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No More Homeless Pets Forum
May 2, 2005 Racing to Shut Down Greyhound Tracks |
Animal welfare advocates in Oregon recently made national headlines when they succeeded in closing the last dog track in the state. Connie Theil of Oregon Defenders of Greyhounds and Carey Theil of GREY2K USA explain how to put a muzzle on this cruel sport in your area, too.
Introduction from Connie and Carey Theil:
Every year, thousands of greyhounds are killed nationwide. Many of these are young, healthy dogs who are killed simply because they are no longer fast enough to turn a profit as racers. Daily life for all racing greyhounds is filled with misery and peril. While at the racetrack, greyhounds are individually caged for up to 22 hours each day and many are seriously injured while competing.There is hope, however, that this cruelty will soon end. In recent years, greyhound advocates have successfully fought for greyhound protections and defeated attempts to prop up the cruel dog-racing industry with subsidies, tax cuts, and other forms of gambling.
Please join us as we discuss this cruel industry and ways you can help to stop greyhound racing in its tracks. For more information about greyhound racing, go to GREY2K USA, www.grey2kusa.org.
Links: In addition, Connie recently gave an interview with Michael Mountain for Best Friends Radio, right after the last Oregon track closed late last year. Listen in at bestfriends.org/allthegoodnews/bestfriendsradio/audio/oregongreyhoundracing_266.mp3.
Questions
What role did activists play in shutting down Multnomah Greyhound Park?
What's wrong with the dog racing industry?
Pros and cons of adoption groups
What can one person do?
How can we help the dogs when a track closes?
What can be done for greyhounds on the legal front?
Uncovering the abuse and how to proceed
What does GREY2K USA do?
What can I do if there's not a dog track in my state?
Is dog racing on its last legs? What's next?
What role did activists play in shutting down Multnomah Greyhound Park?
Question from Emma:
I think it is very interesting that the forum intro claims that animal welfare advocates "succeeded in closing the last dog track in the state" given that the media reports claim the cause of closure was economic. Can you tell us more about the role that Oregon Defenders of Greyhounds and/or Grey2K played in the closing of the Multnomah Greyhound Park?Response from Carey & Connie Theil:
Thank you for your question. The answer is probably best summed up by a well-known quote that is sometimes attributed to the author Thomas Campbell, "victory has a hundred fathers but defeat is an orphan."What we mean by that is there are a number of reasons why Multnomah Greyhound Park closed. Clearly, the expansion of other forms of gambling in the state, including tribal casinos and video poker machines had a huge impact on the dog racing industry.
At the same time, the hard work of Oregon Defenders of Greyhounds and GREY2K USA played a significant role in the closure of this facility. Over the past eight years, we have advocated for greyhound protection in the legislative process, in the media, and at hundreds of public events.
For decades, the greyhound racing industry received special favors and handouts from local politicians. Track owners constantly begged for handouts with one hand, while doling out thousands of dollars in campaign contributions with the other.
Once lawmakers saw that the public was concerned about the treatment of racing greyhounds, things began to change. Working with courageous elected officials like JoAnn Bowman, Ginny Burdick, Jackie Dingfelder, Charlie Ringo and others we were able to defeat several attempts to prop up the dog racing industry.
For example, in 1999, we were able to defeat a proposed $4.8 million subsidy to the dog and horse racing industry, and in 2001, were able to defeat a proposal to expand off-track betting parlor gambling in the state. Without this work, it is likely that Multnomah Greyhound Park would still be open today.
We also worked to educate the public about the true nature of this cruel industry. In recent years, there have been several media-documented cases of abuse and neglect of racing dogs in Oregon, including dogs who died while being transported in abusive conditions, a pregnant greyhound who mysteriously died on a local farm, and a suspected case of live-lure training. Our research led to these stories.
In summary, we advocated for greyhounds at every possible juncture. We are proud of this work in fighting for greyhounds in Oregon, and believe that the end of dog racing in the state is a direct result of these efforts. For more information about greyhound racing in Oregon, go to
http://www.grey2kusa.org/Advocacy/docs/history_dog_racing_or.pdf.
What's wrong with the dog racing industry?
