What do you think about Greyhound racing?

Question

I've heard all the hype. But I'm curious how educated people feel on this?

Is it really a terrible sport for the dogs? The horse people don't condemn horse racing (that I've heard). Is it the PETA people turning legitimate businesspeople into the spawn of Satan? Did a few bad apples spoil the reputation of everyone?

Cat: I totally agree with you and I appreciate that you didn't just repeat the facts that may or may not be exaggerated propaganda (like they torture and shoot the dogs???).

I love lure coursing and I know the Greyhounds love to run... but I don't think anyone educated has a problem with Greyhounds running.

It's how the treat and care for the dogs. That's what I'm unsure about. The dogs won't win unless they're treated well... but what about the dogs that are no longer needed? I dunno.

Caninelegion: Thanks for your answer. Sounds like you have some knowledge about this. Do you know how I can find out about the "industry responding positively to the criticism"? I don't know enough about Greyhound racing to know the first place to look.

Answer 1

Greyhound racing is not a terrible sport, nor is it a horrible thing for the dogs.

The vast majority of people involved with the sport do it because they love the dogs. Believe it or not there is not a lot of money being made by anyone. Most owners and breeders have a day job and/or have a spouse with a full time job. The kennel workers I know don't get paid vast sums of money - they get minimum wage and work from 6:30am til 10:30 pm seven days a week, 365 days a year because they absolutely love the dogs.

The dogs on the track are kept in very good condition (as you said in your description). They are athletes making money for their owners, they have to be treated well, kept healthy, etc. Most people believe otherwise (I recently heard someone say that people break the dogs' hips in order to make them run faster) but common sense dictates that if people want to make money on their dogs they will keep the dogs in good condition.

Another myth is that they aren't socialized - but greys recieve more one on one attention than many pets in homes. Every day they are handled by the kennel worker or trainer. They are gone over with a fine toothed comb looking for any stiffness, soreness, cuts, nicks or bruising. They get daily massages to keep them in shape. And they get lots of loving. I have been shown many 'kids' by trainers at different tracks and I've seen more than a few tears when one of those kids leaves for adoption.

From a breed standpoint, greyhounds are some of the healthiest dogs out there. Because they are bred strictly for performance they are the only large breed that does not suffer from hip dysplasia. They also have one of the longest average lifespans for the large breeds at 12-14 years (and I have known greys to live up to 18,19,20). Because of the money (yes I know money is evil!) involved in racing, the bloodlines have been maintained by professional breeders and the genetic diversity of 46 founding female families is tremendous.

From a pet standpoint racing does wonders for greyhounds. Retired racer adoption is highly successful because the dogs have a background unlike most other pets. Retired racers are (usually) adopted as adults - they are well socialized, responsive to human commands, crate trained (which translates easily to housebreaking), and have excellent leash manners.

The major knock against the racing industry is what happens to dogs after they are no longer successful racers. Many PETA folks characterize racing owners as cruel and uncaring. But believe it or not racing owners started the adoption movement long before PETA became involved. The first organized greyhound adoption program began in England in the 1960s to combat a stereotype that greys were not suitable for home life that was popularly circulated by other purebred adoption groups and the RSPCA. In the US an ontrack adoption group was first founded at Seabrook Racetrack in New Hampshire. Again, you don't hear about it but many tracks have onsite adoption programs. You also don't hear about states like Connecticut and Massachusetts which have laws that ban the euthanasia of healthy greyhounds by anyone but a shelter or rescue group. Massachusetts also has a retirement fund for greyhounds bred and/or raced in that state, paid for from a portion of the gambling at the two Mass. racetracks.

While it is true that there are still greyhounds euthanized at the end of their careers, that is a small number. And with the number of dogs registered every year decreasing dramatically the number not adopted is shrinking as well. Most adoption groups expect to see 100% adoption rates in the next 3-5 years. And realistically, the number and percentage of greyhounds euthanized today is significantly smaller than those of other popular breeds and mutts that are euthanized annually in shelters.

Is racing perfect? No. Are there bad people in the industry? Show me an industry that doesn't have some bad people. But racing has some of the harshest punishments for bad people and is one of the most regulated industries out there. And in my experience the worst treatment of greyhounds I've seen has come from adopters - not racing owners.

Answer 2

It's a fantastic sport, but it's not without its problems. These problems are being addressed by the industry. Vision 2010 is one such example:

http://www.thedogs.co.uk/index.php?m=aid&id=228

http://www.thegreyhoundsvoice.org/

There's loads of anti-racing groups out there. Their goal is for the complete eradication of racing. No matter what standards of welfare are applied, they will keep calling for an end to the sport. This is not something I've gleaned from "reading between the lines", it's a STATED AIM.

What the ARs are VERY good at though is grabbing the attention. There is no denying that some of the photos they have are horrific. The actions of a few despicable people within the industry are then presented as the norm. The ARs will lie, but more dangerous than that is the heavily edited and twisted versions of the truth. Only the "facts" that support their argument are included, and some are blown out of all proportion.

Their actions undermine any attempts to improve welfare standards - whatever the industry do, the ARs will not ease the pressure. Could there be any greater disincentive to improve? (I won't post links to the AR groups on here - I don't want to give them any more publicity).

There ARE problems within the sport. There has not been enough done to combat abuses in the past but the authorities ARE working on that. Those within the NGRC have not been in their posts for long, and the problems will not just disappear overnight.

If you want to speak to people about racing, there's an EXCELLENT, INTERNATIONAL site devoted to racing:

http://www.greyhound-data.com/index.htm?z=_D2d0k

You can join in on the forum, look up your racing dog's pedigree etc etc.

