12 Responses to “17 greyhound racing tracks closed since 2004”

1. John // Oct 2, 2009 at 2:58 pm

   I understand the ambition to stop the greyhound racing but have you thought ahead about where all these dogs will go or how many will have to be euthanized ??? I am in Canada and we end up with a lot of greyhounds here and wonder do your groups help with the rehoming of these dogs who CAN’T GO TO SHELTERS by the way and CAN’T LIVE OUTSIDE in our climate so are you helping finacially with the care of these beautiful animals ?? The business people should I know but they don’t so please take care as the harder you push the more greyhounds will either be shipped to mexico or killed.

2. caryn // Oct 2, 2009 at 5:42 pm

   Very, very good news about tracks closures. Long overdue. No more inhumane confinement, no more diseased 4-D meat, no more steroids, no more injuries.
   I have heard that when tracks have closed, most, if not all adoption groups come forward regardless of location and take in the remaining dogs.
   What I am very concerned about is the potential for the clandestine killing of the greyhounds which will NOT be turned over to adoption groups.
   Of course, that has been an ongoing horror, whether or not tracks are closing, because the racing industry is not held accountable for the disposition of greyhounds after their “careers” at the tracks, nor is it held accountable for the disposition of the greys that don’t make it to the tracks.
   Massachusetts enacted a greyhound protection act to ensure that the disposition of greyhounds is recorded. Until all the tracks go by the wayside, it would be greyt if the same type of legislation could be passed in the remaining live-racing states.

3. Val // Oct 2, 2009 at 6:35 pm

   As long as there are tracks, there will be over breeding of Greyhounds. It is a never ending vicious cycle. The fewer tracks there are, the fewer Greyhounds will be bred thus the fewer dogs will need re-homing. It is shameful and criminal as far as I’m concerned that the racing industry assumes no responsibility these dogs after they no longer make money, and leaves the hard work of finding good homes to the devoted Adoption Groups.

   To show what happens to other species unfortunate enough to be exploited in the (horse) racing industry: Many thoroughbred horses who are no longer useful on the track end up as horsemeat!

   Just recently, the racetrack in Guam closed and several hundred Greyhounds were left with no place to go. What resulted is one of the most beautiful examples of heroism I have ever seen—-People from the States took numerous trips to Guam and rescued the dogs. They worked tirelessly to see that the dogs were brought back to the US and were subsequently cared for by various Adoption Groups throughout the US, and are finding loving homes for these noble dogs, who were ‘thrown away’ by the racing industry.

   When you put the word ‘Industry’ in front of a species, be it dogs, horses, cattle, chickens, etc, the animals always lose.

4. Judy Paulsen // Oct 4, 2009 at 7:22 pm

   John – Do you think we (meaning all rescue groups) will have fewer greyounds to absorb over the years if greyhound racing is NOT abolished? Are you saying you’d rather rescue tens of thousands over the next few years than a few thousand now? Would you rather see tens of thousands destroyed over the next several years rather than some that will ultimately perish as tracks close. Which is the lesser of two evils? You are perpetuating the dog racing industry by justifying their long-term existence in order to avoid absorbing immediate rescues. What a very peculiar way to look at greyhound welfare.

5. John // Oct 5, 2009 at 8:29 am

   I know people in Canada who were involved in the Guam greyhound rescue so it wasn/t just the US who was involved but they did intiate which was great. I wonder if the tracks were to close and of course the problem is where would all these dogs go as from what I have heard and read there are only 350 groups and what about 20,000 greyhounds do the math so before we push this immediate closure lets be rational and look for ways to pare down the greyhound population as if you must know the racing is cathing on on Mexico :>( where there is no regualations at all so then the dogs will be in grave danger so will this make all the activists happy ??

6. John // Oct 5, 2009 at 8:37 am

   In Reply to Judy I am not meaning that at all but rescuing thousands would be impossible and imagine the amount of Greyhounds who would be killed as if you are in the know the farms are filling up with amount of tracks closing so please do the math 350 groups 20,000 greyhounds that is what for each group to adopt out ?? I am not for or against racing just the logistics of making sure the greyhounds are helped but not at the expense of what activists want and if you are part of a rescue group then you should know more as I have talked to and read up and seem to know as much as you. I wonder do you follow up and talk to media in other areas about the amount of garbage going on in the industry and not racing but in rescue ?? so please understand I am for the conclusion of racing but at the cost of so many greyhounds losing their life with a sudden stop of racing. I am hoping this made sense to you as I am not for or against the industry but in it for the dogs as if you read the other post about mexico having tracks opening up you think there will any more regulations there ????????? Careful what you wish for it may come true and it will be even harder to rescue from that country

