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| www.GREY2KUSA.org |
In a previous post, I mentioned the horrors of life as a racing greyhound, and the efforts to ban cruel treatment of these dogs – see Stop the Cruelty. Also included was a video documenting some of the conditions the dogs live with daily.
Jen Krebs, of GREY2KUSA, has commented in response, with additional details and the (wonderful) news that GREY2KUSA has filed a formal complaint with the Mayor of Tucson, AZ on the basis of the horrors that were documented by the video.
Please take a moment and read her response, it includes some invaluable links for additional information. Anyone living in Arizona might be in a better position to do something directly about the issue of racing, or these dogs in particular, but we all can be as supportive as possible for the great work GREY2KUSA is doing on behalf of such beautiful, gentle creatures! Please go to Stop the Cruelty for her response, in the comments section.
Excellent news!
Nubbin wiggles,
Oskar
For the most part, I avoid discussions on Greyhound racing completely. I will simply say this, I don’t believe anything that Grey2K says. If their claims were true, most Greyhounds would not be the sweet, loving dogs that they are — they’d be unsocialized, dangerous time bombs who have no clue what the world has in store for them. I have actually been inside several different racing kennels myself. I’ve seen how the dogs live there for myself. Are there bad people in the racing industry? Yes. Are there good people in the racing industry? Yes. Most of the worst cases of Greyhound cruelty that I have seen have been inflicted on dogs AFTER they were done racing when they went to homes where they were supposed to be loved and cherished forever. Or the coyote dog stories that will haunt your nightmares. Or the former NFL player who posed as a rescue agency and sold the dogs for medical research. In that case, btw, the racing owners actually helped to get him charged and criminally convicted, since they’d released their dogs to become pets and not lab experiments.
Three of my four current dogs were bred for racing. They are well-adjusted, outgoing, loveable dogs that I am happy to take anywhere with me. They visit nursing homes and schools. People know our dogs and recognize them before us. I honestly don’t think that they’d be able to do these things with such grace and ease if they had been abused.
@houndstooth – If anyone would know, it would be you! I trust your opinion. And your dogs are truly awesome!
I offer something to consider, though; having volunteered for a rescue group, I’ve had the privilege of being on the receiving end of unconditional love and grace from many animals who’d previously been abused, neglected or in some way suffered at the hands of cruel and selfish people. I’ve heard of many more, from others.
I think we have to keep in mind the amazing abilities animals have for forgiveness. I’ve been under the impression that greyhounds are very sweet, gentle dogs by nature – not from how they’re treated. That has been a point that has always made the racing life seem so much more tragic.
As for racing, I personally don’t see any need whatsoever for it in our society. Call me a spoil-sport, but I really don’t see a need for ANY sport that involves the use of animals. I’m sure you’re right, there are or have been racetracks that went the extra mile for their dogs. But we all know in the real world, that’s not always the case.
Once upon a time, the same argument was used to defend mass-breeders. Who today thinks anyone can run a “puppy mill” while still affording the dogs a decent life at the same time? I doubt the logistics of either differ much, which leaves both situations unfair to the dogs.
I don’t proclaim to know anything about dog racing or the conditions the greyhounds are kept in…I see people walking them in the park and they seem to be such gentle beings.
‘Houndstooth’ –
First of all, what GREY2K USA ‘says’ is based on fact, and fact only. As an organization, we don’t state anything unless we have the evidence to back it up.
The forgiving temperament of a greyhound isn’t a testament of the treatment he or she received during his or her life on the track. They are docile, forgiving dogs by nature – no matter what type of handling they endure.
I’ve previously said, and will repeat it here, that there are certain breeds of dogs that, if exposed to the same conditions as racing greyhounds are, would not be easily rehabilitated – two of the breeds I’ve personally handled, are examples.
I’ve adopted 6 greyhounds in 7 years – all of them were bred for racing. Three have been social – three were not.
I’ve also been inside a racing kennel. The environment I saw, in which 40+ racing greyhounds were living, was not one I believe any animal should have to live in.
Regardless of how they behave in their post-racing life, the reality of their racing life is consistently as follows:
– Racing greyhounds are confined to cages barely large enough to stand up or turn around in, 20+ hours per day.
– They suffer serious injuries while racing, including broken legs, paralysis, cardiac arrest and heat stroke.
– When they are no longer profitable, they are at risk of being killed.
Best Friends Animal Society took in almost all of the pit bulls that were rescued from Michael Vick’s property. Almost every one of them has proven to be loving, sociable, rehabilitatible dogs, despite their life prior to rescue. Would you condone dog fighting based on this?
Dog racing is cruel and inhumane.
It is a dying sport, and should be outlawed.