Greyhound Rescue

Greyhound Rescue

Working to save America’s retired racers
By Heather Davis
 

The debate has been burning for years: Is Greyhound racing a harmless spectator sport, or is it an inhumane exploitation of animals? It depends, of course, on whom you ask.

Pro-racing camps such as the National Greyhound Association (NGA) say Greyhounds are natural athletes and enjoy racing. Anti-racing organizations such as Greyhound Protection League (GPL) argue that dog racing is a “blood sport” with no regard for the lives of the animals forced to work for the public’s entertainment. In the middle are organizations that strictly focus on adopting out retired racers.

The controversy is more heated than ever, as animal welfare groups work to close down tracks across the United States. Racing supporters, in turn, have turned up the PR on why racing is a worthwhile sport that is well-suited to its runners. Greyhound racing has seen an undeniable decline since its heyday in the 1970s—18 tracks have shut down due to profit loss, and eight former racetrack states have banned the practice. Still, there are 43 tracks operating in 15 states— which means that constant breeding and retirement leave thousands of Greyhounds in need of loving homes.

What’s at Issue
The debate begins with quality of life. The industry is quick to point out that racing Greyhounds receive top-notch care—after all, a dog must be in optimal shape to be competitive on the track. Anti-racing groups warn that industry professionals are in the business of turning a profit and will cut costs by any means. “Some dogs are 18 months old, and they race three times and they’re retired,” says Lisa Stringer, Chicago adoption coordinator for USA Defenders of Greyhounds (USA DOG). The organization gets calls that seem to indicate a destructive racing mentality. “Sometimes they’re a couple of seconds too slow. Sometimes they’ve been injured and, rather than incur the cost for proper care, the trainer turns out the old dog and brings in a ‘fresh hide,’” Stringer says.

Rescuers also say Greyhounds are confined to crates 18 to 22 hours per day, which leads to sores and hair loss from excessive muzzling and caging. Some report that the dogs are often infested with fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites that go untreated. “Retired Greyhounds come to us with a myriad of problems,” says Katherine Roberts, president of the Indianapolis chapter of Greyhound Pets of America (GPA). A common occurrence is a dog with deformed leg bones. “Many times when a dog breaks his leg on the track, the break is wrapped and left to heal on its own. Re-breaks are fairly common, and many of the dogs end up with arthritis,” Roberts says.

Gary Guccione, executive director of the NGA, paints a different picture—one that includes strict supervision and regulation. “There is always a state veterinarian on the premises,” Guccione says. “Yes, we occasionally run across a bad apple in the industry. But if we find that an ‘owner’ or trainer is being neglectful, we hold hearings, and that individual can be barred from the industry. But we’re talking only five or six people out of 3,500 each year,” he says.

Regarding the daily life of racers, Guccione says that Greyhounds are typically content with life on the track. “It’s true that they are kenneled about 18 hours per day, but they’re also turned out for exercise and taken for walks,” he says. “Greyhounds are such docile animals anyway—anyone who has ever adopted one knows that they lie around and sleep all day. They seem to find their kennel environment safe and comfortable,” he says.

On the other hand, according to rescues, racers often suffer lingering effects of track life. While race trainers deny using steroids, Roberts says many of the dogs the GPA receives suffer from steroid-related illnesses such as uterine and cervical cancers or liver disease. Even more alarming is the use of methyl testosterone to keep females from going into heat. “It sounds far fetched, but it’s common industry practice,” Roberts says. “We get a lot of females that have become hermaphrodites— that is, they have developed male appendages.” Roberts says many Greyhounds also suffer from cardiac problems. “These dogs come off the starting block at 40 miles per hour. They do a quick sprint and they’re done,” she explains. “That takes a toll on your heart after a while.”

“Greyhounds don’t typically have lifelong problems after retiring,” Guccione argues. “We take care of the dogs, and they go on to live normal, healthy lives once they’re adopted out,” he says. Hormones are, in fact, used to keep females from going into heat, but Guccione says that they pose no long-term health threat. “We administer the hormones to allow females to continue racing in a consistent manner,” he says. “Once a female is retired, she comes off the hormones and returns to normal.”

