Some people believe greyhounds are working dogs that enjoy chasing a mechanical rabbit, and at the end of their exciting careers become recycled into a family pet – a nice life with the ultimate retirement. This however, is just not the way the story goes, and in the case of my repurposed greyhound, he simply beat the odds.
The real story of the life of a greyhound is not even close to nice. When housed at the race track, they spend about 20 hours of the day confined in small cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around. If their stats are below par, they are retired from racing. A retired female may end up as a brood, spending years on a farm breeding more potential racers. Some retirees end up in veterinary research labs because greyhounds have a universal blood type and because they are so docile, they are easy to handle. The lucky get adopted, and the remaining get destroyed.
Over 15,000 greyhounds were registered in 2009(1). More were born but got culled as they were not suitable for racing. Many suffer broken legs or necks, spinal cord paralysis or go into cardiac arrest while racing and have to be put down. Some states do not require that records be kept on injuries or deaths, which I suppose is deemed too much information for the public. The industry does admit though to destroying thousands of greyhounds each year, which is estimated to be as many as 3,000(2).
I was shocked when I recently read that greyhounds tested positive for cocaine at a track in Birmingham. It’s hard for me to even get my head around this act of cruelty. My husband took me to our local track to see the deal firsthand. What I saw was mostly shady characters who probably consider gambling their “job” and a few semi-normal people that might have been just looking for something different to do on a Saturday night.
Thanks though to the tireless efforts of GREY2K USA, a non-profit group headed by the talented Christine Dorchak, who serves as both President and General Counsel, only 23 tracks are still operational in 7 states: Alabama has 3 tracks, Arizona one, Arkansas one, Florida has 13, Iowa has 2, Texas one, and West Virginia has 2. Gone most recently are the tracks in Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Oregon.
This amazing group has been able to ban greyhound racing by working with state politicians to pass the Greyhound Protection Act while defeating attempts to keep tracks alive with subsidies and tax breaks, or the back door approach where promoters lobby for a law legalizing slot machines to save the live racing. If the tracks are successful at getting slots, they remain economically viable, and the dogs continue to remain disposable commodities.
Defeating dog track owners is no easy task. It has taken the hard grassroots approach of collecting thousands of signatures in order to place a measure to end dog racing before voters. People were shown state records documenting hundreds of injuries, along with actual video footage of terrible collisions that are common occurrences and photographs of the endless confinement greyhounds endure. This hard proof gave the greyhounds a voice. And the numbers and force of the people proved that small groups of people really can bring about big change.
There is currently a blogger dedicated to seeing that that last remaining track in Arizona is closed. She discusses the issues associated with this industry in no uncertain terms. There are also something like 350 greyhound rescue groups throughout the U.S. comprised of volunteers that find ways to transport, feed, medically treat, house, and market these dogs to the public. If a track closes, these groups network in an effort to place dogs across states. You can imagine the constant work involved to make even a dent in the number of greyhounds needing homes in a state like Florida with a whopping 13 tracks. What does this say about my state of Florida? Gambling trumps animal welfare?
I was initially put off to hear that my local rescue group was neutral on racing, but then it occurred to me that they are dealing with ruthless people, and this is their way of getting in to make the saves. I had the experience of going with members of a rescue group to pick up dogs as space had become available. We went to a kennel that was full of all these beautiful dogs in all their wonderful colors stacked in crates with their almost human eyes looking so intently at us as if to say, “please pick me.” It was heart-wrenching to leave with only two, and no one can convince me that another group came to that particular kennel to pick up the rest.
My greyhound Buddie, who raced for a short period under the name Mr. Pibb, is an amazing recycled dog. He is gentle and loving and gives standing hugs if allowed. He is an ambassador for his breed using his charm to get hugs and kisses by people everywhere he goes. Most tend to think greyhounds are full of energy, but the truth is they are used to lying around and being active for only short periods of time. Other things that people usually don’t know is that greyhounds don’t bark, they have a sweet smell, and barely shed. They walk right by your side on a leash, and many enjoy cats. What more could you ask for in a pet?
If you are interested in learning more about greyhounds or adopting go to www.grey2kusa.com.
(1) National Greyhound Association, Breeding Stats, 2009.
(2) National Greyhound Association, KABC Channel 7 ABC TV, February 20, 2009.
Jellie
Jellie Stanton is the creator of HumanWear, eco t-shirts for males, females & babes donating a percentage of sales to GREY2KUSA to help end greyhound racing.
Thank you Steve & Jaszy for posting this aritcle. The president of GREY2K USA is so excited and is circulating this story. We must stop racing in our state of Florida. It is truly an embarrassment and shows a lack of soul.
