I recently received an email from a friend who needs help. She is attempt to raise funds for the Italian Greyhound Rescue. Located in the UK, the registered charity (#1104157) is well knonw for its rescue and rehoming program for mistreated and abused Italian Greyhounds up and down the country. They have really helped the breed in the past and, with a little help, will be able to rehome more Italian Greyhounds in the future.
They need used postage stamps, but not just UK ones. They can be from anywhere in the world aslong as the serrated edges are intact so leave a little paper around them. If you can send any through to her at all then please drop me a line and I'll give you the address to send them to. Any and all contributions of postage stamps would be much appreciated.
The Italian Greyhound Rescue needs our help so please just take a couple of seconds to rip the stamp off the envelope when you receive a letter. It will make a difference and help these wonderful people to continue to do an excellent job.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Stop The Skinning Alive Of Animals In China!!!
I originally posted this on Lou's Gorgeous Greyhounds but this message NEEDS to be sent so please spread the word as far as possible. Something MUST be done.
With the Olympics on the horizon in the very near future, China has come under scrutiny from various different angles. If it isn't the smog and air pollution then it's the human rights issues. However, I want to draw attention to something else. i want to draw attention to the barbaric treatment of animals.
Now any greyhound lover that has looked into the slaughter of greyhounds in Asia will probably know that greyhounds are skinned and eaten there. This may be horrifying but it is completely true. However, at least the greyhounds are dead before they do that. This may not sound like a plus point at all, but it is when you consider this next fact.
Did you know that 2 million, yes 2,000,000 cats and dogs are skinned alive for their fur every year. They then die in the most horrific way because they are not put out of their misery. They are instead left to die.
There is a petition that you can sign on the Care2 site. This is the direct link. Please please sign it as they are looking for 2 million signatures, one for every cat and dog treated in this barbaric way.
We must put a stop to it now!!! After all, could you imagine the two gorgeous creatures below with no fur? No? Neither could I. This brutality has to be stopped now so please support it... for the sake of all of our furry friends.
With the Olympics on the horizon in the very near future, China has come under scrutiny from various different angles. If it isn't the smog and air pollution then it's the human rights issues. However, I want to draw attention to something else. i want to draw attention to the barbaric treatment of animals.
Now any greyhound lover that has looked into the slaughter of greyhounds in Asia will probably know that greyhounds are skinned and eaten there. This may be horrifying but it is completely true. However, at least the greyhounds are dead before they do that. This may not sound like a plus point at all, but it is when you consider this next fact.
Did you know that 2 million, yes 2,000,000 cats and dogs are skinned alive for their fur every year. They then die in the most horrific way because they are not put out of their misery. They are instead left to die.
There is a petition that you can sign on the Care2 site. This is the direct link. Please please sign it as they are looking for 2 million signatures, one for every cat and dog treated in this barbaric way.
We must put a stop to it now!!! After all, could you imagine the two gorgeous creatures below with no fur? No? Neither could I. This brutality has to be stopped now so please support it... for the sake of all of our furry friends.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Greyhound Training: Helping Ease The Transition From Racer To Household Pet
When you adopt a greyhound, you may feel quite satisfied that you've done a good thing, and so you should! That one greyhound is one more that is safe and secure... and will never have to go through the suffering that some of his or her more unfortunate brethren will. However, your work is only just beginning.
A greyhound will have never lived in a home before so whilst he or she is usually house trained and will go outside to the toilet, other manners have to be taught. Molly was terrible at dinnertime when we got her. She had no concept of table manners at all and would try to eat off our plates whilst we were eating. She soon learned that she couldn't do that with a little training and now barely takes any notice when we eat. Everything we take for granted with older dogs does not apply with greyhounds. They are puppies in adult dog bodies!
I wrote an article on this topic a few days ago and it is published here so go take a look to see how to train a greyhound to be a family pet!
