From the Animal Rights Action Network re: Greyhounds

Brief commentary follows this e-mail I received regarding greyhounds, animal rights and Ireland.

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Dear ARAN Members,

I remember as a young child throwing stones and sticks at a terrified greyhound that slept in a back shed a few blocks from where I live. Every day myself and other 'friends' went out of our way to terrify the poor helpless dog that used to live in this filthy run down shed for shelter. Once we'd get to him we'd start throwing stones, he would run terrified out of the shed and through the fields with his helpless frail body to get away. He would not return for many hours.

Back then I was a young child and never thought any different about greyhounds or indeed any other animal. Now I look back and realize that maybe every time i tormented him and throw stones at him he was actually feeling pain and so scared that he'd try run as fast as he could to get away to keep himself safe, I am sure he valued his own little precious life just as much as you and I value ours? Thinking back still touch's me to the point where I feel so guilty-but I knew no different. Today it is a different situation, i learned from then about respecting animals and my life has been devoted to ending their suffering and torment. But yet every single day in Ireland there are greyhounds all over the country been dumped into rivers with rocks tied to their little feet and their ears cut off so that they are non identifiable, this is the Irish greyhound racing industry at it's best when they no longer want the ones who are 'useless' or 'unwanted'. These poor animals are literally running for their lives and we must do everything we can to educate people about their suffering and exploitation and work towards ending this horribly cruel activity because many people out there just don't know any different, so we must be the greyhound's best advocate
and use our voice for theirs.

DO http://www.aran.ie/  SOMETHING, WORDS ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH – ONLY YOUR
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION WILL END ANIMAL ABUSE

ARAN has designated August 24-30th 2009 as our official week of action against the Irish greyhound racing industry. During this week in Ireland, we are working on staging peaceful events outside of every possible greyhound stadium there is in North and South of the country but we desperately need people who are reading this email who say they care to hit the 'reply' button to get involved. During this week of action ARAN will be getting in touch with some local members and supporters to organize local events in
their area, we are happy to provide free of charge leaflets, posters, stickers, organizing advice and much more-we are simply asking you to give just a couple of hours for this one week, is it really much to ask for? At ARAN many of our volunteers work day and night fighting animal abuse- -we're simply asking you for just two hours during our week of action against the Greyhound industry in Ireland. Our aim of this week is to educate people about the cruelty of greyhound racing and of course call for an end to government grants to this business and our sights of course are to see an end to this cruel exploitive industry. Whilst our heads are in the clouds our feet are firmly on the ground.

I hope that you'll find it in your heart to give up just two hours of your time as these beautiful and gentle dogs are literally running for their lives.

Thanks for all that you are doing to help animals,

John Carmody

Ps, I know the many countless supporters out there who constantly attend ARAN events, donate, write letters and emails, I would urge people who have yet to do 'something' to get involved. We're simply asking you for just a couple of hour to help greyhounds in serious trouble right now. Also, please feel free to cross-post this appeal and post it on Facebook, Myspace, Forums and mailing lists.

John Carmody | Campaigns Director | Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN)
Tel: 087-2391646 | Intl' +353-87-2391646 | Email: arancampaigns@eircom.net
Website: www.ARAN.ie
"Fighting Animal Abuse Across Ireland"
Please include all previous correspondence when replying! Need reminding why cruelty to animals is wrong? Check out Earthlings, the award winning video narrated by Hollywood actor Joaquin Phoenix.
Donate to ARAN, make checks or postal orders payable to Animal Rights Action Network and mail to the address above, thank you. 

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but
because of those who look on and do nothing" – Albert Einstein 1879-1921

One of the best ways you can help ARAN is to get actively involved with our ongoing research, lobbying, events, projects, peaceful protests and tabling events across Ireland. Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) is against all forms of cruelty to animals and is a grassroots group working to establish rights for all animals here in Ireland, whilst helping to promote and support European and international campaigns. ARAN works with volunteers, activists, members of the public and other animal protection groups. We believe that by working together we can do so much more and be far more effective. Please be sure to check out ARAN.ie on a frequent basis to keep up to date with ARAN's latest lifesaving campaigns work. Together we can make a huge difference and we need you on our side.

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That letter makes me want to raise a boy, just so I can see the impulse toward destruction and cruelty. I'm not saying they all have it or that they understand destruction and cruelty and their actions have those intentions, but I wonder if vegan parents have to fight what they see as wiring, or if it simply depends on the child, or if it depends on the parent. (I assume a nature and nurture view of things rather than one or the other.) Every week, I see at least one instance within driving distance of my house, of boys tormenting creatures for the fun of it, or because they are curious. Of course, I try to have a conversation with them about what they're doing, and often in front of their parents, and invariably they look at me like I'm an alien.

Also, you see how ARAN concentrates on the cruelty of greyhound racing, and their goal is to eliminate it, and they work with animal protection groups? They don't say: you want protection and I want rights, so I want nothing to do with you. I wonder how well that works. 

Note that ARAN is "vegan-based" according to the video from Supreme Master Television on the site. Also, John Carmody is PETA's spokesperson for Ireland. 

I think that greyhound racing and circuses are uses of animals that most people aren't thinking too much about, but if they did, and if they were presented with all of the stats and the behind-the-scenes information, they'd easily opt out, as they have nothing to lose. Few people are that invested that they'd put up a fight, as they would regarding their beloved "meat," which they strangely think they cannot live without and they have all kinds of emotional attachment to.

This is such a small request (if you live in Ireland!)–to help out during one week in August–to fight for the freedom of creatures enslaved and commodified for nearly a century solely for their ability to sprint.