greyhound racing????

[linnie]

Ok so I know NOTHING about it but just lately have read a few things that have got me worried and knew someone here would know

I have been told that they are very cruel to racing dogs is this true and are they just pts if the dont perform well enough?

I know they are a lean breed but is it right to be able to see every vertibrea in their back?

should we be jumping up and down to stop this sport?

Do they keep them in cages and tied up all the time?

And what about those wire muzzles

[marley05]

Wel i dont nknow too much about it all but i have a greyhound so ive heard about it a little. i think if they dont perform well they get adopted out but if they dont get adopted out then the get pts. with zola you cant see alot af the bones you can defanately see more than the average dog but not everyone. i believe the sport should come to astop because of what happens to the dog. Its hard to find a breeder for greyhounds because they all go to the track. So basically the only choice you have if yopu want one is to get it off the track and usually they have some kind of problem from not being taken care of, such as nails and teeth . They get the bare min. i heard they are kept in kennels all day except to race and they get walks too i thin k daily if not a couple time, for their muscles. the muzzles are so the dont bite the dogs when running. i think at the tip they have a plastic thingy to trigger the picture at the end of the race. like i said i dont know alot but i have ideas about stuff and from what ive been told.

[jcsperson]

Originally Posted by linnie

Ok so I know NOTHING about it but just lately have read a few things that have got me worried and knew someone here would know

I commend you for your forthrightness. Many people who have read a few wacky "animal rights" boards claim to be experts on greyhound racing without ever having stepped foot on a greyhound track, kennel or farm.

I have been told that they are very cruel to racing dogs is this true and are they just pts if the dont perform well enough?

If you make your living solely on the performance of your dogs, does it make sense to be cruel to them? Trainers are paid on a commission basis; no wins=no pay. Their hounds pay the rent---mistreating the dogs that pay the bills is a one-way ticket to the unemployment line.

As for the situation for dogs post-racing, there is still a fair amount of euthanasia, but can't the same be said of any breed? I see Labs, GSDs and Terriers by the dozen down at my local shelter. Here in the U.S. we are rapidly approaching full adoption of racing greyhounds, something no popular breed can claim.

I know they are a lean breed but is it right to be able to see every vertibrea in their back?

Depending on a racing greyhound's build, one should see **** near every vertebra, their hip bones and much of their ribs. Their musculature should show through their skin like an anatomy lesson. When our Idol came off the track my wife noted that, "he seems to have muscles on his eyelids," so pronounced was his conditioning.

should we be jumping up and down to stop this sport?

No. Banning racing condemns the breed to genetic mediocrity. Here in the 'States only 169 show (AKC) greyhounds were registered in 2004. Most of these are hideously inbred and completely dysfunctional. AKC breeders looking to win coursing events outcross heavily to racing blood. The 2003 Field Champion was 7/8ths racing blood. If racing is stopped, the breed as we know it is lost as well.

Something can look like a greyhound, it can act like a greyhound, but if it can't run like a greyhound, it's not a greyhound. Racing, like coursing before it, is the real breed standard, not words written on a piece of paper. Without a performance standard the NGA dog will go the way of the AKC greyhound and many other dysfunctional breeds no longer bred for a purpose, but to someone's whim of what the dog should be.

Do they keep them in cages and tied up all the time?

A common misconception. Racing greyhounds eat 3-4 pounds of meat a day compared to the pound or so my pet greys get. Racing greyhounds, as you've noted, are thin and rippling with muscles. They don't get that way lying in a crate all day. They get it by walking and exercise, including sprints.

Greyhounds are never tied up.

And what about those wire muzzles

The muzzles are worn only during races and in the kennel at turnout time for obvious reasons. You don't want 20-30 greyhounds in the same small area unmuzzled. One bump or growl and you've got a dead dog or catastrophic injuries. The races are only 30-odd seconds long. BTW, a muzzle is no more uncomfortable to a dog than glasses are to us.

[linnie]

Jc thankyou for your information I really appreciated it.
As you will have worked out I am just an avid dog love not a person who has any specific knowledge of breeds except those I own.

My sole purpose in asking these questions was to get proper information as I cant abide cruelty to animals.
So thank you for taking the time to answer each of my concerns

[jcsperson]

Originally Posted by linnie

Jc thankyou for your information I really appreciated it.

If you have broadband internet access (or a lot of patience), check out BornToRun.tv and download the 30 minute video. You can witness the conditions yourself (and perhaps fall in love with this ancient and noble breed). Whistler's Miss, the star of the video, belongs to a friend of mine.