A greyhound will have never lived in a home before so whilst he or she is usually house trained and will go outside to the toilet, other manners have to be taught. Molly was terrible at dinnertime when we got her. She had no concept of table manners at all and would try to eat off our plates whilst we were eating. She soon learned that she couldn't do that with a little training and now barely takes any notice when we eat. Everything we take for granted with older dogs does not apply with greyhounds. They are puppies in adult dog bodies!
I wrote an article on this topic a few days ago and it is published here so go take a look to see how to train a greyhound to be a family pet!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The RSPCA Get Two On Greyhound Cruelty Charges
The RSPCA in the UK is often accused of not doing enough to protect greyhounds but, trust me, they do as much as they possibly can. They take greyhounds in and pass them on to shelters that can nurse them back to health. They also do their utmost to find and prosecute the perpetrators of greyhound abuse as well. However. Their powers are somewhat limited. Take this case in point.
Rebecca Hagger (aged 20) and Rosemary Hagger (aged 51) were prosecuted recently for greyhound abuse at Peterborough Magistrates Court. They had already entered a guilty plea to the charge of causing unnecessary suffering to three greyhounds as well as failing to meet the welfare needs of a further four greyhounds. They were only given a 10 year ban on owning dogs for their horrific greyhound abuse.
In fact, the greyhound abuse was that bad that Rebecca was banned from owning all animals for 10 years and ordered to do 200 hours of community service. Rosemary was given a 12-month conditional discharge. Their greyhund abuse was absolutely sickening, so much so that I am not printing all of the details here but neither was sentenced to jail. Instead they got away with the above and a £250 fine to covercourt costs.
Their abuse goes back to September 2007 which is when the RSPCA were called in. Inspectors found three greyhounds that were emaciated and had numerous infected sores during their visit. This actually goes against section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act, 2006, and yet neither was sent to jail. The remaining four were severely underweight, had flea infestations and were living in disusting conditions. They had no food or water and that broke section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act, 2006. Again, neither of them went to jail.
The vet that was called in to treat the emaciated greyhounds actually said that two of the three dog had been severely neglected for at las two months with the other dog having bee left for at least one month. The defence? The dogs were owned by Rosmary's husband, whoc had died. That is absolutely no excuse for this horrific treatment, especially given the fact that Rebecca was still working in the greyhound racing industry at the time of her trial.
One of the RSPCA inspectors that attended to the dogs said the following:
As you can see, the RSPCA wanted a harsher penalty for the two abusers but could not do much about the penalty they got. It is time we started calling for harsher penalties for those that perpetrate greyhound abuse I think.
On a brighter note, all of the greyhounds are now well cared for, although three still needed a home last time I heard how they were. Boris, Tyler and Wilson are all black and white and are extremely loving. Despite all that has happened to them, they are still very friendly... and lazy! If you think youcould give them a home then please call the RSPCA Peterborough & District Branch on 01733 248116.
Rebecca Hagger (aged 20) and Rosemary Hagger (aged 51) were prosecuted recently for greyhound abuse at Peterborough Magistrates Court. They had already entered a guilty plea to the charge of causing unnecessary suffering to three greyhounds as well as failing to meet the welfare needs of a further four greyhounds. They were only given a 10 year ban on owning dogs for their horrific greyhound abuse.
In fact, the greyhound abuse was that bad that Rebecca was banned from owning all animals for 10 years and ordered to do 200 hours of community service. Rosemary was given a 12-month conditional discharge. Their greyhund abuse was absolutely sickening, so much so that I am not printing all of the details here but neither was sentenced to jail. Instead they got away with the above and a £250 fine to covercourt costs.
Their abuse goes back to September 2007 which is when the RSPCA were called in. Inspectors found three greyhounds that were emaciated and had numerous infected sores during their visit. This actually goes against section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act, 2006, and yet neither was sent to jail. The remaining four were severely underweight, had flea infestations and were living in disusting conditions. They had no food or water and that broke section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act, 2006. Again, neither of them went to jail.
