Is Greyhound Racing Ethical?
by matt @ 9:44 pm. Blogged under Living and Dying, Sport
I quite enjoy a flutter on the dogs every once in a while, I don’t usually win much because the odds are so appalling but it’s a bit of fun and usually a good night out. On Saturday I went to Brighton and Hove stadium for the second time this year, this time not on the £10 meal, drink, entry and free bet deal but a £30 a head waited table deal. The view of the track couldn’t have been better ideal for watching the races and seeing which dog crosses the line first.
However, the food was pretty awful considering the price we paid, haven’t had roast beef that bad since I over did the BBQ the other day. The waiters were too slow; getting extra bottles of wine was a bit like getting blood out of a stone and clearing away the finished plates took about an hour (there wasn’t much room on the tables so this mattered). When you get a proper seat you do at least get the benefit of dedicated booky ladies with machines that go around the tables between races to take bets. The only trouble was that we were always last in our lady’s territory so placing bets before the race started was a bit too frantic for my liking. I guess you could say I had a less enjoyable time this time around, next time Ill stick to the £10 a head deal which is better value for money.
On Sunday I was concerned to read about the fate of 10,000 greyhounds allegedly killed by one man and his bolt gun over the past 15 years in County Durham. This, a story covered by journalists in The Times, details the terrible news that greyhounds past race fitness are being taken to ‘David Smith’ where they are bolt gunned in the head and buried by mechanical digger at 10 a go. There are greyhound charities and plenty of people care for retired greyhounds from quite legitimate owners but is this sort of butchery common place and are we just burying our heads in the sand? I’ll be watching this space carefully because if we are, I for one am not that bothered about continuing to plough money into the sport.
The man who killed 10,000 dogs
Brighton Retired Greyhound Trust
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July 18th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
“I for one am not that bothered about continuing to plough money into the sport”
Greyhound racing is ‘not’ a sport.
Dave Smith
July 18th, 2006 at 3:47 pm
It is if you’re a dog Dave. It’s a bit like horse racing which is also a sport.
July 18th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Hey…isn’t this how The Simpson’s got Santa’s Little Helper?
February 17th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
The greyhound racing industry would like you to believe that most dogs are homed and just a small number are humanely put-to-sleep. These beautiful animals are, however, seen purely as a commodity or ‘units’ and the industry is responsible for the suffering and slaughter of many thousands of greyhounds annually.
Based on recent figures it would seem the British racing industry fuels the breeding of in the region 25,000 greyhounds annually (the majority bred in Ireland). It is thought that no more than 15,000 survive to enter racing and of those, perhaps only 5,000 will be homed. The fact is, the numbers bred each year far exceed the potential homes available for greyhounds judged no-longer ‘fit for purpose’.
Thousands of greyhounds will live no more than a few months, as many as 10% are raced whilst injured and the average ‘retirement’ age is just 3. To save on veterinary costs, methods of execution often employed include shooting, drowning and poisoning. Other dogs are simply abandoned or given away free of charge to anyone.
The racing industry and the desire for the highest performing dog’s fuels a surplus of greyhounds often sold to Spain. These animals face a brutal existence and are frequently killed by hanging. Furthermore dogs judged to have ‘embarrassed’ their owners are strung up in such a way that allows the back feet to touch the ground resulting in a slow, agonising death.
Those representing the industry are desperate to hide the reality of racing as it is big business but public awareness is growing and the outrage felt by many has seen the end of racing at Abbey Moor stadium (Glastonbury) and Newton Abbot. It is also interesting to note that 6 states in America have banned it since 1993.
For a full and detailed account of what is happening behind the lights, the tote and the non-starters please view the Greyhound Action website: www.greyhoundaction.org.uk
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I’m a fan of greyhound racing in the US, but I’m appalled at people who treat animals this way. Instead of banning greyhound racing, there needs to be a crackdown on these cruel practices wherever they happen. Greyhounds - and I’ve known many - are intelligent, loyal, easy-going animals who love to run. They’ll do it whether people are betting on them or not. I believe that dog racing can be run ethically and without mistreating greyhounds, if laws are made and enforced and fans of greyhound racing lobby for oversight by credible organizations.
Eb Netr