On “Discarded” Greyhounds

From and article by: Ms T Baker
Co-ordinator, www.greytexploitations.com (which has that fabulous Racism=Speciesism=Sexism graphic on its front page)

Dougie is the third greyhound in as many months – which we know of – to have been subjected to this kind of attack but sadly, he was the only one to survive.

The body of a brindle greyhound was found on a footpath in between Trimdon and Kelloe in County Durham last month, emaciated, with signs of trauma to his chest and both ears cut off.

On February 14th, a heavily pregnant greyhound – Valentina – was found in similar circumstances, dumped on wasteland in a rural village on the outskirts of Bristol.

 . . .

The modern day racing greyhound's life is conditioned purely by economics – if it’s too old or slow to compete as a gambling medium – it will be disposed of as cheaply as possible and swiftly replaced with one that can, from endless supply which are bred in Ireland with the aid of EU funding.

Over 16,000 greyhounds are bred to supply the approximate 10,000 annually racing on British tracks and even taking into account the 4,500 re-homed by the industry’s own Retired Greyhound Trust, we are still left with a huge shortfall of ‘unaccounted’ dogs. The RSPCA believes: "at least 20 greyhounds a day – either puppies which do not make the track, or 'retired' dogs aged three or four – simply 'disappear', presumed killed"

Many vets will admit to killing healthy greyhounds – by definition it cannot be classed as euthanasia – for a cut price fee, for fear the dogs will be disposed of in a less humane manner and you have to accept the vet’s justification of this when you hear of stories similar to Dougie’s.

. . .

I wish Dougie a beautiful life – one which he deserved from birth and one which I hope all greyhounds will enjoy in the very near future.

Click here for more on Dougie's story, including videos (nothing graphic, just more coverage of the story)