Thanks so much Jellie for bringing this to our attention with such a great article!
Thank You for raising awareness as to what really happens to these beautiful animals. Too often, stories are sugar-coated or simply don't tell the truth about dog racing. Yours does. Thanks.
Awesome blog! Thanks for speaking out for greyhounds, who cannot speak for themselves. They need us all to speak for them at every opportunity and to work together to end the horror of dog racing. It is time for it to end in each and every state that still offers live and/or simulcast dog racing.
As a Floridian, I am ashamed that Florida STILL doesn't require tracks to report the number of injuries and deaths of these gentle dogs. I volunteer with a rescue and adoption group that is openly anti-racing. And guess what? We still get more greyhounds than we know what to do with. So my point is that you do not have to call your group "neutral" to get dogs. And if ALL the greyhound rescue and adoption groups decided to work together and ALL speak out against the industry… what would the industry do? Start killing ALL the dogs again? I don't think so. The public outcry and backlash would be huge. And they can't afford that. As it is they are losing money every day, desperately trying to cling to an outdated and barbaric enterprise of exploitation and death. It can't be over soon enough.
Thanks,
Cyndi R
As a greyhound adopter , foster mom and volunteer with a local rescue group, a greyhound's eyes tell you whether they've been harshly handled or mistreated in some way. Many of them are timid and scared of men; however, there are some responsible owners and trainers that take good care of their dogs and, once they are no longer profitable , move them into a rescue group quickly. Thankfully, for this ancient breed of dog, there's life after servitude with the racing industry. Watching a foster greyhound blossom as it learns about home living, how to play with a toy, run free at the doggie park just for the sheer joy of running, is a heartwarming experience. When you add lavishing the dog with affection, those eyes will pierce your soul with such love that you think your heart is going to burst.
While it's not acceptable for human athletes to use steroids, the racing industry tout racing greyhounds as athletes and pump them full of steroids to enhance performance and suppress estes for the females. This archaic 'sport' needs to end world wide. Greyhounds deserve better.
Articles like this greatly help to raise public awareness of the racing industry.
I applaud the work done by the greyhound adoption groups around the country; however, the work accomplished by GREY2K USA is vital to the ultimate ending of this atrocity. They have developed a time tested and proven way to bring about the demise of dog racing nationwide through legislative action.
Keep three things in mind. Greyhounds are mass-produced with many culled when they appear not to be winners. They sustain many injuries while racing. If you question this, just watch a race and see how close they are while racing. A simple bump can be life ending due to their racing speed. Finally, if they are lucky enough to make it to the end of their, so called, racing career, they may find themselves in a loving family home but, unfortunately, not all. Some are sent to laboratories for experimentation purposes, some to vet offices for use as blood donors and then others, well, simply put down.
The tide is slowly changing and people are losing interest in this cruel pastime. The end of this inhumane industry is finally within our sights.
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Thank you to Jellie for her wonderful, compassionate article about this beautiful breed and the exploitation of these gentle dogs by the racing industry.
And that you to <a href="http://www.modernhippiemag.com” target=”_blank”>www.modernhippiemag.com for publishing it!
There is no disputing the cruelty and inhumanity of dog racing. If you want the facts, please visit: http://www.grey2kusa.org/racing/sheets.html
And if you are looking to add a loving companion to your family, please visit: http://www.grey2kusa.org/adoption/index.html
There are many thousands of ex-racers in need of good homes every year.
GREY2K USA appreciates your continued support of our work to end dog racing.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Krebs
Vice President, GREY2K USA <a href="http://www.GREY2KUSA.org” target=”_blank”>www.GREY2KUSA.org
Great comments. But, I disagree that Grey's don't bark. They do bark, just not that often. They are a great breed that deserves FAR more respect that most in the racing community give them. But, that fact of that matter is this – I doubt the breed would be nearly as popular without racing and rescue groups. (I still think it's a far better world without racing, don't get me wrong.) The nature of the breed is based in racing/coursing and that how'd they've been breed
since the 1800's. Good or bad, those are the facts. I despise the idea of using animals for their gifts, then killing them, or mistreating them during the process.
LOTS of decent people enjoy racing every day, and that fact will likely never change. I really feel the best solution is to insure not only the respected treatment of these amazing animals, but, provide for a way they can retire gracefully as well. The alternative could be the reduction/destruction of a unique and valuable bloodline.
Recycled greyhound.. Bully
Just discovered this blog thru Bing, what a way to brighten up my year!