Picture of a typical
emaciated rescued Greyhound after its racing "career" was over, courtesy
of Greyhound Protection League.
1. Do problems exist with greyhound
racing?
Yes. Greyhound racing constitutes animal abuse because of the industry's
excessive surplus breeding practices, the often cruel methods by which
unwanted dogs are destroyed, the daily conditions in which many dogs are
forced to live, and the killing and maiming of bait animals, such as
rabbits, during training exercises. The industry exists solely for the
entertainment and profit of people—often at the expense of the animals'
welfare.
2. Where does the greyhound racing industry get dogs?
Every year, the industry breeds tens of thousands of greyhounds, more
than it can place at racetracks. This overbreeding is motivated by the
desire to produce "winning" dogs. Thousands of greyhounds at each track
are disposed of yearly to bring in a "fresh" group of dogs. A dog's
racing career is usually over at 3½ to 4 years of age.
3. What is a greyhound's life expectancy?
If able to live out his or her full life as a companion animal, a
greyhound may live 13 or more years. Unfortunately, the industry kills
greyhounds at various stages in the dogs' lives because they appear to
lack racing potential or are injured. Many dogs, when they are no longer
profitable, are adopted into good homes through rescue groups, but
thousands are not. As with any business, profit is the bottom line; as a
result, greyhounds are often destroyed using the least expensive
methods, including gunshot. Reports of bludgeoning, abandonment, and
starvation have also surfaced. Veterinarians humanely euthanize some
greyhounds.
4. What is the daily existence of a racing dog like?
Racing greyhounds spend the majority of their adult lives in crates or
pens or in fenced enclosures. Human companionship is limited. Many
enclosures are not climate-controlled, causing the dogs distress during
inclement weather.
5. Are any other animals abused by the greyhound racing industry?
Greyhound training activities have been known to maim and kill thousands
of domestic rabbits and wild jackrabbits every year. (This estimate is
based on HSUS investigations into the illegal importation of rabbits as
well as the use of animals in training events.) One particular event
known as "coursing" involves greyhounds chasing, terrorizing and
eventually killing rabbits within fenced enclosures. Some industry
representatives argue that this activity enhances the dogs' racing
ability because they'll develop a "taste for blood." But greyhounds are
sight, not blood, hounds, and their inclination to run is instigated by
a moving object, not the scent of blood. The use of live lures is not
permitted in at least 16 states, but such laws are difficult to enforce.
6. Why would a state legalize greyhound racing?
Lawmakers initially perceived racing as a way to raise needed revenue.
Most were, at first, unaware of the inhumane treatment involved. The
reality, however, is that state revenue generated by dog tracks amounts,
on average, to far less than one percent of a state's annual income, and
has been declining markedly in recent years.
7. What is the status of greyhound racing?
With attendance at racetracks dwindling nationwide, greyhound racing is
on the decline, yet it is still entrenched in a number of states. Seven
states have specific bans on live greyhound racing: Idaho, Maine, North
Carolina, Nevada, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. All of these bans
were passed in the 1990s. Forty-six tracks operate in 15 states.
Nineteen of those tracks operate seasonally, and the other 27 operate
year-round. Simulcasting, which is the televised transmission or
reception of a live race to or from an out-of-state racetrack or
off-track betting site, takes place in two other states.
During the 1990s, the greyhound racing industry's gross betting handle
(total amount wagered) declined by a staggering 45%. State revenue from
greyhound racing in the 1990s decreased by an even greater percentage.
If simulcasting monies were subtracted from the bottom line, declines
would have been even greater, showing that on-track betting and live
racing are sharply declining sources of income and entertainment. In the
past decade, 16 tracks either closed or stopped hosting live racing.
While the U.S. economy experienced unprecedented growth and prosperity
during that time, greyhound racing took a nosedive. Americans are
clearly voting with their wallets and consciences that they do not want
any part of this business.
Gaming industry* statistics paint a bleak picture: Of the entire $61.6
billion gambling market, greyhound racing held a 0.7% share in 2000.
