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Greyhound Racing as a Barometer

Vrchb_2

Charles Hobson Booger III and Violet Rays aren’t names you’d ever see in a sentence with the word "snuggly," just as Mary Martin isn’t a name you’d see in a sentence with the words "good photographer." Nevertheless, I did manage to capture the first-ever moment of them intentionally touching each other.

I think of Greyhound racing as a barometer of the public’s willingness to act in the best interest of sentient nonhumans. My reasoning is based on speciesism–that there is a certain kind of animal who is valued more than any other by humans. We call them our "best friend" and they have attained (more like we have anointed them with) special status. They’re probably the nonhumans treated as close to humans as any nonhuman. They live with us, go to restaurants with us, and some of us even insist on dressing them like us.

For some reason, small dogs enjoy a close-to-human status that doesn’t apply to large dogs, with the possible exception of the Afghan Hound. No one here in Palm Beach County dresses her Labrador Retriever in designer duds, meanwhile every breed of small dog has at least one dressy outfit for special occasions.

What I don’t understand–from a welfare perspective or a rights perspective–is how there are still 34 dog tracks in 13 states. . . . why there are still 34 dog tracks in 13 states.

A few weeks ago, GREY2KUSA President Christine Dorchak and Executive Director Carey M. Theil met with lawmakers in Massachusetts to ask if they would make a citizens initiative to end dog racing into a law. In Massachusetts, legislators can do that; they can bypass the ballot process, take up the voter question, and decide to make it law. But the bill was rejected. Now, it will still appear before voters in November, and if it passes there will be no more racing in Massachusetts. However, my point is that if lawmakers, when handed the opportunity and provided evidence of hundreds of injuries including: paralysis, "degloving" (the skin of the tail is ripped off the body), broken necks, crushed skulls, and of course, broken legs, most of which end in the killing of the dogs (of course they call it "euthanasia," and many of the dogs could easily be treated but it doesn’t make financial sense so they are killed instead), the lawmakers side with the track owners.

Imagine having your dog killed because she broke her leg? Then again, imagine having her live in a cage for 22 hours a day, often muzzled, resting on only a loose pile of shredded newspaper. (Greyhounds don’t have a layer of fat other dogs have and they require thick, soft, cushions to be comfortable.)

Imagine having your dog killed because she isn’t fast enough.

Is there any situation, it makes me wonder, where doing the right thing will ever trump the possibility to profit? (Yes, I’m aware I’m the person who doesn’t think capitalism is the problem. But this is a question of human judgment.) If these were cows or chickens–or even horses (and yes, they are in a similar situation), I would more easily understand, as they have always been resources for us. But dogs are supposed to be different to us. We claim they are different.

I look at what our actions tell Greyhounds about our dedication to our "best friends" and I ask myself: What hope do the cows and chickens have of every being free when we can’t even do the right thing for dogs?

For more information or to help end dog racing, contact GREY2KUSA (for which your contributions are not tax deductible), the GREY2KUSA Education Fund (for which they are), and the site for The Greyhound Protection Act (which, despite the name will end Greyhound racing in Massachusetts).

6 Comments Post a comment
  1. Excellent points all around. I had no idea dog racing was still prevalent–I'm going to check out the links you provided – thanks!

    June 3, 2008
  2. animallover80,
    You can also click on "Greyhound Matters" on the right for all of my posts about racing, though they probably all lead back to Grey2K. I live in the worst state (by far) for Greyhounds and have adopted 2. The only state that is as bad, but for a different reason, is Kansas, where they have actually passed legislation that says Greyhounds are not to be considered dogs, therefore they don't qualify for the same protection against abuse as, well, dogs.

    June 3, 2008
  3. David P. French #

    For the first time in my life, I will not watch the Belmont Stakes this weekend. I have not watched greyhound racing for many years. When horses and greyhounds are bred for human entertainment and the profit of racing, they face injury and death. Certain persons will tell you that these animals love to run and are well cared for.
    Rest assured that these same persons make their livings on the backs and blood of these magnificient creatures or are associated in some form with the racing industry. To quote Leo Tolstoy, "If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals."

    June 4, 2008
  4. Bea Elliott #

    David, Thank you. I totally agree. And might I add the odd "coincidences" that whatever conditions benefits animal industries are also (predictably) what the animal "wants" anyway. Ironic and "convenient" that horses and dogs "love" to race, that hunting dogs are "bred for the deed", that elephants "enjoy" carrying kids around at a fair, that roosters and pit bulls are "natural" fighters, that dolphins "live" to perform…… So empathetic to the needs and best interests of the animals in it's care! They justify separating sow and young for their "protection", mutilate caged hens for their "welfare", sheer sheep for their "health" – ad nauseam.

    It's an insult to anyone's intelligence (vegan or not) to have this "hype" accepted as truth. Sadly, non-human interests are measured in "the bottom line".

    And I guess Mary, this addresses your comment about "capitalism"…. As long as animals are "property" – they will continue to be manipulated into "profit". And the final curtain call is society's "ethics of pragmatism" which betrays even man's best friend.

    June 4, 2008
  5. Chuck and Mary Danielian #

    Greyhound racing is an exceedingly cruel and abusive industry, in which the dogs are often injured while racing, and are killed when they are no longer profitable and can't be adopted. Every year thousands of dogs are killed because they can no longer run fast enough. They daily face cruel treatment and neglect, often with sparse veterinary care. They are forced to perform all year, even on the hottest summer days. They are caged for up to 22 hours per day and fed the cheapest meat possible. Thousands are seriously injured while competing; these injuries include bone fractures, spinal cord injuries, seizures and death from cardiac arrest. Thousands of puppies are specially bred just to race. Dogs, which do not show ability while training, are killed. The lucky few, are adopted out. But there’s a down side to that too – every time a racing greyhound is rescued and adopted, some other companion animal in a pound or shelter is not. Using animals for entertainment is wrong. It is just plain cruel, inhumane and should be against the law. There are other outlets for gambling that don't exploit animals. How many more have to suffer and die before the laws will be changed and the animals set free?
    Please take a moment to watch the attached video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOQHUsuaBPU and then pass it on to as many caring people as you can (the song track is sung by Sarah McLachlan). Look at the horrific conditions these poor animals must endure for a lifetime – however short it may be and remember these images the next time someone says to you "what a wonderful sport greyhound racing is". And, if there is a greyhound track in your state, stand up, be heard and rally behind those who may be working to shut them down.
    "The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men."
    — Leonardo Da Vinci

    June 5, 2008
  6. April Hoover #

    You stated the situation perfectly. Why wouldn't lawmakers take this opportunity to do the right thing? Well, as usual, it's politics, money and connections. How sad that we have so many "leaders" in office who don't always do the right thing. I think it's time to vote out the incumbents and get some "new blood" in the legislature!

    I've supported Grey2k since the 2000 effort to make dog racing illegal in Mass. I now live in Florida and the worst offending track in the state is just down the street from me — the Naples/Bonita Springs track off Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs. This particular track has had more tragic incidents — huge fire that was ignored that killed 16 Grey's in 2005 and broken legs, necks, skulls crushed, etc., yet, they are still open for business! Unfortunately FL doesn't have the law that requires the tracks to report all injuries. The lobbyists keep fighting it because they don't want the public to know just how bad it is. Once Christine and Carey have gotten the law passed in Mass. to eliminate dog racing, I'm ready to work on the FL citizen initiative! Mass. voters — here's your chance to put a dying industry out of its misery so it can no longer create misery for these wonderfully, gentle and sweet Greyhounds! Please support Grey2k's efforts!

    June 5, 2008

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