Dog Races

[7up]

k9soul, the situation for greyhounds in the U.S. is the best you will find compared to just about anywhere else in the world. I can give you some more detail later on after I get the dogs walked and fed. What I can say now is that greyhounds are not categorized with other dogs or domestic pets with regard to any applicable animal protection laws, until they exit the racing system. Other regulations do exist within the industry and are specific to racing greyhounds, just like there are for race horses. State laws that might apply to racing greyhounds would be those in place for any livestock animal.

7up

[Giselle]

Originally posted by bckrazy
[B]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.

Bckrazy, Please tell us the name of the kennel. If that kennel is truly appauling, it must be reported to the NGA at once. Please e-mail me with the name of the kennel or contact the NGA, Please. Also, I am visiting my uncle in Oregon next summer. We plan to visit a Greyhound kennel for ourselves. How did you get the names of the kennels and may I have them?

Back on topic, I was once vehemently anti-racing (thank you GPL *grits teeth*). Unfortunately, I based my "research" on slanted and biased AR articles. Then, I talked to a lady in Wisconsin and she shared her experiences. I researched (and this time, NOT on GPL or PETA) the industry and contacted a few breeders/kennel owners. Now, I'm neutral but slightly pro-racing. Really, you can not go on word of mouth or opinions alone. Nor should you be swayed just because of what you read here. I plan to visit a Greyhound kennel in Oregon and Multnomah Greyhound Park.

Also, a lot of Greyhound breeders do care where their dogs go. In general, any breeder who hands over their dog to an adoption group, imo, is caring. I just received a letter from Giselle's breeder who still remembered my baby girl even after three years and probably dozens of other dogs. She shared a little information about Giselle and it's really heartwarming and gratifying to know that some breeders *do* care. Anyways, I digress.

[GreyhoundDaddy]

Just a little "FYI" here... the bare butt thing.. isn't related at all to the "time spent in a kennel". It has more to do with severalother factors. One being that Greys, on average, have lower thyroid levels than do other dogs. Secondly, as is the case with my Greyhound, when they are finished with a race, their handlers will rub them down with a linament i.e. icy hot or ben gay or sportcreme. Try rubbing that stuff on YOUR butt and see how much hair you've got left

As far as it being a "sick" sport... Good Lord... I'm sitting here reading my hounds Career History report that I just obtained. She had 59 races in her short career (a season and a half). Not counting her final race, her last 5 races she finished 2nd three times, won once, and came in 7th in another. She was a high level Stakes racer at one of the most competive tracks in the country. She was making her owners and plenty of parimutal bettors plenty of money. However, in her last race, she did not finish. I have no idea why, but, it's safe to assume that something physically happened to her that she wasn't able to recover from. Now, don't any of you "It sickens me" types think that a dog who was winning so many people so much money would've been rehabbed and put back on the track to continue if this was such an inherently cruel sport?

I'm not here to bicker, flame or demean anyone... I'd just hope that our experiences are considered before judgements are made. I'd also humbly submit that one should visit a track for nothing more than to see the sheer JOY these dogs get from running... Believe me... playing "flyball" is not what these hounds are meant for...

Originally posted by KBlaix
I live just a short ways (about an hour and a half) from Daytona where they have greyhound racing. I have seen several dogs from off the track that have retired due to injury. A broken leg is certainly not uncommon. At the boarding facility I work at we board several retired greyhounds from the track and they ALL (and I do mean all) have bear butts from being in crates for such long periods of time. Also my best friend has been talking to greyhound rescue about adopting one from the track, and she probably will be soon. She seen and heard some horrible things that these dogs have been through. I am for one totally 100% against dog racing, it's a sick sport. If they love their dog and want them to run they can put them agility classes and keep them off the track.



I agree completely.

[GreyhoundDaddy]

do you watch any of the Triple Crown races on TV? The Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont? Is THAT not solely about money? Heck, VISA has a $5million payout to the owner of the horse that wins all three...

What do you think happens to all those horses after they've been deemed unfit to race? I have no idea, but, I'm sure it isn't that they're set up on a Kentucky stud farm to live out their lives.