The vet that was called in to treat the emaciated greyhounds actually said that two of the three dog had been severely neglected for at las two months with the other dog having bee left for at least one month. The defence? The dogs were owned by Rosmary's husband, whoc had died. That is absolutely no excuse for this horrific treatment, especially given the fact that Rebecca was still working in the greyhound racing industry at the time of her trial.
One of the RSPCA inspectors that attended to the dogs said the following:
Animals deserve much better than the conditions these dogs were kept in and should have access to veterinary treatment when they need it. The RSPCA believes that the government must introduce effective national standards to ensure the welfare of racing and ex-racing greyhounds. We also feel that those in the industry must be compelled to ensure provision is made for retired dogs.
As you can see, the RSPCA wanted a harsher penalty for the two abusers but could not do much about the penalty they got. It is time we started calling for harsher penalties for those that perpetrate greyhound abuse I think.
On a brighter note, all of the greyhounds are now well cared for, although three still needed a home last time I heard how they were. Boris, Tyler and Wilson are all black and white and are extremely loving. Despite all that has happened to them, they are still very friendly... and lazy! If you think youcould give them a home then please call the RSPCA Peterborough & District Branch on 01733 248116.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Help Save The Greyhounds Of Australia
When we think of cruelty to greyhounds and greyhound slaughter, we tend to think close to home. We think of the USA, UK and Europe. We may even look to the Middle East, but our focus should also be on Asia. No matter how bad we think the greyhound cruelty that goes one here is, I guarantee that it is ten times worse there.
Our gorgeous greyhounds are brutally tortured in the most horrific ways before being murdered without a thought. There is no regulation in Asia at all. However, the Asian countries cannot take all of the blame. Australia has to take some of it too.
Did you know Australia exports greyhounds to Asia? They do so knowing what happens to the poor creatures that are sent sailing to their death and yet they do nothing about it. However, there is a petition you can sign to voice your concern and outrage to the Australian government. It can be found here. Please click through and sign it. It will take but a moment.
This is the introduction to the petition, and it should give you a good idea of what goes on:
The Australian greyhound racing industry is shamelessly promoting and encouraging greyhound racing in Asia. At present greyhounds are being exported from Australia to Asia to places such as Korea, Vietnam and China for the purpose of racing/breeding with further plans to create networks of tracks throughout Cambodia and the Philippines. These are countries notorious for the barbaric torture and slaughter of dogs for human consumption. There is no hope or opportunity of rehoming greyhounds that are 'surplus' to requirements in Asia. As exposed by the media they are ending their days being butchered in the dog meat industry or thrown into landfills. At present this is the fate of Australian greyhounds in Asia.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Remembering Rusty...
Today is a special day, but for all of the wrong reasons as far as we and one particular beautiful greyhound is concerned. In fact, Friday 2nd May 2008 is four years to the day that Rusty died in the most horrific and brutal way. He was horribly tortured and left to die on a rubbish tip in the Welsh mountains.
A man out walking discovered his battered body on Fochriw Mountain in the Rhymney Valley. He heard whimpering and went to investigate. The sight that met him was horrific and is a sight that should never have happened. A greyhound was lying half-dead amongst the rubbish having shot in the head with a captive bolt pistol. Also, both of his ears had been hacked off so he could not be identified.
However, despite Rusty's heartbreaking injuries, he still wagged his tail at the man. A loving and sunny natured greyhound, Rusty could have been taken to a shelter and then adopted by the loving family he deserved. Instead, Rusty had to be put to sleep as a result of severe brain injury. He had been lying on the rubbish tip for at least 24 hours before he was discovered.
I am crying as I write this because no greyhound deserves this treatment. There are no words to describe what I feel, and yet some still deny that this goes on. Well it does, and Rusty was proof of that.
Believe it or not, it gets worse.
Andrew Gough, who was known as the ‘Greyhound Executioner’, was found guilty of this atrocious crime and was prosecuted by the RSPCA as a result. He was only given 6 months or the crime and was also banned from keeping animals for life. Disgustingly, 6 months was the maximum term that the cime carried.
