Greyhounds

From Greyhound2K in USA: The greyhound racing industry is a business built upon the cruel treatment of its performers. Every aspect of the business points to this cruelty, from the thousands of dogs who are killed each year when theyare no longer profitable, to the large number of greyhounds seriously injured while competing, to the daily living conditions that racing dogs must endure. Taken together, these issues reveal a cruel industry that should be outlawed nationwide. The Racing System: Systematic Cruelty The American greyhound racing industry is an expansive web of nearly four dozen racetracks in fifteen states nationwide. Each dog track requires approximately 1,000 greyhounds to conduct as many as one hundred races each week. Because even the most successful greyhounds race for only a few years, more than 30,000 greyhounds are bred annually to provide the industry with a constant supply of potential racers. These young dogs replace non-competitive dogs, who are disposed of when they are no longer profitable . Greyhound Factsheet Unprofitable Greyhounds are Killed Over the past decade, hundreds of non-profit greyhound adoption organizations have been created to find homes for rejected greyhounds. Unfortunately, there are too many greyhounds being discarded to find homes for them all. Estimates vary on the number of greyhounds that are killed each year, but both sides agree that it is in the thousands. In 1999, the pro-industry National Greyhound Association estimated that 7,500 greyhounds were euthanized nationwide. The Greyhound Protection League, a greyhound advocacy organization based in California disputes these figures, believing that the actual number killed is closer to 20,000. Most greyhounds that are killed are probably euthanized by private veterinarians. However, racing dogs have been disposed of by nearly every method imaginable. Since 1990, there have been more than 85 media documented cases of greyhound abuse, collectively involving thousands of dogs shot, starved, bludgeoned, electrocuted, and sold into research laboratories. Greyhounds are Injured While Racing The most common injuries greyhounds suffer are bone fractures and soft tissue injuries. Other, less common injuries include spinal injuries, seizures, and death from cardiac arrest. Many injuries occur when dogs are bumped by other dogs during a race. Several analyses indicate that at least 7% of all greyhounds at a particular racetrack will suffer serious injury in any given year. Some racetracks have reported injury rates as high as 20%. Greyhounds are Short-Term Investments Racing greyhounds are short-term investments. Even the fastest dogs only race for a few years, and are expected to generate enough profit during that time to make up for the initial investment for their food and housing up to that point. One champion dog can be extremely profitable. Often, owners will purchase multiple greyhounds in the hopes that one will generate enough profit to compensate financially for all the others. Some kennel operators also own dogs that they race. Most lease dogs from registered owners, pay these investors 35% of the revenue earned by those dogs, and retain 65%. In some cases, the kennel owner also serves as the trainer, who is directly responsible for greyhounds on a daily basis. Because these dogs are short-term investments, their lives exist within the context of a racing kennel’s profit margin. Trainers try to get the highest return out of individual dogs, while incurring the least amount of cost. When a greyhound no longer performs, it is imperative that the kennel replace that dog with another dog that possesses greater revenue potential. Each kennel has extensive costs involved in caring for 60 or more dogs, which if done properly will include: Shipping costs to transport dogs Rental of kennel space Air conditioning/heat 1-3 kennel assistants Feeding Bedding Vaccinations Veterinary care for injuries Worming medicine and flea/tick treatment Flea/tick treatment Testosterone, to keep female dogs from going into heat which impact their ability to race Vitamins and food additives Antibiotics Euthanasia costs for injured or unprofitable dogs While at the Racetrack, Greyhounds are Individually Caged for 18-22 Hours Each Day Each racetrack contracts with 12-20 individually-owned kennels that maintain a revolving base of 60 or more dogs each. These dogs are individually caged in stacked crates for 18-22 hours each day. Crates may be made of metal or wood. Shredded newspaper or thin carpet remnants are generally used for bedding. Greyhound Welfare is Compromised by Economic Considerations The quality of veterinary care often depends on the economic success or failure of individual kennels. Unfortunately, once greyhounds suffer a serious injury, they are no longer good investments and instead become financial liabilities. Kennels simply cannot afford to feed and house greyhounds