Thursday, March 13, 2014

Greyhound Racing -- The Truth. A journey from anti-racing to pro-racing.

By Amy Cochran


Okay whoa. Hang on a second.  You're anti-racing. I get it, but you're so full of smoke I can't see the ground in front of me.  Being used by people? Suffering? Forced to race? Do you even know what you're talking about? Have you spent time with trainers, owner, operators etc? Have you watched how they interact with the dogs in their care? I have. I have never SEEN a greyhound suffer at the hands of their trainers. And I certainly have never SEEN a greyhound "forced" to race. You don't force a greyhound to do anything. You may encourage their natural instincts to chase by giving them the opportunity to chase, but you certainly don't force a greyhound to do anything he doesn't want to do.

Now don't go jumping down my throat without knowing a thing about me. But I will tell you this. I'm from Ohio (non-racing state) then we were stationed in Illinois (Another non-racing state.) And yes, I was involved in animal "rescue" and greyhound adoption. And yes, at that time, I was ANTI-Racing. I heard the stories, saw the pictures, and then we were stationed in Alabama and EVERYTHING CHANGED.

The first time I stepped onto the Victoryland compound eight years ago, I was scared to death someone would find out my anti-racing stance. What I discovered, what I SAW, changed my mind forever. And not only did it change my mind, my attitude, about greyhound racing, these trainers and kennel hands have become some of my most trusted friends. They are kind, gentle souls who care very deeply for these dogs.

The track crates, and yes they are crates, are nicely constructed and roomy. I can curl up in one of these crates and have room to spare. I’m no small woman either. I'm five foot nine and twice the weight of the average male greyhound. So trust me, if I'm comfortable in one of these crates, the greyhounds are too.  Truth, these track crates are taller, deeper and wider than the ones you can buy at Petsmart. I know.  I went away from pet store crates to track crates because track crates are bigger. Crate your dog?  Rest well in the knowledge that the pet store crate you're using, the racing industry has deemed too small for professional racers.

The truth is when you "train" a greyhound to chase, all you are doing is encouraging a natural instinct. You walk or give the greyhound a ride to the track, hold on to the dog’s collar, and when the fast moving, white, fuzzy toy goes flying by, you let them go. The greyhound will either chase it, or he won't. The dogs that do chase it go on to race. The dog that doesn't is placed for adoption. It really is that simple. There's no abuse there.

Another farce, their diets. These dogs are athletes.  Their diets are designed to give them the nutrients their bodies demand.  There's nothing wrong with red meat, chicken, pasta, veggies, omega three, and vitamin supplements. Hell, that's what dog food is made of. It just doesn't come in kibble form. Why? Do a bit of research. When you cook food it loses its nutritional value, and these greyhounds, these athletes, need every ounce of nutrition to meet their body’s demands.  In truth, they eat better than most of us do.  I'm sure everyone's heard that processed foods are bad for you. Well, you know what?  Kibble is the same damned thing -- a processed food.   If it's bad for humans, it's safe to say, it's also bad for dogs.  So why does everyone condemn trainers for feeding real -- unprocessed -- food to their dogs when the dogs deserve, and get, so much better?

Track greyhounds also have nice beds, either luxury carpets cut to fit the crates or a mountain of fluffy newspaper strips, to sleep on. Their beds are cleaned, changed, washed and fluffed daily.  Do you do that for your dogs?  I don't. I do it once a week.  The track's kennel buildings are climate controlled, heated and air conditioned just like a house.

If you crate and work, how many times does your dog go out to relieve himself? How much exercise does he or she get? Track dogs are turned out 4 to 5 times a day to relieve themselves. They are exercised every day either in the sprint pen or on the track.  I guarantee you, these dogs are in better shape, physically, mentally, and emotionally, than your pet greyhound.  A greyhound that is deprived of its ability to run is not happy.  I know. I've seen hundreds of track greyhounds and pet greyhounds. Track greyhounds, bark, dance, play bow, wag their tails and act like goofs. Those are happy dogs.  And sadly, I've seen pet greyhounds that just lay on the couch, head down, and eyes closed. Sorry folks, that dog, that pet, is depressed and he's moping.