During the trial, it came to light that Rusty's owner, John Hurley, and trainer, Mark Emmett, had paid Gough £10 to "dispose" of Rusty. Rusty's crime? He had picked up a toe injury and could no longer race and therefore no longer earn money for the two men, who cannot be human by any tretch of the imagination. Neither were held accountable for signing Rusty's death warrant because it was not illegal for an owner to arrange to have their dog put to death, no matter in what way it was to happen. Remember, he was not to be humanely put to sleep, which would have been bad enough because he was healthy. Instead, he was brutally murdered. He was left to die with horrific injuries that he did not deserve.
Rusty was not alone, nor will he be in the future. He is one of thousands of dogs that die in such a way every year.
Please remember Rusty and all of the other greyhounds that suffer similar fates in your prayers. Remember what beautiful animals they are. Raise your voice and make your disgust heard around the world. Together we can put up a fight for these animals, protect them as they cannot do themselves.
It is time the slaughter stopped once and for all.
A man out walking discovered his battered body on Fochriw Mountain in the Rhymney Valley. He heard whimpering and went to investigate. The sight that met him was horrific and is a sight that should never have happened. A greyhound was lying half-dead amongst the rubbish having shot in the head with a captive bolt pistol. Also, both of his ears had been hacked off so he could not be identified.
However, despite Rusty's heartbreaking injuries, he still wagged his tail at the man. A loving and sunny natured greyhound, Rusty could have been taken to a shelter and then adopted by the loving family he deserved. Instead, Rusty had to be put to sleep as a result of severe brain injury. He had been lying on the rubbish tip for at least 24 hours before he was discovered.
I am crying as I write this because no greyhound deserves this treatment. There are no words to describe what I feel, and yet some still deny that this goes on. Well it does, and Rusty was proof of that.
Believe it or not, it gets worse.
Andrew Gough, who was known as the ‘Greyhound Executioner’, was found guilty of this atrocious crime and was prosecuted by the RSPCA as a result. He was only given 6 months or the crime and was also banned from keeping animals for life. Disgustingly, 6 months was the maximum term that the cime carried.
During the trial, it came to light that Rusty's owner, John Hurley, and trainer, Mark Emmett, had paid Gough £10 to "dispose" of Rusty. Rusty's crime? He had picked up a toe injury and could no longer race and therefore no longer earn money for the two men, who cannot be human by any tretch of the imagination. Neither were held accountable for signing Rusty's death warrant because it was not illegal for an owner to arrange to have their dog put to death, no matter in what way it was to happen. Remember, he was not to be humanely put to sleep, which would have been bad enough because he was healthy. Instead, he was brutally murdered. He was left to die with horrific injuries that he did not deserve.
Rusty was not alone, nor will he be in the future. He is one of thousands of dogs that die in such a way every year.
Please remember Rusty and all of the other greyhounds that suffer similar fates in your prayers. Remember what beautiful animals they are. Raise your voice and make your disgust heard around the world. Together we can put up a fight for these animals, protect them as they cannot do themselves.
It is time the slaughter stopped once and for all.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Beautiful Greyhound Images On YouTube!
Greyhounds have undoubtedly become more popular as pets over the last few years, especially since awareness about the atrocities committed against them has rapidly increased. However, nowhere near as many greyhounds are being adopted as rescued and the awareness of this needs to be elevated still further.
There are some misguided beliefs out there that concern greyhounds. Some people believe them to be poor house pets. Others do not even consider them as pets because of their racing history. However, anyone that has ever owned one will know othewise. The greyhound is a perfect pet - lazy, laid back and loving, they would happily sleep, eat and cuddle all day long. Of course, not all of them get on with cats and other small animals but the majority of them are extremely clean and family oriented.
