogs to another location) and I couldn't believe it when I read it.

No problem. I can't imagine any track that would allow healthy greyhounds to be euthanized on the track or kennel compounds. They are usually loaded into haulers and taken directly to a vet or to a farm. It is heartbreaking and enraging at the same time. Still, retired greyhounds now have a better chance at adoption than most other breeds who end up in shelters across the country.

I know many people in the racing "industry" who do right by their dogs and ensure all the dogs they own make it to an adoption group and they are also angered by situations like the Tucson dogs. I believe that one day (soon) we will reach full adoption for retired greyhounds as breedings continue to decline and adoption continues to expand.

[bigdoglover]

I believe that one day (soon) we will reach full adoption for retired greyhounds as breedings continue to decline and adoption continues to expand.

Is racing becoming a dieing sport? I didn't know that the breedings were on the decline.

[KennelMom]

Some would argue that it is. Others would argue that it's just getting smaller, but the tracks that stick around are getting stronger. There have been several track closings in the last couple years. I think one reason breedings have declined because it is very expensive to whelp, raise and train a litter (dogs don't hit the track until they are 18months old or so) Breeders and owners have had to breed more for quality and less quantity because there are fewer lower end (less competitive) tracks to send their washouts to from the higher end tracks.

Honestly, I would hate to see racing end. The racing world has given us a very special and unique breed. A greyhound race is awesome to watch, hear and feel as they thunder by. But, while I'm not anti-racing, I am most certainly anti-dead-greyhound. I don't really care if the number of tracks gets smaller (God knows there is at least one track that I pray every day will close), but I would like to see good, quality racing at those tracks and the industry as a whole ensure that ALL dogs are provided for until they are adopted.

[bigdoglover]

I think one reason breedings have declined because it is very expensive to whelp, raise and train a litter

Boy do I know how they feel! LOL

I would hate to see it go away, I mean, what would the Greyhounds do without a sport? I know there is Coursing, but what else? Sorry, I'm pretty ignorant to your world!

[KennelMom]

Originally Posted by bigdoglover

Boy do I know how they feel! LOL

I would hate to see it go away, I mean, what would the Greyhounds do without a sport? I know there is Coursing, but what else? Sorry, I'm pretty ignorant to your world!

I think the end of racing in this country would be tragic for the greyhound as a breed. The gene pool would dwindle and they would become like so many breeds - genetic conditions would start to appear and they would lose a lot of what makes them (in my opinion) greyhounds...the competitive spirit, drive to win and the heart to chase. As it is now, the AKC has had to open their stud book to NGA (racing) dogs from time to time because they simply do not have the genetic depth and diversity the NGA dogs do.

In addition to lure coursing, there are other forms of amateur racing (both oval track and straight racing). And I'm sure that would continue to be popular. There is also Open Field Coursing (coursing live hares) that is popular in some western states. I also know several greys that compete in agility and obedience...some even do flyball. Though a greyhound probably wouldn't be my breed of choice for those activities.

Greyhound adoption has created a very specific niche in the adoption world. Part of what makes retired racers such excellent family companions is the life that they led prior to retirement and the training they've received. A lot of families would feel quite empty without a retired racer.

If racing were to end, we would still have greyhounds...There are breeders out there who produce excellent show AND field dogs. But we would probably own a few other sighthounds as well.