B. Culling the Litter

Culling the litter is a common practice that has gone unhindered by anti- cruelty statutes. [FN69] Owners, breeders, and trainers kill many greyhounds as puppies because they seem unlikely to win many, if any, races. [FN70] Based on figures from The Greyhound Review, between 1989 and 1998, ” 65,601 litters were registered by the National Greyhound Association.” [FN71] The low to average litter size is 6.5 pups, so multiplying that by the number of litters “results in a minimum total of 426,407 greyhounds born (over) this ten-year period.” [FN72] Greyhound litters are “registered at three months of age and (then greyhounds are) individually registered at 18 months.” [FN73] In that ten-year period, “only 342,022 (greyhounds) were individually registered” out of the low estimate of 426,407 greyhounds born. [FN74] This results in an almost twenty-percent discrepancy between greyhounds born and those individually registered. [FN75]

Retired One,

I think we all can agree that abuse of ALL life is a problem in this world, but this topic is about feeding one particular industry well known and documented for its’ own atrocities.

Other forums are out there to discuss the others.

Read through this entire report and if you do not agree, then post PROOF to back up your opinions.

http://www.animallaw.info/articles/arus32stetlr433.htm

Watch the video of the dog pounds executing millions and millions of healthy animals of all kinds and breeds just because no one wants them!
Watch them being legally suffocated and injected and tourtured! Watch these real decent people get away with murder just because they seem nice and are not Greyhound Owners or Trainers. Yes, watch these nice folks who are doing us a “SERVICE”.
You people on here who oppose gambling or dog tracks are a bunch of morons who don’t have a clue in life and are a bunch of lost losers in society. Find another cause as no one cares about your opinions as you are in the VAST MINORITY in these parts.

In regards to the kennel fire at Bonita, please read the following transcript. This is me reporting to another party. Can you imagine suffering all those hours in smoke because an inept guard couldn’t figure out why the smoke alarms went off so he just shut them off and ignored them? We adopted one of the survivors. Why did it take so long to get them to the proper medical facilities?

“Timeline of events on Wednesday, the day of the fire: As you know, alarms went off at appx. 1:20 am and 2:30 am, the alarms were shut off by an 80 or so year old security guard (Rudy) that the (Vet) described to me as “mentally challenged”. The dogs were discovered just before 5:00 am but the (Vet) didn’t receive a phone call until around 10:00 am and did not actually receive any dogs until around 12:00 pm. This may be because rescue workers were striving to resuscitate and stabilize the dogs at the scene prior to moving…or because the track was trying to decide what to do. We don’t know for sure.”

Watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfhZMaIGPyE

There is no sound but the pictures speak for themselves.

While this is England, it’s no different here. It could be Florida, Texas, Wisconsin.

Inspectors cannot go into Florida tracks unless they have permission. What do the racetracks have to hide?

Imagine if the health inspectors couldn’t go into a restaurant without permission…you would all be dead.

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gyrobase/kennel-no-1/Content?oid=1176193&show=comments

This problem with abuse is rampant at pretty much every dog track. If it wasn’t happening, why won’t the tracks and the NGA talk to reporters or let anyone in the kennels?

I say they can either put up or shut up.

COME ON FLORIDIANS!! Do you really want the Sunshine State’s image tarnished with these atrocities?

VOTE DOWN EXPANDED GAMBLING.

Patriot, have you noticed that not one NGA representative has made a remark on here? I didn’t expect them to as they have nothing to say in defense.

A rally was organized at the Bonita track a few weeks ago and they wouldn’t talk to reporters there either.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/apr/04/greyhound-racing-opponents-gather-bonita-springs-t/

We did an HBO special with Bryant Gumble a few years back but everywhere I post the video it gets pulled down.

I know the NGA is watching this, and I really don’t care if they know who I am, it isn’t that difficult to figure out… just click on my nick.

I am in MI but I am still closely connected to FL. Kels4 is as well, and we will be in and out of those tracks with cameras as often as we want and there is nothing they can do to stop us.

Lonestar, keep in mind that is wasn’t me that injected immigration, false accusations of racism and advocacy for greyhound abuse in this topic.  I think you know who I am talking about.  I would love to stay on topic but I will not stand for the above either and will defend myself and others from lies.

Now back on topic.  I think you have provided enough proof that there is rampant abuse of these dogs and I hope you take it up with the powers that be so this is discontinued.  I don’t have the answers as I don’t live in Florida and we have no dog racing here.  I once went to the dog races in Mexico about 40 years ago.  They probably still have them there.  I think they may have them up in the Bay Area of our state also.  I don’t know but these animals should never be mistreated on that we certainly agree.  Good luck, you are fighting a noble cause.

Patriot, comment boards always end up turning this way; I just stay on topic. This upcoming vote is far too important to be wasting words on frivolous gripes.