[annie_so_pink]

I don't know to much about Greyhound Racing but from what I have heard it is really cruel! This Morning I was just reading a book called "Dogs With Jobs" and there is a story in it about a dog called Happy Ralph, who was a racing greyhound that came from a puppymill as a puppy and it is terrible all the things that they do to him at the races! At first, He is the dog always in the lead, but then one race he was competeing with faster dogs and he finishes last, he then gets taken to the greyhound rescue...but it says "The industry's solution has been to euthanize tens of thousands of racing dog's each year, either chemically, electrically, or simply by shooting them as soon as they move from the asset to liability side of the ledger."
Isn't that terrible?!?! After reading that I want to go start a greyhound rescue myself! If you would like to read the whole touching story of Happy Ralph, get the book "Dogs with Jobs Working Dogs Around The World" By Merrily Weisbord and Kim Kachanoff. D.V.M. I checked it out from the local library so check yours too....It is a great book and truely touching

[linnie]

jc IF ONLY I had broadband Where I live it will never happen so I cant download the information but again thankyou for taking time to answer me.
Oh and I dont have to learn to love the breed I already do
If it has four legs and barks then I will defend it and if it needs a home I would find it one.
Dogs to me are the gift God gave us so that we can endure the cruelty of man ( soppy I know)

[jcsperson]

Originally Posted by annie_so_pink

This Morning I was just reading a book called "Dogs With Jobs" and there is a story in it about a dog called Happy Ralph, who was a racing greyhound that came from a puppymill as a puppy and it is terrible all the things that they do to him at the races!

The authors' credibility is shot here. First, there is no such dog as Happy Ralph:

Search "Happy Ralph"

Second, there is no such thing as a greyhound "puppy mill." Greyhound farms are subject to annual inspections by the National Greyhound Association. Farms found to be deficient are shut down, a rare occurence. In any event a breeder cannot stay in business long if he doesn't provide an environment conducive to nurturing winning athletes.

At first, He is the dog always in the lead, but then one race he was competeing with faster dogs and he finishes last, he then gets taken to the greyhound rescue.

Your source doesn't seem to understand the grading system. Dogs don't grade off in one race. The grading system is explained here.

...would like to read the whole touching story of Happy Ralph, get the book "Dogs with Jobs Working Dogs Around The World" By Merrily Weisbord and Kim Kachanoff. D.V.M. I checked it out from the local library so check yours too....It is a great book and truely touching.

Sounds like a wonderful work of fiction.

I've heard all these stories. Most are either inspired fiction or true stories based on isolated incidents. What breed doesn't have some egregious examples of abuse? Go to any shelter and see the number of pure-bred dogs there and listen to the stories behind them....

I've been in adoption for 12 years and racing for three. Years ago I believed these same stories which are repeated over and over like other myths of popular culture that gain credibility only because they're told so often, not because they're true. I was anti-racing at first, too, before I had visited a single track, farm or kennel. My guess is you've seen none of these nor have you ever met a single greyhound trainer or breeder. It was only after I visited tracks, kennels and farms to see with my own two eyes did I change my mind. I strongly suggest you do so yourself before you believe a work of fiction.

[jcsperson]

Originally Posted by linnie

jc IF ONLY I had broadband Where I live it will never happen so I cant download the information but again thankyou for taking time to answer me.
Oh and I dont have to learn to love the breed I already do

If you have a friend with broadband ask them to burn you a CD. It's worth the effort!

[Aside to annie_so_pink: you should check out www.borntorun.tv as well]

[GreenleafGreyhound]

I also love the website, Followthathound.com when people start spewing fiction about trainers and breeders not loving their dogs and not caring about where their hounds end up.

Annie_So_Pink, I'll have to ditto everything JC'sperson has said thus far. There are no Greyhound puppy mills. I've never heard of anything so ridiculous. The majority of Greyhound breeders are in it for the love of the breed and, yes, I suppose for the money as well, but their priority is to breed the best to the best. They find studs who complement their b1tches to produce puppies that have higher odds of running lightening fast. So, when you consider all the work and research that goes behing these breedings, wouldn't it seem counter-productive to breed these Greys non-chalantly like a puppy mill? If Happy Ralph was immediately retired after one loss, the only reason that I can possibly imagine is due to a shattered hock or similar injury. Even in these cases, the dog is rehabilitated to the best of its ability through high quality veterinary care, and it wouldn't surprise me if the dog was tested on the track after recovery.

