Weekend Plans to Reconsider: Greyhound Racing, Part 2

Hey rescuers!

Today I'm going to get right back into where we left off last week.

Inadequate Standards of Deplorable Care:

There is nothing okay with how racing Greyhounds live on the track. Dogs that survive the culling process as puppies to make it the track often fall prey to conditions on rocky tracks or substandard kennels. According to Grey2kUSA's recent study, snapped spines, broken legs, and even severed toes are common, "acceptable" track injuries. Heart attacks from overwork, and upper respiratory diseases aquired in packed kennels are equally common (Grey2kUSA 2011).

When injured, these animals are generally not treated, as their owners find it cheaper simply to destroy and replace the injured dog than to care for it properly. Many states do not require the reporting of racer Greyhound injuries or deaths. Available data collected by Grey2kUSA from kennels that do report death by track or kennel acquired illness report that injury is very common. There have been several reported cases in recent years of dogs simply being left to succumb to their injuries or starve. As veterinarians seem to be too much of a cost to these cruel dog owners, if animals are helped along towards death, it is generally by gunshot or electricution (Grey2kUSA 2011). 

The Law is on Our Side

Thankfully, extreme animal cruelty is a felony charge that can net a maximum of five years jail time that is, conventionally, doled out per animal. For instance, a case of two abused animals on the same property is considered two counts of felony abuse that can lead to a maximum of ten years jail time. Grey2kUSA reflects on this with optimism. You can imagine how quickly Greyhound racing would stop if good people like you would report abuse any time it is practiced (Grey2kUSA).


Sources:

Grey2kUSA. (2011). Grey2kusa.org. In Grey 2k USA. Retrieved from http://www.grey2kusa.org
     /pdf/FLreport.pdf