that are either not productive, or have no potential for being productive. Because of the economic pressures that exist within the industry, adoption groups often receive greyhounds in a general state of neglect, with evidence of poor nutrition, and a lack of dental care and basic veterinary treatment. Many greyhound adoption groups regularly receive racing greyhounds that have severe infestations of fleas, ticks, and internal parasites. Greyhounds Are Transported in a Dangerous Manner Because greyhounds typically race at multiple racetracks during their racing career, professional haulers often transport large numbers of greyhounds from one racetrack to another. During this process, greyhounds are usually transported in cramped conditions, and in some cases undergo cross-country trips in unventilated, aluminum trailers or rental vans. Care of the Racing Greyhound, an industry handbook, states that greyhounds suffer from dehydration, weight loss, and exhaustion while in transit, and recommends administering the drugs Roserpine and Lomotil so that travel-worn dogs will be able to perform. In recent years, multiple cases have been reported by the media of greyhounds dying while in transit. Greyhounds Race in Extreme Weather Conditions Greyhounds race on the hottest days of summer and the coldest days of winter. Many injuries may be ascribed to racing in such extreme weather conditions. Greyhounds are Fed Inexpensive “4-D” Meat To cut costs, greyhounds are fed the most inexpensive meat available. According to Care of the Racing Greyhound, the primary sources for meat used to feed greyhounds in the United States are "abattoirs that have commercial products of 4-D meat for Greyhounds." It goes on to add, "The 'D' stands for dying, diseased, disabled and dead livestock ... this meat is used because it is the most economically feasible at this time." The health hazards posed by this feed include gastroenteritis, E. coli poisoning, a greyhound-specific illness called "Alabama Rot," and death. While it is true that 4-D meat is also the primary source of pet food, in that process it is cooked to remove any pathogens. Racing greyhounds are fed 4-D meat raw because many trainers believe this causes them to run faster. Greyhounds are Trained With Live Animals, Such as Rabbits Some members of the greyhound racing industry believe that training dogs with live animals, such as rabbits, causes them to run faster when competing. While the industry has publicly denounced this practice, it does still occur. In 2002 a greyhound breeder and owner had his state racing license temporarily suspended after he was caught using domestic rabbits to train his greyhounds. At least 180 rabbits were found at his kennel in rural Arizona. Some Trainers Give Greyhounds Performance Enhancing Drugs to Alter the Outcome of Races Because the greyhound racing industry depends on the wagering public, there will always be individuals looking to find an edge over other gamblers. One way to do this is the use of performance enhancing drugs with the intention of affecting the outcome of particular races. In 2002, Wisconsin state officials secretly filmed a greyhound trainer injecting 11 greyhounds with a foreign substance they believed to be boldenone, an anabolic steroid derived from testosterone, before races. Greyhound Racing Should be Outlawed Unfortunately, every aspect of the daily life of a racing greyhound is dependent on economic pressures to win and generate revenue for the kennel. Increased regulation could solve some of the problems in the industry, but two systematic problems can not be solved by even the best regulatory efforts. First, the dog racing industry cannot exist without breeding and disposing of large numbers of greyhounds. Second, because this is a profit-driven industry, kennel revenues will always trump the welfare of the dogs. Until Americans stand up and say “enough is enough” to this cruel industry, greyhounds will continue to suffer and be killed when they are no longer fast enough to be profitable. Shock report on greyhound cruelty A shock report is calling for new laws to protect as many as 600 greyhounds a year in Wales killed or discarded after their racing career is over. In Wales, up to a further 1800 lurchers, the smaller type of greyhound crossbreed, may be discarded after their sporting career reaches its peak The hard facts are spelled out in a report entitled The Fate of Racing Greyhounds and Working Lurchers in Wales, produced by an all party group of AMs in the Welsh assembly and animal protection organisations. The chair of the all-party group, Lorraine Barrett AM, said: "This report is based on sound statistical information gleaned from local authorities and gives us the ammunition we need to tackle the terrible truth we have suspected for a number of years. "We must now do something to prevent these large numbers of greyhounds being either killed or abandoned when