Adopt a Greyhound *Anti Racing*

[GreyhoundGirl]

I feel so helpless because I'm not in a situation right now where I can adopt an ex racer myself, but hopesfully I can educate a few more people about greyhounds as pets. Just putting a warning that I am anti-racing so if anyone here or any guests race, you may not want to read much further.

I only just realised today the size of the problem. In 1989, the greyhound racing industry (greyhound puppymills) bred 50,139 puppies. Only 1500 were adopted... Leaves you wondering what happened to that 48,639 Greyhounds. And these are not old dogs, most retired dogs are between the ages of 2-4. They live until around 15, so they would have had plenty of life left for a happy family. Many of these dogs are also killed at the puppymills, because their trained doesn't think they will be a good racer.

As if it isn't bad enough all these dogs are being bred and destroyed, but their methods of putting down a dog aren't even legal in most of the cases. A percentage of these dogs are put down. Considering putting down a dog of a greyhounds size might cost near $20, we can assume that the greyhound buisness, which is run for profit, would not see this as a profitable way to get rid of excess greyhounds. The second most common way to get rid of greyhounds is sale or donation to medical research. the list continues:

Mass euthanasia
-Abandonment (often muzzled)
-Gunshot
-Sale to racing interests in Third World countries
-Starvation
-Electrocution
-Bludgeoning

There are dozens, hundreds of other miserable things I could tell you about greyhound racing. The deadly diets they are fed, cases and pictures... But this thread isn't really about why I'm anti-racing, this thread is about how we can help these excess dogs.

Above all, Grehounds make excellent pets! They are friendly, affectionate, gentle (so gentle they are not even good guard dogs, but their size might ward off potential invaders...) They are quiet, sweet, loyal, clean (they shed very little, and are considered hypoallegitic because of their very little skin/coat oils. This also means... no doggie smell! ) They are loving, sensitive, trusting, and good-natured. Their docile nature makes for an easy transition to becoming a companion dog, regardless of the dog’s age. They're very easy to house train because they are perfectly crate trained at the kennels, and they see your whole house as their crate, which is to be kept clean as it is their sleeping space. They heel, because when a kennel operatoir wants to pee/poo his 20+ greyhounds all at once, he doesn't want them all pulling in different directions. They are really great dogs, and all they ask for from you are a safe, warm home, good-quality food, basic annual veterinary care, a soft bed, and lots of love.

The biggest myth about greyhounds is that they are hyper. This could not be less true, they are among the laziest of all breeds. Consider this: Which is more likely to be hyper, a Beagle bred to trot/jog all day... Or a Greyhound bred to run 45mph for two minutes and then sleep in a crate for a few days until their next run??? Greyhounds need a one or two daily walks and that is fine with them. They need no more excersize then any other breed of dog.

They are great with other dogs, good with children, very tolerant, very intelligent and easily trainable... The only major disadvantages of the breed are that they should be kept on leash at all times. Your ex racer was bred for 5000 years to chase prey, and trained since the time he was a pup. Do not think your recall will work everytime, and it only takes once to get hit by a car. Only let him off leash in safe and secure places. The other disadvantage is the prey drive itself, this makes greyhounds not generally good with cats and small animals. However, many, many are great with animals. Jenny is great with cats. Also bear in mind that your dog could have specific prey drive tendancies, Jenny would never harm my grandmas brown cat, but my friends white cat is considered fair game. Same goes for dogs, brown small dogs are fine, white ones ressemble rabbits too much when they're running away from you. They are a large dog, ranging 50-90 lbs, but they take up very little space for their size and fair quite well in apartments, just another way greyhounds are much like cats. They curl up into small compact balls when space is tight.

Hope I have given everyone a bit further insight to why Greyhounds are in such dire need of rescue. Hopefully you or someone you know will be able to save a grey at some point. This thread will also be a great place to ask your greyhound questions.






There are Greyhound rescues popping up everywhere, here is the best international listing to start you off. http://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org/

For more information on Greyhound Racing: http://www.greyhounds.org/gpl/contents/entry.html

[borzoimom]

The numbers are staggering are they Michy???

[GreyhoundGirl]

Luckily though, they are falling. Greyhound racing is being banned in many states, and this is helping decrease numbers.

For example, in 1990 the numbers peaked, when greyhound farming produced 61,764 puppies. In 2000, only 34,126 puppies were born for racing. Still a horrible number, but almost half what it was in 1990.

[GreyhoundGirl]

Bump... Trying to spread the word.

[Bclover92]

Hmm, thats so sad...

I would love to rescue a greyhound some day I have loved the couple I have met and I know there is a great need for adopters of them. Here is the petfinder list of ones close to me...

http://search.petfinder.com/search/s...location=21901

[GreyhoundGirl]

Aww!

That's another part about it that kills me so much. There are sooooo many millions of greyhounds needing placement in Florida, but once you get into cold locations, there are either no rescues, or a rescue that will "order" an ex racer for you from florida. I know these orders work well and are effective, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to meet my forever friend before I'm comitted.

[alimel]

I know this is awful. I love Greyhounds and living here in South Florida, there are many rescue groups. I signed up with one of the national rescue organzations where they send me information on their fight to close race tracks across the nation. I receive monthly updates and it is happening too slowly for these poor beautiful animals.

[whimzikal]

I recently donated to a group set up at a local Petsmart. I then donated at Petco and got a lovely keychain. My elderly neighbor really wants to rescue one but they already have a schnauzie who they can't chase- he likes to 'visit the neighbors when he escapes'. He is a cute older man who tells everyone he knows about the greyhounds plight.

[jimmysgal]

The way these beautiful animals are cast away just breaks my heart. My sister has always wanted to rescue a greyhound. I am going to send her the info you posted.

[GreyhoundGirl]

Thanks for your posts everyone