Dog Races

[sammy101]

Originally posted by Kfamr
And for anyone who's interested to see where these people are coming from, the thread is here.


We're all close-minded and know absolutely nothing.


Good going, Cali! You sure must be proud of yourself.

wow! thanks Kay for that link!I've read throught most of the posts on that thread,and i agree with you,they must think that we are close-minded and absolutely know nothing

[greysandmoregreys]

So sorry about the misspelling of your name M-I-C-K-I
was just spelling it the same way as my aunt who spells it
M-I-C-K-Y and she's a female.

I never called anyone a lier, just put the information that was on the website and question that this person, the pres of the group, talked about how horrible the racing industry is but yet the group is concidered neutral.

Again who's to say that it wasn't the adoptive owner that lost there dog? That is all I'm trying to explain. Just because a greyhound is found wandering the streets doesn't mean that people inside the industry just turned the dog loose.

That is all I'm trying to say. Just because it's a greyhound doesn't mean that greyhound racing is to blame.

Take a look at this site
Emmie

Look at Emmie, for someone that didn't read this they would think that this was something horrible that happened at a race track. But if you read it, it shows that this happened within foster care.

Things can be twisted to appear a certain way, but if you look and read you will see that that is not the case.

I'm just trying to inform that is all.

[fuzziesngreys]

I haven't read much of what has been said past the first to pages, so forgive me if this is a repeat. I have been envolved in greyhound rescue for a couple years now, and I can see flaws in both the anti and pro groups that have been argued here. I'm kind of in the middle-I refuse to be pro or anti racing, I'm just pro greyhound. Cali-I can see where you're coming from, but not every greyhound does get into an adoption group. Not every kennel will hold them until a place in an adoption group opens up, and despite what the Pro racing people say, there are still greyhounds that suffer horrible deaths, get sold to labs, etc. But things are improving, adoption percents are going up. It's much better then it was 20 years ago. As for the anti racing-Not every greyhound is abuse, neglected, mistreated, but not everyone gets a high quality diet either. I've done alot of reasearch on this. It depends on the track, the trainer, and the owner as to how the dogs are treated. I've seen some greyhounds come off the track in amazing shape that have been very well taken care of. I've seen some come out of shelters and homes that where very poorly taken care of. The worse abuse case I have ever seen was a AKC greyhound that was abandoned by a breeder and ended up in a shelter-Not a racer, but I'm not even going to pretend that there aren't cases where racers are treated poorly-there are. Would I ever go to a race? I might once just so I could see what it was all about, but once would probably be enough. My biggest thing against greyhound racing is that there are far to many being bred, there's just not enough good home available for them, but they are far from the abused creatures some of the first posters made them sound like. No, they aren't spoiled rotten usually, they don't get fancy collars, beds, and toys like some of our own pets do, but look at how many people keep dogs chained in thier back yard, or in a kennel 24/7-Most greyhounds are far better off then those dogs!

[guster girl]

It never ceases to amaze me the attitudes that people throw around in here. Wow, I just want to say I'm not pro- or anti-racing. I've never been to a dog race, but, I would go if invited. I see nothing wrong with the sport, just as I've never seen anything wrong with sledding. As long as the animals are treated well, then, I'm alright with both. I realize that a lot of the hounds still aren't, but, there are a lot of them that are very well taken care of. This thread has just been kindof sad. And, that's just my opinion, don't bash me for it.

[K9soul]

fuzziesngreys, I really appreciate your input here. You know I often think on these big issues, the truth lies somewhere in the middle, and that's what I tend to believe the most.

You said this:

My biggest thing against greyhound racing is that there are far to many being bred, there's just not enough good home available for them

I think that is a big part of what bothers me, and I also feel that is the case for a lot of AKC show breeding too. On the one hand, I certainly don't want to see any breeds stop existing, but on the other, the way it is now just anyone can go breed. I'd very much like to see some laws or restrictions put in place, such as a required license to breed to get that they must have inspections done and so on. I know it would be very complicated to put something like this in place, these are just musings and ideas on my part. I would love to see greyhounds run, such as a coursing event, but the races that are for the purpose of gambling, I don't have a desire to attend.

