Dec18
A Grey(hound) Christmas
Posted at 10:37 AM | Permalink
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Comments (6)
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That's right. What could be a better gift this holiday season than to learn about the bankruptcy and closure of another greyhound racing park, this one in Hinsdale, New Hampshire (just two left in New Hampshire now! Come on team, let's stop them both next!). More than a half-century of animal abuse in Hinsdale—first horses, then dogs—will come to an end. Who wouldn't want to find that under the tree? (Or, better yet, for eight nights over Hanukkah!)
Now, some of you may be thinking, "What's the big deal? Don't greyhounds love to run?" Here's the 411: Dogs who are used in races spend most of their days stuck in cramped cages or kennels and suffer other abuses, just for a few minutes on a track during a race. Thousands of greyhounds are killed each year before they ever touch a racetrack, and many more will be killed when they fail to "perform." Injuries and sickness, including broken legs, heatstroke, and heart attacks, claim the lives of many more.
In fact, few dogs make it to the supposed "retirement' age of 4 or 5, and only a fraction of the discarded dogs are placed in homes through greyhound adoption groups. The rest may be killed or sold to laboratories. To learn more, check this out. So yeah, still think they "love to run?"
The Hinsdale closure comes after the park had already cut back on the number of racing days due to "falling attendance." Clearly, people are getting the picture about dog and horse racing and staying away. Yet some folks are trying to prop up the racing industry by putting slot machines at tracks to lure more people. Um, hello? Wouldn't it make more sense to just open a casino and do away with racing altogether (as the good people of Massachusetts recently approved).
Let's end dog- and horse-racing. 'Tis the season!
Posted by Jeff Mackey
TAGGED:
racing greyhounds new hampshire hinsdale
Comments
My husband and I plan on adopting a retired racing Greyhound in the near future. We both know about the cruelty that goes into training the dogs and the fate of most dogs, whether they win or lose.
I encourage everyone to look into the Greyhound rescue groups in their area and learn more about these dogs. They're not hyper and don't need much exercise or space, which is great for apartment dwellers. And by adopting a retired racer, it's good karma and giving a dog a chance at truly being a companion.
Posted by: shannon | December 18, 2008 05:21 PM
My family has a whippet that was not a race dog but born to mother whose owner is a vet. These are wonderful dogs. I can't amagine anyone being cruel to them. I would adopt another one if I didn't live so far away from adoption places. I say if people want to gamble pull a slot handle. Save the greyhounds!
Posted by: Lori | December 19, 2008 02:57 PM
I hope, before long that dog and horse racing will be a thing of the past. People need to be educated. I will take it up with my congressperson to close these places down for good.
Posted by: Susan Pew | December 20, 2008 07:21 PM
the whole greyhound thing has bothered me for years. i remember a time when our local humane society had some greyhounds from a near by track that were going to be killed. our community came together and before the end of the week they were all adopted out. it makes me happy to know that there are still wonderful people in the world that do amazing things for animals. happy holidays to everyone!!! from WI
Posted by: kris shulfer | December 20, 2008 08:13 PM
Thank you for this.
I adopted a rescued grey that originally raced at the Hinsdale track. We had no idea how she got here to Texas, but we could look up all her races and see where she had been.
For the first year she lived with us, she would jump at the slightest noise, didn't know how to play, and if you touched her ears she would yelp as if you had caught them on fire. We never knew why. She would show no affection - we didn't really know if she had much personality for a long time, and again, we didn't know why.
Then we looked into the history of Hinsdale. That was startling - and we understood.
After two years with us, she plays now. She hops up and down excitedly when we come in the house, she showers kisses all over anyone's face she can get near. She has quite a personality - she loves being happy, quite literally prancing now at the least bit of affection shown her.
For her, and for what I saw she was like when we got her and what she blossomed into with kindness, love, and safety, I am grateful I know that place of such scarring torment for her is gone.
Posted by: Jen L. | December 24, 2008 02:41 PM
Jen L
Wow! What a touching, moving post. Thank you for your sensitivity and kindness to this wonderful animal.
Posted by: lynda downie | December 25, 2008 01:18 AM