Originally posted by Jadapit
I dont think I would ever go to a dog race because I believe its mostly all about the money (the gambling) We live in Colo and Colorado Springs has a greyhound track. We were up there visiting a couple of years ago and I was looking in there paper and I kid you not there were pages and pages of greyhound rescues in just one of their papers.

If the dogs are loved and treated so well then how come there were so many rescues for them!?! I'm sure a lot are probably treated good and some people do race them for the love of the sport but there are probably many more that do it just for the money. IMHO anyway.....

[GreyhoundDaddy]

Well, now... Let's see, my hound ran 59 races (see above post for her last 5 race stats) and when she got hurt and was no longer winning..was she "KILLED"? No wait, she couldn't have been.. she's sleeping on my bed right now!

As far as the "not treated well or loved"... Quick little story, when I was able to track down my hound's breeder, I told her who my dog was and I could literally HEAR the woman smile over the phone. She was so happy to learn that one of her babies made it to a comfy couch and was living a good retired life in Sunny San Diego. Not only was she happy to hear that, but, she without hesitation went into several stories about Sequoia when she was a puppy. Now, mind you, this is a woman that breeds and races some of the best dogs for the best tracks in the country. For her to remember a SINGLE hound out of the many that she's welped.. I think that speaks to the level of care and love that these hounds get.

Now.. about the "If you do not know what you are talking about, please do not comment" comment... Pot meet Kettle

[i]Originally posted by Twisterdog
ANYONE with even the slightest experience with dog racing knows the horrors of it. EVERY racing greyhound will be killed when it no longer a winner.

Not ONE of them was treated well or loved, and ALL of them were literally snatched from death's door.

If you do not know what you are talking about, please do not comment. Do us all a favor. [/B]

[GreyhoundDaddy]

Oh Dear Lord! A grey with an owie on her tootsies!

Looking at that pic, I see nothing of what you claimed...So, I offer this... MY Hound who broke a toe while were straightline racing...


These dogs have small bones in their feet, buch thinner than most other breeds I'd imagine. Are you going to call me.. well, whatever names that have been bantied about because I LET my dog do what she LOVES doing? While I'm at it.. here's a couple pics of her the day she was running...




Looks like a happy hound to me

And hile the guy may well not have been lying.. as I'm sure he felt he was giving the full hot order...I'd venture a guess that he's a staunch AR type that is a card carrying GPL member.

Originally posted by micki76
Ironically I met a rescued racer this evening at Petsmart when we went to get Tank a snail. Her name was Daisy and she was sickly thin (still needing to gain 15+ lbs), had a to the bone injury on her right front leg, and had a scary looking old injury to her left shoulder that was never treated and thus the muscle atrophied and so the formerly broken bone healed so that it sticks out. She was scratched and bruised all over. She's been in her foster home for 2 weeks and is adjusting to all the things that she should have been acclimated to as a puppy, such as furniture, mirrors, doorbells, air conditioner noises, etc.

This dog was horribly abused, even if she was never hit.

The husband is the President of Greyhounds Unlimited. I doubt he's lying about the atrocities these animals face. I doubt he's lying about what he deals with EVERY DAY. What he sees on a DAILY BASIS.

Why would ANYONE continue to breed animals KNOWING they’ll just turn them over rescuers in the end? WHY?
It’s all about the almighty dollar.

SICK.

Here's a pic of Daisy from their website:

[GreyhoundDaddy]

Wooooooooooooooooooooo!!! Here we go!

Alright people... that was my thread over on GT. If you have questions regarding it's beginnings.. no need... here's the deal. I tried to register here a couple days ago and failed to receive a validation email. SO I emailed an adminstrator and was given a password to use for posting here...THAT'S IT! I wasn't trying to say that I'm some Billy Badass that had a reputation preceeding him. GET OVER IT

I think if you go back and look at Cali's thread that started this whole hullaballoo (nice word, Coach!) I think you'll find that I was calling for her ouster from both boards. I cannot stand people that spout off and dont know a F'ing thing about what they're talking about. What was even more silly than my lame title for a thread, is the fact that WE ALL got hoodwinked and suckered into her little game. Honestly, I think she needs a good spanking, have her internet priveleges taken away by her mommy, and given extra chores! :gmark ! (You gt'ers will know what emoticon I wanna use there)

Savvy?

