Any fans? I have never been to a Greyhound race, never gambled on them, but LOVE to see them run. I see quite a few greyhounds that have been retired from racing and adopted by "regular folks". Then in today's paper I see that a trainer had 12 greyhounds test positive for cocaine. Florida has 12 of the 19 tracks in the US. As a dog lover this makes me sick. Tell me what I am missing here.
Peter.

Peter;

Maybe we should go to that Greyhound race track on 17 in Orange Park.

However, a few weeks ago we drove by and there were a bunch of protesters with signs in the parking lot across the street, yelling at passers-by.

Apparently Greyhound racing is seen as cruel by some people?

I have never been to a race either.

Peter, I fear that the behind-the-scenes aspect of greyhound racing would make most dog lovers sick. It is a wonderful to see a greyhound eating up the turf, but I would rather see it at the dog park than the track. Used to be a huge dog racing track in Portland, Oregon. Long gone now.

The track here in town closed a while back. Always wanted to go watch a night of races but have to admit that I never did. I remember on Thursday they had fifty cent hot dogs and beer.

What makes you sick? The protesters or the dogs doing what they enjoy doing and what they were bred to do?
Many years ago I went to a night of greyhound racing in West Memphis. Watching the dogs run with the added bonus of a small wager was very enjoyable. At that time, all of the competing dogs were drug tested.
I would think that greyhounds, like horses and field trail dogs, would be carefully tended. After all, they are the owner's meal ticket. And too, you can usually get a collection of whiners to protest most anything.
In OK, they use them to chase coyotes but most of the ones I saw seemed to be some sort of cross.

Wasbee, having known folks who were involved in racing greyhound rescue and or adopted retired greyhounds, I've been told that track dogs are raised with minimal socialization or human contact, fed diets that made them hyperactive and likely shortened their lives -- and of course there has been some doping -- all to extract a short burst of entertainment value from man's best friend, after which very short career they are either euthanized or adopted.
That doesn't necessarily have to make you sick, but it shouldn't provide any comfort to someone who truly appreciates dogs for what they are. If that makes me a "whiner," I'm fine with it.

I was really referring to the protesters.
However, your comment could apply to any of the specialized breeds that compete: Pointer dogs, labs, border collies, beagles, coon hounds, the list goes on and on. And each type of competition has its own "techniques" to make the animal excel. To someone not familiar with what is wanted, some of the technique may seem even cruel. Especially if the observer is working from a position of emotions without any knowledge. And dealing in hearsay.
I find the poster's comment that he was a "dog lover" and your comment about "somebody who truly appreciates dogs" curious. Are you trying to assume some sort of high ground or what? Is someone who has a dog for a specific purpose or duty something less than a "dog lover"?

many moons ago i had a pet greyhound - was a damn nice pet

wasbeeman, when I say I am "dog lover" I simply mean that I love dogs for what they are, not as a business proposition or as a vehicle whose primary purpose is to make money for me. Giving a dog cocaine may make perfect sense to you "as a technique to make the animal excel" ie. if it enhances the dog's ability to make money, but it makes NO sense to me. You didn't mention dog fighting, another time honored American tradition, which also seems to encourage the use of drugs like cocaine and others that raise the pain threshold, another "technique" I guess.
I posted this precisely to gain knowledge.
Peter

Wasbee, no higher ground here. I will soon be in the market for another bird dog. I have no problem with using a dog to do what it was bred to do, but I do have a problem with giving a dog anything but the best care and treatment possible.
Heck I love to go to the horse races, but the first time I saw a bad wreck with a jockey being removed by ambulance and the track vet putting a thrashing horse down in front of God and everybody, I gained a far more nuanced perspective.

Interesting that you mention horse racing. In the UK, the Grand National is a steeplechase event, and just about every year at least one horse used to be destroyed. Don't know what the current events are like.
Peter.

Peter, I'm not gonna get into any long winded debate over this but first off, you say you love a dog for what he is? So, in your mind, what is a dog? Is it there simply to dig up the flower beds and shed on the sofa or what?
I have had dogs all my life,(so far) and they were mostly for pointing birds or chasing rabbits. If they didn't point birds or run rabbits to suit me, they went down the road. Let's say, to a "dog lover" without papers. I'm sure telling you that my wife, over the years, had 3 pit bulls will have you frothing at the mouth. She never even thought to fight them but they all came from solid fighting stock. She got her first one on the advise of a vet.
I see that your ire has expanded to include horse racing. You know, you remind me of a PETA troll: One hunter is a poacher, ergo, all hunters ate poacher and the sport should be stopped.
Think about that.

quote:

If they didn't point birds or run rabbits to suit me, they went down the road.

Please explain what this means.Did you decide the dog was of no further use to you so you gave it to a "dog lover without papers". Sorry, I have no idea what this means.
Your wife gets a dog from "solid fighting stock"? So dogs are still being bred for this, and your wife buys them?
I don't think I am exhibiting "ire". I said "what am I missing" hoping to be educated on the beneficial use of cocaine in greyhounds. Hasn't happened yet!
I am not against greyhound racing. I am against what greyhound racing has perhaps become. Same with horse racing. I ride horses (English). I love watching Eventing in the Olympics.
Anyway, enough. I am a PETA troll I guess, for daring to ask why people give cocaine to greyhounds, and refusing to accept your answer that it makes them excel! BULLs--t! It is cheating pure and simple, but you see nothing wrong with that.
Peter.

are you really that dense or are you playing games? If you hire an accountant and he can't add 2+2, do you keep him around because he is what he is?
Did my wife buy pups from solid fighting stock? You bet. If you had the slightest idea of what you're talking about, or would do a little research, you would find that pits have many, many fine attributes. I have at this time, a border collie. She has probably never seen a sheep but she is from solid sheep-herding stock. because I am interested in helping keep the integrity of the breed. There have been too many dogs ruined, absolutely ruined by stupid people breeding them 'cause they're cute. Or they want a certain colour.
I don't have the slightest idea why they would give cocaine to greyhound. Nor did I post any such thing. I would think that with the street value of cocaine, the trainer would be better off selling it rather than giving it to his dogs.
Enough of this, troll. Get your PETA dues in the mail.

