The economic contraction and the contraction in greyhound racing continues and at least one item of interest has come of it.
Greyhound Companions of New Mexico (GCNM), a Grey2K USA mouthpiece, is being denied dogs by racing greyhound breeders. Please note, this is occurring in the backwater state of New Mexico - not IOWA. New Mexico, a state where there is no greyhound racing, but a demand for the dogs. New Mexico, which has two active greyhound placement groups - the very AR GCNM and the neutral, pro-greyhound adoption group - Greyhound Pets of America - New Mexico Greyhound Connection (GPA-NMGC).
Anyway, it has come to this author's attention that Greyhound Companions on NM was expecting a load of greyhounds for placement but, due to one reason or another, that transport to them was cancelled. They are no longer getting the dogs. Boy... are their panties in a wad! Especially those of the Queen Bee - Judy Kody Paulsen.
Now then, I don't know about you, but if it were me and if I had racing dogs that I spent many thousands of dollars on to either purchase or breed, to feed, to train, to house, to vet and to do anything else that was required to keep them safe, happy & sound, I'd take great exception to someone calling me a "fanatic", an abuser, "petty", and whatever other vitriol this woman and her group can conjure up. Here are some opinions spouted by Paulsen throughout the years...
"Adoption is not enough... More greyhounds die annually than any other single breed of dog." Fall 2006/Winter 2007 issue of GCNM News
Where did she come up with this drivel? There are no statistics kept on the number of dogs of ANY breed that die annually. Racing greyhounds are bred in far fewer numbers than many other breeds. For instance, in 2006, when she voiced that wild opinion, the American Kennel Club registered 126,000 Labrador retrievers. That is not the number whelped or born, just registered. That same year, 2006, there were 22,951 NGA greyhounds whelped, not registered, but BORN. That number includes puppies who were stillborn and those that died as neonates.
Continuing in 2006, Paulsen wrote, "...interesting to note that the number of dogs now available to adoption programs in that area is nowhere near the large numbers once being turned over to the university - where are those dogs?" Article titled, "Why Adoption is Not Enough", Judy Kody Paulsen, 2006
In 2006, racing greyhounds were not going to the "university" aka Colorado State (CSU). In fact, greyhounds had not gone to CSU since 1998, which is when Colorado racing folks banned the practice. Why is she bringing this up, as if it is "new news" in 2006?
In 2006, there was only one, active greyhound race track in Colorado, Mile High Kennel Club, I'd answer her that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out where the dogs went. With few racing venues in Colorado, the dogs were moved to other places such as Florida. Truly, Interstate Kennel Club closed in 1991. Colorado Springs closed in 2001. Pueblo closed in 2002 or 2003. Cloverleaf closed in 2006. Judy used to get "her dogs" from Colorado, especially from a kennel in Pueblo. So, I've got to ask...
Judy, why should greyhound racing folks give you dogs? You call them abusers. You imply that they are the scum of the earth. You are trying to destroy their lives and families. Why should they give you dogs, when there are many, many pro-racing and neutral racing adoption groups willing to take those same dogs?
You try to get dogs for placement from Tucson. Why should they give you dogs? You and your guy, Eric Jackson, constantly slander & libel Tucson Greyhound Park and those who have dogs there. The racing folk spends thousands of dollars on these dogs, why should they give them to you? They are NOT your dogs! They belong to other people and those people have the right to decide where those dogs go into adoption.
Judy... I hate to be the one to break this to you, but... You know what... You are now learning that no tracks equals no dogs. You are also learning that you sow what you reap.
Yours in greyhounds...
Before I actually had a greyhound and learned the truth, I thought PETA-like "rescue" groups sneaked in to horrible abusive racetracks under cover of darkness and stole the dogs.
ReplyDeleteNow I know better. I have seen how it works first-hand. I know that kennel owners and trainers love their dogs, and treat them like the elite athletes they are. They want them to go to the best homes possible when they retire. Their dogs do not NEED "rescue," but they DO need adoption. These dogs BELONG to people, and those people get to CHOOSE who gets them. No group has a RIGHT to get dogs just because they want them.
If I were a kennel owner, I would find a racing-friendly or racing-neutral group who would work WITH me to place my dogs. There is no way I would give my dogs to a group that I knew was going to turn around and badmouth me to the rest of the world.
And now the kennel owners are getting tired of the lies and the slander. They are cutting off the supply of dogs, and I don't blame them one little bit. Even if racing isn't your cup of tea, it seems to me it would be better for all concerned to be civil and work WITH the tracks rather than railing against them.
It seems Ms. Paulsen has failed to heed the old admonition: DON'T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU. It may just bite you back.
Be careful what you wish for....
ReplyDeleteAs much as I detest the lies of GREY2K and the prevarications of some anti-racing adoption groups, I have to say that this is a bad, short-sighted policy that fails to put the Greyhounds first. Using the Greyhounds as pawns to "make a statement" is bad for the dogs and thus bad for racing.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the policy may have a short-term feel good aspect to some racing folks to "spit in the eye" of anti-racing groups by denying them Greyhounds to re-home, the reality is that until every adoptable Greyhound has a place to go, we need as many adoption groups as possible placing as many adoptable Greyhounds into as many good homes as possible, regardless of racing philosophy. We have 100% adoption within reach (and by that I mean 100% of pet-suitable Greyhounds that aren't breeding stock), and the sooner we get there, the better it will be for Greyhounds and for racing. "Don't adopt from or supply adoptable Greyhounds to anti-racing adoption groups" will delay the reaching of that goal. I would urge the racing folks currently advancing this policy to wait until we reach that goal and adoption groups have to get on waiting lists to get adoptable Greyhounds to advance that policy. We're not there yet.
John Parker
Touche, John Parker. I've brought greyhounds to Judy before & she finds primo homes for them.
ReplyDeleteThose who bite the hands that feed them, people like Judy, need to realize that their actions have consequences, which may include they no longer get retired racing greyhounds from owners. Those owners have bought & paid for the dogs and they have the right to take them to whatever group they want or to take them back to the farm. Just because a group places dogs into good homes that does not give them the right to complain when an owner decides, "Hey... You're trying to destroy my way of life. Guess what, you're not getting my dogs."
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that somehow the Skechers debacle resulted in a push from within for racing people to become responsible for the adoption of their own greyhounds. Some in adoption like Judy will be offended but many more will be relieved that the spigot has shut off and they can go back to their lives. Just make sure greyhounds aren't being killed. While an owner's right, still not a great idea. TGP is in good shape, FLA not so much.
ReplyDeleteActually, the Skechers debacle had nothing to do with racing people becoming responsible for the dogs. That has been occurring more & more over the past 10 years, but you don't hear about it. Greyhound racing people, like those in adoption, are too busy with the dogs to "toot their own horn", unlike Grey2K.
ReplyDelete