Cross Breeds

Greyhound owners: are you against dog racing?

In Massachusetts there is a Ballot Question (3) that seeks to ban dog racing in this state by 2010. If you are a greyhound owner, I am curious if you are pro-racing, anti-racing or neutral? Please also state why. Thanks in advance.

Public Comments

1. Big problem is I have not heard the wording of this proposed law - it could easily outlaw agility & rally obedience (timed events, fastest wins) field trials (athletic events where speed counts) and for that matter organized dog & owner walks/ joggings (so much for my local SPCA's fund raiser) Not to mention I HAVE jack russell raced when I had a russell -who then went home, hunted mice, & slept on the bottom of the bed I HAVE whippets who amateur race & come home to sleep on the bottom of the bed. They LOVE it (just let them see the track & they'll drag you there) I know the top TWO lifetime racing winners in history One will meet you at the dog & show you his toy (he has two laundry baskets full) the other will meet you at the door stand on his hind legs ask if you have any food then snuggle with you on the sofa (his owner has 3 in family room so all dogs have a spot) horrible abuse hugh? outlawing all racing - no (the dogs challenge each other loose in the YARD even with NO race training)
2. I'm not a greyhound owner, but I am not a supporter of greyhound racing. I understood ragapple's concerns about the potential law seeping into dog sport competitions, so I looked up the ballot question. http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Massachusetts_Greyhound_Protection_Act_(2008) From what I understand, if the question passes, two race tracks will be closed, and the possibility of future racing of dogs where gambling on the outcome takes place will be banned. This should not effect dog sport events at all since there is no gambling taking place at those events. I'm from Massachusetts originally, and I hope the Greyhound Protection Act passes.
3. I'm not into gambling of any sort, so I may be the worst person to ask. I visited Southland dog racing park 25+ years ago and was bothered. I was not bothered by what the dogs did, but by the people who were betting and obviously could not afford to bet. If we do away with dog racing, these same people will likely find something different to bet on. I have adopted a retired racer and he is wonderful. Racing does promote the breed and running is what they do best. I have mixed feelings, but I can't say that I'm anti-racing. The day after getting our hound we went to a park that contained several ball fields. The clay was being spread around one and he obviously thought that he was at a race track. He was excited and happy, so clearly, racing did him no harm. Jan
4. Wow. You couldn't have picked a more emotionally loaded question for a grey owner. I have two retired racers, and they are the best dogs I have EVER had. Without Greyhound racing I certainly wouldn't have the opportunity to meet these wonderful animals. So I am personally conflicted. The estimates of Greyhound anteuthanizedroups have 10K hounds euthanised a year. The NGA estimates 1800 to 2000. Some of these are due to disease, deformity, aggressive tendencies, etc. which is the same as every other AKC (or whatever) breed. Greyhound Racing is not dog fighting, or cock fighting. It is not in itself bad, just like gambling isn't in itself bad. First of all the dogs love to race. They flat out LOVE it. They are very competitive. They don't chase the lure, by the way, they just run. They are smart and they know what they are supposed to be doing. I have a racer that figured out that if he knocked a dog out of the way, he would have one less to race. It disqualified him, but he didn't care. Most breeders and trainers are ethical and they love the dogs. The amateurs (who are amateur only in the vein that they don't make a living racing) race their pets. Believe me when I say you can't meet one of these guys and not love them. So the REAL issue for dog owners (and since this question is in the DOGs category you are not asking about gambling) is the dogs that are 'weeded out' I have two of these 'failures' in my home. I love them both. They are wonderful with kids and one is safe with small animals. The other is not. So. I guess I am in favor of allowing the tracks to operate, but REALLY step up the regulation. The problem with dog racing is the evolution of the SPORT into a business. The Aussies have a really good system of regulation on the dogs, and seem to be successful. I have heard all sorts of rumors about the dogs being shocked, and tortured. I personally have never seen anything like this in the Florida racetracks, though I'm sure it has happened. However, if you cripple the dog it doesn't run too well. I lived in FL for 10 years and went to the races occasionally. The dogs are kept in two rows of kennels dogs bottom bitches top. They are fed twice a day, and let out every 4 to 6 hours. They are treated way better than hunting dogs here in SC. They are just not pets. So I guess I am pro-racing (the dogs love it) and anti big business. The tracks are losing money hand over fist however... Live entertainment just can't compete with television and 'Will and Grace' The anti-racing folks are against racing because they see the worst of the worst of the dogs. They don't see anyway to fix the industry. They are right. As long as there is an 'industry' money will come before the dog's well being. So serious regulation is needed to fix the problem.
5. Back in June of 2008 we were presented an opportunity to make a visit to one of the two remaining greyhound racing tracks Massachusetts. We had adopted Magic four years ago thinking we had "saved" or "rescued" him from a miserable existence. I was ready to get a first hand look at how our "poor puppy" had been treated. What I learned opened my eyes and the truth shocked me! I came away with a different opinion that day. In addition to the financial impact, if racing is banned, the Greyhound breed as we know it, will eventually cease to exist, and it is this that saddens me most of all. Greyhounds are unlike any other dog I have ever had. Please, vote NO on question 3.