The happiest pet greyhounds I've seen behave like track greyhounds. They bark, prance, play bow, and wag their tails.  In short, they are goofs.  These pets are also the ones that belong to owners who understand that a happy greyhound is one who runs often.  As such, these responsible owners tend to keep their greyhounds active and in "track" condition.  Why?  Because they understand what they have.  They have a greyhound -- a hunting dog.  One that's been bred to hunt by sight and gifted with the speed and athletic ability to do what the job requires.  And that instinct, that gift from god that's been honed by man, will not stop just because the dog retires.  Can you say you truly understand the dog’s needs, what it requires, and not what you think it requires?  Because, I'm here to tell you many people don't.  Your dog, greyhound or otherwise, doesn't operate on human rules or have human needs.  He is a dog, a greyhound, and his needs, wants and desires are very different from your own.  Stop anthropomorphizing them.  Your dog is not human, and you know what, he doesn't want to be.

Also do you have a vet on call? One that will drop everything and run to you when you need him for a medical emergency? No? The track does. The trainers do, and they have more than one. They have many. Heck Victoryland worked closely with a vet school. The top guys who taught the next generation to be vets were on call for them. Can you say that?  Hell, can you even afford that type of expertise for your hound?  My guess, is probably not.  And yet, track dogs get the best medical care money can provide, as well as, routine medical procedures like vaccinations.

"But what about euthanasia?"  Well, I hate to break it to you, dogs, cats, cattle etc. are not human. And despite your moral objections on the subject, euthanasia is --and always will be -- an appropriate medical treatment to end the pain and/or suffering of an animal. And in some respects, they are luckier than we are. It's the reason for the whole "right to die" movement.  And as my vet says, "Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should." My point?  Is it right to euthanize a healthy animal without any sort of medical condition?  Many of you will scream, "No."  Yet, it happens every day in shelters across this nation, and no one says a word or passes legislation to stop it.  But you cry foul, when a greyhound-- through his own judgment -- has an accident, and the owner opts --on rare occasion -- to end the dog’s pain and suffering through a medically approved and humane measure such as euthanasia.   What is wrong with you people?   It's the owner's right.  You wouldn't want someone telling you when it's time to euthanize your dog. Why do you do it to them?  Why do you make a hard decision harder by judging them?  I've seen trainers cry over the loss of one of one of their hounds, and what you're doing isn't right.

And when a track closes, where are you anti-racing folks? Where's Grey2K? The answer, nowhere.  You abandon your cause when it comes time to put up or shut up.  I know.  I've handled two track closures at Victoryland.  And you know who stepped up to help me place the hounds that needed to go somewhere?   It wasn't the anti-racing folks at Grey2K, or the anti-racing adoption groups.  It was me, and a small handful of people who were pro-racing.

If you’re going to end racing.  Fine.  Stand up and put your money where your mouth is.  HELP THE DOGS --the ones that you and your cause are putting in the line of fire -- instead of having someone else clean up the mess you've made.  You want to talk about and stop unnecessary euthanasia, then stop putting hundreds and thousands of dogs at risk.

Adoption people do all we can do.  We take the dogs as they trickle off the tracks and find them homes.  But when you close a track, you flood us and over flow the dam.  Hundreds of dogs are in danger of euthanasia then, and you know what, you're the ones responsible.  Not the Tracks, not the owners, YOU -- anti-racing folks are responsible. Your actions have a cascade effect that G2K uses in their marketing schemes.  They put hundreds of dogs at risk every time they introduce legislation and close tracks.  And you give them the money to do it.  It's time you stop blaming trainers, kennel owners, and the racing industry.  You have greyhound blood on your hands, and you can't wash it off.  It's time for you to stand up and take responsibility for what you have done.

The greyhound industry punishes those who do atrocious things. They are banned and criminal charges are filed. But what about you?  What happens to you when you commit atrocities against the hounds? Huh?  In the world we live in now, not much.  You claim you're heroes.  You're NOT.