[RMGAJAN]

I'm another "newbie" here. Name is Jan, from Denver, Colorado. I adopted my first 2 greyhounds 11 years ago. Then helped start an adoption group, Rocky Mountain Greyhound Adoption. I started out anti-racing, and ended up converting after I actually met people involved in racing and saw race kennels and how the dogs are treated. I found out I was told a lot of outright lies about the poor treatment. And if anyone can watch greyhounds arrive at the track for races and not believe they love racing... I'm now a licensed kennel helper, and I own 1/2 interest in a racing litter.

For anyone in Colorado, or passing through Colorado, you have a standing invitation to visit our adoption kennel, which is on a greyhound farm. If you have time, I'd also be happy to go to the track with you and arrange for a paddock tour.

For those who can't make it, check out the webpage we did for our 10th year reunion event:


RMGA 10th Year Reunion

No lure, we didn't use the starting box, and those dogs had the best time back at "work."

[DogLover9501]

Im not sure whats so funny...I too am sickened by all of this, and very tired of it going on and on just because of one thing.

[K9soul]

That pitties finds it so amusing sure makes it seem like he/she is involved.

[micki76]

Originally posted by K9soul
That pitties finds it so amusing sure makes it seem like he/she is involved.

And that's a surprise?

[aly]

I am bowing out of this discussion. Several people offered educated opinions which I really appreciate, but a few people have really sunk to the lowest levels. This could have been a mature conversation, but I think the chance of that is ruined now. I am disgusted about it all as well.

[guster girl]

Originally posted by aly
I am bowing out of this discussion. Several people offered educated opinions which I really appreciate, but a few people have really sunk to the lowest levels. This could have been a mature conversation, but I think the chance of that is ruined now. I am disgusted about it all as well.

Agreed, I didn't get too involved in the first place, but, I read all the posts. I'm also keeping most of what I want to say, completely to myself.

[DogLover9501]

Originally posted by guster girl
Agreed, I didn't get too involved in the first place, but, I read all the posts. I'm also keeping most of what I want to say, completely to myself.

Ditto

[Cincy'sMom]

I am not sure wht I am responding, and I really have nothing meaningful to say, but here it goes anyway.

1. Yes, I have been to greyhounds races. I was in junior high and went while in Florida with my friend's family. This was about 15 or 16 years ago. I knew nothing of rescue groups, purebreds vs. mutts, puppy mills, or even how to train a dog. Yes, I had fun. I loved dogs and loved to see them run. That was as much as I knew at 12.

2. I know from therapy dog training that greyhounds are the only dogs NOT required to sit on command during the CGC/TDI test. I was told this is because retired racers are often never taught ti sit...they spend their lives laying or standing. I don't know know if this truely is the reason, but I have known 2 rescued greyhounds, recently off the track, that didn't know how to sit.

3. In any dogs sport, be it showing, racing, agility, flyball, whatever, you will have good owners and bad owners, good kennels and bad kennels. I hope and I want to believe that through education, things are getting better for racing animals. I don't think we can hope to stop it, only make it as humane for the animals as possible.

Personally, I can not see the aspect of getting a dog, working with it, and then giving it up. But that is me and my opinion. For the same reason, I could never breed a dog, or even train a dog to be a service dog, or even foster a dog. The bottom line reasoning for me is the same...when I put the time and effort into a dog, I want to be there for its whole life. I have bonded with that animal, and I don't want to give it up. In some aspects, that is me being selfish. In some cases, such as fostering, I am glad there are people who can do it. Don't know where we would be if there wasn't. But is it wrong to want every dog to a have a loving, stable forever home? Unrealistic, maybe? but wrong?

[Karen]

Pitties' needless, hurtful comments have been deleted. He is now banned.

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

Originally posted by Karen
Pitties' needless, hurtful comments have been deleted. He is now banned.

Thanks Karen