Groups Opposed ToThe Greyhound Racing Industry

[jcsperson]

Originally posted by lizbud
Another point of view on the Greyhound Racing Business.

I think I'm in great company when I say that I agree with this
point of view. Racing animals for profit should be banned in all
states.

http://www.petelevin.com/greyhounds.htm

http://www.petfinder.com/journalinde...ues/1.39.3.txt

Do you believe everything you read?

From Levin's site:

Of the over 30,000 puppies born into the industry annually, only one in 20 will generate enough prize money income to stay alive to the mandatory retirement age of five years.

This makes no sense. A 5 year-old greyhound that is still racing is almost as rare as a 40 year-old in the NFL. Most greyhounds are retired to breeding or a pet before 5 years of age.

Mr. Levin has since deleted this page from his official web site. I noted the discrepancies on his web page and sent him an e-mail---here is his reply:

I'm aware that the Greyhound situation has improved a great deal over the last few years - that from my own observation only. Having no source that I trust, I long ago removed links to my Greyhound web pages and asked others to do the same. You're correct that the page is out of date - because I haven't edited it in years. It's an archived page on my website. Whatever link took you there is outdated.

Here is his present site: http://www.petelevin.com/

You'll note there is no reference to greyhounds whatsoever.

As for the second article, note the date. This is already 8 years old.

Bridgeport (Shoreline Star) and The Woodlands are still open these 8 years later. The bill pending in Massachusetts was defeated. The other states did not have greyhound racing to begin with.

Will the industry be extinct by the year 2000, as is the goal of Campaign 2000, an effort launched by Susan Netboy and the Greyhound Protection League? Or will it be downsized to include numerous simulcast betting parlors and a small number of financially secure tracks offering live racing?

The answer to both questions is obviously, no.

Still, in a media age where only the most gory or “warm and fuzzy� stories are covered, the tremendous strides taken by people within the industry and those in the greyhound adoption movement go largely uncovered. In 1990, 3,500 retired greyhounds found homes; by 1995, the annual number had skyrocketed to 16,000 racers adopted through the efforts of 200 rescue groups. These dogs were bathed, vetted, neutered and placed in carefully screened homes. Only a shortage of funds, volunteers or responsible adopters will prevent the numbers from continuing to rise.

In fact the numbers have risen substantially.

Adoptions have increased by 1,000 to 1,500 dogs per year for almost two decades now. Greyhound Pets of America, the largest adoption group, recently celebrated its 60,000th adoption. There are 300+ adoption groups across the U.S. and Canada, and despite what you are often told, they are getting the job done.

Make Peace With Animals, headed by the well-respected author Cynthia Branigan (Reign Of The Greyhound, Adopting The Racing Greyhound), estimated in 2002 that 21,000 greyhounds were adopted out of a total number registered of approximately 27,000. Additionally, around 3,000 females are retained for breeding every year. That leaves a number far smaller than the "20,000" figure bandied about by GPL and others. The adoption/retention rate of greyhounds is around 90% and increases every year. With breedings trending downward and adoptions up every year, full adoption is in sight. GPA's goal is full adoption by 1997.

Here are the registrations the past several years.

2003 26,277
2002 27,142
2001 26,797
2000 26,464
1999 27,059
1998 26,036
1997 28,025
1996 28,877

In a country where 5-7 million pets are euthanized annually, greyhound racing is being held to a standard by which the general population does not itself adhere. Approximately 95% of all greyhounds either find homes or are retained for breeding, a percentage that would be the envy of any popular breed of dog. Soon it will be 100% and a standard by which every breed will be measured.

Martin Roper

[CampWhippet]

....Bridgeport (Shoreline Star) and The Woodlands are still open these 8 years later. The bill pending in Massachusetts was defeated. The other states did not have greyhound racing to begin with.....
Martin Roper

1. Shoreline Star closed last month. (since this thread was started 4 tracks have closed and one has reduced its schedule to just seasonal)
2. The bill in Massachusetts (The Dog Protection Act) will pass this November
3. Delaware is about to ban greyhound racing to prevent anyone from attempting to start it there.

Jonathan

[Kfamr]

Dude, he/she just joined today.. take a chill.

I don't believe he realized that it was not even 2 years old.