Greyhound racing

blackcob

blackcob

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I've been invited to an evening of the above - am I right in thinking that there are ethical issues and I should quietly boycott, or would that just be hugely hypocritical of me as I am pro horse racing? :confused:

I have no knowledge of the sport so I'm happy to be educated, I've just got this idea in my head that there must be a lot of surplus dogs that don't make it into rescue.
 
I go racing, I know 'doggymen' and their dogs are treated well, most either PTS or ring and arrange to leave their dogs into rescue kennels if they are done racing or have not made the grade. Not ideal but not much different from horse racing.
 
In my mind greyhound racing is just like horse racing, in that there is massive wastage of animals which do not make the grade - and with greyhounds, most do not make it into rescue?

Having said that I would (and have) happily gone horse racing, not sure how I'd feel about going greyhound racing? Knowing me I'd probably come home with another one....:D:D:D:D
 
I find greyhound racing rather boring, to be truthful. I dabbled in it many years ago, as I kept coursing dogs, some of which were pure bred.

With the exception of the odd and local favourite, I found that dogs were rarely known by their names, and just about always by their trap number. Obviously it's all to do with gambling, but seems to have little to do with the dog itself. I found that rather cold and impersonal, not to my liking, at all.

Go, make up your own mind, and let us know how you like it.

Alec.
 
Hi BC, I agree with Alec.

Ethically I don't see any difference between dog & horse racing, although that could mean that I don't know enough about what goes on behind the scenes of either! However, I went to the dogs once & found it to be much more about gambling than the animals, it wasn't really my thing, but not on a moral basis, just what I enjoy or not. You could have replaced the dogs with machines & I don't think most people would have noticed!

I used to own an ex racing greyhound who, in his day, was really rather good (I traced his history from his tatoos). When I got him from rescue he was woefully under weight & covered in sores & welts. He didn't get into this state at his racing home, but while he was with a person that rehomed him after he finished racing. Sorry I'm rambling, but what I'm trying to say is there is cruelty in all walks of life. There are good & bad people in racing the same as there are in all areas of society.
 
I think I am just being a great big hypocrite then. :o

If it is as you say it is, Alec and davisn, I suspect I'll have little interest in it anyway, the same way I have little interest in flat racing. There does seem to be an emphasis on betting as the ticket package they've arranged includes a number of free bets (and drinks tokens!).

Thanks all, think I'll give it a miss and wait for the next brewery tour they organise instead. :D
 
Greyhound racing is so wrong - dont go!

tens of thousands are put to sleep each year. You cant compare it horse
racing - not when 1 foal is born rather than maybe a litter of 10.
 
I went on one of those cheap deals with workmates years ago, and enjoyed it although perhaps wouldn't so much without the social aspect as i'm not really into gambling. It got me interested in greyhounds as i thought they were amazing and years later adopted 2 and now looking for another.

I've since been again but track side with owners/trainers etc and much preferred watching it that way, feel a bit cut off indoors (although was freezing). My trainers dog won its race and got £150 winnings & a little cup so not much compared with horse racing but still special & many owners just enjoy watching their dog compete. Since having my greys i've to visited a few trainers & worked as a kennelhand in a racing kennel for a short time, and get the impression there are some really good people in the sport, that care about the welfare of there dogs during & after their career, but not everyone does the right thing much like everything in life, i don't know a huge amount about racing TBH but think the industry will have to improve in future to survive, people tend to have a different view on horse racing to dog racing.
 
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