Several organizations, such as British Greyhounds Retired
Database, Greyhound Rescue West of England, Birmingham Greyhound Protection,
GAGAH, Adopt-a-Greyhound and Greyhound Pets of America, and the Retired
Greyhound Trust try to ensure that as many of the dogs as possible are adopted.
Some of these groups also advocate better treatment of the dogs while at the
track and/or the end of racing for profit. In recent years the racing industry
has made significant progress in establishing programs for the adoption of
retired racers. In addition to actively cooperating with private adoption groups
throughout the country, many race tracks have established their own adoption
programs at various tracks.
Criticism
Greyhound racing has been a source of controversy in recent
years. Animal protection organizations such as the American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Humane Society of the United States
are opposed to commercial greyhound racing, due to industry standard practices
they say are cruel and inhumane.
The humane community has utilized the legislative process to
end dog racing and improve the conditions for racing greyhounds. For example,
in March 2014, Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a measure that prohibited
commercial greyhound racing in Colorado, making it the 39th state to outlaw the
activity.
There has also been criticism of commercial racing
internationally, particularly regarding the overbreeding of dogs, concealment
of injury figures, high euthanasia rates and mismanagement of the UK and Irish
greyhound industries. For example, an independent 2014 review of the Irish
Greyhound Board criticized the body's corporate governance, its handling of
animal welfare issues, and poor financial performance.
In Australia, Greyhound Racing NSW's Chief Executive Brent
Hogan admitted that an estimated 3,000 greyhounds are euthanized each year in
that state alone.
In February 2015 an undercover report discovered the use of
'live bait' to train dogs for racing in Australia. This is illegal in many
countries, including the UK and Australia, and against the rules and
regulations of the UK Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Australia
The Australian Greyhound Racing Association is divided into many state governing bodies,
which regulate greyhound welfare and living conditions. Some racing authorities
in Australia, partly finance some of the Greyhound Adoption Groups, which house
dozens of greyhounds a month.
Each Australian State and Territory has a governing
greyhound racing body. Greyhound Racing New South Wales and Greyhound Racing Victoria are the two largest authorities, governing
over 40 racetracks.
The Queensland Greyhound Racing Authority, Western
Australian Greyhound Racing Authority, Tasmanian Greyhound Racing Authority,
Greyhound Racing South Australia, Northern Territory Racing Authority, and the
Canberra Greyhound Racing Club, all contribute to running and monitoring of
greyhound racing in Australia as it continues to grow.
Major greyhound racing venues include Wentworth Park in
Sydney, Cannington Park in Perth, Angle Park in Adelaide, Albion Park in
Brisbane and Sandown Park in Melbourne.
Many adoption programs have been set up throughout Australia
known as Greyhound Adoption Program or Greyhounds As Pets, GAP. They generally
work with their Greyhound Racing Administration. Greyhounds are checked for
parasites, malnourishment, or any other medical conditions by an on-course vet
before being able to compete.
Greyhounds are usually bought and sold as puppies just after
having been whelped or as racing dogs that have been fully trained via word of
mouth on the track or via the few greyhound trading and sales platforms. In
Australia the buying and selling of greyhounds is controlled and regulated by
the states and territories.
A 2015 television investigation revealed widespread use of
small live animals as bait, to train greyhounds to chase and kill. As a result,
many in the industry have called for a complete overhaul of greyhound racing's
controlling bodies in Australia.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, around 700 dogs are bred each year for
racing, and around 500 are imported from Australia. Over 200 are retired
annually by a charity established and partially funded by the New Zealand
Greyhound Racing Association. Many greyhounds are kept as pets or rehomed by
their trainers after racing as well as a large number rehomed by other
greyhound adoption organizations throughout the country. Some greyhounds are
even returned to overseas owners. Greyhound racing is a NZ$75 million industry.
There is some concern over the welfare of New Zealand racing greyhounds by a
small Anti Racing community that has led the racing industry to initiate its
own internal inquiry into their outcomes, injuries and welfare.
South Africa
In the Republic of South Africa dogs are kept with their
owners. Due to the amateur state of racing, owners are usually also the trainer
and rearer of the dogs; it is very rare that a dog is kenneled with a trainer.
Racing is controlled by a partnership between the United
Greyhound Racing and Breeders Society
and the South African Renhond Unie . The studbook is kept by the South
African Studbook and organization who keep studbooks for all stud animals.
Racing takes place on both oval and straight tracks. Racing is illegal in South
Africa.
United Kingdom
Greyhound racing is a popular industry in Great Britain with
attendances at around 3.2 million at over 5,750 meetings in 2007. There are 26
registered stadiums in Britain, and a parimutuel betting tote system with
on-course and off-course betting available, with a turnover of £75,100,000.
On 24 July 1926, in front of 1,700 spectators, the first
greyhound race took place at Belle Vue Stadium where seven greyhounds raced
round an oval circuit to catch an electric artificial hare. This marked the
first ever modern greyhound race in Great Britain.
Greyhound racing in Great Britain is regulated by the
Greyhound Board of Great Britain . Greyhounds are not kept at the tracks, and
are instead housed in the kennels of trainers and transported to the tracks to
race. Those who race on the independent circuit, do not have this regulation.
There have been 133 regulated tracks and 256 known independent tracks since 1926.
At American tracks greyhounds are kept in kennel compounds,
in crates that are approximately three feet wide, four feet deep, and three
feet high. Most kennels turn the dogs out 4 to 6 times per day. Each turnout
can be from 30 to 90 minutes.
In addition to state law and regulations, most tracks adopt
their own rules, policies and procedures. In exchange for the right to race
their greyhounds at the track, kennel owners must sign contracts in which they
agree to abide by all track rules, including those pertaining to animal
welfare. If kennel owners violate these contract clauses, they stand to lose
their track privileges and even their racing licenses.
In recent years, several state governments in the United
States have passed legislation to improve the treatment of racing dogs in their
jurisdiction. During the 1990s, seven states banned gambling on live greyhound
racing. In November 2008, Massachusetts held a vote to ban greyhound racing,
which passed 56% to 44%. Currently, 39 states and the territory of Guam have
standing laws banning the practice, and four more states do not practice
greyhound racing despite the practice not being illegal there.
Between 2001 and 2011, the total amount gambled on greyhound
racing nationwide declined by 67%. In fact, gambling on dog races has declined
for twenty consecutive years.
In Florida, where 12 of the 22 operational dog tracks in the
US remain, the financial decline is even more significant. In the state, the
amount gambled at dog tracks declined by 72% between 1990 and 2013. According
to a study commissioned by the legislature, the state lost between $1 million
and $3.3 million on greyhound racing in 2012.
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