7. Lizzie // Oct 5, 2009 at 5:45 pm

   The tracks close one by one, and the all *volunteer* rescue groups step up, have planning meetings on how to accommodate extra dogs, ect. We are not talking about 20,000 greyhounds suddenly up for adoption. We are talking about 350 approx per track, so the full load will not rest on one community. Multiple rescues in various states will absorb dogs. Some kennels will opt to have their dogs shipped to other tracks, some will kill their dogs no matter what we do as rescues…cuz “we don’t have no use for rescue groups”.
   The tracks will continue to close one by one- we are evolving and growing as humans. The Phoenix track closing is a huge blessing for the dogs- open for 55 years, think of the multitudes of dogs lost in that 55 year history. That cycle stops here, and countless dogs will not suffer and die on that poorly graded track in the future. Closing the tracks saves lives. Not just the lives of the dogs who go into adoption but future dogs who won’t have to languish in a box 22-23 hours a day, fed raw meat and jacked up with steroids.
   John, all I can tell you is- if you care, get involved. Fostering a greyhound is an easy and fun way to get started. There are many aspects of rescue that can utilize your talents. fundraising for vet bills, driving greys to dentals (4-D raw meat is bad for a greys teeth and health), transport to their spay and neuter, Public outreach, tabling fosters, kennel work, teaching a greyhound that is no longer a profit making machine, but a treasured pet. We do all of this because we love the dogs, even though there is no money to be made from a ex-racer. To watch a greyhound blossom in a home is the most spectacular thing I get to see. It’s worth it to save them.

8. John // Nov 12, 2009 at 2:56 pm

   I am an adoption rep for an organization in Canada and we adopt out an average of 130 to 150 greys a year and so I think I know a little about the world of greyhounds I also have a Guam greyhound at my home. Please read what I have said as it does not sound like you have read what I have typed at all. I am not interested in having race tracks but the 350 you are talking about if all tracks closed a little low by the way as we as a group adopt out 150/yr ourselves. I would think you in the US could do more as I have read many groups and they average 30 – 50 a year are you kidding me ? I drive to do home visits and may travel 80 to over 150 miles one way for the cause so please don’t talk to me like I am an imbecile

9. John // Nov 12, 2009 at 2:58 pm

   Oh and to the last post I forgot I have 9 greyhounds at home so have a little idea of what to do with these perfect souls

10. Alex // Nov 12, 2009 at 6:12 pm

    John
    Nobody thinks you’re an imbecile.
    You are to be commended for what you do for the greyhounds.
    Every group does what it can regarding time and money and distance.
    I read that a group in the Midwest adopts 375 greyhounds a year. This sounds like a huge number but not when Dairyland will close and 900 dogs will need to find somewhere to go. Some will continue to race while most probably need to find adoptive homes. Will they all? Who knows? Dogs race in freezing temps and break their legs in Dairyland hell. Goodbye and good riddance to Dairyland.
    Instead of beating up on adoption groups & advocacy groups, start kicking the racing arm’s ass. They have never been accountable for what happens to dogs that have never raced and post racing. If they were, we all wouldn’t be so very afraid of what’s going to happen to these dogs now.
    Phoenix Greyhound Park is closing too. What will happen to those dogs? Some will go to race in Tucson. Some will go to race in Caliente (anything is better than Tucson) and some will go to other parts of the country. The majority will go to adoption groups and efforts are now forming to make that happen. Some will go back to the farm which is never a good sign. It’s another mouth to feed and more to breed and again no accountability. Hopefully none disappear in the desert like in previous years. Some will undoubtedly become medical experiments in labs or long term blood bank donors.
    The system — greyhound racing — sucks John. Not the adoption groups or the advocacy groups.
    That’s great that you do so much and have 9 greyhounds in your home. Very commendable. People do what they can and can afford to.

11. Jay // Nov 26, 2009 at 4:24 pm

    Wow i cant believe what i read here. I know some dogs may suffer but do you animal lovers think about all the people who loses their jobs, all those familys with less money dont you think they suffer as much as those dogs ???? Here in quebec we lost our horse racing industry and all the breeders and tellers and jockey and even trainers all lost their jobs. Thats where the real suffering begins.

12. Pamela Masich // Dec 14, 2009 at 7:58 pm

    I am so sick of hearing about all the animal abuse just to make a buck!! Just like the fat cats on wall street when people see $ signs nothing else matters animals, people, just selfish idiots who only care about themselves!!! Our world is in a sad state.