do you think greyhound racing is cruel?

Question

do you think they treat the dogs cruelly? Do you think it is a bad sport because they keep them in crates?

I am neutral when it comes to greyhound racing. I do not know enough about it to make a judgment yet.

Answer 1

I asked a similar question and got several excellent answers. Reading these answers might help you reach a conclusion. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoylJ4ANpkFUJOjHM.8_KPPty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071004224512AAvR6aD

From my limited reading, I think that the sport of Greyhound racing has made some serious efforts to improve its care of the dogs. Many tracks even have their own rescues. Most aren't just dumping the dogs, even if it was once common (I don't know if it was, but if it was, it's not common anymore). Since the dogs are athletes, they need to be kept in good condition.

I'm mostly ambivalent towards Greyhound racing. I don't think it's as terrible as some animal rights and rescue groups make out. But on the other hand, it's not a high and lofty organization. The dogs are kept in crates and have limited socialization. I don't think it's an abusive life, but it's hardly fulfilling for those dogs.

Answer 2

I think it's extremely cruel. Our hospital has worked with two greyhound rescue groups over the past ten years. At one point we had four greyhounds all with the same rear leg broken. These dogs push themselves so hard running, they can actually break their own legs. We've also had at least two cases of Alabama Rot, which took months to heal.

Greyhounds are uniquely different from other dogs, both physically and mentally. Two of our employees and many of our clients have opened their homes to these dogs. They don't deserve the treatment they get serving humans as a commodity. No dog deserves to spend the majority of it's life in a crate. I can tell you first hand from seeing these beautiful animals come off the track that it's heartbreaking. I don't know everything about the racing industry, but from what I've seen I could never support it.

Answer 3

I think letting them race is fine but the practices they use for the non-racers, those that are not fast enough or too old, are horrid. When a friend of mines old Greyhound died she went to the vet with her Borzoi and while there her vet offered her a greyhound puppy that some guy from a racing kennel had dropped off to be euthanized. I know that it is against the law for a vet to do something like that but the puppy was perfectly healthy, it just wasnt "fast enough". So technically she owns a dead dog, she tells people that she got it from a breeder and the papers are in the mail. Puppies being dropped off at a vets for euthanasia is typical and sometimes they send adults and seniors but there have been reports of I guess the most general way to put it is home euthanasia where they kill the dog in some fashion not cruelly sometimes but an otherwise healthy dog is put to death because it isnt "fast enough". I support Greyhound racing when they give retired dogs to Greyhound rescue or when it is a small event for pet owners who just want their pup to have fun and do what it is bred to do.

Answer 4

Greyhounds like race horses are breed to race. Some truly love to race others do not. If racing is not in the dogs heart then it should not be raced. What I find more sad is what happens to greyhounds whose careers have ended or don’t do well. They are often put down unless they are rescued by a Greyhound rescue group and adopted.

Answer 5

I have a neighbor with greyhounds and they are the most spoilt and well looked after dogs I have ever seen, they have their own air conditioned room in the house, they are regularly walked and they do not mistreat these dogs in any way. The same as anything else in this world some people treat them well, some treat them exceptionally well and then there are some that treat them like crap. It really annoys me when people categorizes anything. I don't think greyhound racing is cruel but I do think some people are cruel to dogs.

Answer 6

Now we have the next thing - there is pro racing- lets face it a starved, compleatly not allow outta a crate dog would NOT win so that claim of abuse can't be usual They are not treated as pets, and treatment of failures is not alway kind (like the SPCA never destroys a dog either) but outright abuse by definiton must be rarer than claimed . THEN there IS amature racing that exists as a hobby and yes the dogs go home and sleep on the bottom of the bed...

PS crates are used by almost every dog sport - I mean what do you do with dog A while dog B is in the show ring, field trial field, agility course? a closed car heats up dangerously, tieing them up leads to all types fo problems. Bring a crate as a traveling den and they can settle down and nap during down time.
Not to mention crate training is the best way to housebreak and keep a dog from eating the sofa so not a bad idea at times at home!

Answer 7

The racing itself is not cruel - greyhounds are bred to run and they love it. It's an inherent instinct with them as is chasing after small game - they are hunters, after all.

What is cruel is that they're treated strictly as a commodity and thus, disposed of after they've had their 3 chances to win.

The first year of their life is great - plenty of socialization, especially with other greys. After that, their life is spent in crates except for training and bathroom breaks. I'm not even going to go into the greys who've been rescued with broken legs, horrible scars, etc.

Any time an animal is used strictly to make money, the quality of their life is totally immaterial and greyhounds are no exception.

Answer 8

I do not think that racing dogs in and of itself is cruel. these dogs live to run. BUT... I used to be around the racetracks alot as a child as one of my Uncles owned racing dogs so let me tell you what is cruel...
The racing is wonderful. The lives that MOST of the dogs lead are horrendous. It is not the kenneling that is really cruel because they spend a good deal of time out being conditioned but the rest of it is deplorable. Talk about puppy milling! The females are pretty much breeding machines that are bred again and again to try and make that one stellar racing champion. All of the puppies that do not make the grade are killed off. Yes... there are a few that make it out with their lives thanks to the wonderful rescue organizations but WAY more are created than can ever be placed. The kill rate is around 95%. I could go on but this gives you a little insight into the sport.
If we could find a way for these dogs to race from private loving homes I would be all for it because I have been there and there is no joy to compare with what shines through the eyes of a dog on the track. Greyhounds LOVE to run. But until the day comes. The price is just too high.
~Tyed~
Here is just one of many links for you to follow.

Answer 9

To me racing in itself is not cruel. What is cruel is the treatment of the racing (and retired) greyhound. Kennels are indoor crates stacked two levels high, with the females usually kept on the upper level, and males on the lower level. While the space allocated to each dog varies between locations, typical crate size is 3-1/2 feet wide by 4 feet deep by 3 feet high. While living on the track these dogs will spend most of their time in these kennels.

Unfortunately, thousands of "retired" greyhounds are not adopted each year. Many greyhound owners use adoption programs as dumping grounds when their dogs are no longer profitable. Although The Humane Society of the United States applauds the efforts of those volunteers who give their time and money to place unwanted greyhounds in loving homes, thousands of these dogs are still destroyed each year because there are not enough homes to accept them. In 2000, an estimated 19,000 greyhounds were killed.*(*As reported by Greyhound Network News and the Greyhound Protection League) This includes 7,600 greyhound puppies who were farm culls, and another 11,400 "retirees" who were not rescued. Other greyhounds are either sold to research labs, returned to breeding facilities to serve as breeding stock, or sent to foreign racetracks, sometimes in developing countries with appalling track conditions.

My Pharaoh was one of the lucky ones. We took him off the track at Deltona, FL and he was in awful shape. Bad teeth, at least 10 pounds underweight and scared to death. We've had him for eight years now and he's the love of my life.

In my opinion, take away the racing and you'll eliminate the cruelty.

Answer 10

I don't think the racing itself is cruel, but I have read that the dogs are considered a commodity and not treated very well. They get fed and washed and receive vet care but there isn't much play time or human contact apart from the basics, and getting them to and from a race. Very few are a part of a family.

I guess I don't really know enough about it either, so I won't give a definite opinion but it doesn't seem like much of a life for a dog.