“For the most part, the dogs we get in are in good shape,” says Barb Karant, board member of Greyhounds Only in Chicago. “There are certainly a few trainers and kennels that probably don’t give the best care to their dogs, and we get some of those dogs from time to time. But the majority of these people are very accountable for the health of the dogs,” Karant says. “After all, it’s their livelihood and it’s in their best interest to do the best job they can. Unfortunately, the ones who do treat their dogs very well suffer the consequences of those few who are neglectful,” she says.

Perhaps even more controversial is what happens to the thousands of Greyhounds who are retired each year. According to NGA, 18,000 out of 26,000 registered Greyhounds were adopted into homes in 2003. Another 5,000 were returned to breeding farms, while the remaining 3,000 were destroyed. “We’ve made a lot of progress over the last decade in terms of adopting out more Greyhounds,” Guccione says. “We’re a d o p t i n g out about 90 percent right now, and we’re determined to get to the point where all Greyhounds are going into homes by 2007,” he says.

GPL, however, estimates the euthanasia figure to be closer to 17,000. The huge discrepancy might be due to the fact that the NGA doesn’t keep records on the number of dogs euthanized. “We rely on rescues to tell us how many they’re adopting out, and we make a projection based on that,” Guccione explains.

Based on those same adoption intakes, Greyhound rescues claim to lean toward the latter figure. “There’s just no way the industry figure is accurate,” Roberts argues. “They’re retiring 200 dogs a day at some tracks,” she says.

It’s easy for the other dogs to fall through the cracks. Some females go back to breeding farms where they produce litters. Some Greyhounds can be legally sold to research labs for live experimentation. The remainder of the dogs are destroyed—and not always humanely. Injected euthanasia can be costly, and there have been countless reports of Greyhounds being shipped off on “kill trucks” to be shot, bludgeoned, or electrocuted to death.

Rescue and Adoption
The biggest problem facing Greyhound rescues is out-ofcontrol breeding. “The breeders over-breed in hopes of getting a few select champions,” Roberts says. “Then you have to figure out what to do with the thousands that aren’t,” she says.

Stringer agrees that the select breeding is a problem. “More people are getting involved with adoption, but we never get ahead because they keep breeding more dogs,” she says. “It’s an insane cycle.”

“We’re breeding about 33,000 Greyhounds per year,” Guccione says. “But there has been a definite shift in recent years to breed quality over quantity. We’re making progress. We work with rescues to get as many of the dogs adopted out as possible,” he says.

Most shelters have 15 to 30 Greyhounds awaiting adoption at all times, and while they’re anxious to find homes and make room for new dogs, they are careful to ensure that each dog is placed in the right home. “We want to make sure it’s a perfect match,” says Donna Barr, a board member for Northern Lights Greyhound Adoption in Coon Rapids, Minn.

Once placement is made, most Greyhounds transition easily. They’re accustomed to being transported to new environments, so they adapt well to change. “They walk in and act as if they’ve been there all along,” Roberts says. Still, Greyhound racers experience a learning curve when adapting from kennel life to home life. “When Greyhounds come to us, they have no idea what stairs or mirrors are,” Roberts explains. “You have to teach them how to navigate steps and not to be scared of their reflection. But they catch on very quickly,” she says. While Greyhounds also require housebreaking, it’s relatively easy work, and it’s worth the effort. Providing a loving home for a retired racing Greyhound gives you love in return from these sweet and gentle dogs.

Is a Greyhound Right for You?

Interested in adopting a retired Greyhound?
Consider the following:

Greyhounds make wonderful pets.
Retired Greyhounds are gentle house pets that crave affection. They are grateful to be a part of a family and are loyal and eager to please.

Greyhounds don’t require a lot of activity.
Greyhounds have spent their careers running, and once they’ve found a home, they just want to relax. Usually two 10-minute leash walks per day is all the exercise they need.

Greyhounds should be kept leashed in anunfenced area.
When a rabbit or squirrel catches your Greyhound’s attention, he will likely chase after it no matter how well trained he is. Since a Greyhound can reach speeds of 45 mph, he may dart into traffic or become lost very quickly, so it’s important to keep them leashed.

Greyhounds are sensitive to temperatures.
Due to low body fat and thin skin and hair, Greyhounds cannot tolerate extreme heat or cold. They’re best as indoor dogs. Keep them cool in summer and dress them in fleece sweaters when outside during winter.

Greyhounds need your commitment.
As with any pet, be sure you’re committed for life. Greyhounds are usually retired between three and five years of age, and typically live 10 to 12 years. Be sure you are willing and able to provide for and care for them for many years to come.