As far as protecting the good owners while punishing the bad goes, how is that to be done when the tracks themselves are mostly responsible for the problem?

I posted a story about a owner that was barred from watching her dogs race simply because she cared about track safety and said something. Owners have NO control when the dogs hit the tracks.

The reality is simply this, if people pay to see dogs run, dogs will be abused and die. The addition of additional gaming will only draw more people who are not there to see the dogs, and the dogs will be exploited all the more. They will be less important than they are now. They will be run solely to keep the slots open. $$=abuse.

http://www.extralove.com/ash_greyhound.html

http://www.greyhounds.org/gpl/contents/proof.html

http://www.greyhounds.org/gpl/contents/media_cases2.htm

Lonestar, I am sure you are being truthful in your observations as to what goes on with some of these dogs.  I am totally on your side on that one where there is actual abuse it should stop!  My point was that, is it right to end an entire industry or private enterprise for those owners who love the dogs and do care properly for them because of the abusive ones?  If you say there is payola going on, how would you plan on putting an end to the entire industry then?  There would just be more payola to stop that movement.  I feel saddened by the abuses but there must be a way of monitoring the industry by honest people so it doesn’t happen? 

Also, what ticked me off was myself and retired one being falsely accused of not caring or of saying things we didn’t say.  Although it doesn’t surprise me from one person in here.  Its their tactic when you disagree with their immmigration views.  It really had little to do with this topic.

Greyhounds:

  * Unfortunate victims
  * Bred & killed by the thousands every year for the entertainment of a few.

How the MONEY is divided among the players:

According to Massachusetts trainer Henry Chin, the winnings are split up as follows: “When a dog places in the money, the owner gets a negotiated percentage of the purse, usually 35-50 percent, and the kennel gets the rest after the state and track take their cuts.”
Source: Boston Globe Magazine, 11/5/00, page 35

It’s just one big happy family where everyone wins, except the greyhounds.

This was taken from: http://www.greyhoundracingsucks.com/grs_whoisbehind.htm

Veterinarians:

  * Could be considered ‘reluctant participants’ in the industry
  * Care for sick or injured dogs (if the dogs are lucky enough to get medical attention)
  * Paid to ‘humanely euthanize’ the unneeded greyhounds.

Greyhound Kennel Owners:

  * Could be considered one step down on the food chain from the greyhound breeders/owners.
  * Also interested in making money - but only get a cut of the winnings after the state, track and owners get their piece of the action.
  * In the business of boarding and sometimes owning racing greyhounds
  * House and care for many (sometimes hundreds) of dogs at the same time - this can prove to be very expensive and time consuming, many kennel owners are ill equipped financially and emotionally to care for the dogs.
  * Given slim profit margins, kennel owners are not financially incented to provide dogs with adequate housing, food and medical attention - dogs lives in the kennels are usually short and filled with neglect and oftentimes abuse.
  * According to documented reports, most instances of abuse and neglect actually take place in or around the kennels.

Racing Greyhound Breeders/Owners:

  * Supply the thousands of greyhounds that participate in dog racing.
  * May genuinely like greyhounds, however their perpetuation of dog racing cancels out any love of the dogs they claim to have.
  * Profit from breeding ‘winning bloodlines’

Track Owners:

      * Number one prority is to MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE.
      * Profit more from the dog racing industry than any of the lesser players (mentioned below).
      * Have seen revenues from dog racing decline sharply over the past ten years.
      * Are hoping and praying that their state lawmakers will allow them to introduce slot machines into their dog tracks so they can stay in business and CONTINUE TO MAKE MONEY.
      * Will adamantly deny that there is any animal abuse, but they are not involved with the handling of the dogs first hand, so their statements are essentially meaningless.
      * Will also contribute lots of money to other ‘charitable’ or ‘good’ causes within their state to insure that the local lawmakers will allow them to stay in business and eventually let them have slot machines.
      * Are usually involved with other business ventures inside or outside the state. (which are great to boycottif you can find out what they a

Of course, if the owners don’t want or can’t afford to pay for a the ‘humane’ killing of their dogs, I’m sure you can imagine some of the less humane methods these people will use to kill the dogs that they’ve bred but have no use for. Of course the unfortunate victims at the bottom of the food chain are always the racing greyhounds, bred only to live a tortured and thankless life that usually ends in an early death. It is really no wonder that 34 states have banned this inhumane and archaic industry.

The greyhound racing ‘food chain’ consists of the following: Track Owners, Greyhound Breeders/Owners, Kennel Owners, to some degree Veternarians, and finally the Greyhounds. The greyhound racing industry is fueled by the dog tracks and their patrons demand for newer, faster dogs to replace the sickly abused dogs that can no longer win races. Greyhound Breeders/Owners fill this demand by breeding more and more dogs every year. The veterinarians are around to ‘clean up the mess’, i.e. the unneeded dogs. If fortunate enough to be killed ‘humanely’ these young greyhounds are usually brought to local veterinarians where for a fee, they can be ‘humanely euthanized’.

