I find it a little insulting to say that those of us who are anti are niave enough to only go on what is reported in the media – are you saying that the governments report was only based on newspaper articles. If the media is only reporting the negative side is it possible because the negative side far outweighs the positive. The argument we are better than them is not really an argument at all.
I didn't mean that you are niave, but how many who have posted comments have actually been to greyhound racing kennels, and actually had involvement with greyhound racing? Very few if any I bet! The media only reports on the negative because that's what sells papers. Go and buy the Greyhound star, you'll get both positive and negative comments!
Why assume people have not been – seen the negative side and decided its not worth it for the harm that happens to these dogs. My dogs love to run and chase when they want not when they have to.
Because I would condemn anyone that has stood idiolly by whilst the Negatives have happened! PLease could you tell me how they greyhounds are made to chase! Every dog that is on the track are ones that chose to chase. Jade is one that chose not to!
But that’s just the point, it is not a minority element and even if not all involved in racing approved of what was happening the vast majority knew what was going on and did nothing about it, and it is one of many places that greyhounds can be disposed of. You consider those dogs the lucky ones.
Yes I consider those the lucky ones because they are the ones that were killed rather than have identifying marks removed whilst alive and then dumped! I didn't say it was right! Why don't the NGRC use DNA records, the technology is out there, it would cut down the number of dogs dumped then! It is a minority, how many greyhounds were bred last year, compared to the number to have these trajic consequences!
The industry in no way can regulate itself now let alone if you want more rules put in place. Most owner, breeders, trainers ignore the rules now because the industry doesn’t actually care enough to enforce the rules.
That is my point, the industry needs to sort itself out! And most owner/trainers and breeders don't ignore the rules! Or certainly not the ones I know. Also remember with greyhounds, a breeder is not the same as in the outside world.
I did wonder when the rescues would be held account for this industries mess! If these owners are all caring why are these dogs looking for rescue places in the first place? Yes your right many cant get them into rescue because the rescues are full, do you really think if rescues had laxer policies all those greyhounds would get homes? Much as we love these dogs not everyone wants one.
I am not saying the rescue centers are at fault, and besides they aren't rescue centres as they don't rescue dogs! The ones I am referring to are rehoming centres, which need to look at how they assess potential homes! As I have already pointed out, too many are being bred, so no not all of them will get homes, but I have witnessed people that would give a dog a lovely home, but are turned down because their face doesn't fit!
If you love these dogs so much why would you not have one anyway – just because commercial racing is banned? There are hundreds of breeds out there that are not longer doing what they were so called bred for – they have not died out.
Because a greyhound is a hunter, and are not allowed to do what they want! The grey's that have come away from the track or coarse are the show hounds, which are nothing like these wonderful dogs. Hence why the greyhound we know would die out! All we'd be left with is the show greyhound, which in my opinion is awful!
No money??? The breeders are making money, the owners are making money (ok not a lot) the bookies are making huge amounts of money!
Please tell me how the owners make money, as I'd like to know! The only owners that make money are those that have money to start with! I agree bookies make huge amounts of money! Breeders make little money, remember breeders don't get the money for the pups they breed! Depending on the trainer, some make some money, some make none!
It may be in your nature but not in everyones, the racing of afghans and terriers has gone of for years and you don’t see them being dumped once they are not fast enough or killed before they even get on the track.
Only because it isn't as big as greyhound racing. It could easily have been terrier or Afghans racing that we were talking about instead, if greys weren't there! It is human nature to gamble, why is LAs Vegas one of the most popular places to visit!
Right so all those dogs in rescue are from people making money – well quite frankly there is a hell of a lot of them making money then not the minority. So if as you say they don’t make money why get another dog? In the hope that this one might make it round the track quicker so they can make money! Of course there is also the chance of selling them to the Spanish hunting market – now that’s caring.
That isn't what I said is it? Most people get a dog because they like seeing the racing, and want to be part of it, but for whatever reason they are unable to take one home! Some get one because they can't have a pet at home, but want something to walk, and to fuss! The ones that buy a dog in the hope it will be quicker are the wealthier ones, most can't afford those dogs! Only the very top dogs make money! To make money they need to win on average two normal races a month! Not many dogs can do that!
Right but then what about the stud fees and pumping puppies out of the brood bitches? Of course these people are in it for the money or the hope of making money!
But this only happens to a few bitches, most are never bred from! So is only a minority, and even fewer dogs are used as stud dogs! You can only use a stud dog if it is good enough, so as most people buy their pup long before it is racing, there is no way to tell whether you are likely to be able to use it as a stud dog or not! SO they didn't get in it for the money, although if they get lucky with their dog it will be good enough!
See if anyone went to a breeder poodle and said yes I want a dog but Im going to keep it in kennels for a few years then I wont take it home but will stick it in rescue to deal with I can just imagine what answer you would get. If you cant take the dog home don’t get the dog – simple as really and would certainly help to reduce the number of dogs bred in the long run.
And why are these dogs kept in licensed kennels! Because people aren't allowed to train their own dogs! So in your opinion you think that stopping people from owning a greyhound unless they can take it home would solve the problem do you. Yes in the long run, it would lower the numbers being bred, but in the meantime the situation would get a whole lot worse. Plus this is part of the problem for the abuse some of these suffer! Because the owner is responsible for the care of the dog, until ownership is signed over, dogs are cut apart so they can't get identified!
Can you provide the statistics on this – as those against commercial racing have been asked. How many showers are holding places in rescue compared to greyhounds? Also 2 wrongs don’t make a right and its not really an argument to continue commercial racing
No I can't, I can only comment on those I have observed. I am just stating that this is effectively the same! A show'er who rehomes a dog because it isn't good enough is no different to a racing greyhound owner that puts their dog up for rehoming because it isn't fast enough! Due to the numbers involved obviously this happens more frequently than show dogs! But it still happens!
No I think you’ll find that there is less racing because people are becoming aware of the cruelty involved in this industry and find it no longer acceptable. The breeding numbers haven’t dropped because of greed both by the breeders and those hoping to get a dog that will make them money – simple really.
There is less racing as unlicensed track are now illegal as they were seen as cruel! Very few licensed tracks have closed in recent years! And as already stated, breeders make little money, it is the owners of the good dogs being bred from that make the money!
The ultimate goal in greyhound racing is to win the derby, the ultimate goal in showing is to win crufts, the winner of both will make lots of money from the offspring, is either worse than the other!
There maybe hundreds who wouldn’t see their dogs harmed but neither would they see them in their own home for the rest of their life, they are still considered disposable to enable another one to come in – that to me is not loving your dog at all!
I agree, there are hundreds/thousands who wouldn't want harm, but I don't think they view them as disposable, because if that was the case, they would have them put to sleep, or disposed of, not up for rehoming! There are many reasons for people not keeping their hounds after racing, and not loving them is only one reason. Some greyhounds aren't suited to home life (only a minority though)
And as a side note one of the worst culprits for rehoming their dogs once their career is over, that I know, runs one of the retired greyhound welfare centres!
Finally, my point isn't that greyhound racing is fine, in fact far from it. But the media would have you believe that everyone involved is in it for the money, and people only own the dogs to make money. This is far from the truth, most trainers get involved because they love the dogs, there is only a small amount of money made in training. Although the trainers that are fortunate enough to have a great racer in their kennels are likely to sucessful financially too. They are a minority though! I'd ask you to find me an average trainer that is wealthy!