Re: The Greyhound Industry
Reply #9 –
I'm not opposed to greyhound racing but I am outraged by the cruelty exposed in the Four Corners program. I am opposed to the euthanasia of young healthy dogs that couldn't quite run fast enough. I am also extremely opposed to the exsanguination of greyhounds as they are euthanised. Furthermore, the practice of allowing the greyhound industry (and other industries across the board) to self-regulate is a recipe for disaster. Governments and big business proposing to cut 'red tape' are simply allowing bad practice and, in this case, extreme cruelty, to thrive.
My first exposure to the greyhound industry was in the early years of high school when one of my classmates gave a talk on his greyhounds during which he explained that he used a .22 rifle to dispose of any that weren't fast enough. In complete contrast, one of my fellow students at university had racing greyhounds that were treated as family pets and stayed with the family when they retired. He was appalled at the live baiting that was going on then and, quite correctly, maintained that sight hounds didn't need to be 'blooded' in order to speed after the lure.
That to me is one of the worst aspects of this live baiting scandal; it's unscientific mumbo-jumbo that subjects defenceless creatures to agonising deaths.
If the greyhound industry is to continue, there must be strict supervision of trainers so those still living in the dark ages cannot get away with cruelty. There should also be a limit on greyhound breeding so that unwanted dogs aren't euthanised willy nilly. Perhaps greyhound owners should be prohibited from adding to their dogs unless they successfully re-home unwanted dogs.