Do you think the Greyhound Racing Industry is okay?

Question

THE GREYHOUND INDUSTRY IS CRUEL AND INHUMANE! While at the racetrack, hundreds of greyhounds are confined in small cages for long hours every day. Those that are bred to race and are not deemed racetrack worthy are killed. Those who do make "the cut" are literally running for their lives. In 2003 alone, an estimated 7,500 to 20,000 greyhounds were euthanized simply because they couldnt run fast enough.

http://www.greyhounds.org/

Answer 1

You know, I find that most people who are against racing have never been to a track, kennel, training facility or farm. Greyhounds are NOT mistreated - instead they get top of the line food, nutritional supplements, vet care, etc. and a ton of love and attention from their humans. Greyhounds are kept in crates - large enough for them to stand comfortably, walk around and lay full out. Greyhounds are sprinters - they have short bursts of energy after which they REQUIRE long periods of sleep. The four retirees I have in my home need only the amount of space of a regular sized dog bed. They spend roughly 18-20 hours on theirs by choice, often only getting up to change positions. They are turned out in sand pens 4 times a day and are also taken out for training times, racing, grooming and vet care. I have no idea where you get your statistics on the number euthanized but they are flat wrong. A closer estimate is 700-1000 dogs, and that number is decreasing every year. Adoption groups estimate that by the year 2008 100% of racing greyhounds will go from the track into either an adoptive home or to a farm to be used as breeding stock. Perhaps instead of initiating unnecessary threads against greyhounds you might be more inclined to rant against puppy mills, backyard breeders and all the people in the world who don't spay/neuter. When 10 million pets a year are pts in animal shelters (roughly 45% of which are dogs) it seems to me that an industry that treats its dogs well and is working very hard (and very successfully) to do right by its retirees is the wrong group to go after.

As for people who believe that it is cruel for someone to make a profit off of animals I hope you practise what you preach and are all active vegans, don't wear leatehr fur, etc. etc. etc.

ETA for Anne - I am not saying there are not cruel people in the sport. There are cruel people EVERYWHERE. But in my experience the majority of people in the greyhound industry are NOT cruel and treat their dogs better than most people treat their pets. Additionally the people in the industry who see others mistreating their hounds are more likely to say something about it than the average person living next door to an animal abuser. When you adopted your dog with problems did you report this to your adoption group? What was their response to the incident? If a person treating dogs that way was working in my area he/she would have been reported so fast they wouldn't know what hit him.

Answer 2

Greyhound racing isn't a humane sport. Unlike horse racing, the dogs are considered to be disposable. They're not selectively bred like horses are, so there's an abundance of "unusable" dogs. Except for the track, they never see the outside of a cage. Maybe you could consider adopting a Greyhound, instead. There's plenty to go around.

Answer 3

I have to disagree with Greyt Mom - some greyhounds are very mistreated at the track. We have two rescued greyhounds from two different tracks in Florida. One was treated well and was in great shape when we adopted him, and the other was horribly neglected and we suspect she was abused.

When we first saw her, she was just two days off the track. Someone had left a muzzle on her for so long that there was no skin left along her whole nose, just a huge festering sore. Both ears were extremely infected and she had two long gashes on her left side. The pads on her feet were cracked and bleeding, and she was skeletally thin. She was a mess.

When we would pet her, she would flinch and cower on the ground, whimpering. It took at least a month for her to let us touch her. Every time we fed her, she would literally inhale her food...didn't chew it but swallowed everything whole. She was possibly fed with a group of dogs, so the faster you ate, the more food you got.

We've had her for almost 6 years now and she still has issues - she still eats her food at top speed, always looking over her shoulder. She has terrible separation anxiety and can't handle being left alone.

She and her "brother" are absolutely the loves of our lives and we have never regretted adopting her...but she was definitely scarred, both physically and emotionally, from the track.

Answer 4

I agree with the person who said this isnt really a "question" BUT, I also FULLY agree with what you're saying, the greyhound racing industry is cruel and barbaric, I feel sorry for all the poor greyhounds who have to go through that, they should outlaw the greyhound racetracks, nothing good comes out of it... poor pups. :( ...makes me angry just thinking about it!

Answer 5

you are spot on my friend like most things in life it is named as sport when really its back to the same old human grred for cash its full of fly men and bookies who have no concerns about the dogs at all
i know of dogs who should have win and never having their ffet bound wiyh tape and threw into the nearest river on the way home from the track
there is also some tracks who tie a live hare onto the lure to encourage the greyhounds to race harder before a gamble takes place,, this like most animal sports should be banned,, but horse racing is the sport of rich bums some of who make laws and for that reason it will never be out lawed
cash is king and man will do despicable things to get more of it including abusing poor animals,, remember pit bulls as well, not to mention cockrel fights with spurs on them,,
maybe we should tie these bums to the lure and let the dogs chase them
lol

Answer 6

I think it is disgusting that people use animals to benefit them financially. They treat these animals like slaves and it is definitely inhumane. I agree.... if the animal doesn't make it, they instantly turn to putting the animal down. Only one thing though...they sometimes have an adoption place for the retired dogs, but typically the ones who go to the races don't care too much about the dogs either.

Answer 7

"Running for their lives"? Oh PLEASE! Didn't you read my post when this subject was discussed some hours ago? They LOVE to run, you can't force them if they are not interested.

The dogs are generally fed well, excersized ALOT, and LOVE to run! I crate (cage) some of mine when I am gone, does that make me cruel? No, it keeps them safe and comfortable.

I would be interested to know where you are getting your statistics. Most tracks are now closed, and I would be also interested in reading your statistics (not some wild guess like this one sounds) for 2005.

A running hound is much happier and physically healthier than one spending its days laying on a couch. Many, many greyhound 'rescues' need to get in touch with their dogs true natures and the reality of how racing really is. I wouldn't believe the lies spouted by the likes of HSUS, Peta, DDAL, and the rest of their AR buddies.

Answer 8

I used to have a greyhound my parents had rescued right before trhey euthanized her: she hadn`t won the race and every one had bet on her, I guess. I think it is horrible and I will never attend one.

Answer 9

this is not a question - it's a means to say what you think without regard to others answers.

Answer 10

i think its wrong how after they hurt something or they dont race anymore and they just get rid of themm