Dog Races

[KYS]

posted by micki76:May I come over? I see a spot right down there on the floor that would be perfect for me!!! :>>>>>>>>

Where? What spot? lol

[MomofCash]

Good evening ...

Another Greyhound lover from Greytalk ... hope you don't mind me stopping over! I've been reading this thread since yesterday and I have not posted on the thread in Greytalk. I think someone on here said that the truth is usually in the middle ... and that's pretty much where I've found it to be regarding Greyhounds.

I've never been to a race ... don't know that I'd go if asked, but I just may ... just to see the Greys run - something they absolutely love to do.

There's good and bad in everything in life ... I'm sure that Greyhound breeding/training/racing is no exception. I've met some wonderful people being involved with Greyhound adoption - both pro-racing AND anti-racing and each feels passionately about their beliefs.

The one thing I feel passionate about is the Greyhounds. I volunteer, I make GUR's, I foster - I'll do whatever needs to be done to find these wonderful animals good homes. I just flunked Fostering 101 for the first time ...

It's hard for discussions like this not to get nasty at times ... but please, please ... try to see the other's viewpoints and act respectfully. Everyone has their own opinion and it isn't always necessarily the one you believe in.

And last but not least ... here's a pic of my 3 girls ... Cash (our 6-year old red brindle girl), Flecka (our recently adopted 2-year old Hurricane Ivan foster) and our 4-year old daughter.

[Uabassoon]

Lovemygreys7, RMGAJAN and MomofCash Welcome to Pet Talk! And thanks for posting some pictures, all of the pictures I saw were wonderful! I hope you all stay and continue to post pictures long after this thread has died.

[K9soul]

Gosh... to the folks from GT that are coming over to share pics, all your greys are beautiful. But I must say you are making my greyhound fever burn more intensely than ever before . I sure hope some of you decide to stick around here and continue to share your beautiful babies with us

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

OMG! I love all of your greyhounds! I've always loved the breed and it's great to see pictures of them! Welcome to PT everyone from GreyTalk I hope you decide to stick around

[Uabassoon]

Since you all are posting pictures of your greys I want to post a picture of my all time favorite grey named Abigail. She is one of my regulars and I sit for her often. Her owners recently adopted another grey (but I can't remember his name ) I've never sat for him because he still can't be trusted in the house so they decided for now it's best to kennel him when they go out of town. Abigail is a wonderful dog, but I will admit she is the worst bed hog ever!







Sorry the quality is bad. I haven't taken any pics of them since i got my new camera.

[MomofCash]

Thank ya'll for the welcome .... it's much appreciated. And since ya'll love pictures, thought I'd post another of my girls ...

[bckrazy]

personally, I have never been to a race, in a stadium.. but I have seen several racing Greyhound kennels and racing facilities in Oregon that appauled me ... I don't even want to get into that, but all of what I have seen of the industry is pretty horrible. A lot like the horse racing industry, in ways. When money and gambling is involved it seems like it's bound to be a bad scene. But, as in everything, I'm sure there are many responsible owners out there -- though, no matter what it doesn't seem all that responsible to me, to dump your dog off at a rescue after he/she has faithfully trained and raced for you for years.

I have been to many lure coursing events, I love them!! hounds are amazing dogs, and its great to see them out doing what they're bred to do. greyhounds are wonderful dogs, there is no arguing that, I would love to adopt one someday.

It can and does happen to every breed out there. sad

exactly! I know that everyone on these boards, everyone, wants to put an end to all neglectful kennels, puppy mills, and animal abusers. period. None of us want anything to do with an industry which, in any way, condones the abuse of animals. Personally, I am so angry when I see any dog that is put through a lot of trauma and sometimes branded as unadoptable just because their idiot owners did not take the time to socialize them at an early age... I don't care if the owner is a nieghbor of mine, a greyhound kennel owner, or a puppy mill owner.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

Firstly I want to welcome all of you from GT. I hope you stick around and enjoy PT.

I also want to give a link. That is from a greyhound rescue group here in florida. Here is a quote from it:

A continuing program for Retired Racing Greyhounds.
When I run my Adopt A Greyhound, Everyone's a Winner, television show, everyone asks me how do I go about doing a Rescue. It's simple ... the phone rings ... there's an emergency somewhere with a bunch of greyhounds ... and we're on our way! The first thing that has to be arranged is a place for the animals to stay. No small feat when you've got 40-100 starving greyhounds that need to be medically treated, fed, sheltered and adopted.

You need to understand that to most people here at pet talk this is unexceptionable. No pet wether it be a dog or a mouse should be without love and the best possible care. I am not saying that this is the case with every race dog, but there are way too many cases like this.

Let me tell you, rescuing 400 greyhounds in a two week period is a monumental task and without the Lord's help, it just couldn't be done.