Oh, btw... I'm CoachGrieber on GT and I'm a Greyaholic.

Originally posted by guster girl
Wow, and, I did just see the "Pet Talk's afraid of me" post in Grey Talk. I don't know, it doesn't offend me, though, it's kind of funny. There are always people with that kind of personality, including in Pet Talk. Variety is the spice of life, I think. As long as we know the core of Pet Talk, and, they know the core of Grey Talk, we'll all be alright.

[GreyhoundDaddy]

Sweet.. I'm owning this thread right now!

[zaylagrey]

Hey Coach.. I think you scared them. You can be a little intimidating sometimes . I've been in adoption for three years now. I've visited a track and farm. I've seen dogs come in off the plane in great shape, some in horrible shape, all from different places, and I agree with another poster on here that the truth definitely lies in between. I don't think the dogs are treated poorly at the track by what I had seen. It happens, from what I have seen, after the fact. Not every farm and Kennel is going to treat their dogs the same. There's good and bad. It is good to educate yourself and see for yourself. But don't assume that every farm or kennel in America treat's their dogs the same way the kennel or farm you've seen has. Just giving my 2 cents of what I've experienced.

[Kfamr]

Either that or people just aren't on to comment...Hmmm.
I personally think it's be better if we just dropped this all instead of all the drama between both boards.
People are always going to have their own opinions on racing, breeding, everything... and nothing that's been said here has changed my opinion as of yet. The only thing that will is if there is not ONE dog being harmed, not ONE dog in the shelter..etc.
I still personally wouldn't agree with dogs racing for money, but I would approve of it if ALL of the dogs were treated better.

[guster girl]

Originally posted by GreyhoundDaddy
Wooooooooooooooooooooo!!! Here we go!

Alright people... that was my thread over on GT. If you have questions regarding it's beginnings.. no need... here's the deal. I tried to register here a couple days ago and failed to receive a validation email. SO I emailed an adminstrator and was given a password to use for posting here...THAT'S IT! I wasn't trying to say that I'm some Billy Badass that had a reputation preceeding him. GET OVER IT

I think if you go back and look at Cali's thread that started this whole hullaballoo (nice word, Coach!) I think you'll find that I was calling for her ouster from both boards. I cannot stand people that spout off and dont know a F'ing thing about what they're talking about. What was even more silly than my lame title for a thread, is the fact that WE ALL got hoodwinked and suckered into her little game. Honestly, I think she needs a good spanking, have her internet priveleges taken away by her mommy, and given extra chores! :gmark ! (You gt'ers will know what emoticon I wanna use there)

Savvy?

Oh, btw... I'm CoachGrieber on GT and I'm a Greyaholic.

Hola, Coach! Yeah, I'm guster girl over there on Grey Talk, too. I'm really enjoying reading the threads over there! Very nice site, so far anyway! And, I didn't need an explanation, personally, for your thread over there. I didn't have an issue with anything you said, but, because you quoted me in here, I thought I might. I didn't sense any offensive tone at all in your thread, I thought it was funny. And, "that kind of personality" wasn't meant as a negativism. I just mean, that kind of person who doesn't pull any punches, but, who can do with it humor. anywho...welcome to pet talk!

[K9soul]

I'm a bit reluctant to state anymore on how I feel on this issue for a few reasons.

1, I don't want any more nasty conflict, I'm enjoying both boards and I'm enjoying meeting new people from GT.

2, Some folks over at GT have made it clear they consider our thoughts and feelings regarding this issue invalid because we don't own a grey. I still find this one hard to swallow. It's one thing to say someone's AR sentiments are fallacious because they have never researched both sides and spoken with both sides, but to say they are simply because they don't own a hound is pure assumption. What about those who are neutral or pro racing who don't have a hound? I don't see their stances being dismissed . No one really asked "have you researched both sides before you came to your conclusion?" A few just stated "they don't even own a hound." and summarily dismissed us on that reason alone.

I have learned a bit, mostly from the people who are neutral or somewhere in the middle.