If you need proof of this, go to this fantastic video
link and watch the images there, courtesy of Greytexploitations. It really is worth a few minutes of your time! There's a whole host of other greyhound videos on there too so relax to a little greyhound love!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
BREAKING NEWS: The Slaughter Of Healthy Greyhounds
News broke today of a practice that frankly made me feel sick as I read about it and I wanted to share it with all of you, not to make you feel sick but to make you angry, shocked and disgusted all at the same time. I have people messaging me every day stating that my views are misguided, personally attacking me for making up "facts" that are completely off the mark because very few greyhounds are slaughtered every year and those that are happen to be old and ill.
This is not the case and Daniel Foggo, a renowned investigative journalist, has proved it for me.
Foggo broke the story in The Times newspaper today that the Royal Veterinary College in England has a financial agreement with the Greyhound Clinic, located in Essex, England. The latter provides the bodies of healthy greyhounds for the RVC at £30 per body part. The RVC has a number of similar agreements with other vet practices, which ultimately means that hndreds if not thousands of greyhound are slaughtered every year for a profit of £30 each.
The RSPCA, not surprisingly, is horrified and has spoken out against the practce as well as launching an investigation.
Of course the information provided above is just the tip of the icebeg. There is much more in the article itself which can be found at this Times Online link. Please speak out, read the article and leave your comments here or elsewhere to show your outrage. We need voices now because otherwise nothing will ever change.
This is not the case and Daniel Foggo, a renowned investigative journalist, has proved it for me.
Foggo broke the story in The Times newspaper today that the Royal Veterinary College in England has a financial agreement with the Greyhound Clinic, located in Essex, England. The latter provides the bodies of healthy greyhounds for the RVC at £30 per body part. The RVC has a number of similar agreements with other vet practices, which ultimately means that hndreds if not thousands of greyhound are slaughtered every year for a profit of £30 each.
The RSPCA, not surprisingly, is horrified and has spoken out against the practce as well as launching an investigation.
Of course the information provided above is just the tip of the icebeg. There is much more in the article itself which can be found at this Times Online link. Please speak out, read the article and leave your comments here or elsewhere to show your outrage. We need voices now because otherwise nothing will ever change.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Annette Crosbie Speaks On The Greyhound Slaughter
British actress Annette Crosbie, best known for her role as Victor Meldrew's long-suffering wife in One Foot In The Grave, has been a campaigner for the rights of greyhounds for a long time now but her work is only just beginning to get recognised.
She first began to speak out when news broke a couple of year ago about a slaughterhouse in the North East of England. The owner was murdering thousands of retired racers every year. It was found that the majority of the hounds were completely healthy and the brute that ran the place was jailed as a result.
Ms Crosbie is a wonderful woman who deserves our applause and respect, as does everyone that works to help greyhounds in any way shape or form. Her latest public appeal for awareness can be found at Sky News by clicking on this link.
If you would like to read more about Ms Crobie's work then you can read a fantastic article about her here.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
A Fantastic Petition Day!
I would just like to thank everyone that has signed the petition since I created it last year. It is really appreciated. We had an absolutely fantastic day today - over 60 people have signed it! Thank you to each and every one of you!
If you haven't already signed it and want to it can be accessed from the link above or by clicking on the petition on the left hand sidebar of this blog. Please sign it if you feel as strongly as I do and pass the link on to all of your friends. Also, if you have a blog, forum or social network profile, please pass it on via that. the link in full is http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-the-greyhound-slaughter.
Any efforts are greatly appreciated!
If you haven't already signed it and want to it can be accessed from the link above or by clicking on the petition on the left hand sidebar of this blog. Please sign it if you feel as strongly as I do and pass the link on to all of your friends. Also, if you have a blog, forum or social network profile, please pass it on via that. the link in full is http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-the-greyhound-slaughter.
Any efforts are greatly appreciated!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
The British Government Response To A Petition
I recently received a response to a petition that I signed some time ago, which was actually the inspiration behind me starting up my own. The author had sent the petition to the British government and the official response can be found here.
However, here is a little excerpt:
"The most recent piece of legislation in this area is the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which came into effect on 6 April 2007. We believe this Act to be a milestone as it brings together and modernises welfare legislation relating to farmed and non-farmed animals, some of which dates from 1911.