their use of sporting dogs is over." Tax on bookies In the big money world of dog racing, the bookies rake in over £2bn from the popular sport, but little goes back into caring. for dogs, many of whom are retired aged four but have another 10 years of active life left. The League Against Cruel Sports is demanding a tax on bookies and says that a levy of only 1p in every pound would help pay for the animals welfare when they retire. Alain Thomas, of Greyhound Rescue Wales, said: "We now have hard facts which will force the greyhound industry to face up to its responsibilities. It costs £230 to take care of each abandoned dog in a local authority pound." His organisation wish to see the industry putting its hand in its pocket to help fund the care and the finding of new homes for greyhounds, and these pressure groups are now calling on the government to include the protection of greyhounds in its forthcoming Animal Welfare Bill. A levy could bring in £20m a year to help organisations such as Greyhound Rescue Wales to help find homes for the discarded dogs. Over 30,000 Greyhounds are bred for racing each year in Britain and Ireland. Those that are retired from registered tracks have a chance of being helped by the Greyhound Trust.   Greyhounds are abandoned when their working life is over However, many leave the registered tracks to continue racing on the independent tracks, there are three of these in Wales, where there are few regulations to safeguard them while they are racing or when they retire. After a short career on the independent circuit, many dogs face a terrible end. While some owners who race dogs on these tracks keep them as pets when they retire from racing, others dispose of by other means. They may be abandoned to fend for themselves and starve to death, be put down by a vet, killed by the owner or rescued while abandoned by organisation such as Greyhound Rescue Wales, says the all-party report. The report calls on the Welsh assembly and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to take action including: drafting legislation to tackle the problem forcing the independent greyhound industry to make proper provision for dogs on their retirement give local authorities greater powers to act as watchdogs. RSPCA spokesman David MacDowell said: "There is no justification for abandoning or killing these animals simply because they can't do their job any more. "An animal should be an owner's responsibility for life, not just until they have reached the end of their usefulness." Campaigns Stop Dog Racing Greyhound Racing: Death in the Fast Lane www.peta.org The natural speed and grace of greyhounds have been exploited for human benefit since the days of the ancient Egyptians. The dogs have been used for centuries in hunting and coursing events, but the advent of modern dog racing at the turn of the twentieth century caused greyhound breeders and racetrack proprietors to think of this breed as a mere commodity. Greyhound racing continues to be big business, bringing millions of dollars in revenue to the 15 states that still allow it. Today, however, the cruelty of the industry is finally being exposed, and thanks to the resulting public outcry, there has been a decline in the number of spectators who are attending greyhound races. Unfortunately, these financial losses may be contributing to poor track conditions, which have caused a marked rise in animal injuries at some tracks. (1) Alabama Man Kills Thousands of Greyhounds In May 2002, the remains of approximately 3,000 greyhounds from Florida racetracks were discovered on the Alabama property of a former racetrack security guard who had been "retiring" unwanted greyhounds with a .22 rifle for more than 40 years. (2) The attorney for the accused, who faced up to 10 years in prison on felony cruelty-to-animals charges, said, "If there’s anybody to be indicted here, it’s the industry because this is what they’re doing to these animals. The misery begins the day they’re born. The misery ends when my client gets a hold of them and puts a bullet in their head." (3) The Alabama greyhound massacre made it more evident than ever that racing greyhounds are treated as "running machines," produced in quantities that require the disposal of surplus dogs and dogs who are injured, old, or deemed too slow or no longer profitable. Winners and Losers Thousands of greyhounds are killed each year as the declining dog-racing industry struggles to stay alive. Some puppies are killed in the name of "selective breeding" before they ever touch a racetrack. Dogs who do qualify to become racers, at around 14 to 17 months of age, typically live in cages and are kept muzzled by their trainers at all times. Many exhibit crate and muzzle sores and suffer from infestations of internal and external parasites. Although they are extremely sensitive to temperature because of their low body fat and thin coats, greyhounds are forced to