[MomoftheFuzzy]

I voted for "Been a time or two," and it's true and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I wanted a chance to express myself so badly that I just felt I had to reply here, after years of never saying anything regarding racing.

Bottom line is, there is no justification for inhumane treatment of animals, whether racing or not. I think we can all agree there. And there is justification for the fact that these dogs LOVE TO RUN. With that said, I do believe every dog deserves a warm, comfy couch and a family of their own (whether 1 person or 10) to love them like no other. That and that alone leads me to have mixed feelings regarding dog racing. I don't actively support it but I don't actively denigrate it either because I am EDUCATED and I seek to become more educated about it with each passing day.

I have gone to a couple of races and I DO SEE how happy the dogs are when they have won and they are paraded around -- they know they won! I do not doubt that the majority of people involved in racing take care of the hounds -- just as there are bad apples within shelters and within pet homes, there are bad (and good) apples here. I adopted my hounds from a wonderful woman who worked at the Sarasota Kennel so she had her allegiances. Yet she managed to have a 100% success rate in getting hounds adopted out after they were retired, whether it be to adoption groups or to individuals like myself.

I think we could all strive to learn a little more before we make snap judgements. It's one thing to form your own opinion -- it's another to force that opinion on others in order to defame or slander them, regardless of what side they or you might be on.

[Denyce]

I don't have a lot to say on this subject as far as racing itself goes. I have an opinion like everyone else does I just don't wish to voice it at this time.

However this comment I felt I wanted to speak to...

2, Some folks over at GT have made it clear they consider our thoughts and feelings regarding this issue invalid because we don't own a grey. I still find this one hard to swallow. It's one thing to say someone's AR sentiments are fallacious because they have never researched both sides and spoken with both sides, but to say they are simply because they don't own a hound is pure assumption. What about those who are neutral or pro racing who don't have a hound? I don't see their stances being dismissed . No one really asked "have you researched both sides before you came to your conclusion?" A few just stated "they don't even own a hound." and summarily dismissed us on that reason alone.

I find this attitude similar to the one young mothers who are being called to task on something they are doing wrong with their children. That if you don't have children then you don't know. That by giving birth you automatically gain the knowledge and understanding you need to raise them properly. WE have all seen examples as to how wrong that is. I feel it is the same with owning a greyhound and having an opinion on racing. To discount one because they don't own that breed of dog just shows the ignorance of the person making that statement.

I feel that those of us that don't have children nor own greyhounds perhaps have clearer insight in some ways. We are not so close to the issues and therefore can take a step back and assess the situation without so many emotions involved.

The bottom line to me seems to be that we all love animals and want the best for them. Whether (not weather ) you are for racing or against we all would want to see all animals treated as humanely as possible right?? We all want to see our dogs and cats as happy as they can be. There will always be abuses when people are dealing with animals because frankly there are many people out there that just don't care. But to help balance that they are many people that do. You have to have the extremes in this world for there to be the happy middle. The ying and the yang. The good and the bad.

So do what you feel is right for you and your pets and the corner of the world that you live in. No one can do more than that.

Denyce

[wolfsoul]

I haven't read through this entire thread, so forgive me if I sound ignorant.

While I do know that there are inhumane races, it is my opinion that there are more humane ones than there are inhumane. If anyone here watches the lure chasing events on Top Dogs, they can see how well taken care of the sighthounds are. They do interviews with the owners and they seem like they generally love their dogs and just compete to have fun. While there are LOTS of inhumane ones, when I think of those, I think of the races on the real tracks with the electric rabbit and the dogs being kept in cages all of the time and looking unhealthy, with lots of them belonging to only one owner, and with people bidding money and the prize being a huge cash prize. When I see the humane races (like on Top Dogs), I see that most of the dogs are owned by individual owners, they are in top condition with good health, they don't run on real tracks but on a grassy field, the prize is usually small, and usually not cash but a trophy, and the owners are always smiling and happy and they laugh when their dog runs of the course to go play.

I think what most people on this thread are talking about are the "real" racing events where people bid on the dogs. I don't like the idea of those types of events at all. But I love to watch the humane sighthound events and see how much fun everyone has.