See next…

No one on this board including myself and retired one has stated or implied that we think it ok to abuse these greyhounds (or any other animals)  or to euthenise any animal unless they are terminally ill and in great pain…Got that?  NO ONE!  So stop with the false accusations all of you!

Thanks Dee, the sad part here is that with the economy the way it is this proposal will probably pass.

I wish that the MAJORITY of people who are against this industry would remember who supported what come next round of elections.

ANY time dollars are given higher importance than life, DOLLARS will prevail.

Retired one, I never said ALL owners or breeders were monsters; just that it really makes no difference how well certain dogs are treated as in the end the industry still doesn’t care. There are decent people in the industry who love their dogs. As far as the dog pounds and such??? This forum is about greyhound racing, nothing else… there are other forums for that. Stay to the topic.

Patriot, you admitted you didn’t know much about this industry either, you are reading the info and formulating an opinion. Dee is doing the same, and retired one seems to have a history of causing problems on message boards so I guess if that’s true then he deserves to be slammed.

Why bet on Greyhounds anyways? You have all convinced me that people who own Greyhounds must be cruel inhumane monsters and abuse their animals and people who bet on them must do the same. They mistreat pets. that’s funny because I don’t know anyone like that and most everyone who goes to the track has a family pet and treats them well.
You guys are ok with the animal control and dog pound killing and suffocating millions of healthy pets each year though?
I guess they are not cruel just Greyhound owners and racers?
I see!!! Now I know how idiots think! I learned something from some idiots today.

Lonestar and Kels4,

As I said, I am an animal lover.
I viewed your videos and read your documentation.
It is very clear.
The beloved greyhounds have been and continue to be abused.

I have my own best friend, my Butch. He is human. He is loving. He is our family member.

How anyone who sees the videos or reads the documentation can stand still for the abuse if beyond me.

Exploitation is explotation.
We CANNOT allow our country to continue to be ruled by GREED!!

Hopefully these inhumane practices WILL STOP!!!

God Bless America!

You don’t know a damned thing about dog racing or for sure how they are treated, Dee.  You are only siding with the others against “retired one” based on your disagreement with him on another topic about illegal immigration.  I know how you operate.  Many of us do.  All one has to be is opposed to illegal immigration and you start hurling personal insults about everything else about them.  What part of this that “retired one” said, didn’t you get?  Now there may be a little truth on both sides here but you have already decided about hiim BASED ON HIS IMMIGRATION VIEWS ONLY!!!

“Greyhounds are bred to run and love it. The animals are treated better than most humans or family pets. Those of you who are animal activists don’t have a clue. You need to go visit a training facility and breeder before you make inaccurate judgements on these dogs. I have. I wish people would treat their pets as good as a racer!”

Lonestar and Kels4,
I honor your dedication to your cause. You are truly Humanitarians with big hearts.
I have a loving pet, Butch. He is a beautiful Golden Retriever. He is a member of our family. We had him since he was a pup. He sleeps in our room and is with me as I blog each day. He is the sweetest, most loving friend.

I don’t understand how anyone can treat a dog inhumanely. They are our friends. They are loyal and loving and all they ask is for a nice pat on the head or a hug now and then.

Thank you both for bringing these atrocities to light. As far as “retired one” is concerned, it seems all he cares about is his own pleasure. Shame on him!!

Saint Guinefort was a 13th century dog that received local veneration as a saint after miracles were reported at his grave. His story is a variation on the well-travelled ‘faithful hound’ motif, perhaps better-known in Britain in the form of the dog Gelert. Guinefort the greyhound belonged to a knight who lived in a castle near Lyon. One day, the knight went hunting, leaving his infant son in the care of Guinefort. When he returned, he found the nursery in chaos - the cot was overturned, the child was nowhere to be seen and Guinefort greeted his master with bloody jaws. Believing Guinefort to have devoured his son, the knight slew the dog. He then heard a child crying; he turned over the cot and found his son lying there, safe and sound, along with the body of a viper. Guinefort had killed the snake and saved the child. On realising the mistake the family dropped the dog down a well, covered it with stones and planted trees around it, setting up a shrine for Guinefort. Guinefort became recognised by locals as a saint for the protection of infants. It was alleged by contemporary commentators that locals left their babies at the site to be healed by the dog.

I have Pa’s Chance, Scarlett O’hara (race name Our Trivet) and Black Velvet. All has one issue or another including severe anxiety, rotten teeth, etc…

Not too mention the other four.

When you are exposed to the dogs coming off the track you really see what is going on.