Greyhound racing: history, regulation, and animal welfare

Greyhound Racing:

The case for its abolition

The use of animals of varying species has long been an accepted practice in all societies -- from the oxen used to plow fields in India, to the use of horses in the American West, to the use of various livestock for food. However, the use of animals as entertainment, be it in bullfighting, bearbaiting, or dogfights is on the moral demise around the world -- particularly in the United States. However, when it comes to the gambling-driven industries of horse and dog racing, there seems to be little stigma outside of animal-rights camps. This is wrong, particularly in the case of Greyhound racing -- a form of entertainment that is so cruel to the animal that it must be abolished.

Racehorses are things of beauty. They are also extremely overworked. According to the British organization, Animal Aid Campaign:

Horses who survive serious injury can be expected to run at least a dozen races a year until they reach the age of 13. The fortunate minority may then be retired to decent grazing. Many, however, are owned by businesses, syndicates, or individuals who refuse to provide for animals who can no longer deliver a day's fun or the possibility of a financial return. Documentary evidence of what happens to retired race horses is sketchy, but critics within the industry claim that provision for a suitable retirement is all but non-existent. Some animals have been discovered weak, emaciated and forgotten; many more are slaughtered for pet food (Animal Aid Campaign, 2000).

As bad as this is, the fate of the thousands of Greyhound dogs that run the nation's tracks can count on an even worse life, and eventual fate. According to Rebecca Simmons in her 2004 article written for the Humane Society for the United States, "...In 2003 alone, an estimated 7,500 to 20,000 greyhounds were euthanized simply because they couldn't run fast enough."

The sad fact is that, like horseracing (or perhaps even more so), dog racing is conducted only for the entertainment and financial gain of the spectators and dog-owners. However, because of the relative low cost of breeding Greyhounds, as well as the fact that they are born in litters, many more dogs are bred than will ever be used to race. Because of this, owners and breeders have the luxury of "weeding out" the dogs that are, based on behavior or performance, unlikely to become track winners. As Simmons reports:

From the time they are born, they are judged for their racing ability,' says Laura Bevan, director of the Southeast Regional Office of the HSUS. 'As puppies they may be killed, or culled, if they don't have potential to be good racers. After that, any injury or slow down of speed can mean death. The dogs are a commercial product, and once it is determined that they don't have value as a racer at a track, their days are numbered'(Simmons, 2004).

According to PETA, or the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Greyhounds are also far more likely to die of disease than other animals. This is because they are "often spend up to 22 hours a day in small cages (Rhodes, 2003)," where they are kept in close proximity to the cages of other similarly confined animals. This means that they are more likely to be exposed to contagions, and, due to their exhausted immune systems, less likely to be able to fight them off. They also point out, like the Humane Society that:

greyhounds suffer greatly at the hands of the dog-racing industry. Under normal circumstances, a dog would not die of this illness unless otherwise neglected and provided with inadequate veterinary care. PETA has long complained that dogs that aren't fast enough to race are often abandoned or killed in cruel ways or turned over to laboratories for experiments (Rhodes).

Interestingly, the use of bait animals is rarely discussed on the track, yet just how trainers train their animals to run so fast is a shame in and of itself. According to the group LCA Justice for Animals, no fewer than 100,000 rabbits and other animals are used as training lures. They write:

The rabbits are hung from horizontal poles and the dogs are encouraged to chase and kill them. Less aggressive dogs are sometimes placed in a cage with a small animal and not released or fed until they have killed it. In some states, training with live animals is illegal. However, industry insiders circumvent this legislation by sending the dogs to another state for training, as federal law allows greyhound racers to be shipped from state to state (LCA, 2004).

On the small odds that any particular dog does eventually make it onto the track, its existence is still likely to be very bleak, indeed. In fact, race dogs on the track suffer from the very same injuries that racehorses often fall prey to, including broken bones, pulled or torn muscles and ligaments, and heart attacks resulting from the sheer exertion of the race. Further, once an animal grows old, or is injured, it will most likely be euthanised instead of placed in a home as a pet.

Of course, those affiliated with the Greyhound racing industry are quick to point out that there is in place a network for Greyhound adoption -- and that the vast majority of dogs are retired to nice family homes where they can live out their remaining years in well-earned comfort. Unfortunately this is hardly the case. Yet, if an animal does make it to an adoption organization, their condition often says a lot about the abuse they endure on the track. Melanie Nardone writes in her 2004 article, "The Myth of Neutrality:" greyhounds continue to come to most adoption groups with signs of both physiological and psychological neglect. Rescued greyhounds are frequently loaded with ticks and fleas, worms, have ill-kempt coats, often have gum and tooth disease, a multitude of scars and more serious conditions such as the presence of tick borne diseases and broken limbs. Behaviorally, greyhounds tend to be socialized to a limited range of experiences and exhibit behavior indicative of having been live lure trained. Many adopters unwittingly bear the burden of responsibility by putting in the extra time and effort to both socialize the dogs, as well as guard against their predilection to kill perceived prey animals (Nardone, 2004).

Given all of this sad information, the next logical question must be "what can be done?" After all, the unfortunate truth is that Greyhound racing continues to be a large part of the entertainment industry of many states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin (Simmons, 2004).

Fortunately, however, there have been examples of legislation being enacted outlawing either dog racing itself, or some of its components (such as live baiting). For example, in Pennsylvania, the governor signed a bill banning the practice in the state -- sending a message nation-wide that Greyhound racing should be abolished (Simmons). Additionally, many states that do allow dog racing have seen their revenue drop dramatically as word gets out about the horrendous inhumane treatment the race dogs must endure.

Although the Pennsylvania legislation is promising, much more must eventually be done to end the practice of Greyhound racing altogether. Toward this end, many feel that education and public information campaigns are two of the most useful tools at the animal-rights communities' disposal. Again, according to Simmon's article for the Humane Society, "Eliminating greyhound racing is possible through education, compassion, and action." This means that even the individual can do much to help end the acceptability of dog racing in the nation. For example, Simmons points out the obvious rule that one should under no circumstances attend dog tracks or bet on races. Clearly to do so would only encourage the practice to continue. Further, one should try to educate one's friends and family about the scourge of dog racing -- its inhumane practices, and the sad lives of the dogs that do live to race. Even though one may not immediately know anyone who frequents the dog track, one can almost bet that the "three degrees of separation" will insure the message eventually does get to one who does.