Question from Karen:
Is the forum going to have a week for pro-racing talk and/or racing-neutral talk? Many of us in the greyhound adoption industry (yes, it is an industry, though all volunteer) are not anti-racing. I personally have been in a number of racing kennels at a variety of dog tracks in Florida. And have visited a number of breeding farms. I have seen firsthand how the trainers and handlers know and love their dogs. The dogs don't hide from their trainers and handlers; they come right up for attention. These people have been known to hold dogs for years until they find space in an adoption group.Yes there are some 'bad apples', though they are being removed from the industry. Do the guests really think that all dog racing should be abolished?
Response from Connie Theil:
Our problem with dog racing has never been with one track or one kennel. It is with the entire system of dog racing. Greyhound racing is profit-driven industry. It is dependent upon the breeding of thousands of dogs in order to find a few winners and discarding of the ones that can't compete. Every year thousands of dogs die, even the greyhound industry admits this.A dog can be born in Oregon, race in Colorado and Arizona, and end up in a research facility in Wisconsin. Between 1996 and 1998 over 2,600 greyhounds died at Colorado State University in experiments. Many of the dogs' owners didn't even know they had been donated!!
In 2002 Robert Rhodes, of Alabama was arrested after police found an estimated 3,000 dead dogs on his farm. He had been killing the unwanted greyhounds for $10.00 apiece for trainers from Florida tracks. How many other cases like these are out there that haven't been uncovered?
The other problem with purpose-breeding dogs for gambling is that it takes homes from dogs in shelters who might have found a home. While we applaud the valiant efforts of adoption groups, Oregon Defenders of Greyhounds totally supports the end of dog racing. It is a cruel industry and needs to be abolished, just like bull-baiting or cockfighting.
Response from Carey Theil:
First of all, thank you for your efforts to find homes for retired greyhounds. Because of the hard work of people like you, fewer greyhounds are killed today than in past years.The idea that the greyhound racing industry is populated with only bad people is absurd. I believe there are good people and bad people (bad apples, you might say) in the dog racing industry just as there are good people and bad people in every industry.
Our objection to the pari-mutuel greyhound racing industry is not based on specific individuals, racetracks, or even isolated cases of animal abuse and neglect. (Although isolated cases of animal abuse do occur, and this is a problem that needs to be solved.)
Organizations such as GREY2K USA and the Humane Society of the United States are opposed to the American greyhound racing industry because of several systematic, industry-standard practices that we believe are cruel and inhumane.
First, a large number of young greyhounds are constantly required in order for the industry to operate. Specifically, each racetrack requires approximately 1,000 active greyhounds (although of course this varies from track to track.) To meet this demand, over 30,000 greyhounds are bred as racers each year.
These dogs replace current racers who are either adopted into loving homes, sent back to the farm to be used for breeding purposes, or killed. The National Greyhound Association admits that thousands of greyhounds are still killed each year nationwide.
Second, racing greyhounds are short-term investments, and as with all investments it is crucial that one secure the highest return while incurring the least amount of cost. This economic reality results in industry-standard abusive practices such as dogs being individually caged for up to 22 hours each day and being fed the cheapest meat available.
Finally, injuries are a serious problem, and occur at every dog track in the country. Every year, thousands of greyhounds are seriously injured while racing.
If you would like to discuss any of these specific issues further, let me know. You can also take a look at our fact sheet on the American Greyhound Racing industry by going to:
http://www.grey2kusa.org/Advocacy/docs/national_fact_sheet.pdf.
Comment from Michele:
I have been involved with greyhound adoptions with an organization that is against racing. We do talk to the public about the things that we see and the dogs that we have seen with severe leg breaks and other track related injuries.We helped with a group of dogs that had been illegally sold into a research facility in Minnesota. We saw first hand what dogs coming from a lab are put through... pacemakers, leads and other testing done on dogs.
The thing that we encounter is that the public does not really want to hear this. They look at us as exaggerating the abuse that we see. It is very frustrating. I know for a fact that the dog that is now in my home due to the fact that she is too afraid to let people touch her is not a figment of my imagination. She has been away from the lab now for many years and she still screams out if you touch her on certain parts of her body. Edgee is not exaggerating the fear that she feels from humans.