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One thing I will recommend - Go to your local track. Forget the betting, just watch the dogs. You'll see a great number of the dogs are excited as they make their way on to the track. You'll see that they LOVE to chase. What will really strike you though is the sheer beauty and grace of a greyhound in full flight. TRULY ASTONISHING.

Personally, I cound not care less about which of those beautiful creatures crosses the finish line first, besides - the bookies know far more about the sport than I do, I know I'll never win more than I lose.

For me, the joy of the sport is watching the most graceful domestic animals in the world doing what they do best.

ADD: Greyt-mom - EXCELLENT post.

Answer 3

Some of the hype is there because it's true. A greyhound in full flight is breath-taking. You can see the joy in the dogs' faces when they're doing what they're bred to do and love doing. Greyhound puppies have great lives - they're kept with their whole litter for the first 4 months of their lives, then kept in groups of 4 puppies. At about 1 year old, their lives change.

They move to the track and their training begins. I can't agree with those claiming that these dogs have great lives from this point on. Living in a wire crate with time out for bathroom breaks and training isn't (in my mind) any kind of life for a dog. They are turned out into a pen daily to run with other dogs. Big deal.

Of my 3 greys, one never raced because of her severe injuries during training - which, according to my vet, were never treated. That's why she's got horrible scars in half a dozen places.

One didn't race probably because of his rather lazy temperament.

My oldest, raced 19 times, was in 6 collisions, one of which was termed serious, but he still raced the next week. He's paying for those injuries now, as is my female. Both of them need regular chiro and acupuncture (to stop them screaming in pain).

Running is a passion for greyhounds, but any time a living animal is turned into a money-making business, the animal becomes irrelevant. If they lose, get rid of them; if they're injured, get rid of them.

It's largely because of the many rescue groups that people are finally learning of the plight of the racing greyhound and doing something about it. Given the degree to which kennels are over-breeding greyhounds, the rescue groups will never be able to save all of them, never.

Answer 4

I think it really depends.

Since it has turned into a big business I think it is cruel, but if there were clubs like agility clubs set up to race greyhounds, but set up as a bonding experience for the owner and the hound, well that is a great idea! Dogs SHOULD get the chance to do what they were bred to do, they love the exercise and stimulation. But this should be for the dogs benefit, not for entertainment.

I guess it is a lot like having a child. Child acting can be cruel for a child and really ruin them for life, especially if they have perfectionist stage parents, right? Well I figure it is the same with a dog... if the dog enjoys it and the owner supports the pup but doesn't force the pup into training hours on end and doesnt freak if doggie loses, then why not?

Answer 5

The sport itself? No. Greyhounds were bred to run, and they love to do so. Same with horse-racing ... Thoroughbred horses were bred to run, and that's what they love to do.

The ethical problems arise when humans see the animals as commodities. A Grey who runs well on the track earns money, and thus lines his owner's pockets ... hence he is "valuable". Same with horses. There is a lot of ugliness in horse-racing too, make no mistake.

When it's done for sport and everyone goes home happy, I think it's fine (is fox-hunting or steeplechase any different in that respect?) ... when $$$ becomes the ruling force behind the sport (and it ALWAYS does) it becomes corrupted and abusive to the animals. The animals always suffer for the greed of the owners. How sad.

I love Greyhounds. I also love Thoroughbred horses. Might sound a bit Pollyanna-ish to say this, but ... why can't we all just play nice?

Answer 6

I think it is the same for Greyhounds and race horses there are a few out there that actually care about the sport and the dog/horse, but most are in it for the money if they don't make that money then they are thrown away just like how dogs are put to sleep alot of horses are sent to the slaughter house cause they can't win the purse

Answer 7

Greyhounds and other SightHounds do indeed LOVE running and even racing. Lure Coursing, to me, is a better alternative. I think Greyhound races have turned barbaric, just as horse racing has.
There are indeed some humane folks out there who do it just because their dogs love the running, but the fact that there are so many greedy, dirty, cruel handlers out there really ticks me off.
The way I see it, the fact that bets are even involved makes it a terrible sport. There are other humane, fun events that Sight Hounds can compete in and not be subjected to such man-made hatred and greed.

And I could go on and on about horse racing. I have a rescued horse, and oh how he loves running! But to force him to run faster or harder against his own will is to me, cruel and an unusually forceful method of making him do what is natural, in a most unnatural way.
Unfortunately, horse racing is fueled for the most part in GREED and MONEY, so the horses suffer if they do not do as well, same as with the greyhounds.
One of my uncles has dozens of racing thoroughbreds, and while he "takes care" of them (not to any of MY standards for horse care), he becomes very angry at the horses should one not perform or run exactly as "he" would like. Needless to say, I am ashamed he is even in my family.
He to me is in the large majority of those who are doing it all wrong.

It is fine to let animals do what they love, but to push them in to cruelty and be fueled by the love of money makes it a terrible, horrible practice.

PETA is a pile of crap, but there is a real concern out there about those behind these barbaric venues.

Answer 8

Maybe just something like Eric? If he's a retired racing dog he'll be used to being called Epic, and might get confused by a name change and not respond as well

Answer 9

I think that the criticisms are not due to the racing itself but what happens after their racing life is over. Horses can be put to pasture but it is more difficult with dogs. The industry has responded positively to the criticisms although nothing is ever enough for the extreme radicals from PETA (a group on the FBI's domestic terrorist organizations list).

Answer 10

Please, don't get me started on PETA. Lol. Honestly, I don't know much about racing, but I do know sighthounds love to run and mine are certainly no exception. I think the issue I have, is the money matters more than the dogs. The ones who don't make it or eventually wear out, don't always have a happy ending...they're often dumped and/or killed. Again, I don't know much about it, but that's how I feel based on what I do know. Personally, I would rather see them lure course and head home to the couch, for a nap.