[CampWhippet]

People in the Greyhound race business kill underperforming dogs, many do it by the cheapest method possible too, so that means they aren't going to the vet for it. A bullet, a metal bar, whatever.

Visit their own industry board **Edit - Please do not post links to other forums within your posts.** and see what REALLY goes on.

Search the archives where you'll see them discuss the people in THEIR business that kill EVERY dog that no longer can perform. Some greyhound people don't bother with adoption and you'll see them at that board.

Better yet, go get a copy of HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumble. Here you can see how dogs are dealt with. You can read a transcript of the show here: http://www.ngap.org/HBO_Program.htm

[TribalRats]

I think that more then likely Grey Hound racing is no different then anything else involving animals. There are those that will be irresponsible and cruel in search of the Almighty dollar and those like JC who truly love the dogs, the sport and are willing to learn and do anything and everything it takes to care for and support there dog/dogs as well as do there best to educate the rest of us and any irresponsible breeders/owners he comes across.
I too have heard horrible things about the way racing dogs are treated and discarded, however I have also heard these things about show dogs. I can tell you that I own 5 "show" dogs and they all have a life most dogs would envy. They are in the house everyday, fed high grade food, regularly vet checked and health tested, loved by myself, my husband, kids and all of our freinds and family. As my dogs age and are no longer able to show & or are not right for our breeding program (which we only breed once or twice a year) they are rehomed with a wonderful family with contract. On the rare occasion we need to place an older dog they go with family and family only.
This is just an example of what we hear vs what is real. My show dogs are not kenneled all daya nd all night only to come out and win in the ring and then be shoved in a crate until the next show.
I would imagine that the races are along the same lines. Are there horrid Grey Hound owners, you bet, are there irresponsible breeders, absolutely.....are they all like that? Heck no however it is hard to stir up a fuss over people doing right by there dogs so all that is reported is the bad.
Again these are just my thoughts on the topic.

[CampWhippet]

Originally Posted by jcsperson

The authors' credibility is shot here. First, there is no such dog as Happy Ralph:

Search "Happy Ralph"

Second, there is no such thing as a greyhound "puppy mill." Greyhound farms are subject to annual inspections by the National Greyhound Association. Farms found to be deficient are shut down, a rare occurence. In any event a breeder cannot stay in business long if he doesn't provide an environment conducive to nurturing winning athletes.

That is not accurate. And the word "care" is too subjective.

Your source doesn't seem to understand the grading system. Dogs don't grade off in one race. The grading system is explained here.


Sounds like a wonderful work of fiction.


I've been in adoption for 12 years and racing for three. Years ago I believed these same stories which are repeated over and over like other myths of popular culture that gain credibility only because they're told so often, not because they're true. I was anti-racing at first, too, before I had visited a single track, farm or kennel. My guess is you've seen none of these nor have you ever met a single greyhound trainer or breeder. It was only after I visited tracks, kennels and farms to see with my own two eyes did I change my mind. I strongly suggest you do so yourself before you believe a work of fiction.

Martin you are not telling the truth. First, just because a dog isn't listed on Greyhound-data.com does NOT mean he didn't exist. Second, many farms have deplorable conditions - but like a restaurant, it isn't closed on the first or even the 5th failed inspection. The dogs that die due to starvation, fights or illness are simply buried. They become poart of that mysterious 20% puppy mortality you tout. And last, I have been to a track, a farm and a kennel and I have seen these things for my own eyes - I also know trainers who will tell you that what goes on behind the gates would make the public very upset.

[FarCritter10]

I don't want to get into a debate. I would just like to say that I adopted a greyhound years ago. She was 2 yrs. old. Chelsea was the one of my greatest babies. So gentle, smart, and a lounge lizard as well! She had one accident when we 1st brought her home & she was told gently that it was wrong & she never did it again. She played mommie to my 2 yorkies & 2 JR's for years. We'd let her go in the park & I swear she thought she was at the track. She finally got a tumor in her leg at 11 years old & I had to make a choice. It killed me. She is missed terribly & I can't wait to see her at the bridge one day.

[jcsperson]

Originally Posted by CampWhippet

Martin you are not telling the truth. First, just because a dog isn't listed on Greyhound-data.com does NOT mean he didn't exist.

Nice try, Jonathan, but I have every stud book going back to 1961. He doesn't exist.