Pros and cons of adoption groups
Question from Rick:
This is a great topic and very timely for me. I am also glad that we have a pro-racing person in the audience to ask the hard questions; it makes for a much better forum.My question is regarding these greyhound adoption groups that are funded by and answer to the racing industry? Do we invite them into our adoption events? Do we ask them to participate in coalitions that are working to end pet overpopulation? Are they are friends? Or foes?
You mentioned adopted greyhounds, that were purposefully breed taking the homes from homeless pets, so at best the greyhound industry can be looked at as an industry of puppy mills, so what about the people that work so hard to find homes for these dogs? Should they be seen as just a PR campaign for the racing community, or as hard working dedicated rescuers trying to make a difference?
One thing comes to mind, these days it is widely recognized that people serious about pet overpopulation should be working to end it, not just maintain. For groups only interested in finding homes for greyhounds, the end of racing could never be a goal for groups funded by the racing association.
Response from Connie Theil:
This is a thorny question. I want to reiterate my absolute respect for adoption groups. I have personally fostered dozens of dogs myself over the years, not greyhounds, but all other types of dogs. I know firsthand the heartbreak, financial burden, and joy that comes with re-homing dogs.In the past eight years of working on the greyhound issue, one of the things that has continually confounded me, however, is the absolute refusal of volunteers of adoption groups here in Oregon to speak out publicly about abuses they have seen. I have spent hours in the homes of adoption folks and heard horror story after horror story about the breeding farms and the track itself. I have begged these folks to come forward, to no avail. This saddens me, because I know that if all of these people did speak up, dog racing would end.
They all say they will not be able to help any more dogs if they tell what they know. However, I know of several high-profile adoption groups, for example Greyhound Rescue of Idaho, who have spoken out against dog racing and still receive hundreds of dogs to adopt out.
I strongly believe that the adoption groups that don't speak out are a huge public relations boon to the tracks. Greyhound adoption is crucial, however ending the need for adoption is our end goal, thus opening up a heck of a lot of homes for the lonely fellows waiting in shelters.
Response from Carey Theil:
Good question! In my mind, whether this cruel industry continues to exist or is outlawed depends largely on the greyhound adoption community.Adoption volunteers experience the problems with dog racing firsthand. They take care of seriously injured dogs, accept greyhounds with severe infestations of internal and external parasites, and are tasked with socializing dogs who have lived most of their lives in small cages.
When adoption groups stand up and speak out about what they have witnessed, the end of dog racing will be near.
So, I share your frustration with adoption groups that see the signs of industry-standard abusive practices, but refuse to speak publicly. I also share your goal of ending overpopulation, not maintaining it. Our goal at GREY2K USA is to put ourselves out of business.
This is really a tough question. You ask whether we should view pro-industry adoption groups as public relation agents or people working hard to save animal lives. The answer is that practically speaking they serve both of these roles.
In trying to fight for these animals, we have an obligation to do everything in our power to help those greyhounds who are in immediate need of assistance. This means supporting greyhound adoption efforts unconditionally. At the same time, those greyhound adopters who see the cruelty this industry perpetuates, and turn a blind eye to it, share some responsibility in the continuation of this cruelty.
Ultimately, we have an obligation to support the efforts of all greyhound adoption groups. At the same time we should ask them how much they are willing to put up with. If they are not willing to speak out today, will they be willing to speak out tomorrow? How about in five years? How many injured greyhounds will it take?
Comment from Janice:
Regardless of the situation, after the birth of an animal, we are in the rescue business to make things right. Once an animal or child is born, it is our job to see that they have the best. We need to work at the other end of the spectrum to see that no animal or person comes into this world for the wrong reasons.We need to close down all the horror sports. Education is the only place to begin. If we get children early enough we can train them in the direction of kindness. We need to get into schools and share with our kids. Other than education, we must work with our legislators to change the laws.
What can one person do?
Question from Burl:
What can one person do about the dog racing problem? Or is it necessary to form or join an advocacy group? Also, can you outline a rough plan of action, and perhaps mention some pitfalls to avoid?Response from Carey Theil:
There is no right way (or wrong way) to act as an agent for social change. You have to discover for yourself what is effective and not effective, and with what tactics you are comfortable.Having said that, I would offer some general suggestions:
1. First and foremost, educate yourself. Use diverse sources to learn about the issue you want to work on. Look for information from both sides of the issue. Find out what other people are doing and saying in your community about the issue you want to work on.
