Inquiry To Examine Greyhound Racing

[HazyWal]

The unmuzzled greyhounds shit me to tears as I have stated many times before. Watching two videos recorded for TV pieces recently from two high profile NSW groups and not ONE of those greys were greencollared and they were both in public areas gives the general public a false impression.

Maddie is a HIGH prey drive greyhound, she was a foster from my first greyhound rescue group that is now defunct...thank God. I manage her because I know her but if she had been sent out to a first time greyhound owner it would've ended badly. She had many enquiries because she is so pretty but the beady eyed assassin cannot be trusted.

[Brandiandwe]

PK is small, black and looks incredibly gentle. She is, I believe, responsible for some changes in assessment practices because she foxed everyone on the way through. We put her into green hounds for fun. Cheerfully described as opportunistic. If she's redirected, she pretends to relax and look away, then when you also relax, she goes for whatever it is. She'll never be unmuzzled. And that's fine with me!

[HazyWal]

PK is small, black and looks incredibly gentle. She is, I believe, responsible for some changes in assessment practices because she foxed everyone on the way through. We put her into green hounds for fun. Cheerfully described as opportunistic. If she's redirected, she pretends to relax and look away, then when you also relax, she goes for whatever it is. She'll never be unmuzzled. And that's fine with me!

That's greyt that Paige may be responsible for changes in assessment, shows that Greyhounds as Pets NSW are doing the right thing :)

[Rebanne]

Lovely statement from a compassionate/proud new owner of one lucky greyhound.

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/Parlment/committee.nsf/0/83c054e3ad7c9275ca257c3200181555/$FILE/0538%20Georgina%20Ord.pdf

what a load of crock, glad they love their dog but the rest is just ....................

Thank you those that would like a pup from me Should I tell you I am planning a litter next year?

[*kirty*]

I had a green-collared Grey switch into prey drive and try to eat my Iggie who was trying to play (both dogs onlead). A dog may be fine during care and then change in its new home. I myself fostered a Grey who appeared to be fine with cats for several days and then suddenly decided they looked tasty. Thankfully she was wearing a muzzle at the time!

[Trisven13]

Thank you those that would like a pup from me Should I tell you I am planning a litter next year?

No, as you well know, you are not allowed to tell me that for about 5 years :laugh:

[Rebanne]

Thank you those that would like a pup from me Should I tell you I am planning a litter next year?

No, as you well know, you are not allowed to tell me that for about 5 years :laugh:

That works in well with my plans, will be having one around then as well. Got to plan in advance you know

[Trisven13]

[_PL_]

I'm not sure why greys attract people who are so determined to ignore the prey drive factor. There's also the rescue who is/was(?) telling people their greys need no muzzle if they aren't tattooed.

[HazyWal]

I'm not sure why greys attract people who are so determined to ignore the prey drive factor. There's also the rescue who is/was(?) telling people their greys need no muzzle if they aren't tattooed.

There's a lot of rescues that do that, they register them as greyX if they are not tattooed.

[_PL_]

I'm not sure why greys attract people who are so determined to ignore the prey drive factor. There's also the rescue who is/was(?) telling people their greys need no muzzle if they aren't tattooed.

There's a lot of rescues that do that, they register them as greyX if they are not tattooed.

That denial just boggles my mind.

I may as well tell people my terrier crosses are pocket-pet safe and then act surprised when a few kid's pets get eaten.

[HazyWal]

I'm not sure why greys attract people who are so determined to ignore the prey drive factor. There's also the rescue who is/was(?) telling people their greys need no muzzle if they aren't tattooed.

There's a lot of rescues that do that, they register them as greyX if they are not tattooed.

That denial just boggles my mind.

I may as well tell people my terrier crosses are pocket-pet safe and then act surprised when a few kid's pets get eaten.

Yep. There is a vet here on the Coast that has a grey that is not tattooed and registered as a greyX. I was at a fundraiser for our local pound and she had her unmuzzled grey there and it was snapping and snarling at others. Setting a great example, especially as a vet

[Rebanne]

I'm not sure why greys attract people who are so determined to ignore the prey drive factor. There's also the rescue who is/was(?) telling people their greys need no muzzle if they aren't tattooed.

it's the save all at any cost mentality, the muzzle free laws can always be reversed but they wouldn't care.

[Brandiandwe]

Save, sure. If you can rehome safely and appropriately. Which means using things like muzzles. Two of my three are muzzled. I'm not thrilled about it but it means everyone goes home safe and I'm more relaxed. And they can wear completely awesome collars instead of the ugly Greenhound ones.

[*kirty*]

It does scare me, some of the Greys that are out there. My Peabrain is totally bombproof with cats and sma dogs but she was raised here from a pup. But I don't kid myself for one second about what she is capable of!

I think some people see the couch potato side and forget about the prey drive side. Yes they are amazing dogs but inside every Grey is that desire to chase.

