Greyhound racing

[FieldOrnaments]

Wouldn't outlawing it entirely just increase the numbers doing it illegally which must surely be worse than properly regulated and controlled legal racing?

 

[SkylarkAscending]

Yes I know about flapping tracks. I just feel though that outright bans usually make things worse in some way. Hunting springs to mind. Hare coursing. It's the reverse psychology thing. "You can't have it so you want it more" type of thing. The whole thing needs better regulation. You could be right about "legitimate" sport driving increases in dogs affected. I really don't know if there are any stats to support that or not. It's all about money at the end of the day and the greedy barstewards who drive that have a huge amount to answer for.

Absolutely agree with that. I remember adopting my big brindle boy Ace and looking back at his racing career - he ran literally week after week after week running at Belle Vue for a consortium, trained by a vile trainer (think Panorama expose type vile trainer)

He took a bit of adjustment to a home life but I adored him, he was the biggest soppiest most adorable boy. And he had 18 months with me living his best life before he was diagnosed with bone canxer and I immediately made the choice for him….so unfair

So I guess I will always be vehemently anti racing, I could tell a similar tale for all of the dozen greyhounds I’ve adopted over the years

 

[SkylarkAscending]

Wouldn't outlawing it entirely just increase the numbers doing it illegally which must surely be worse than properly regulated and controlled legal racing?

If legal racing qas properly regulated and controlled I could buy that argument/suggestion more - but it isn’t

 

[FieldOrnaments]

Wouldn't the solution be greater legal controls? Dogs of all breeds bred to KC standards seem doomed to a very low quality of life.

Surely the solution would be better regulations throughout the industry to ensure the dogs' welfare at all stages of their lives, rather than risking what exists going underground and, most likely, worsening their welfare, thanks to no controls at all.

 

[SkylarkAscending]

Wouldn't the solution be greater legal controls? Dogs of all breeds bred to KC standards seem doomed to a very low quality of life.

Surely the solution would be better regulations throughout the industry to ensure the dogs' welfare at all stages of their lives, rather than risking what exists going underground and, most likely, worsening their welfare, thanks to no controls at all.

In an ideal world yes - but let’s face it, any number of things are illegal and it doesn’t stop people doing them. Very locally to me, a county councillor (granted not the highest level of officialdom) was convicted for illegal puppy farming

And if you think more widely, I don’t see any evidence that making categories of drugs illegal has resulted in lower usage.

And we must also consider that prisoners convicted of far more serious offences are routinely let out of jail early due to massive overcrowding, so clearly that deterrent isn’t working

 

[scats]

I do the teeth of the most beautiful and gentle ex-racing greyhound. His teeth were dire when he came the first time and he had advanced gum disease.

I referred him straight to the vet where had 13 teeth removed. I now see him every 4 weeks to maintain the teeth he has left.

I dread to think what his diet involved when he was a racing dog. Thankfully he has landed on his feet with the a lovely gentleman who cares for him so well now.

 

[I'm Dun]

I do the teeth of the most beautiful and gentle ex-racing greyhound. His teeth were dire when he came the first time and he had advanced gum disease.

I referred him straight to the vet where had 13 teeth removed. I now see him every 4 weeks to maintain the teeth he has left.

I dread to think what his diet involved when he was a racing dog. Thankfully he has landed on his feet with the a lovely gentleman who cares for him so well now.

Theres a genetic element as well. Sight hounds seem to be prone to terrible teeth. I've been lucky and raw feeding has kept mine with lovely white teeth, but since I moved on the boat and had to swap to dry my 8yr old now has tartar starting that he's going in to get cleaned off. I'm putting them back on raw food as soon as I can get a freezer sorted, and be damned the complications of doing it from a boatQ

 

[SkylarkAscending]

I do the teeth of the most beautiful and gentle ex-racing greyhound. His teeth were dire when he came the first time and he had advanced gum disease.

I referred him straight to the vet where had 13 teeth removed. I now see him every 4 weeks to maintain the teeth he has left.

I dread to think what his diet involved when he was a racing dog. Thankfully he has landed on his feet with the a lovely gentleman who cares for him so well now.

Greyhounds have notoriously bad teeth as a genetic issue - the vets I’ve spoken to over the years suggest it’s the shape of the mouth as much as the diet they are fed (more complex than that of course)

I’ve had a greyhound left with no teeth at all, I’ve had one who had 18 out in one go when he came out of training, I’ve had a couple who were lucky and didn’t have any problems at all.