race in extreme conditions— ranging from subzero temperatures to sweltering heat of over 100 degrees. Few dogs make it to the nominal retirement age of 4 or 5. Injuries and sickness—broken legs, heatstroke, heart attacks—claim the lives of many. Others—such as Randad, a dog in Alabama—are victims of track machinery. Randad jumped onto the lure rail, was electrocuted, then became entangled on the mechanical lure. (4) Another dog, Tune Me In, suffered for 30 minutes before being euthanized after he was badly cut by a mechanical lure at a Florida track. (5) At one track in Iowa, more than 100 dogs were injured and 18 died during the first nine months of the year 2000. The track’s general manager defended his track by claiming that "top-notch dogs run harder and are more injury-prone." (6) Still other dogs die during transport from one racetrack to another. It is industry practice to carry up to 60 greyhounds in one truck, with two or three dogs per crate, and to line the floor of these "haulers" with ice rather than providing air conditioning. (7) The backs of these trucks reach temperatures in excess of 100 degrees on a summer day, deadly conditions for animals who cannot sweat to cool themselves. In 2002, several greyhounds died on a truck during a 100-mile trip between Naples and Miami. (8) Conditions for the animals "at home" are often not much better. A Massachusetts man was charged with cruelty after 10 greyhounds at his farm were found to be severely dehydrated and suffering from malnutrition. (9) Heatstroke killed 53 dogs in a West Virginia trailer that had been converted into a kennel; the air conditioning malfunctioned, and the owner did not open any windows or turn on a fan. (10) Most dogs who slow down and become unprofitable are either killed immediately or sold to research laboratories. In 2002, a former greyhound kennel owner and an assistant faced felony charges for selling more than 1,000 greyhounds for medical experiments. They claimed to be running a greyhound "adoption agency." (11) Some unwanted dogs suffer further cruelty. In one such instance at Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene Greyhound Park, a female greyhound was taken from her crate and placed in the middle of a crowded room on a wet floor, then a man shoved a metal wire into her rectum and attached an alligator clip onto her lip, and she was then electrocuted. Witnesses said that it was not the first time that a race dog at the park had been killed in this way. (12) The state of Idaho has since banned live dog racing. Other Animal Victims Midwestern farmers who use greyhounds to kill coyotes in the winter have begun to race the dogs during the summer, using dead coyote skins as lures "to keep their dogs in shape." (13) In live-lure training, greyhounds are encouraged to chase and kill rabbits who are hanging from horizontal poles so that the dogs will chase the inanimate lures used during actual races. Officially, the industry now frowns upon the once-sanctioned practice of using rabbits, guinea pigs, and cats as bait for live-lure training, but the method continues to be used. Ronald Floyd was prohibited from running dogs at Oregon tracks in 1999 after he allowed six dogs to die of heatstroke inside a van, but he was not prohibited from breeding the animals. Investigators had to find a dead rabbit in his driveway following yet another greyhound death at his farm in 2002 before the commission finally pulled his license to race, train, and board dogs. (14) Later that year, the Arizona gaming commission suspended the license of a trainer who was caught attaching live rabbits to the "whirligig" that greyhounds chase around the track. (15) One Massachusetts breeder says that she sends her 1-year-old greyhounds to Oklahoma for six to eight months "where they learn to race by chasing jackrabbits." Help and Hope Greyhounds are usually gentle, quiet, and friendly, and some lucky dogs are placed in caring homes. Reputable adoption groups, funded by donations and staffed by volunteers, save as many retired greyhounds as they can. There are more than 200 greyhound rescue groups in the U.S., the U.K., and Western Europe. The Greyhound Protection League www.greyhounds.org  organizes adoption programs throughout the U.S. and distributes information about the racing industry. Although adoption helps, the only way to ultimately end the abuse of greyhounds is to put an end to racing. The industry is slowly dying because of competition from casinos and a lack of interest from younger gamblers who are looking for games with faster action. At Oregon’s Multnomah Greyhound Park, less than $11 million was wagered in 2002, compared with $25 million in 1995. (17) The Washington Post noted the dwindling numbers of breeders, bettors, and purses and concluded that "the sport has declined so sharply even its aficionados see no real hope for its revival." (18) Dog racing is illegal in 34 states but