Edited December 28, 2013 by *kirty*

[sandgrubber]

More than half the greyhound racetracks in the US are in Florida (12 of 21). The AR group, in conjunction with the industry, are moving to change (reduce if not eliminate) the greyhound racing industry here. In some ways, I can see their point. Track operators have been permitted to offer other sorts of gambling, like poker and pokeys, on the condition that they continue live racing. Interest in live racing has declined. Many (most?) of them find the other forms of gambling much more profitable than the dogs, and would give up racing if they could do so and retain their casino licenses. Looks very likely that they will permit some of the tracks to give up live racing and have patrons vote on simulcasts.

See http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-03-25/news/fl-dog-racing-legislation-20110325_1_dog-track-dog-trainers-grey2k-usa

[mita]

Lovely statement from a compassionate/proud new owner of one lucky greyhound.

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/Parlment/committee.nsf/0/83c054e3ad7c9275ca257c3200181555/$FILE/0538%20Georgina%20Ord.pdf

That is beautiful. After that lady's rescue greyhound, Jack, developed his confidence .... he sounds exactly like the well-cared for racing greys who lived next door. These dogs are a truly beautiful breed to live beside humans.

We miss our ex-neighbour greys terribly. Their owner believed that ultimately his dogs would be retired as companion pets. So from the time his puppies were born, he'd socialize them well. He'd use our small dogs & borrow grandchildren to play with them. And he'd manage/supervise his dogs securely.

In the entire 20 years, there was never a bad incident with one of his dogs, even tho' we & our neighbours owned small dogs & cats. And of course, there were children, too.

I hope the lady's submission. inspires action to take the best of care of greyhounds & not just regard them as disposable 'stuff' for racing.

Edited December 29, 2013 by mita

[HazyWal]

It does scare me, some of the Greys that are out there. My Peabrain is totally bombproof with cats and sma dogs but she was raised here from a pup. But I don't kid myself for one second about what she is capable of!

I think some people see the couch potato side and forget about the prey drive side. Yes they are amazing dogs but inside every Grey is that desire to chase.

Yes that is the thing Kirty, there are definitely greys out there like Pia but sooooo many are not. We rehomed a gorgeous boy here locally that happily lives with their lop eared rabbits, couldn't care less about them. The thing that annoys me is the "save them all brigade", many have been bounced back from dodgy rescues because they have not been assessed properly, doesn't worry the rescues, they have the donations pouring in and they cover it up. "Oh no one will know" yeah bullshit, bad news travels fast. As I said I fear for greyhound rescue and it won't be the ones doing the right thing that bring it undone, and I know I'm being watched here for every comment I make...care factor of zero.

[mita]

But isn't it the same for all dogs?

Given how some dogs of all breeds & mixes, are badly bred, unsocialised, poorly trained (if at all), then inadequately managed & contained ... by people. There'd be no surprise that some greyhounds would be included in that scarey scenario.

What needs to be laid down are clear standards about what breeders/trainers/owners ought to do.

[Brandiandwe]

But isn't it the same for all dogs?

Given how some dogs of all breeds & mixes, are badly bred, unsocialised, poorly trained (if at all), then inadequately managed & contained ... by people. There'd be no surprise that some greyhounds would be included in that scarey scenario.

What needs to be laid down are clear standards about what breeders/trainers/owners ought to do.

I think that the problem is mainly that a lot of greyhound rescue groups and submissions like the above don't acknowledge the prey drive instinct at all and present all greys as being loveable smooches who can live safely with all manner of small squeaking edibles. I agree that more regulation is needed, but there also needs to be a realistic appraisal of be breed which includes the prey drive. The prey drive isn't something which can be trained out and isn't instilled by training so these dogs need careful handling, not blithe assumptions that 'she'll be right'. A bit like cattle dog rescues or breeders saying that all these dogs need 30 minutes of exercise a day and are fine lazing in the backyard. This ignores basic facets of the breed's makeup. (And I'm not saying that people do say this about working breed dogs. I suspect many problems in that case come from people overestimating their own abilities to give the dog what they need and underestimating the time needed to manage such a dog.)

As I noted before, I have a prey drive dog. She never raced but is, for me, the epitome of what a greyhound as a hunting dog should be. On walks she is always on, after lizards, cats, birds, everything. Her intensity and focus are amazing. So is her independence. As a pet greyhound, not ideal. Scary intelligent and problem solving, independent, untrustworthy around other animals. I adore her but wish she came with an off button. She would be a disaster if homed with the assumption that she's be fine or could be unmuzzled. She couldn't and she's still with us because I'm stubborn, determined, obsessive about research and over cautious.

The final thing I was going to say is that there are clear regulations at least as far as muzzling goes. All greys need to be muzzled be default unless they have been assessed, passed and awarded a Green Collar AND are wearing that collar. It's pretty clear yet there are groups and pet owners particularly, who insist on doing the wrong thing,making life difficult for the rest of us.

Sorry about the length of this.

HapoyNew Year!