2. Network with other like-minded activists. Reach out to local and national advocacy organizations and try to find other people in your community with whom you can work.
3. Challenge your own beliefs about the issue. After a decade of working on greyhound racing, my personal beliefs about this industry are still changing. The animal protection community has a tendency to get stuck in ways of thinking that may or may not be completely accurate. Always continue to search for the truth.
4. Don't give up. More than anything, persistence is key to being effective. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
To end the cruelty of greyhound racing specifically, there are many things you can to do help. Write a letter to the editor to your local newspaper. Educate your community by tabling at a local event. Talk to your friends, neighbors and coworkers about dog racing, and ask them to not attend local racetracks. Consider adopting a greyhound. Write a letter to your local lawmakers and tell them that you are opposed to greyhound racing. Volunteer to help a local greyhound adoption organization.
Get active. The greyhounds need your help. Contact us at info@grey2kusa.org, and we will be happy to help you get involved in protecting these amazing animals.
Response from Connie Theil:
Great question!! There is so much one person can do!! The first thing you can do is educate yourself. If you live in a racing state, start learning all you can about the local dog track. What subsidies does the local track receive? For example, in Oregon we learned that the Multnomah Greyhound Park didn't pay state tax... just a percentage of what was bet at the track. Also we discovered that the breeders who raise dogs for gambling get the same tax breaks as farmers.What abuse stories have the media uncovered? Also, since dog tracks are licensed by the state and almost always subsidized, records on such things as injuries can be obtained by request from the state racing commission.
After you gather the facts then you can begin to educate your community. Cable access is a great place to start. It's free and fun to do!! Many street fairs and farmers' markets will allow you to set up a small informational booth. You can get brochures from GREY2KUSA. The Internet is always a great place to get information out.
Contact your state senators and representatives. Meet with them in person. Let them know you don't want your tax dollars subsidizing cruelty.
It always amazes me how much only a small group of folks can do. Oregon Defenders of Greyhounds has always had just a small core group of about six folks.
If you don't live in a racing state you can still help!! GREY2KUSA is a great place to start. They can give you info on what's happening across the nation.
Finally, if you know of anyone who goes to the track, talk to him/her. Educate them. Only a short while ago, no one questioned dog racing and nearly all the dogs were simply killed.
As far as pitfalls, I would suggest that you don't just swallow the propaganda that the industry puts out. They spend big bucks on PR.
Right now across the country, thousands of beautiful greyhounds are sitting in bleak cages at tracks. You can help them!!
Get involved!! Be creative!!
How can we help the dogs when a track closes?
Question from Karin:
We are having a huge problem here in Connecticut with the Plainfield Dog Track Closing. They are stating that they will be euthanizing the 500 resident dogs by May 15th! How is it that this can happen? What can we do here in Connecticut? The animal shelter I work for is trying to find as may temporary foster homes for the greys as we can until we can place them with permanent adopters. We are trying to get low-prey drive greys so that cats and small dogs are not an issue, and we can lend a grey-sized crate to anyone who needs it.Response from Carey Theil:
Thank you for your question. GREY2K USA co-founder Christine Dorchak is monitoring this situation closely, and I've asked her to respond. Here is her response.FROM CHRISTINE DORCHAK:
"Greyhound advocates welcome the news that two avenues of greyhound exploitation are being shut down, one in New Hampshire and one in Connecticut. But now we must roll up our sleeves and help with the adoption efforts for the dogs involved. Lakes Region is seasonal and simply will not reopen for live racing. No dogs are in immediate jeopardy. Plainfield is a different situation, however.
"There are seven kennels associated with the closing Plainfield dog track. One of the kennels is apparently picking up and moving to Hinsdale, NH. Of the dogs in remaining kennels, most of them will be moved to other tracks. This is the nature of dog racing, unfortunately. As long as a profit can be made, these dogs will be raced.
"Adoption efforts will be needed for those who remain, however. Rescue groups, both local to national, are standing by to find out the number that will be involved once the kennel operators decide which dogs will move on, and which will not. While some have estimated that as many as 1,500 dogs will be displaced by the closure of Plainfield Greyhound Park, these estimates are not factually based. Right now, it is unclear how many dogs will be affected.
"If you would like to volunteer to help, please send an e-mail to Homes4grey@aol.com, info@regapct.com, or petpals@99main.com."