continues in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. (19) Even states that have banned live dog racing may still permit off-track or satellite wagering and the breeding of racing dogs. In an attempt to revive dog racing, some state legislatures and lobbyists are rewriting gambling laws to allow the tracks to install slot machines and video lottery terminals. GREY2K USA www.grey2kusa.org  is lobbying for legislation to put a stop to greyhound racing. You can help to educate racing supporters by leafleting at a local track. Even if your state has banned greyhound racing, it is likely that it has breeding kennels that are supplying dogs to other states. Write letters to the editors of your local newspapers explaining why it’s vital that we put an end to this cruel and useless sport. References 1)"Injuries to Dogs Increase at Dairyland," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 15 May 2003. 2)"Ex-Pensacola Security Guard Admits Killing Greyhounds," Associated Press, 22 May 2002. 3)Buddy Bracken, National Public Radio, 31 May 2002. 4)Benjamin Niolet, "Greyhound Death Spurs BRC Change," The Birmingham News, 29 Jun. 2000 5)Charlie Whitehead and Becky Wakefield, "Greyhound Group Files Complaint Against Track After Dog Injured During Race," Naples Daily News, 10 Mar. 2000. 6)William Petroski, "Greyhounds Die at an Alarming Rate," Des Moines Register, 3 Nov. 2000. 7)Luisa Yanez, "Inquiry Launched in Death of Dogs—Greyhounds Likely Died From Heat," The Miami Herald, 13 Aug. 2002. 8)Yanez. 9)Michael Jones, "Charges to be Sought in Greyhounds Case," The Boston Globe, 9 Feb. 2000. 10)Amy Gareis, "Heat Stroke Kills 53 Greyhounds in West Virginia Kennel," The Wheeling Intelligencer, Jul. 2000. 11)Associated Press, "2 Charged in Deaths of Former Race Dogs," 1 Jan. 2002. 12)J. Todd Foster, "Slow Greyhounds Electrocuted on ‘Hot Plate,’ Trainers Say," The Spokesman Review, 17 Sep. 1995. 13)Kristi Wright, "The Ancient Tradition of Racing Finds a Contemporary Counterpart on the Plains of Nebraska," Omaha World-Herald, 15 Oct. 2000. 14)Stuart Tomlinson, "Eagle Creek Man Loses License to Raise Greyhounds," Portland Oregonian, 27 Jun. 2002 15)Mary Jo Pitzl, "Dog Breeder Gets 60-Day Suspension," The Arizona Republic, 15 Nov. 2002. 16)Judith Gaines, "Down to the Wire of Greyhound Racing …," The Boston Globe Magazine, 5 Nov. 2000. 17)Tomlinson, "Dog Racing Struggles to Stay on Track," 8 May 2003. 18)Andrew Beyer, "Greyhound Racing: A Sport Gone to the Dogs," The Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2000. 19)National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, "Greyhound Facts," 2003 www.ncalg.org/GreyhoundFacts.htm    Greyhound Rescue Wales Retired Greyhound Trust Dunrunning Greyhound Trust League Against Cruel Sports DOUBLE BETRAYAL - Thousands of greyhounds are killed every year in Australia Greyhound Action International, Thursday, 4 March 2004 http://www.greyhoundaction.co.uk Due to the over breeding and short racing 'careers' there is a surplus of greyhounds with the majority of the dogs being killed or ending their days being cut open in vivisection laboratories in Australia. (For evidence of how Australian ex-racing greyhounds are used in horrific experiments please visit www.greyhoundaction.co.uk click on international under Australia) Many are 'disposed' of through other extremely cruel methods such as drowning, shooting and beating. Thousands of puppies that fail the grade are routinely killed. Many dogs are abandoned with little hope of finding a home even though greyhounds are naturally docile and affectionate dogs and given the chance they make wonderful pets. Greyhound racing has been recognised as a cruel sport and banned in 6 states in the USA and in South Africa with growing opposition in other countries. The Australian racing authorities the ruling body of racing in Australia and private individuals and corporations have began to promote and encourage greyhound racing in Asia. The majority of the dogs are being exported from Australia with racing and breeding already underway in Vietnam, Macau,Korea and more recently in Shanghai. They further plan on creating a network of tracks throughout Vietnam, the Philippines and Cambodia. These are countries notorious for the barbaric torture and slaughter of dogs for human consumption. There is no hope or opportunity of rehoming greyhounds that are 'surplus' to requirements. They are ending their days being butchered in the dog meat industry.  At present this is the fate of Australian greyhounds in Asia unless we stop them. Take Action WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? 1: Be a voice for the greyhounds. We are pleased to announce the formation of Greyhound Action Australia, Following the success of GA in other countries, we are sure GAA will be a huge success, but we need people to help and get involved by raising awareness through educating the public. If you would like to be part of our campaigns please contact Emma Haswell at Greyhound Action Australia. E-mail greyhoundactionaustralia@yahoo.com.au Check out www.greyhoundaction.co.uk click on international and send protest letters to the people responsible for greyhound cruelty. Sample letters provided. 