The Act places a duty of care for the first time on those who own or are responsible for non-farmed animals. Therefore, it is now an offence to cause any commonly domesticated vertebrate animal unnecessary suffering. The Act also makes it an offence to fail to meet the welfare needs of any animal under the care of man. It will mean that, where necessary, those responsible for the enforcement of welfare laws can take action if an owner is not taking all reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of their animal, even if it is not currently suffering.
The Act also provides powers to regulate animal related activities, or update existing licensing schemes, through secondary legislation such as greyhound racing. Defra's preference is for the industry itself to continue to take responsibility for seeing that the regulations and any supporting code are enforced in those tracks that race under Rules set by the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC). However, we fully understand the concerns as to whether the industry is fit for purpose in undertaking regulatory work. Defra ministers have met representatives of the industry and stressed that unless there is a much more modern, open and auditable approach by the industry, then Defra will use the new powers in the Animal Welfare Act to appoint an external, independent regulator."
Whilst some areas of the UK do practice what the above preaches, this is by no means the majority of the country. However, it does have to be said that the practices in the UK are better than those in some areas of the world.
There is still a long way to go and one petition won't change things overnight. I wish it could!
However, here is a little excerpt:
"The most recent piece of legislation in this area is the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which came into effect on 6 April 2007. We believe this Act to be a milestone as it brings together and modernises welfare legislation relating to farmed and non-farmed animals, some of which dates from 1911.
The Act places a duty of care for the first time on those who own or are responsible for non-farmed animals. Therefore, it is now an offence to cause any commonly domesticated vertebrate animal unnecessary suffering. The Act also makes it an offence to fail to meet the welfare needs of any animal under the care of man. It will mean that, where necessary, those responsible for the enforcement of welfare laws can take action if an owner is not taking all reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of their animal, even if it is not currently suffering.
The Act also provides powers to regulate animal related activities, or update existing licensing schemes, through secondary legislation such as greyhound racing. Defra's preference is for the industry itself to continue to take responsibility for seeing that the regulations and any supporting code are enforced in those tracks that race under Rules set by the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC). However, we fully understand the concerns as to whether the industry is fit for purpose in undertaking regulatory work. Defra ministers have met representatives of the industry and stressed that unless there is a much more modern, open and auditable approach by the industry, then Defra will use the new powers in the Animal Welfare Act to appoint an external, independent regulator."
Whilst some areas of the UK do practice what the above preaches, this is by no means the majority of the country. However, it does have to be said that the practices in the UK are better than those in some areas of the world.
There is still a long way to go and one petition won't change things overnight. I wish it could!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Response To A Comment From "Anonymous"
I don't know about you, but after a busy 6 day week, I like to kick back and relax... read a book, play with my doggies a little more than I do in the week, cook, have a bath etc etc. I love Sundays and don't usually go anywhere near my computer but I did check my email today for some unknown reason and found the following comment on one of the posts on here in my inbox, which appears below completely unedited:
"Wow... taken right off of the GPL website. I don't know if I care to waste the time to refute all of these assertions and lies seeing as how nobody actually reads your blog, and you certainly are of one mindset.
Matter of fact, I don't think I will.. but, if you feel like educating yourself as opposed to being a lemming, I'll be happy to discuss things with you. FACTUALLY."
This was a response to "10 Reasons Why Greyhound Racing Should Be Banned" and was left by an anonymous visitor. I was undecided as to whether to respond to such a blatant personal insult but, after reading it a few times I decided to respond... but not in the comments section (very few people read comments anyway). I decided to highlight it here, where it matters, so everyone can see what I and everyone else that tries to do a little good for one of the greatest dog breeds alive is actually up against every day.
Firstly, thank you for your comment Anonymous, although it is hard to have an intelligent debate about what I believe in with someone who has failed to leave even a name! I'd like to take the opportunity though to reiterate that I welcome any and all opinions on this blog, even if you do not necessarily agree with me.
