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Cleoppa
I've heard all the hype. But I'm curious how educated people feel on this?
Is it really a terrible sport for the dogs? The horse people don't condemn horse racing (that I've heard). Is it the PETA people turning legitimate businesspeople into the spawn of Satan? Did a few bad apples spoil the reputation of everyone?
Cat: I totally agree with you and I appreciate that you didn't just repeat the facts that may or may not be exaggerated propaganda (like they torture and shoot the dogs???).
I love lure coursing and I know the Greyhounds love to run... but I don't think anyone educated has a problem with Greyhounds running.
It's how the treat and care for the dogs. That's what I'm unsure about. The dogs won't win unless they're treated well... but what about the dogs that are no longer needed? I dunno.
Caninelegion: Thanks for your answer. Sounds like you have some knowledge about this. Do you know how I can find out about the "industry responding positively to the criticism"? I don't know enough about Greyhound racing to know the first place to look.
Answer
Greyhound racing is not a terrible sport, nor is it a horrible thing for the dogs.
The vast majority of people involved with the sport do it because they love the dogs. Believe it or not there is not a lot of money being made by anyone. Most owners and breeders have a day job and/or have a spouse with a full time job. The kennel workers I know don't get paid vast sums of money - they get minimum wage and work from 6:30am til 10:30 pm seven days a week, 365 days a year because they absolutely love the dogs.
The dogs on the track are kept in very good condition (as you said in your description). They are athletes making money for their owners, they have to be treated well, kept healthy, etc. Most people believe otherwise (I recently heard someone say that people break the dogs' hips in order to make them run faster) but common sense dictates that if people want to make money on their dogs they will keep the dogs in good condition.
Another myth is that they aren't socialized - but greys recieve more one on one attention than many pets in homes. Every day they are handled by the kennel worker or trainer. They are gone over with a fine toothed comb looking for any stiffness, soreness, cuts, nicks or bruising. They get daily massages to keep them in shape. And they get lots of loving. I have been shown many 'kids' by trainers at different tracks and I've seen more than a few tears when one of those kids leaves for adoption.
From a breed standpoint, greyhounds are some of the healthiest dogs out there. Because they are bred strictly for performance they are the only large breed that does not suffer from hip dysplasia. They also have one of the longest average lifespans for the large breeds at 12-14 years (and I have known greys to live up to 18,19,20). Because of the money (yes I know money is evil!) involved in racing, the bloodlines have been maintained by professional breeders and the genetic diversity of 46 founding female families is tremendous.
From a pet standpoint racing does wonders for greyhounds. Retired racer adoption is highly successful because the dogs have a background unlike most other pets. Retired racers are (usually) adopted as adults - they are well socialized, responsive to human commands, crate trained (which translates easily to housebreaking), and have excellent leash manners.
The major knock against the racing industry is what happens to dogs after they are no longer successful racers. Many PETA folks characterize racing owners as cruel and uncaring. But believe it or not racing owners started the adoption movement long before PETA became involved. The first organized greyhound adoption program began in England in the 1960s to combat a stereotype that greys were not suitable for home life that was popularly circulated by other purebred adoption groups and the RSPCA. In the US an ontrack adoption group was first founded at Seabrook Racetrack in New Hampshire. Again, you don't hear about it but many tracks have onsite adoption programs. You also don't hear about states like Connecticut and Massachusetts which have laws that ban the euthanasia of healthy greyhounds by anyone but a shelter or rescue group. Massachusetts also has a retirement fund for greyhounds bred and/or raced in that state, paid for from a portion of the gambling at the two Mass. racetracks.
While it is true that there are still greyhounds euthanized at the end of their careers, that is a small number. And with the number of dogs registered every year decreasing dramatically the number not adopted is shrinking as well. Most adoption groups expect to see 100% adoption rates in the next 3-5 years. And realistically, the number and percentage of greyhounds euthanized today is significantly smaller than those of other popular breeds and mutts that are euthanized annually in shelters.
Is racing perfect? No. Are there bad people in the industry? Show me an industry that doesn't have some bad people. But racing has some of the harshest punishments for bad people and is one of the most regulated industries out there. And in my experience the worst treatment of greyhounds I've seen has come from adopters - not racing owners.
Greyhound racing is not a terrible sport, nor is it a horrible thing for the dogs.
The vast majority of people involved with the sport do it because they love the dogs. Believe it or not there is not a lot of money being made by anyone. Most owners and breeders have a day job and/or have a spouse with a full time job. The kennel workers I know don't get paid vast sums of money - they get minimum wage and work from 6:30am til 10:30 pm seven days a week, 365 days a year because they absolutely love the dogs.