So in short, you’re no different than the people you claim are the devil.  Your house is a heated kennel. You crate them when you're gone, you feed them the best food you can afford, you make sure they get all the appropriate vet care, see to their exercise needs just like a trainer.  You make the hard decisions when required just like an owner.  They are you-- people doing what they need to do to take care of their hounds.  So stop drinking the Kool-Aid already.

You have been lied to and deceived.  I know.  I was too, but I woke up. It’s time you do too.  “But I've seen the pictures.  I've read the stories.”  Yeah, well I did too, and for a while, I believed them.  And then, I saw the truth – the entire truth.  Photoshop makes it so easy to crop a picture. So yeah, your eyes can deceive you – especially online where you have no context of what is actually going on other than the description.   And the best lies are the ones that include a morsel of truth.  Those, my friends, are the facts.  It’s time you see Grey2K for what it is.  A propaganda and money machine.

If you want to rescue something, help the local shelters, donate money to the people on the ground. The ones who actually place these dogs.  Until you do, all you're doing is harming the breed you claim to love.

15 comments:

  1. I have had 3 off the track Greyhounds.... LOVED them. One of the owners slept with them when they had puppies and continued to do so for some time. Their conditions were pristine, clean and they had the best meat for meals. They were very cared for. This is of course my only experience. I have heard of other. It is also my understanding that the industry is loosing money which may put a natural end to it in time.

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    1. It is hard to make money when your owner, a casino, does not promote racing in any way, shape or form.

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    2. I have adopted retired racers, best dogs I've ever had, there will never be another breed for me. I' m not anti or pro racing either way - I've never been to a track, or a kennel, or a farm, so I can't comment from personal experience. I have seen the pics of trainers, owners and volunteers who absolutely ADORE their dogs. They are in peak condition, well looked after and loved. But I've also seen the horrific pictures of dogs run almost to death, greys being abandoned and left to die and many other horror stories. Videos of dogs dying at the track due to a collison during a race. It does happen - not all tracks are reputable, abuse does happen (as it does to non-greys every day too). If racing is banned entirely - what happens to the breed? There will only be show dogs then, who I don't think share quite the same personalities as our fun-loving goof balls. I don't know what the answer is, I don't think there is only one answer, and I don't think that one side is "righter" than the other. I think the best thing to do for the moment is to carry on finding good homes for the dogs that are retired and punish the criminal and abusive element. Just my opinion!

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    3. Anon... Dogs die in backyards as the result of collisions also. My nationally ranked, dual champion AKC bitch, Jiblet, died in one such collision. Nampa went one way around the doghouse, she went the other. He tee-boned her, breaking her neck and injuring his shoulder. They were playing. Racing is safer as it is in many ways a more controlled environment.

      Please name a track in operation which isn't reputable. Jefferson County has been shut down. Tucson isn't a bad track contrary to what Grey2K says. I went there to check it out for myself as others have done.

      Please tell me when & where abuse occurred. All cases of abuse which were reported were prosecuted and punished, as far as I know. In addition, the offenders were banned from racing for life. That is all that can legally be done.

      Your comments re: what happens to the breed are very appropriate. What happens to them? The dogs will be on a fast track to extinction, regardless of what others say.

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    4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    5. Nice piece Amy
      Its good to see the argument from the other side. So much emotional blackmail comes from the lobbyists and for some reason people think there arguments are credible and factual. Keep up the good work.

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  2. I am slightly pro-racing. However, please re-read the anonymous statement 4 comments before this one dated "Anonymous March 14, 2014 at 10:49 AM" . It is the most balanced statement I've seen and I cannot say it any better!

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  3. why don't you ask Grey2k to produce their balance sheet and ask them how much the people involved are paying themselves.

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  4. This overreaction by Premier Baird and his sidekicks is mind blowing. What else can he ruin before we can vote him out.

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  5. Man did this open my eyes.
    I am going to suggest Our State Senator TOM LEE read this before he accepts any more PETA funds to Out LAW G hound Racing.Bet he never adopted a Greyhound all though i have not, but may be one of his many X wives has.

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  6. artworkbyjeff@gmail.com
    It’s jeff .... paint the trail. Get ahold of me ... I’m in FB jail.