2: Contact the Australian racing authorities, government officials and companies listed below and voice your protest and insist that they ban the export of greyhounds to Asia. neil@anzga.org.au (Greyhounds Australasia Limited - formerly known as "ANZGA" - Australian New Zealand Greyhound Association), Neil Brown, Chief Executive Officer) or: admin@anzga.org.au srosier@gra.nsw.gov.au graq@graq.org.au racing@dtrft.qld.gov.au admin@grv.org.au The Honourable Warren Truss, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (responsible for live exports). W.Truss.MP@aph.gov.au Contact the following breeder and main exporter of greyhounds to Asia: ROCKY RIDGE FARM Sam Cauchi ROCKY RIDGE FARM RMB 1200 Jones Road Calga NSW 2250, Australia sam@rockyridgefarm.com.au HomeTel:(02) 43 75 1145 Fax:(02) 43 75 1129 Mobile:0418 42 8786 Mobile:0412 42 8787 The following companies are also responsible for exporting greyhounds to Asia. Please contact them and ask them to stop sending greyhounds to their deaths in Asia. TWM COMMUNICATIONS 77 Todman Avenue Kensington NSW 2033 TEL: (02) 9313 7834 TRANSPET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD 406 Bringelly Road Austral NSW 2171 P.O. Box 21 Austral NSW 2171, Australia ABN 28 003 750 10 TEL: (02) 9606 6655 FAX: (02) 9606 6047 info@transpet.com.au DOGTAINERS HEAD OFFICE, MELBOURNE melbourne@dogtainers.com.au Ph 03 9335 1333 +61 3 9335 1333 Fax: 03 9335 1922 +61 9335 1922 JET PETS ANIMAL TRANSPORTHEAD OFFICE 20 Garden Drive Tullamarine Victoria, Australia Tel : (613) 9330 1541 Fax: (613) 9335 1206 info@jetpets.com.au General Manager Sandy Matheson: sandy@jetpets.com.au 3: Do not support or attend greyhound racing in any country and never bet on a greyhound race. 4: Contact Greyhound Action International for petition forms and copies of leaflets to distribute and also collect signatures for our petitions. 5: Write to local, national and international newspapers to express your disgust at the treatment of greyhounds in Australia and their export to Asia. Tell as many people as possible. 6: Name and shame. If you have any information concerning greyhound cruelty in any part of the world, please speak up by contacting greyhoundactionaustralia@yahoo.com.au or contact your local police, newspapers etc. Make as much noise as possible! 7: If you can offer a greyhound a loving home please either contact Greyhound Action International or visit your local shelters. They make wonderful pets. News Headlines on your Website Keep informed! Get the latest local animal rights news headlines on your website with live AAQ news feeds After Almost a Century of Racing, Greyhounds Still the Underdog July 29, 2005 Losing Race Five recent tragedies, from a mystery illness to a kennel fire, have refocused attention on the high-stakes world of greyhound racing and the thousands of dogs it affects annually. We offer six ways for you to send this nearly 100-year-old sport down its final homestretch By Danielle Ring As the clock inches closer to race time, the Florida air feels like a hot, wet dishrag. The stands are filled with men and women out for an evening of entertainment. Everyone, it seems, has carefully placed a bet after thoroughly researching previous results. They wait, almost as anxiously as the dogs who bark raucously from within their starting boxes. Finally, the lure is ready to go. The wooden box doors open, and hundreds of pounds of muscle thunder against the sandy track in pursuit of the lure. The dogs speed past the stands in a blur, make their way around the turns, and circle back in front of the frenzied crowd.  A camera snaps the photo finish to help determine the winner. A hundred or so feet past the finish, the lure retreats to its cage, and a squeaker sound rewards the dogs’ efforts. They pant heavily and move slowly now, but in a few minutes, this scene, a composite drawn from previously published material, will repeat itself with another fresh set of eight dogs. Those with winning tickets collect their profits, but their victories, when viewed as part of a sport that generates more cruelty than wealth, are indeed hollow. At greyhound race tracks all across America, as HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel showed recently, there is a “back room” where lethal injections are prepared for those dogs who are not considered profitable racers. Kennel workers bring around a wheelbarrow to cart away the bodies of animals deemed just seconds too slow for the sport. Sometimes, though, the greyhound racing industry considers a vet and a needle unaffordable luxuries. At many lower-grade tracks, according to groups such as GREY2K