Why Greyhounds?

Britain has a serious problem of dog over-population. Every day in this land of so called “animal lovers” about 1,000 healthy good-natured dogs are put to sleep simply because there are not enough homes for them. There are rescues throughout the British Isles trying to reduce this problem by rescuing and rehoming unwanted dogs. Nearly every rescue centre has greyhounds looking for homes, in addition to an assortment of German Shepherds, terriers, collies, crossbreeds etc. It is often the case that the greyhounds remain in the kennels for longer than many of the other dogs. The public perception of this breed is usually the reason they are not chosen.

Many people have totally erroneous ideas about the greyhound as a companion animal. Greyhounds do not need the hours of strenuous exercise that so many people think they require. In fact they are the couch potatoes of the dog world and most greyhounds are perfectly happy with a couple of 20-minute walks daily. Most greyhounds can be left for reasonable periods of time to indulge in their favourite pastime of sofa snoozing. They are also very adaptable, gentle and sedate creatures and love home comforts. They are ideal companions for young families or elderly people. Greyhounds can often learn to live perfectly happily with other animals including cats and even rabbits. People are usually astonished at how easy greyhounds are to have in the home and many of those who adopt a greyhound return to adopt another and become totally addicted to this wonderful breed.

Every year many dogs are killed. The “lucky” ones are put to sleep by a veterinary surgeon - sometimes after their last race. Some are savagely battered, drowned, hanged or left to die of cold or starvation. Others are left in seriously sub-standard kennels to live out what time they have left in grim conditions. Feeding is often inadequate, drinking water is frequently contaminated and the kennels can be wet and cold - exposed to the elements even in a bitterly cold winter. These dogs are just ignored and unwanted – confined for the rest of their lives without even the stimulation of a walk to break the monotony, or the help of a warm coat to give them some protection from the cold. Death comes as a release from the misery these dogs endure. They are the forgotten ones. Hidden and unseen - often housed in inferior kennels at the back of those used for the dogs that are still racing.

Greyhound Racing...

It has been estimated that every year (in Britain & Ireland) as many as 30,000 greyhounds are bred for racing, while a similar number end their racing lives or are rejected by the industry as unsuitable through temperament or injury!

Many racing rejects are likely to end their days in a horrible way - drowned, poisoned, beaten to death, starved, dumped on the streets, impounded or killed by their owners.

Greyhound puppies are often killed if they fail to reach racing standard. At least one third of greyhound puppies are thought to be killed before they reach a year old!

Many are also exported abroad for hunting, racing or coursing. They live in appalling conditions – locked up for 23 hours per day, then eventually disposed of by hanging or other horrific methods. Most owners will not pay for a vet to do the job.

The lives of many racing dogs end after 2 years. They could live to at least 14 years.

Many owners & trainers are not prepared to pay the expenses involved in allowing the dogs to live out their lives in decent accommodation. Some are not even willing to pay the cost of having a dog humanely put to sleep by a vet. Too many kennels keep the retired dogs in appalling conditions and without even basic veterinary care to relieve suffering.

There is no way that appropriate responsible homes - or even satisfactory kennel places - could ever be found for so many thousands of greyhounds every year.

There is already a massive dog overpopulation problem in this country caused by irresponsible breeding and a total lack of commitment by any government to a sensible neutering programme. Greyhound racing inevitably leads to the killing and suffering of thousands of unwanted dogs as has recently been revealed in the media. The number of greyhounds currently being rehomed into appropriate caring and permanent homes represents just a tiny minority of ex racing dogs.

The placement of dogs into homes, without taking the time and trouble to do thorough assessments and correctly matching the dog to the home could appear to markedly increase the number of dogs being rehomed. However, in such cases these same dogs are likely to be returned into rescue - or simply abandoned - within a short space of time. The only effective solution to the problem is the total abolition of this so called “sport”.

Please do not support this horrible business! A “fun” night out for you means suffering for many dogs - either before, during or when the racing is over.

If the public stop supporting this activity it will end - and so will the misery of tens of thousands of dogs. It is in your hands!

	Don’t attend greyhound racing and never bet on a greyhound race.
	Write to your MP and newspapers to express your disgust at the way the dogs are treated by this so called “sport”!
	Tell your friends and family about the suffering involved in greyhound racing.

Contact your local Animal Sanctuary if you can
offer a loving home to an ex-racing greyhound.