Dog Racing

[Terrier]

My thoughts....

 

There are many things wrong with the greyhound racing industry. Allowing the general public and rescues to make use of their tracks is not one of them.

 

To take an analogy with my supermarket shopping. I despise Nestle as a company, and will boycott their products because I find them morally repellant. However, I'll make an exception for their fair trade coffee - because I believe that is an ethically responsible thing that is being done.

No matter how much I detest a company/industry - if they do something right, that should be rewarded.

[greyhound pal]

Was going to make a few points here but most of them are already made!

 

There is also the damage to the dogs that the bends on a race track do to the dogs which may not show up until several years later.

 

This is first and foremost the most important point for me. The bends in the tracks are designed to 'trip the dog up'. Any edition of the Racing Post will contain several articles of dogs falling at bends and breaking backs, legs, necks... They're not 'safe'.

 

Mrs Mop's dog raced at the same track as two of mine with a notorious first bend where I witnessed a dog come to serious harm.

 

I would like to see all the tracks closed full stop.

 

In my opinion people that pay to use them are helping them to stay open. Like others have said, the dogs can run on their walks.

 

Kazz xx

 

Well said Kazz

 

 

Of course the impact of people using the courses for fun racing isn't going to effect them if it stops but surely it's a matter of concience? To me I would feel I was supporting those places by the very fact of utilising them. In the same vain I wouldn't ever attend a Race Evening which shows video's of dog or horse racing.

 

Yep - thats another very important point for me.

 

What if it was a puppy farm renting out a secure field for someone to let their dog run around in - a dog that couldn't be let loose just anywhere because its recall was a bit rubbish perhaps?

 

The field renting might not be what's keeping the puppy farmer up and running (that would be the people that go and buy puppies from them) but it wouldn't sit well with me so I can see where people are coming from in terms of paying to use a greyhound racing track knowing how many in the industry appear to treat their dogs.

 

*nodding agreeing fully*

[greyhound pal]

Gah it wont' let me edit! So adding this:

 

 

There is also the damage to the dogs that the bends on a race track do to the dogs which may not show up until several years later.

 

Mrs Mop's dog raced at the same track as two of mine with a notorious first bend where I witnessed a dog come to serious harm. Nothing on earth would allow any of my dogs to race at any of these tracks.

 

Its not just the bends. THere is a spate of injuries due to lack of maintenance at a local greyhound track here. Then, of course, there was the track who were putting diesel in the sand to stop it freezing. Several dogs with diesel allergy/skin complaints later...

 

 

 

Of course the impact of people using the courses for fun racing isn't going to effect them if it stops but surely it's a matter of concience? To me I would feel I was supporting those places by the very fact of utilising them. In the same vain I wouldn't ever attend a Race Evening which shows video's of dog or horse racing.

 

Yep - thats another very important point for me. I would struggle to make it okay with my conscience. To me, its wrong and most definitely something the industry itself will use as an argument.

[ClazUK]

I remember a similar arguement - I think it was on this board - a long time back. It referred to greyhound rescues 'hitching' a ride across from Ireland along with new dogs heading to the greyhound industry. With several prominent grey rescues using this service to get a dog into rescue. Because the service was cheaper, easier, and a better traveling environment for the dog it was considered acceptable.

I think this borders very much along the same lines.

Not at all. The dog on that van faces death if it doesn't get into rescue PDQ. You 'support' that transporter because time is never on your side. How does that equate to supporting a track so you can persue a fun pastime?

[greyhound pal]

Not at all. The dog on that van faces death if it doesn't get into rescue PDQ. You 'support' that transporter because time is never on your side. How does that equate to supporting a track so you can persue a fun pastime?

 

I wanted to post something about that but couldn't find the right words

 

Just want to add that I think that most rescues wouldn't use such transporters if there was an alternative. Unfortunately this is the fastest and probably the easiest way to get a hound to safety

[BillyMalc]

Trying to keep this short and sweet (having to go to work does that to you ): I wouldn't go to a track, nevermind allow my dog to run on one because my conscience simply wouldn't allow it - all arguments as per above posts!

[sabina]

the tracks are only a very small part of the industry though, most people have a problem with how the greys are kept, treated and then dumped it is the owners/trainers/kennels that are at fault not the track. im sure most people would happily watch racing if the greyhounds were treated better, none would begrudge seeing a hound doing what it was bred for if it was kept in welfare approved ways. I think hiring out the track for private owners and charity events is a good thing,it shows they can be used for other things. I do not know about the safety of the tracks though.

 

p.s not wanting to get shouted at!!!just a humble opinion!

[raiye]

Not at all. The dog on that van faces death if it doesn't get into rescue PDQ. You 'support' that transporter because time is never on your side. How does that equate to supporting a track so you can persue a fun pastime?

 

Its still hitching a lift, and using the 'industry' for personal gain. If I remember rightly, at the time of that thread, I was completely against the idea, but then I was a novice.

My dogs are my fun pastime, running is what they love, and I love to see them happy.

I would love to have the funds, space and means to build a track of my own to allow dogs the safety and security we are offered at the track.

To me, the track is not the problem. Just the disposable society.

[ClazUK]

Its still hitching a lift, and using the 'industry' for personal gain.

