I only got to the 4th page and realised this would be a moster post if I kept reading so excuse me if any of the points have been covered.

This is where the 'welfare reforms' argument is totally screwed. NO amount of money will but HOMES for every gryehound "retiring" from racing each year. When 8000+ non greyhounds are being pts each year becuase there are no homes for them, what chance does a 3 to 4 year old greyhound have? MOney wont' buy more people to take a dog on. The industry NEEDs the numbers of dogs that are bred to have an industry in the first place so a reduction in numbers bred won't work either. And we have a consultant vet who has spoken out and said greyhounds do not have the nature of a dog that should be kenneled so keeping them in rescue kennels for long long periods of time isnt' much of an alternative to pts.

So many points I want to respond to but I'll stick to three...

Your first point. I've seen it PERSONALLY, for myself with my own eyes. I've done a lot of undercover work, done several tracks, stud farms, kennels and puppy auctions in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and South of Ireland. I've also sat in Durham Magistrates and Crown Court behind David Smith listening to evidence about what HE did to greyhounds. I can assure you the media didn't hype what went on there enough. I've also been involved in investigations into other such establishments STILL going on in the UK today. That isn't media hype. Thats experience.

Second point about rescue centres. When I'm rehoming a greyhound I am picky and extremely choosy on where one of my dogs go. If I wouldn't leave my own dogs in a home, I wouldn't rehome one there. My reasoning is that these dogs ahve been through enough and it takes time and energy for anyone to take ona gryehound who frequently have no idea how to act or behave in 'normal' situations. They frequently have had no kind of puppyhood and struggle with day to day life. They arent' socialised with other dogs or animals and it takes time to resettle them. Now. For each time a dog 'bounces' from a home, it causes the dog more damage. It becomes unsettled and can pick up bad habits. If you slate rescues for taking time to ensure a dog goes to a home where it can settle and won't 'bounce' then you have no understanding of pets OR people. To some extent I agree with the ego thing however thats people for you. Which is why I prefer dogs.


Your third point. Why would a breed that has been around for thousands of years become extinct because racing ends? And to be honest, if it meant that no greyhound would suffer or die prematurely, then its a price I would be prepared to pay...



Sorry but untrue. None of the dogs I have picked up have come from people who make money from them.

It would be impossible NOT to dump dogs (although my definition of dumping is also "giving" them to an under resourced, over stretched rescue) - see above for my opinion on why.

Theres no difference in my book to dumping or rehoming and thats rubbish that most pay for their dogs until they are rehomed. SOME do through the RGT but very very few.

There are no laws to prevent anyone getting rid of a greyhound. The NGRC aren't interested at all if you phone up with ear marks - they blame the flapping tracks as always and claim the dogs have been sold on. Its rare (think hens teeth) for the NGRC to take anyone to task about dumping a dog.

I';ve numbered your points because I'm on tehlaptop and its easier!

POint 1 - I have experience as already mentioned. Its made me more determined to do all I can to end the "sport". I don't quite get what your point is there? There isn't enough in the media about it and it rarely says anything about people making money from them.

Point 2 - greyhounds aren't made to chase. Its an instinct in greyhounds to run. Even more so if they've been couped up in kennels for hours before hand... I'd much rather see a greyhound run free and play - playing is punished by disqualification in greyhound racing.

Point 3 - Because the NGRC don't really care what dogs die. If they did we'd see owners and trainers being struck fof left right and centre. The industry is about the integrity of the sport and NOT the welfare of their waste product. Which brings me on to the RGT which is simply PR for the industry who can hold it up and "show" they look after their waste product when they've finished exploiting it.

POint 4 - Dogs cut apart? Yes ears are removed on occasion BUT mostly they're not because no one cares if the dog can be identified or not - whats the worst that can happen to the person who dumps it? They just say they sold it on and forgot to complete the paperwork.

Point 5 - Racing on unlicensed tracks is NOT banned. NGRC tracks ARE closing. Most of the big ones are likely to close over the next few years as they are slowly being sold off. Its a dying sport.

Point 6 - Some greyhounds aren't suited to a home life? I keep hearing about these dogs who aren't suitable to be rehomed yet I've never met one. And if they do exist I suspect thats more down to lack of socialisation etc that they don't get to experience. the psychological and physiological needs of a greyhound are not considered becuase the industry and those involved dont' really care about what happens to them once they are finished with.

Point 7 - I can show you a wealthy trainer! ONe who uses 'charity' (RGT) to rehome their dogs once they're finished with them.

I dont' get this 'media hype' thing at all. Very little is published. Unless you think the exposed mass destruction of greyhounds is 'hype'?

Okay. You can hide coarsing, hunting with dogs whatever. How do you possibly HIDE a greyhound racing track which would need to be mobile, crowds of dogs - say 100+ to have a decent race meeting AND hide crowds of people to watch? How on earth can greyhound racing go 'underground'. IN the several states in the US that have banned greyhound racing NOT ONE has reported underground racing. And the US has bigger land mass than the UK. Ialways think that is the most ridiculous argument.

as for horse racing. I despise horse racing and there are several campaigns targetting that "sport". However I don't have four horses lying on my couch, I have four greyhounds. So what has horse racing to do with banning greyhound racing? Another argument that always puzzles me.