I hope this is helpful. Please contact Christine at info@grey2kusa.org if you have further questions.
Response from Connie Theil:
I believe I will let Christine Dorchak's answer stand alone. As I am on the West Coast, I am not as familiar with the situation as she is. However, I will say that GREY2KUSA and all the other amazing groups that work for greyhounds will never let these greyhounds be killed. If worse comes to worse, I am certain I myself will be fostering some greyhounds from out east!!What can be done for greyhounds on the legal front?
Question from Barbara:
Since the abuses in greyhound racing are longstanding, systemic and well documented, I am curious about state and federal animal welfare statues that can be applied to the industry. What is the history of legal action, particularly at the federal level, by animal welfare organizations that specialize in this form of advocacy?Response from Connie Theil:
I do not work on the federal level; I leave that to the capable folks at GREY2KUSA. However, I have had some experience with local laws.In 1999, we heard from insiders at the Oregon dog track that greyhounds were being transported from the track here to Florida in the back of rented Ryder trucks. We observed the track for 3 days and saw cages stacked on top of one another in the back of a Ryder truck. We contacted numerous law enforcement, and discovered that only the Oregon Racing Commission regulates greyhound racing. Finally, the racing commission went to the scene and made the pronouncement that even though the dogs were stuffed 3 apiece into the cages (each cage measured 34" by 45" by 39") that they were perfectly safe traveling that way, with no ventilation.
Several days later, another rental truck from Oregon pulled into a dog track in Florida with six dead dogs. They had not been allowed out of their cages the entire trip, had to stand in their own waste and were only given water once. Yet, the Oregon Racing Commission merely gave the trainer a slap on the wrist... a small fine. The problem with only state racing commissions regulating dog racing is that this same entity promotes dog racing. It is the fox guarding the hen house. However, I do not believe stronger regulation of dog racing will ever work. It is too transitory a sport for that.
Response from Carey Theil:
Historically, greyhound racing has been regulated at the state level by a hodgepodge of varying state laws.Unfortunately, the primary Federal law that should protect racing dogs, the Animal Welfare Act, has not helped because the USDA, under their APHIS division, has claimed that the Act does not apply to racing greyhounds.
We disagree with this interpretation. Unfortunately, our resources are extremely limited, and we are already committed to a relatively small number of highly prioritized projects. So far, we simply haven't had the resources to challenge this interpretation.
As GREY2K USA grows, this is a problem we would like to address.
Uncovering the abuse and how to proceed
Question from Molly:
Is there an investigative agency to whom these atrocities can be reported so that undercover investigators can document, photo, and video these heinous crimes and bring the subject to light... so that a public outcry can instigate the end of such a cruel and inhumane industry... much like puppy mills, furriers, factory farms, etc.? Of course if this is done the details must remain unknown to the general public so that the perpetrators don't hide their crimes. Still, this evidently has been going on so long it seems the public outcry is long overdue. If these atrocities are going on they need to be immediately and permanently stopped by whomever has the authority to do it, and as quickly as possible.Response from Carey Theil:
Organizations like the Humane Society of the United States and the Greyhound Protection League have already conducted successful undercover investigations and publicized evidence of greyhound abuse and neglect. In fact, HBO recently aired an investigative news story about unprofitable racing greyhounds being killed in Alabama. While this work is very important, I do not believe that it will, by itself, end the cruelty of greyhound racing.Regardless of which tactics you choose to employ, ultimately the fight for animal protection is a political struggle. In recent years, dog track owners have successfully played the political game to tremendous advantage. To put it simply, they have largely ignored the overwhelming evidence of their cruelty, instead focusing on (and winning) attempts to obtain tax cuts, subsidies, and other forms of legislative assistance.
As long as the greyhound racing industry receives these special favors, dog racing will continue to exist. If these wealthy track owners have their way, they will subsidize dog racing with other forms of gambling for decades to come, regardless of whether they make a profit from races.
Response from Connie Theil:
Many folks have gone undercover in the dog racing industry. Here in Oregon several years ago in the case of Ronald Floyd, a trainer responsible in the deaths of six racing dogs in his care, we spent 3 days once watching the track. We got a huge media response when we gave the information to the press. This is a very important component in stopping dog racing.Unfortunately, there is no major investigative agency as you mentioned. Dog racing is regulated in each racing state by the racing commission, and this entity also promotes dog racing.