That comment has really peed me off. How dare you?

 

PERSON GAIN? Saving the lives of dogs that WILL die if you don't move them within 24/48 hours? How is that personal gain? You might want to spend a few days with someone like Tia and see how it works - you move the dog or it dies, simple. I know because I've failed to respond within a threatened timescale, the dog has been destroyed and I've had to live with that on my concience. A lot more would have died if we didn't use the professional transporters.

 

It's a world of difference between that and watching your dog have a bit of fun, I'm absolutely staggered you are struggling with the concept.

[raiye]

That comment has really peed me off. How dare you?

 

PERSON GAIN? Saving the lives of dogs that WILL die if you don't move them within 24/48 hours? How is that personal gain? You might want to spend a few days with someone like Tia and see how it works - you move the dog or it dies, simple. I know because I've failed to respond within a threatened timescale, the dog has been destroyed and I've had to live with that on my concience. A lot more would have died if we didn't use the professional transporters.

 

It's a world of difference between that and watching your dog have a bit of fun, I'm absolutely staggered you are struggling with the concept.

 

I am sorry my opinion has upset you so - but this is a contraversial thread after all, and my opinion is just as valid as the next mans.

But please don't assume that you are the only one with experience of fighting for a dogs life in a short time span. A silly presumption to say the least.

[jane-f]

Was going to make a few points here but most of them are already made!

 

 

 

This is first and foremost the most important point for me. The bends in the tracks are designed to 'trip the dog up'. Any edition of the Racing Post will contain several articles of dogs falling at bends and breaking backs, legs, necks... They're not 'safe'.

 

Mrs Mop's dog raced at the same track as two of mine with a notorious first bend where I witnessed a dog come to serious harm.

 

 

 

Well said Kazz

 

 

 

 

Yep - thats another very important point for me.

 

 

 

*nodding agreeing fully*

 

 

Just like to point out with this, our dogs don't run at stadiums, never have done and never will do,

we have run ours at flapping track, the track i ran our penny at - has spent a considerable amount to make that track safe,

they are also at cost to themselves trying to promote better care and welfare for the dogs that are ran there,

they are in considerable difficulty money wise - but yet when asked to sell - so as a greyhound stadium could be built there, they refused point blank, these people are trying there best to promote a better life for running dogs, even to the point of letting us lot take over the track for the day at cost to themselves to help raise much needed funds for rescue,

 

the track at westhorton, you will find the bends are not sharp, a flapping tracks life depends on dogs getting round safely,

if there are a lot of accidents - then you will find people wont run there dogs there, as quite a lot do (although you will probably disagree with me) want to run there dogs in a safe as possible environment,

 

the stadiums with out a doubt i would never run a dog there, i fully agree with everything said about stadiums.

[Helly]

Lets not get into personal name calling please. valid opinions are one thing, deteriorating into who is silly or who isnt right will result in the thread just going POOOF and it will be no longer

[ClazUK]

I am sorry my opinion has upset you so - but this is a contraversial thread after all, and my opinion is just as valid as the next mans.

But please don't assume that you are the only one with experience of fighting for a dogs life in a short time span. A silly presumption to say the least.

So your opinion is:

Using industry transporter to save a life

is the same as:

Using an industry track to watch your dog have fun.

 

And I didn't assume I was the only one with that experience, I was pointing out why we needed to use the transporter.

I have yet to see a valid reason for why you need to use an industry track.

 

 

Edited for dreadful spelling

Edited July 22, 2008 by ClazUK

[jane-f]

So your opinion is:

Using industry transporter to save a life

is the same as:

Using an industry track to watch your dog have fun.

 

And I didn't assume I was the only one with that experience, I was pointing out why we needed to use the transporter.

I have yet to see a valid reason for why you need to use an industry track.

 

 

Edited for dreadful spelling

 

But we don't use an industry track - we use an independent track,

 

 

i for one felt safer letting my dog run on a track - i could control how far she ran,

i could control how fast she ran and who she ran with,

there was no holes she could fall in to and brake her leg, there was no other dogs she could collide with and brake her neck,

there was no bunny's around that she could put up, and kill herself trying to catch,

i know my girl loves running and chasing things, and you can see the pleasure in her face and her eyes light up,

but as i have said before - at her age i feel it is not safe for her to run over the fields,

if she was to put up something and i couldn't get control of her and stop her, she would kill herself,

at least at a track i have full control of everything she does.

[ClazUK]

But we don't use an industry track - we use an independent track

 

Definitions of industry:

The organised action of making of goods and services for sale

The people or companies engaged in a particular kind of commercial enterprise

 

It may be independent (non NGRC) but it's still part of the industry. Dogs are still bred to serve it, dogs are still dumped/PTS when found to be of no use.

 

The greyhound transporter I had to use was independent but I accept he is still part of the industry.

 

Sorry for the long link but it's going back a bit:

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:GvyQdrz...=uk&strip=1

Your praise of Westhoughton surprised me. When it was threatened with closure (about 5 years ago) those 'caring' flapping owners flooded the rescues of the area with dogs, vets destroyed quite a few. We took 5 from Tia because of the volume in the area and I remember mass email appeals going out. I couldn't stand side by side and socialise with those people or support their hobby, independent or not.