While I abhor the treatment of the greyhounds, I have never seen one run and would really like to. Now I live near a race track. I would like to go just once and I thought that maybe by donating an equal amount to greyhound rescue as I would spend at the track, that might make it ethically okay for me to go.
I would like some feedback on this other than "I dunno" or "why do you ask?".
2006-08-13 02:03:03 · 8 answers · asked by R 5 in Pets ➔ Dogs
First of all, if I want to use my emotions to help me make my decisions 1. it is no business of yours, 2. It does not mean that my brain isn't also working on the problem.
Second, so by you, ethics is the same as emotions?
Third, I know the greyhounds love to run and I know they are well-tended, as that is the only way they are worth anything to their owners. Then when they can no longer win, they are put to death.
Pardon me, GitEmGang, if you think it's stupid of me to care, but that's the difference between you and me.
2006-08-13 02:18:59 · update #1
Instead of going to the track, find out where people run their greyhounds in your area.....most of the time they run at a field and run a zip line for the dogs to chase. There, you will be able to talk to owners of rescued greyhounds and see them run without pressure and in a cruel-free environment.
2006-08-13 02:09:57 · answer #1 · answered by Lilah 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well from a strict ethical standpoint if you believe that racing greyhounds are treated abhorrently then no it is not ethically ok to support the industry.
That said most racing greyhounds are treated extremely well. They recieve top notch care, food and training and are well loved by their trainers and handlers. Perhaps you can use this trip as a learning experience, which would alleviate your ethical quandry. Which track are you going to? It is possible to arrange a behind the scenes tour or a meeting with a trainer or kennel owner. There are a lot of good people in racing who like to prove the negative publicity wrong. http://www.greytalk.com or http://www.globalgreyhounds.com are two forums where you may be able to meet an insider to show you around (or let me know which track you are going to. Tracks with in-house adoption programs often offer this service as well). If you are interested in the dogs it really helps to go with someone interested in the dogs - a lot of people on the 'frontside' are more interested in the wagering and simulcasting (hence the response above about the 'homeless looking' types). If you strictly go to the grandstand and watch the people gambling then it is easy to assume no one cares about the dogs, but that's simply not the case.
http://www.pupswithoutpartners.org/Greyhound%20Article.htm is an article on greyhound racing in Massachusetts which is a good read too.
2006-08-13 12:12:26 · answer #2 · answered by Greyt-mom 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you prepared to see a dog break a leg? Our hospital houses greyhounds off the track until they can find foster or forever homes. Last year, we had four dogs come in with broken left rear legs. It seems they push so hard with their legs, they can actually snap while running. If I hadn't seen them, I would never have believed it.
I commend you for thinking of both the dogs on and off the track. Personally, I'd double the donation to the greyhound rescue and stay far away from the track.
2006-08-13 09:25:01 · answer #3 · answered by GSDoxie3 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think you should go if you have interest. That is the only way to can satisfy your curiosity about greyhound racing. I went once on a trip to Florida and do not plan to return because it seemed even less classy than horse racing and apparently has tremendous appeal to many people who looked like they were sleeping in the streets. That was my experience, but maybe you will have a better, more positive one.
2006-08-13 09:12:29 · answer #4 · answered by perdidobums 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I own 3 rescued racing greyhounds and have fostered lots of others. I have never gone to a track and would never go to a track to see for myself what these dogs go through because I have the evidence in my house. I have one dog full of scars because these dogs you think are so well taken care of don't get veterinary care. I have another dog who's teeth are down to nubs in the front because he spent the first 3 years of life trying to chew his way out of a wire cage.
The most amazing thing to me about these dogs is that they want to have anything at all to do with people, yet they are among the most loving dogs I've ever had.
Spend your money on greyhound rescue and find a rescue group in your area who will be more than happy to tell you where they get together to run their dogs on a weekend.
2006-08-13 10:42:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Don't do it! At the track they abuse the greyhounds, and if you had the heart to donate money than I will hurt your heart to see their rib cages get whipped just to win a mans bet money. I think it's terrible and should be stopped. By paying the grey hound track you permit more races to happen and more dogs to eventually die at a very early age and NO donation can cover that. I hope you come around...
P.S. The first response is wrong, though they recieve tip top care at the race track, their body is being abused and no one can make those huge bruises and age 3 heart attacks go away. Their homelife is usually them in a cage with 50 other dogs. And if not in the cage, training, training, TRAINING....to die? I've included a link for greyhound racing by the official site:
http://www.greyhounds.org/
Please reconsider, save a life.
2006-08-13 09:11:35 · answer #6 · answered by manateeluver32 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
First of all, don't believe the AR propaganda of the GH rescue people and many on this list, they know next to nothing about GH racing, not to mention the nature and needs of their dogs. Abuse and health problems are NOT a huge problem and almost EVERY adoptable one is rehomed after it is done racing.
Sighthounds absolutely LOVE to run, actually live to run. I would suggest you go to a lure coursing field trial instead, as then you can see many Sighthounds run. Try looking for events here. asfa.org
2006-08-13 11:10:31 · answer #7 · answered by whpptwmn 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
What POSSIBLE difference would it make???
You *might* try using your BRAIN instead of your emotions & actually LEARN something instead of falling for the AR/peta-nutz PROAGANDA/LIES!!
Racing dogs recieve the BEST POSSIBLE care & feeding & vetting to ensure that they are TIP-TOP condition as the ATHLETES they are. They LOVE to run!!
2006-08-13 09:09:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