I think everybody needs to step back and take a deep breath.

wasbeeman, Peter's not a PETA troll. I know him personally, we shoot skeet together every month or so, and he's hunted Africa. Plus, he's owned some damn fine double rifles.

Sometimes I wonder if we would say face to face some of the things we say on these forums, behind the anonymity of a computer screen.

I fear the Internet has weakened our sense of civility.

The concern I have with any competition animal is how it is treated after it is no longer used for the competition or money making venture.

I don't have any issue with dog or horse racing per se, but do have a big issue with folks that treat animals like throw away items.

I don't personally know anyone who hunts with labs that as soon as they are no longer able to hunt at top level puts them down or gives them to a rescue, and wouldn't associate with anyone who did.

One hears of how the racing dog owners supposedly treat their dogs, and if true, is a problem for the sustainability of the sport or game. I'm pretty sure it's like the rest of animal owners, some are good, a few are bad, and most fall in between. If it is put them down as soon as they are no longer making money, that is repugnant.

Race horses went through a similar scandal in that they had short careers and were then put down unless they were good enough for breeding.

If an animal is bred for a purpose they tend to enjoy it, and I'm all for using them that way, as long as it's not discarded as soon as it is no longer competitive.

CR, I agree. In Florida, in recent years, there have grown up several pretty active greyhound adoption organizations. The success of these is partly witnessed by the number of people who have greyhounds as pets. The ones I have spoken to have all adopted them! Similar situation with race horses. If they don't make the grade, or are no longer competitive I don't know what happens to them. I spoke to one pretty high level competitive jumper at a show, he was riding a retired race horse and was teaching him to jump! I know someone else who bought a non competitive race horse and was training it to jump. Problem, of course, is that it is a gamble. English riders seem prepared to take the chance, in some cases, because the horses are thoroughbreds. I am not sure about Western riders. Competitive sports in that domain eg. barrel racing, racking etc. seem to require specific breeding that is not readily transferable.
Peter.

Wife and I have enjoyed some grey hound races.

Been a few years, But we would reserve a table,
get their early and have dinner before the races started.

Ray, I might well accept Pat Munn's invitation to go greyhound racing!
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Nitro Express:
I think everybody needs to step back and take a deep breath.

wasbeeman, Peter's not a PETA troll. I know him personally, we shoot skeet together every month or so, and he's hunted Africa. Plus, he's owned some damn fine double rifles.

Sometimes I wonder if we would say face to face some of the things we say on theses forums, behind the anonymity of a computer screen.

I fear the Internet has weakened our sense of civility.

one of the problems with the internet is no way to really catch someone's intentions like there is in person.


that being said: i don't know much about greyhound racing, my farrier owns racehorses and it really is an interesting sport so i'm guessing the greyhound world is a lot like the horse world where there are some that overbreed to make a buck don't give a darn about the dogs but others that they race for the joy it brings them. they take care of their animals very well or they lose MORE $$ and can't afford to keep going so also can't afford to cheat


as far as the retired dogs, excellent pets. my family had one for quite a few years very well mannered relaxed LAZY dog, and she sounds like she wasn't a rare greyhound I'm sure there are nasty ones out there but every one I've met so far has just been a very friendly dog

quote:

Originally posted by wasbeeman:
are you really that dense or are you playing games? If you hire an accountant and he can't add 2+2, do you keep him around because he is what he is?
Did my wife buy pups from solid fighting stock? You bet. If you had the slightest idea of what you're talking about, or would do a little research, you would find that pits have many, many fine attributes. I have at this time, a border collie. She has probably never seen a sheep but she is from solid sheep-herding stock. because I am interested in helping keep the integrity of the breed. There have been too many dogs ruined, absolutely ruined by stupid people breeding them 'cause they're cute. Or they want a certain colour.
I don't have the slightest idea why they would give cocaine to greyhound. Nor did I post any such thing. I would think that with the street value of cocaine, the trainer would be better off selling it rather than giving it to his dogs.
Enough of this, troll. Get your PETA dues in the mail.

Just out of curiosity, how does one know that dogs are of solid fighting stock without fighting them? Word of mouth? And you never did clarify what sending hunting dogs that don't suit you down the road to "dog lovers" without papers means..... it seems you are a dog user but not a dog lover. That's fine but be honest about it.

In the case of the pits, we knew the owners of the up dog and the female. Pretty simple. Did we buy the dogs to fight? No way but as I posted, pits have many very fine attributes other than fighting.
As far as pointers and beagles are concerned, It is, of course, hard not to become attached to a dog that has turned in long and faithful service. And anyone familiar with either of the dogs will tell you that by the time a pup is 1 year old, you can pretty much determine if he is going to make the grade. If not, but he has marginal potential, you sell him for a real bargain rate; if he's pretty hopeless, you give him away. Neither dog is sold or given with papers so they cannot be registered.
As far as purpose intended dogs are concerned, I guess I am a dog user. If they can't do the intended job, they don't stay around. I have the same standards with people.

Big stink down here a couple of years ago about the Greyhound Industry. I saw the footage of them baiting and found it disturbing. Now saying that I have a greyhound bitch that I got from the local Vet University. She was used by the students as a practice dog and as a blood donor and they can only be used for two courses before they get re-homed. She's a great little dog, nice natured (except if she see a wallaby ) but a nice gentle bitch.