The dogs on the track are kept in very good condition (as you said in your description). They are athletes making money for their owners, they have to be treated well, kept healthy, etc. Most people believe otherwise (I recently heard someone say that people break the dogs' hips in order to make them run faster) but common sense dictates that if people want to make money on their dogs they will keep the dogs in good condition.
Another myth is that they aren't socialized - but greys recieve more one on one attention than many pets in homes. Every day they are handled by the kennel worker or trainer. They are gone over with a fine toothed comb looking for any stiffness, soreness, cuts, nicks or bruising. They get daily massages to keep them in shape. And they get lots of loving. I have been shown many 'kids' by trainers at different tracks and I've seen more than a few tears when one of those kids leaves for adoption.
From a breed standpoint, greyhounds are some of the healthiest dogs out there. Because they are bred strictly for performance they are the only large breed that does not suffer from hip dysplasia. They also have one of the longest average lifespans for the large breeds at 12-14 years (and I have known greys to live up to 18,19,20). Because of the money (yes I know money is evil!) involved in racing, the bloodlines have been maintained by professional breeders and the genetic diversity of 46 founding female families is tremendous.
From a pet standpoint racing does wonders for greyhounds. Retired racer adoption is highly successful because the dogs have a background unlike most other pets. Retired racers are (usually) adopted as adults - they are well socialized, responsive to human commands, crate trained (which translates easily to housebreaking), and have excellent leash manners.
The major knock against the racing industry is what happens to dogs after they are no longer successful racers. Many PETA folks characterize racing owners as cruel and uncaring. But believe it or not racing owners started the adoption movement long before PETA became involved. The first organized greyhound adoption program began in England in the 1960s to combat a stereotype that greys were not suitable for home life that was popularly circulated by other purebred adoption groups and the RSPCA. In the US an ontrack adoption group was first founded at Seabrook Racetrack in New Hampshire. Again, you don't hear about it but many tracks have onsite adoption programs. You also don't hear about states like Connecticut and Massachusetts which have laws that ban the euthanasia of healthy greyhounds by anyone but a shelter or rescue group. Massachusetts also has a retirement fund for greyhounds bred and/or raced in that state, paid for from a portion of the gambling at the two Mass. racetracks.
While it is true that there are still greyhounds euthanized at the end of their careers, that is a small number. And with the number of dogs registered every year decreasing dramatically the number not adopted is shrinking as well. Most adoption groups expect to see 100% adoption rates in the next 3-5 years. And realistically, the number and percentage of greyhounds euthanized today is significantly smaller than those of other popular breeds and mutts that are euthanized annually in shelters.
Is racing perfect? No. Are there bad people in the industry? Show me an industry that doesn't have some bad people. But racing has some of the harshest punishments for bad people and is one of the most regulated industries out there. And in my experience the worst treatment of greyhounds I've seen has come from adopters - not racing owners.
If i saved up between £200 and £300 would I be able to get a beagle puppy from the RSPCA?
Zoe
Okayy so if i saved up £200-£300 would i be able to get a beagle puppy from the RSPCA. The price including all supplies that will be needed. and the puppy?
My mum has agreed to pay for the vet coverings and pet insurance.
Answer
Maybe. But this isn't going to cover all the other things we discussed in your previous question. If you have to scrape together £300, how are you going to pay for other vet bills or an emergency?
The price will likely include a basic collar, a leash, vaccinations, and altering the dog, but it's not going to include food, basic vet care, a bed, a crate, etc.
Edit: That's great that mummy is going to pay for vet bills. So you'll be able to get ahold of her in 7 years when you've moved out and have the dog and the dog gets a bowel obstruction at 2am and needs £2500 in surgery? They require payment upfront.
Who is going to pay for training?
Who is going to pay for basic upkeep?
Who is going to care for the dog if you decide that when you head off to uni, you can't take the dog?
Maybe. But this isn't going to cover all the other things we discussed in your previous question. If you have to scrape together £300, how are you going to pay for other vet bills or an emergency?
The price will likely include a basic collar, a leash, vaccinations, and altering the dog, but it's not going to include food, basic vet care, a bed, a crate, etc.
Edit: That's great that mummy is going to pay for vet bills. So you'll be able to get ahold of her in 7 years when you've moved out and have the dog and the dog gets a bowel obstruction at 2am and needs £2500 in surgery? They require payment upfront.
Who is going to pay for training?
Who is going to pay for basic upkeep?
Who is going to care for the dog if you decide that when you head off to uni, you can't take the dog?
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Title Post: What do you think about Greyhound racing?
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Rating: 100% based on 9998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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