That's a decline of 6.65%, or $32.6 million, from 1999 figures.
*As reported by Greyhound Network
News and the Greyhound Protection League
8. How is the greyhound racing industry fighting back?
Because of the unavoidable economic trends, many tracks have lost
enthusiasm for dog racing and, instead, are concentrating on gaming.
Currently, five tracks in three states (Iowa, Rhode Island, and West
Virginia) have slots, but tracks everywhere are pushing state
legislatures to add slot machines, video lottery terminals, and/or some
other forms of gambling to prop up their flailing dog-racing operations.
A recent Orlando Sentinel article detailed how the gaming industry—which
includes greyhound racing—and its lobbyists have flooded Florida state
legislators with contributions, despite the electorate repeatedly voting
down proposals to expand gambling in the state.
The expansion of gaming at dog tracks may improve some tracks' financial
problems, but it will definitely perpetuate the misery and untimely
destruction of healthy, young, and adoptable greyhounds. International
Gaming and Wagering Business said, "If racing is to prove the New York
Times wrong and survive in America, making new fans isn't the first
priority, it's the only priority. Industries that can't recruit new
customers die." In almost every state where greyhound racing exists, dog
tracks are pressing for tax relief or state subsidies to survive.
9. Could the greyhound racing industry ever be operated in a humane
manner?
No. The racing industry is inherently cruel. Greyhound racing is a form
of gaming in which the amount of money a dog generates determines his or
her expendability. The answer for greyhounds is neither regulation nor
adoption of "retired" dogs, but the elimination of the greyhound racing
industry.
10. Aren't "retired" greyhounds adopted? What happens to those who
aren't adopted?
Greyhounds make wonderful companion animals and are loving and
responsive to human contact. Unfortunately, thousands of "retired"
greyhounds are not adopted each year. Many greyhound owners use adoption
programs as dumping grounds when their dogs are no longer profitable.
Although The Humane Society of the United States applauds the efforts of
those volunteers who give their time and money to place unwanted
greyhounds in loving homes, thousands of these dogs are still destroyed
each year because there are not enough homes to accept them. In 2000, an
estimated 19,000 greyhounds were killed.* This includes 7,600 greyhound
puppies who were farm culls, and another 11,400 "retirees" who were not
rescued. Other greyhounds are either sold to research labs, returned to
breeding facilities to serve as breeding stock, or sent to foreign
racetracks, sometimes in developing countries with appalling track
conditions.
11. Who oversees the racing industry? Aren't there laws to protect
greyhounds?
State racing commissions exist to regulate the industry, but their
primary function is to protect the state's financial interests, not to
enhance animal welfare practices. The racing industry is virtually
self-regulated. Unlike other commercial animal enterprises—such as
animal breeding, zoos, circuses, and animal transportation via
airlines—greyhound racing is not governed by the federal Animal Welfare
Act, which is enforced by the United States Department of Agriculture.
13. What is The Humane Society of the United States doing to help
solve this problem?
The HSUS investigates industry abuses, works to educate the public about
the inherent cruelty of this industry, and initiates and supports
legislation to ban greyhound racing. The HSUS believes that as long as
greyhound racing continues in this country, dogs bred for no other
reason than to race will be needlessly put to death. We believe the
dog-racing industry has a lifelong responsibility for the adoption of
every dog it breeds. This population includes not only retired racers,
but also thousands of industry-bred puppies who never make it to the
track because they are deemed unsuitable for racing.
14. What you can do?
- Don't participate in the cruelty of greyhound racing by attending
or betting on dog races.
- Tell your friends, family, and coworkers about the tragedy of
greyhound racing.
- Distribute copies of this web page.
- If your state or neighboring state has a greyhound track, write to
state officials to express your opposition to greyhound racing. Tell
them that greyhounds belong in loving homes, not on race tracks.
- Contact The HSUS for
model legislation to ban greyhound racing.