I also concur with GREY2K USA that this piece alone will not end dog racing. I feel strongly that here in Oregon the most important piece of our fight was stopping all the bills the track tried to pass in the Oregon State Legislature.
I was amazed, and still am, at how easy it is, (at least in my experience, here in Oregon) to lobby at the state level. All you have to do is gather your information, then make appointments with your senators. I am just an ordinary citizen. I worked at the telephone company for 30 years, and was nervous when I first started lobbying. However, it simply comes down to talking to folks and giving them the facts. In the last eight years I have met so many amazing people, Democrats and Republicans, who care about the dogs who are forced into the racing industry. I believe it is just a matter of time until dog racing ends!
What does GREY2K USA do?
Question from Margarite:
I am on the board of an anti-racing greyhound adoption group in Michigan. To keep on top of this issue I am on several greyhound related email lists including one that has 3000+ members. Grey2KUSA has come up on this list and is criticized by both the racing industry and the adoption and rescue groups. The consensus seems to be that Grey2KUSA exists only to raise money and does not provide any support to greyhounds or to the adoption effort. One of the criticisms, in particular, is that Grey2KUSA takes unearned credit for track closings and legislation only to solicit more donations from the unwary public. What is your response to these critics?Response from Carey Theil:
First of all, thank you for your efforts to find homes for retired racers, and for working to end greyhound racing.Your question is somewhat difficult to answer, because it doesn't seem to include a specific allegation. I will do my best, however, to answer in a general sense.
One of my biggest frustrations in doing this work is the inability of animal protection groups to work together and be effective. I have strong feelings about the cruelty and objectification that our society perpetrates on animals. At the same time, I am cynical about the national animal protection movement, which is replete with organizations and individuals that are ineffective and wasteful.
We formed GREY2K USA with the specific purpose of working in the legislative process to end dog racing. In that context, I would prefer to let our work speak for itself.
People who care about greyhounds can find more information about our mission, including our accomplishments, financial information and a list of our Board of Directors by going to:
http://www.grey2kusa.org/About/history.html
http://www.grey2kusa.org/About/victories.html
http://www.grey2kusa.org/About/financials.html
http://www.grey2kusa.org/About/board.html
I hope this is helpful. I would be happy to answer any specific concerns you have. You can reach me at carey@grey2kusa.org.
Response from Connie Theil:
Margarite, thanks for all you do for the greyhounds! This is a question for GREY2K USA, and I can't answer it. However, I can give you some experiences that we have had with GREY2K USA here in Oregon with the closure of the dog track here last December, since the closing of tracks was something you mentioned.Ever since the formation of GREY2K USA, after a state ballot initiative in 1999 very nearly ended dog racing in Massachusetts (they lost by 2%!!!) GREY2K USA has been helping us here in Oregon to end dog racing. Oregon Defenders of Greyhounds is a local, grassroots group.
We have been very fortunate to have so many groups help us. We have had help from Humane Society of the United States, In Defense of Animals and the ASPCA, just to name a few. All these groups have to share in the credit of closing the dog track here that ran dogs for over 70 years.
However, GREY2K USA has been amazing. They have never been too busy to drop everything and get out a broadcast email to their members, or give us advice on a bill on which we were lobbying. Just recently they flew out here to Oregon to lobby against a bill that would benefit the dog racing industry, if they ever started up another track. I am immensely grateful to GREY2K USA and all the other folks that have helped us close down the Oregon track.
Comment from JLK:
Seems like the one thing many rescue people have in common is jealousy... of what another group can raise, how many they adopt out, their resources, etc. This challenge to GREY2K USA is yet another example of what I see too often: instead of applauding the efforts to help the animals – whatever breed – we nit pick. Imagine what we could accomplish if we all really put the cause first and our egos last. I mean no offense, just asking us to take a look at the person in the mirror.Response from Carey Theil:
Time spent worrying about these internal disagreements is wasted time. If the animal protection movement instead focuses on specific goals, and executes plans to reach those goals, fewer animals will suffer in our world.The animal protection movement is like a sleeping lion. It has tremendous potential to end cruelty and oppression, but will not achieve these victories until it learns to focus and execute.