USA, dogs are often discarded through other, more sinister means: electrocution, starvation, gunshots, and mutilation during the course of a race. Tens of thousands of “slow” greyhounds are killed every year before reaching the age of three. In a normal lifetime, greyhounds can be expected to live upwards of 13 years. In the latter 20th century, people have made remarkable strides toward developing a more humane society. We have more cruelty-free choices for food, clothing, and entertainment. Animal welfare organizations such as The Humane Society of the United States have become very effective in creating a more animal-friendly society through education, advocacy, and litigation. So how come a sport as cruel as greyhound racing still exists today? The Noble Greyhound and Racing As the oldest known breed of dog, greyhounds were the noble companions of pharaohs, kings, queens and aristocrats. A greyhound’s amazing speed, agility, and sight have endeared him to hare hunters in Europe for the last several thousand years. When English and Irish immigrants came to America, they brought their greyhounds. The open flat land of the Midwest was ideal for the sport of “lure coursing” for hares; plus, greyhounds were successful in ridding the area of crop-nibbling jackrabbits. American greyhound racing began as an alternative to lure coursing. Owen Patrick Smith invented an artificial lure made of a stuffed rabbit skin. Despite many ups and downs over the century, greyhound racing eventually became a popular spectator sport in America. By the mid 1980s, few people had ever seen greyhounds outside of a racetrack even though 45,000-50,000 dogs were being bred for the sport every year. Because the dogs were reputed to be bloodthirsty, too energetic or too difficult to care for in a home setting, most greyhounds were not adopted by the general public. Only people with ties to the track knew otherwise and adopted a few of the dogs whose racing careers had ended. So began the legacy of killing surplus dogs.  Today, greyhound racing is legal in most states. In all, there are more than 40 greyhound tracks operating seasonally or year round in 15 states. Florida is the leader among racing states with 16 tracks. Greyhound racing is illegal in just eight states: Idaho, Maine, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. While insiders claim that the greyhound industry has made many positive changes in the name of animal welfare, racing is still an inherently cruel activity. Each racetrack needs approximately 1,000 dogs to operate a full race schedule. According to greyhound adoption and welfare groups, only about half of those 1,000 dogs will be adopted by the public. If anything has improved in greyhound racing, it is that more people know about the plight of the dogs, and that hundreds of adoption groups now exist to rescue greyhounds who previously had no means of escape. Otherwise, it is the same old story: Dogs are overbred and killed, are forced to live in cramped cages, and suffer countless acts of cruelty in the name of entertainment. Industry Perpetuates Abuse: Five Recent Examples As if the killing of tens of thousands of young dogs per year were not enough, greyhound racing has also produced a number of senseless tragedies since its inception in the United States. Since 1990, there have been more than 50 media-documented cases of abuse. Since February 2005 alone, five cases have caught the attention of the American public. Mystery Illness in Massachusetts At Revere’s Wonderland Greyhound Park in Massachusetts, greyhounds began showing signs of a virulent respiratory infection this past spring. Despite efforts by veterinarians, as many as 19 dogs died from the illness, which was ultimately unidentifiable. The track suspended racing temporarily and quarantined all greyhounds, but too late. Because greyhounds are often moved from one track to another depending on their racing abilities, the illness spread. Eventually, the illness—now a full-fledged epidemic—infected as many as 10,000 dogs across the country. It killed at least 100 dogs. Hundreds of Connecticut Racers Have Nowhere to Go As most racing insiders will admit, greyhound racing is decreasing in popularity as people find new sources of entertainment. Most people today prefer the instant gratification of slot machines and Internet gambling. Fighting for its survival, the racing industry has been able to find new ways of infusing cash into a dying pastime. In some cases, tracks have added slot machines, as in the case of Broward County, Florida, where voters elected to install slot machines at its tracks last fall. While the slots may save some tracks, other operations are simply choosing to close. The Plainfield Greyhound Track in Connecticut decided to shut its doors in May after 30 years of racing. The decision was sudden, sending 1,200 greyhounds to an undecided fate. As it turned out, most were sent to other