You'll actually find rescues generally DON'T take a pop at racng people. Rescues tend to publicly criticise the 'anti's. The reason being if they say what they reallyt think of greyhound racing they run the risk of dogs being killed rather than handed over.

Thats noe the reason why rescues dont' harass owners for money - the reason is most of them dont' give a stuff once they've offloaded their dogs and the above applies re fear of hounds being killed rather than handed over.

Media hype again! PLease explain because I have no idea what you mean!

If you want examples, which ones from the vast number I have seen do you want me to start?

My most recent was picking up a dog who had been sold from NGRC to flapping track guy who phoned and said come and get her within a few weeks. She came with a serious skin infection, stomach infection that damn near killed her, clotting problems with her blood and nerves shot to bits. She was in a horrendous state.

I could sit here all night and post examples and photos of the horrendous that I've seen. I can do that all night but wouldn't that just be accused of being 'propaganda'? Its DENYING that there is a problem which is the biggest fault of the greyhound industry. There is one - a big one. One which many owners and trainers admit to. But no one knows how to answer it and even when a group of influential trainers and owners got together (greyhoundvoice) to come up with ways of sorting the issue, the industry wasn't interested. To deny its happening is pointless or to dismiss it as media hype is wrong because even people involved in it know there is a serious problem.

But I still dont' get what your point is?

Hi Aunty Amanda (and no before anyone says it she's not my Aunty I dont know who she is)

Excellent post with some brilliant points.

hi, i havent read all the pages, but my opinion is, why ban it? why ban horse racing? why bad fox hunting? way of life, no matter what is said/done it wont be banned

i dont agree with the grand national for example, its far too risky, flat racing can be dangerous, but still, its not as bad - the horses are backed and ridden out too young, my lad is paying for this now, being backed at 1 1/2, raced at 2/3 for 7 years, im now picking up the pieces

as for greyhound racing, i dont knw the fuull ins and outs - hence y i said about racing, but from what i can gather, no i shouldnt be banned,ok there are lots of dogs needing homes when they are no longer needed, but rather than saying ban it, why not say more rules/regulations etc??!

Hi Suze
Thanx for posting.
Rather than go over things that have been said on this thread, perhaps just go through all the anti posts, as I blieve this gives more than enough reasons why it should be banned.
More Rules and Regulations?
The rules are in place now. The industry fail to enforce them through lack of funds or for fear of losing public confidence if the extent of the 'cheets', 'abusers' and 'killers' are exposed. The industry is in a 'no win' situation. If they enforce the rules and show the public they are policing the iundustry, then the public would not attend greyhound racing knowing what goes on behind the scenes.

Hi Auntie wellcome to the forum.


Cant do the quote thing but
QUOTE
Point 6 - Some greyhounds aren't suited to a home life? I keep hearing about these dogs who aren't suitable to be rehomed yet I've never met one. And if they do exist I suspect thats more down to lack of socialisation etc that they don't get to experience. QUOTE


There are a few like this as well you no, most trainers even if they try to rehome all their dogs will put these sort of dogs down, they will not risk greyhounds getting a bad name as pets to chance a viscious Greyhound beening rehomed with some one with little experiance.

Think the recent Emma Milne controversy proves Im right.

Hi,

I have known a couple of dogs that weren't suitable to home life. There was one who seemed not to be able to cope with being in a home. She was very loving and full of life in kennels around other greys, but when she went to a lovely home, she was never happy, couldn't settle, wouldn't eat etc, andd made herself ill. She was taken back to the kennels and made a full recovery, and spent several years as a pet at the kennels!

I have also known a couple that needed some very experienced homes, as they were to much of a hunter, and couldn't be trusted around any small animal including small dogs. And I agree that in this case it is due to spending several years purely chasing, and not getting socialisation with the outside world.

Hi Auntie Amanda,

You have made some good points in your post, but you do seem to have misunderstood some of my messages as you seem to be attempting to correct some of my points, but are in fact stating what I have said in them responding to others comments, such as greys being made to chase. I was questioning how they are made to chase?

What you are saying then Galty, is that it is perfectly OK for the industry to breed a dog with an agressive blood line, kennel it for 23 hours a day and muzzle it for that period if it has to share a kennel....................
And then when its no longer fit for racing, just slaughter it?

I-Mac
How do you suppose a greyhound is encouraged to chase a hare?
Do you think they feed the greyhound adequately and then expect it to chase a clockwork toy on a full stomach?
Answers on a postcard please..........

Personally Jodie, I think any dog of any breed that shows extreme aggression in any manner and is not able to be controlled it shoudl be PTS. There are hundreds and hundreds of Greyhounds that do not make good pets, permanent "live ins" "adopt a dog" types, all there because of the way they are for one way or another. Many Greyhounds are absolutely lethal around other dogs and small animals, and CANNOT be retrained nor successfully rehomed.