What can I do if there's not a dog track in my state?
Question from Maybelle:
I'd like to help, but I'm lucky enough to live in an area that doesn't have dog racing. Is there anything I can do remotely to assist the efforts of those working on the problem in their own backyard?Response from Connie Theil:
Thanks so much for caring about the hounds!! There is so much you can do if you live in a non-racing state.First of all, you can educate yourself and your friends and family on racing. Our group, Oregon Defenders of Greyhounds, has volunteers in our neighboring state of Washington, and they table and pass out literature. I know one young girl in Washington who has bake sales and gives the proceeds to greyhound protection groups.
In Idaho, where there is no live racing, a group of amazing folks set up an informational web site on dog racing. If your near-by state has racing, contact the adoption folks or greyhound protection group. They will love to have your help.
Keep up on what's happening nationally. Knowledge is power. If you can donate financially, do that. I have one friend of greyhounds who religiously has given Oregon Defenders of Greyhounds $5.00 a month. Every little bit helps.
People like you, Maybelle, are the life-blood of our movement. Keep caring and take action.
Response from Carey Theil:
There are many things you can do to help greyhounds, even if you live in a non-racing state. First, there are non-profit greyhound adoption organizations all across the country. Please consider adopting a retired racer. If you are unable to adopt, think about giving a few hours a week to volunteer for a local adoption group.You can also contribute financially to greyhound protection groups such as the National Greyhound Adoption Program (www.ngap.org), the Greyhound Protection League (www.greyhounds.org), or GREY2K USA (www.grey2kusa.org).
Finally, you can help greyhounds simply by telling your friends, neighbors, coworkers and relatives about this cruel industry. The public needs to know the truth about dog racing, and education starts at home.
Thank you for caring about the greyhounds.
Is dog racing on its last legs? What's next?
Question from Jessica:
It is great to see that the greyhound racing business may be on its last legs. I am wondering if the same group that help shut down the racetracks can now go after the breeding business.Purebreds take up a good percentage of cage space at shelters, they cost the tax payers millions to kill these animals after the breeders have made their money, and they continually put out the message to society that animals should be seen as luxury items and not living things. They also make it much harder for rescue groups and shelters to place animals since they take up good homes. Can we try and pass no-profit breeding laws and help end another cruel business that hurts so many animals and rescuers?
Response from Carey Theil:
I personally share your passion for ending companion animal overpopulation. Best Friends Animal Society has been a leader in this area, and I recommend a close look at the section of their resource library that addresses this problem, which can be found at http://www.bestfriends.com/nomorehomelesspets/resourcelibrary/snindex.cfmI wish that I shared your optimism about ending greyhound racing. While I believe it is possible we will see this cruelty outlawed in our lifetime, the tracks are still very powerful and will use every ounce of their influence to survive.
It will take the combined effort of everyone who cares about these amazing animals to overcome the network of high-priced lawyers, lobbyists and public relations experts dog track promoters hire to protect their cruel business.
After we are able to outlaw dog racing, I'd love to discuss these other issues with you!
Response from Connie Theil:
Jessica, Good question. Sadly, we have a ways to go to end dog racing. There are 16 dog tracks in Florida and they are trying to get slot machines to prop up their business.When I first became aware of animal issues about ten years ago, I worked on a variety of issues. For myself, I had to decide how I wanted to use my precious time and energy to help animals. I decided to focus on just one thing and that was dog racing. It was a local issue and really resonated with me.
The issue of breeding is an important one. Don't give up; keep fighting! The animals need you. As for myself I am taking off a wee bit of time before I decide what my next work will be.
The Best Friends No More Homeless Pets forum did have an entire week on shutting down the puppy mills and pet stores, it's archived at http://www.bestfriends.com/archives/forums/060704mills.html. Happy reading!
Note from Forum Moderator:
Thank you to the many members who sent in questions and comments for this week's No More Homeless Pets Forum!Transcripts of all other Forum topics, including an entire section on Legal Action, are archived for easy reference, and are made available to all at http://www.bestfriends.com/nomorehomelesspets/weeklyforum/forumarchives.cfm. Meanwhile, those of you who joined the Forum midweek can view the complete transcripts right away at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NMHP/.
As always, thank you for being part of the Forum, and for everything you do for the animals!