tracks to race; the remainder—about 200-300 dogs—were absorbed into the adoption network, an already overburdened system trying to find homes for the other 20,000 dogs just coming off the nation’s tracks. Eighteen Greyhounds Needlessly Die In the early hours of June 1, a fire alarm went off just like it was supposed to at the Naples Fort Myers Greyhound Track in Bonita Springs, Florida. The guard on duty rushed to the wrong kennels—twice. At the same time, kennel owners just starting their day found smoke suffocating their normally sleepy dogs. The owners eventually learned that built-up dander in an old air-conditioning unit started the fire, which went out on its own, but the damage was done. All told, 18 dogs were dead, and the remaining 64 kenneled greyhounds were suffering from various stages of smoke inhalation. All of the dogs who survived were put up for adoption, never to race again. Heat Claims the Lives of Eight Greyhounds The road from Tucson, Arizona to Juarez, Mexico is a long and hot one, especially when transporting 35 dogs in the back of a trailer with adequate air-conditioning for only 20. In June, race dog trainer Greg Burgess was fined and suspended from racing for loading more dogs than regulations permitted and for stuffing multiple dogs in each crate. However, it was a little too late for eight of the dogs who died en route. Greyhounds Rescued from Unsanitary Kennels In July, Arizona greyhounds again made the news. Someone complained about race dogs being kept in deplorable conditions at John Rippetoe’s kennels in Pima County. Animal workers investigated and confirmed the truth: More than 70 dogs covered in fleas and ticks, malnourished, dehydrated, and living in unsanitary conditions. Two dogs had died at the kennel after other dogs reportedly attacked them. The remaining 70-plus were lucky enough to be rescued. They are currently being nursed back to health by local organizations, and will ultimately be put up for adoption. Unfortunately, events like these are all too common in racing. Many are never reported to the media, and greyhounds simply disappear from the records. As Kelly Connolly in The HSUS Companion Animal section puts it, “Since racing is first and foremost a business, profits will always be of greater importance than greyhound welfare.” Spreading the Word Eliminating greyhound racing is possible through education, compassion, and action. Here are some compassionate actions you can take: Don't patronize greyhound tracks or bet on dog racing. Do your own research into greyhound racing and educate your friends, family, and co-workers about the sport. Encourage them to boycott greyhound racing and betting. Volunteer your time or expertise to a local greyhound protection organization. If you live in one of the 15 states that operate greyhound racing tracks or in one of the 42 states that has not yet banned the sport, write to your state officials to express your opposition. Tell them that greyhounds belong in loving homes, not on race tracks, and that the sport should be banned. Look up your U.S local officials here. Get the media involved by submitting letters to the editor about greyhound racing. If you are interested in adopting a companion animal, consider contacting a greyhound rescue group. Danielle Ring is a freelance writer based in the Washington D.C. area. Greyhound Racing Facts Oregon Greyhound Track Too Slow for Owners to Keep Running for Their Lives: The Realities of Greyhound Racing QGAR received this from Greyhound Action Australasia http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk/iaustraliaintro.html http://www.ameurogreyhoundalliance.org/ghplanet.htm 12 - 18 September each year Find an Event Near You! Below is summary of what the event is about for anyone who wishes to organise an event in their area. Greyhound Planet Focusing public attention on greyhounds September 12th - 18th   Greyhound Planet takes place each year to honour greyhounds and their relatives (galgos, lurchers etc.) throughout the world and to educate the public about the status of these dogs. Greyhound Planet events are being held this year in many American states, as well as in Canada and several European countries.Throughout the UK, Ireland and Australia, Greyhound Action supporters will be staging various activities as part of Greyhound Planet. These will consist of demos outside greyhound tracks, sponsored walks, street stalls and betting shop pickets   Please contact us as soon as possible if you would like to organise, or take part in, a Greyhound Planet event in your area. Leaflets, posters and pledge forms are all available free of charge. We can also provide advice on obtaining the maximum publicity for your event, in order to educate as many people as possible about the appalling slaughter and suffering of greyhounds  Greyhound Action Australasia  http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk/iaustraliaintro.html