The Dirty Business of Greyhound Racing

Pain and eventual death as a research subject – this is the grand finale of a racing greyhound's life. Retired greyhounds, or those that don't perform at the track, are routinely shipped off to laboratories. Because of their genetic purity, they are the research models of choice for heart and lung experiments. It is no longer legal in NSW for council pounds to supply dogs to labs so the greyhound is about the only dog in virtual endless supply. Their "owners" are the ones that surrender them over directly.

Greyhounds are naturally docile and gentle creatures. There is a series of tricks used by their trainers to make them aggressive at the track. The dogs who do not serve human interests by winning, quickly become expendable commodities. It has been estimated that the one greyhound that has reached racing entry level represents seven others that have so far been "culled" – killed because they were milliseconds slower, or didn't learn fast enough, or were a wee bit too stubborn.

Cruel training practices

In Australia, it is illegal under the Prevention's to Cruelty to Animals Act to use live bait to train a dog to run faster, but this doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't happen. Many greyhound trainers believe that using live lures is essential to teach their dogs to chase mechanical lures at race time. Apparently they believe it makes for better entertainment.

A spokesperson from the Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association (NSW) went to great lengths to assure this reporter that "by giving a dog a mild shock of a battery ... the dog will then run faster".

Few industries have had so much corruption alleged and yet managed to avoid the scrutiny of a major investigation into animal welfare. When this fact was brought by us to the Minister of Racing and Gaming, the Hon Richard Face, the PR machine came out in full force. Letters and phone calls from his head honchos were emphatic, and "disappointed" that we could even suggest such a thing!

Export shame

"Trainers love their dogs", was a line oft repeated, but when questioned about the dogs that are shipped off to China regularly there was no reply. There are an unknown number of Australian bred greyhounds that are sent each year to race in China, and more recently Vietnam. These dogs would almost certainly be transported, housed and raced under terrible conditions. As these countries are also known to include dog in their diet, especially in rural areas, there are strong reasons to believe that this is the ultimate fate awaiting man's best friend. What is known for sure however is that some Australians are making big bucks out of exporting these greyhounds.

People don't know about the hidden cruelty of the 'sport'

The term "greyhound racing" is profoundly misleading, giving the impression of agile greyhounds doing what they like doing best – running on the track. This is how the Greyhound Industry hopes to convince legislators and the general public that greyhound racing is a wholesome, family-orientated sport. However, the facts behind the image indicate another, darker side – one in which fans are not suppose to hear about.

Perhaps the thousands of spectators at meets each year across our nation don't understand the cost of this sport. The cruelty inherent in this form of gambling is bad enough to render it up there with blood sports such as cock-fighting and pit-bull fighting – both of which are illegal.

Money, as always is the name of the game. As a result greyhound racers hardly ever reach over the age of five years old. How many dogs actually race? The figure is extremely variable. There are a significant number of dogs that will never race at all. If they remain injury-free some may have 60-80 starts in their career.

It is outrageous that under the greyhound racing banner stark barbarism thrives and dogs are destroyed because they no longer win races. As a consequence to racing, greyhounds suffer a wide range of injuries, from foot pad abrasions, ligament strains and leg fractures, to broken bones and broken toes. Their muzzles further prevent them from nibbling at insects that land on them and from licking their own sores.

The few dogs that do generate earnings will enjoy a short-lived, pampered fame ( yes, their owners really do love them!) until they are disposed of almost always before the age of five. The others that don't earn their keep by winning are euthanased, sold to research facilities, are exported overseas or could face abandonment.

Australia has only five adoption groups dedicated to greyhounds – one each in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. What is noticeably absent are retirement sanctuaries so that racing greyhounds can live out the remainder of their lives in relative peace and safety. Across Australia this would assist between 20,000-25,000 greyhounds every year. There is obviously something very wrong somewhere.

Things YOU can do

1. Don't patronise greyhound tracks.
2. Contact Animal Liberation NSW for more information.
3. Consider adopting a retired racing greyhound.
4. Support legislative measures that would require breeders and trainers to contribute handsomely toward a fund to support shelters and adoption services (the one in NSW is voluntary).
5. We urge you to contact the RSPCA who could do something about this but for reasons known only to them have not as we go to press.
6. Write to the Minister for Gaming and Racing and point out that nobody is buying the industry's slick marketing ploy that it has been selling to the public for so long now. Demand that the Minister be accountable for the cruelty implicit in this so-called entertainment industry.

Where are the retirement sanctuaries for these animals? Demand that the numbers bred each year for sporting interests be drastically reduced. Conditions could also be improved (housing, nutrition) with more frequent/rigorous inspections being the order of the day.

This Industry has had virtually a free ride up until now. The Greyhound Racing Industry has largely been an arena with which many animal rights advocates have been unfamiliar with. Not any more.

Interesting Facts about Greyhounds

1. Greyhounds are the oldest pure bred dog, dating back to the Pharoahs in ancient Egypt. Paintings inside the tombs of the Great Pyramids depict greyhounds.
2. A law passed during the reign of King Canute stated "No mean person can keep any greyhounds". It also stated that the destruction of a greyhound should carry the same capital punishment as the murder of a man.
3. The Greek Goddess Diana is usually pictured with a greyhound at her side.
4. Many people who are allergic to dogs are not allergic to greyhounds, due to their short sleek coat and skin type, which has more oil to it, thus less dandruff.
5. Greyhounds are NOT guard dogs. They are even-tempered and good-natured and are inherently well-socialised. They love everybody.
6. A retired racing greyhound will more than return the love and affection you give them. Few things in life are quite as satisfying as adopting one of these lovely dogs.

Ten Reasons to Adopt a Greyhound

1. They truly know the meaning of retirement.
2. People will stare at your dog instead of you.
3. They can curl up to the size of a ball if they need to.
4. They can expand to the size of a whole bed if they want to.
5. They don't bark much.
6. They keep your neighbourhood safe from burglars.
7. You can play their ribs like an air guitar.
8. They really know how to smile.
9. A greyhound in flight across your backyard is an amazing sight.
10. They are in desperate need of a good home. Fostering services are also available, no qualifications necessary – just a big heart and patience.

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