400 in 2 weeks. You can see that there is a problem when that many dogs are going to a rescue in a 2 week time. I know that not every 2 week period of time that passes another 400 greyhounds are put into rescue groups, but for that to even happen once is disgusting.

[micki76]

Originally posted by KYS
posted by micki76:May I come over? I see a spot right down there on the floor that would be perfect for me!!! :>>>>>>>>

Where? What spot? lol

Believe me, I can find a spot!! In a room full of puppers, I can always find room!

[dukedogsmom]

Obviously Cali has never seen a documentary on Greyhounds.

[lovemygreys7]

400 in 2 weeks. You can see that there is a problem when that many dogs are going to a rescue in a 2 week time. I know that not every 2 week period of time that passes another 400 greyhounds are put into rescue groups, but for that to even happen once is disgusting.

Every year, when seasonal tracks close there is a great influx of hounds into adoption. Likewise when the NGA auction is held. Non-winning dogs are moved off the track and into waiting adoption groups. Groups plan for these time times and work with the racing industry to matriculate these dogs through the adoption process.

Very few dogs that adopted out are true rescues. These are hounds that have been release by their racing owner into adoption programs. Those owners could keep the dogs or put them down - but they don't. Some owners do place their own dogs - but a vast majority recognize that greyhound adoption groups are GOOD at what we do - so they give the dogs to us to place. Adoption groups also rely on the support of racing owners and kennel owners for donations to keep the doors open.

As for the claim of "rescuing" 400 hounds in two weeks. I don't know ANY group that could responsibly process this many dogs. Where is their kennel facility? Do they have 400 foster homes? Who pays the vet bills???? I'm not saying its not true - just that I'm not familiar with this group or what work they've done in the past. I do know that when the hurricanes went through FL this year and many racing kennels were damaged, adoption groups across the country stepped up to take in dogs. Sure groups weren't expecting this - but neither were the tracks or kennel owners. We all worked together to get the job done.

Sure there are some jerkies in the industry...there are some jerkies in adoption too! I have seen HORRIBLE cases of abuse - not from tracks though....by people who have adopted the greyhounds. I have a 14 year old that is a perfect example of adoptive owner abuse (and a 6 year old and a 13 year old). So just keep in perspective that there is good and bad in every industry. Racing, adoption and adopters (and there are bad cops, bad teachers, bad doctors.........) We don't get rid of doctors because there are cases of malpractice.

30 years ago we didn't recycle pepsi cans. Now we do. 30 years ago virtually all racers were euthanized. Now, less than 2000 per year are. Is that still too many? Absolutely. Do people in the industry agree with that? Absolutely. But the difference now, is that you have racing working with adoption to reach 100% adoption - and that includes more responsible breeding so there are fewer pups born every year.

[K9soul]

lovemygreys, It is encouraging to see the changes that are going on and I hope they continue. It would not surprise me if some organizations dramatize what is really going on, after all several animal rescue groups do that, Peta is a prime example. Of course, I still think there is a ways to go, and like you and others stated, it happens with all dogs, but since racing is such a big industry, I think it is more common than with some. I just think the truth lies in the middle between the two extremes, though I do not claim to be perfectly educated. Pretty much most of what I have to go by is what one side says versus the other side. Often in those situations, it's a little of both.

Again, welcome to Pet Talk though, I know I appreciate all the viewpoints here

[lovemygreys7]

Originally posted by K9soul
lovemygreys, It is encouraging to see the changes that are going on and I hope they continue. It would not surprise me if some organizations dramatize what is really going on, after all several animal rescue groups do that, Peta is a prime example. Of course, I still think there is a ways to go, and like you and others stated, it happens with all dogs, but since racing is such a big industry, I think it is more common than with some. I just think the truth lies in the middle between the two extremes, though I do not claim to be perfectly educated. Pretty much most of what I have to go by is what one side says versus the other side. Often in those situations, it's a little of both.

Again, welcome to Pet Talk though, I know I appreciate all the viewpoints here

Thank you! Greyhound adoption still has much work to do - but one day we will get there. As I've said before, people are entitled to their opinions on racing - one of my goals is to help educate people on the whole picture of racing and adoption so that they can make an informed opinion.

Greyhound adoption is fortunate in the sense that we have an "industry" to work with. My heart and respect goes out to the thousands of people who work tirelessly to home and re-home the seemingly never-ending stream of pure and mixed breed animals.

All people who work in adoption - regardless of breed or species - are heros in my eyes!

[Kfamr]

Cute doggies everyone!


I'm completely sick of the way GT has been talking aobut Pet Talk.

I guess we're all trolls now.



I just wanted to share these three beauties that Valerie (dukesdogsmom) and I met at the FL PT meeting a bit back.....