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  7. My name is Candace Park. I adopted a greyhound that raced until he was almost five years old. This is what I saw when I went to adopt him. A group that had just retired from racing, all of them had the most horrible teeth. They were so covered with greenish yellow slime that it looked like they had one big tooth. My dog urinated pure orange for a long time, I was to.d by my vet it was because of his previous racing diet. Over the years I continually had to take him to have a tooth or two extracted. I have seen documentaries with live video of greyhound farms raising pups. The condition was so bad the rescuers had to keep running in and out of the building because of the smell. Corpses of hundreds of dogs were found there also. I am asking you this, what happens to the pups that don’t make it to the race track because they aren’t up to speed? I only see rescue groups adopting greyhounds, which leads me to my next question. Why don’t the breeders and owners of these breeding greyhounds run the adoption, or simply give them to good homes? I’m not trying to be nasty to you but I seriously can’t understand why you feel it’s ok to race. Thanks for heating me out.
    Candace Park

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    1. Candace, I have worked in the veterinary field. Green yellow slime? Really? In my years involved with dogs, abt 60, I've yet to see teeth covered in slime. Their mouth chemistry won't allow it. Now, if you had said tartar... That I could believe.

      If your dog is urinating dark yellow urine, the dog may be dehydrated. The urine should be light yellow, which indicates good hydration. If the urine is is any color other than clear or yellow – if it appears brown, orange, or reddish-pink, for example – it is cause for concern. And a vet visit should be scheduled.

      is any color other than clear or yellow – if it appears brown, orange, or reddish-pink, for example – it is cause for concern. Brown or orange urine can indicate the presence of a protein called myoglobin, which is released by your dog’s muscles when they are stressed or injured.

      If your pet’s liver is producing too much bilirubin it will be excreted in urine, turning the urine brown. Old blood in the urinary tract from a past kidney infection, stones in the kidneys or bladder, a bladder infection, or a tumor, can also give urine a brown tinge.

      The racing diet, one which is well balanced with meat, carbs & vitamins, doesn't turn the urine a different color. Altho', excess vitamin B will turn urine a bright yellow, not orange. is any color other than clear or yellow – if it appears brown, orange, or reddish-pink, for example – it is cause for concern. Brown or orange urine can indicate the presence of a protein called myoglobin, which is released by your dog’s muscles when they are stressed or injured.

      If your pet’s liver is producing too much bilirubin it will be excreted in urine, turning the urine brown. Old blood in the urinary tract from a past kidney infection, stones in the kidneys or bladder, a bladder infection, or a tumor, can also give urine a brown tinge.

      Teeth & mouth hygiene are very much related to genetics. I have had greyhounds with outstanding teeth, clean as a whistle, from the day they were born to the day they died. And, I've had some that were just horrible. Registry didn't matter but genetics did. Something that helps with teeth is giving the dogs raw bones, especially the big knuckle bones.

      If the conditions you saw were so bad, did anyone report the place to the appropriate authorities? Contrary to popular belief, greyhounds are protected under various laws, not the least of which is the Federal Animal Welfare Act.

      Documentaries produced by animal rights extremists are well known to be propaganda pieces with little basis in fact. They love photoshop.

      Pups who don't make the track are placed into appropriate pet homes. This is well known.

      Many greyhound racing folks do participate in adoption. In fact, the adoption movement was started in New England by the greyhound racing folks back in the 80s.

      Maybe you would understand better if you knew the real story, the truth about greyhounds & greyhound racing rather than the propaganda put out there by animal rights extremists.

      Right now in Florida, people have the unique opportunity to check out racing for themselves by availing themselves of a greyhound tour at any number of racing venues. There are also many social media groups such as Greyhound Adopters for Racing that gives a more balanced view than what is presented. Please look into them.

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  8. I abhor shelters that practice euthanasia and would like to see the practice ended. That it hasn't been ended yet is not the same as claiming no one cares about it. That part is a false argument. It's fairly rare that animals at homes are injured so severely that they must be euthanized. I think the chance is much greater when an animal is put in a situation like racing.

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