Greyhound racing in Swindon

[Notahandmaid]

Hi all
I am part of a group that raises awareness about the cruelty behind the greyhound racing industry in Swindon (one of only two tracks left in the South West). We go to the track every Saturday between 6pm and 7.15pm with placards and leaflets in the hope that people going in will see our signs and think twice about going again.

We are also doing some town centre outreach events before Christmas in the hope of persuading people not to hold their Christmas parties at the race track.

There are also other ‘armchair actions’ for those who are unable to get to the track on a Saturday evening such as emailing Groupon to ask them to stop offering cheap deals to greyhounds tracks.

A trainer is currently being taken to court by the RSPCA in Swindon for treating his greyhounds badly. This is all too common sadly. Some of our group have rescued greyhounds and they are traumatised by the treatment they received while racing.

If you’d like to know more, please check out our Twitter feed @stopswindongre1

@Alsioma I see you had a message deleted. Curious as to why. Do you support greyhound racing?

Where do you stand on greyhound racing overall?

As in, do you want to see a full ban or just MUCH better and stricter regulation?

Me personally, I think it is important to try and retain the dog's working ability.

I can't stand how the kennel club seems to be working very hard to dilute the work ability of working breeds, this idea of only showlines being good pets etc.

I have never supported greyhound racing because of the disgusting abuse within the industry, but i do think that working dogs thoroughly love working and I would therefore like to see racing much more highly regulated rather than removed completely which seems to be the ultimate aim of a lot of animal rights groups.

hi @frostedviolets I support a complete ban. The industry’s been going for 100 years and it’s had all this time to get its act together. I’ve seen too much abuse to want it to carry on going. While these dogs are treated as commodities and as money making machines, there’ll always be people abusing, exploiting and discarding them.

Greyhound racing is only legal in 8 countries in the world. We are supposed to be a nation of dog lovers yet we let these lovely dogs be abused and discarded in their thousands each year.

I think the only way to end the cruelty is to ban it. Greyhounds have been around for thousands of years and racing only for about 100 so the breed wouldn’t die out.

Alsioma has had several random posts deleted so I reckon they're a Spammer .

We live fairly near Romford track ( affectionately known as Romford Dogs) it has had a massive re-furnishment and re-opened in Sept .

Our local MP attended , his blog reports on the ^great tradition here in Romford" and the "many more years of entertainment here at Romford Dogs" . Local MP is a long term resident so most likely promoting the aspect of jobs too - from the trainers to staff to the builders to the sponsers . Which ok, is good for the area ...but at the bottom of the pile is the greyhounds

Interestingly ( and I'll be amazed if this happens) the Bookies are meant to be commited to £3m to ensure the welfare of greyhounds is protected from registration to retirement .
There are more bookies now than banks here .

I personally don't know anyone who goes , I know it was popular maybe 10-15 years ago . But it must be bringing in money to do the updates especially since Walthamstow Dogs (in Chingford) closed .

Would I want it banned ? not sure .
Would I want it tighter regulated ? Hell yes .

Including the trainers and owners being responsible for finding a good home for their retirees . Either keep them or find a home .
That dog should be maintained in part by the trainer who was happy to take the money from them. Maybe they should pay for Insurance for Vet care ?

Then there wouldn't be dogs being dumped or worse shipped off to China to meet their hideous fate .
I know some dogs are injured and will be euthanised . But that should be by a Vet not the owner/trainer or kennel staff .

The lucky ones get re-homed and loved due to their gentle nature .
Some end up in Rescue kennels forever - they might not mind too much , they only know kennels .
Not an ideal life but better than the alternative .

I meet loads of people out in the park with Rescue greys . But I think people don't know what goes on behind the scenes . Like the Grand National it's always "oh they love to run, they keep running when the jockey falls off" .

They are animals that like to stick in a herd . Dogs , horses . They seek the safety of other dogs and horses . So they keep going .

I support a complete ban. The industry’s been going for 100 years and it’s had all this time to get its act together. I’ve seen too much abuse to want it to carry on going. While these dogs are treated as commodities and as money making machines, there’ll always be people abusing, exploiting and discarding them

Agreed.
It needs HEAVY regulation and far far more severe punishments for maltreatment.

Greyhound racing is only legal in 8 countries in the world. We are supposed to be a nation of dog lovers yet we let these lovely dogs be abused and discarded in their thousands each year

Agreed.

Greyhounds have been around for thousands of years and racing only for about 100 so the breed wouldn’t die out

They wouldn't die out no, but their natural instincts, what makes a greyhound a greyhound perhaps might.

It's already happened in quite a few breeds.

Most labradors and golden retrievers and spaniels out there are 'show type' and bear little resemblance to the real thing.
In looks and personality.

Hardly any GSDs are what they were originally intended to be now.

Border Collies are going the same way.

I wouldn't like to see greyhounds go the same way.

@70isaLimitNotaTarget Greyhounds do absolutely LOVE to run regardless of whether they are in a pack. They just run because that is what they are designed to do (that and sleep but that's a whole other thread). You only have to look at the shape of them to know that they are built for speed and to look at the utter joy on the face of a greyhound when they are running to know how much they love it.

That said, I agree there needs to much tighter regulation. However, I think it would be a shame to see it die out completely. I agree with the PP who said that we will lose the "essence" of a greyhound if they stop being bred for speed. It would be a shame.

It also should be noted that not all owner/trainers are cruel. Greyhounds are treated as livestock when they are racing because that is in effect what they are. It doesn't mean they are badly treated. Our retired racer hasn't had a day's cruelty in her life, you can tell by the way she is. That said, she certainly wasn't domesticated or affectionate when we first got her. It would be like inviting a pig into your living room - after a while, the pig would become domesticated and show affection. We just think differently and think treating dogs like that is somehow wrong because they are fluffy.

Flip I spent years cultivating relationships with greyhound owners as my DD was terrified of dogs and these seemed to be the most laid back dogs around (one of them went into schools and Brownies for this reason)

DD would stand slightly aside - they greyhpunds basically ignored her which was ideal - and wrapped themselves round my DS (who loves dogs) . My slender little boy power leaned by 4 greyhounds
Then suddenly , one saw a squirrel and Wow 0-90

I don't think it will be banned personally , there has been massive investment near us .
But surely there must be more done to ensure their retirement ?

Look at the route a Guide Dog takes . Often they stay with the family as a pet . Or (like my parents' dog) they are known to the Guide Dog owner and the move is smooth. But there is a waiting list to adopt them.

Unlike the wastage in the racing industry .
If they are prepared to take the money they earn then there is a responsibility to ensure whole of life care . And if end of life , it must be humane .