I fundamentally believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, including me and you too, Anonymous. I will also admit that I am human and therefore am not right 100% of the time, but you are right in that I do have one mindset on this particular topic and will not back down from it one iota. I am here to stand up for what I believe in, regardless of any derogatory messages I get from people disagreeing with me. However, I do not respect the fact that you are unwilling to stand up for your convictions by leaving such messages and yet refusing to justify comments and mark them as your own.
In terms of the accusation of plagiarism, a quick check of copyscape would have told you that there are three word for word copies of this post on the Internet, and all of them lead back to this site. However, there are bigger issues here so I will swiftly move on...
Unfortunately Anonymous, you yourself have proved that I am not a lemming because I do not agree with you and my opinion has evolved from much of the research that I have completed over the past few years. Also, unlike some individuals out there, who are also entitled to their own opinion, I do not believe that all greyhound trainers and owners are fundamentally bad. In fact, I know of at least four trainers in my local area that go out of their way to find a good home for their retired racers and never have a good dog put to sleep, whether or not they are injured.
At least one of those trainers will keep all of her greyhounds on at her own personal expense until she has found them a good home. However, she is in the minority, as are all of the trainers and owners that love their dogs and treat them the way they should be treated... and this is why so many are left to starve in the streets, have their ears cut off so they cannot be identified, or are murdered in cold blood. All because they are no longer useful. If you do want to discuss facts then how about that? Even one owner/trainer abusing his or her greyhounds is one too many. Fact!
The minority referred to above should be commended, but a quick Google search will highlight just how many animals are murdered every year or left to die because they can no longer earn their heartless owners money. I will not apologise for the blog, or for publishing my opinions, for that very reason.
I am writing about the mistreatment of greyhounds for one reason only - to help educate others about the greyhound racing industry. If one person reads this blog and decides to help out or forms an opinion or is even inspired to look into the issue a bit further than I have had the effect I established this blog for.
Your personal comment about nobody reading this blog may have been designed to hit a nerve but it missed every single one in my body by a mile because... guess what! In order to comment you had to read it yourself! Therefore someone has read this blog! If you felt the need to comment instead of disregarding what I have put then I have had an effect on someone and that is what counts.
There are hundreds of fantastic people out there who devote their lives to helping abandoned, mistreated and abused greyhounds every single day, and I salute them all. This kind of abuse and scorn is what they have to put up with every day. I have only just begun my personal journey, but by God I will be here every step of the way and nobody, not even Anonymous, will change that.
"Wow... taken right off of the GPL website. I don't know if I care to waste the time to refute all of these assertions and lies seeing as how nobody actually reads your blog, and you certainly are of one mindset.
Matter of fact, I don't think I will.. but, if you feel like educating yourself as opposed to being a lemming, I'll be happy to discuss things with you. FACTUALLY."
This was a response to "10 Reasons Why Greyhound Racing Should Be Banned" and was left by an anonymous visitor. I was undecided as to whether to respond to such a blatant personal insult but, after reading it a few times I decided to respond... but not in the comments section (very few people read comments anyway). I decided to highlight it here, where it matters, so everyone can see what I and everyone else that tries to do a little good for one of the greatest dog breeds alive is actually up against every day.
Firstly, thank you for your comment Anonymous, although it is hard to have an intelligent debate about what I believe in with someone who has failed to leave even a name! I'd like to take the opportunity though to reiterate that I welcome any and all opinions on this blog, even if you do not necessarily agree with me.
I fundamentally believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, including me and you too, Anonymous. I will also admit that I am human and therefore am not right 100% of the time, but you are right in that I do have one mindset on this particular topic and will not back down from it one iota. I am here to stand up for what I believe in, regardless of any derogatory messages I get from people disagreeing with me. However, I do not respect the fact that you are unwilling to stand up for your convictions by leaving such messages and yet refusing to justify comments and mark them as your own.
In terms of the accusation of plagiarism, a quick check of copyscape would have told you that there are three word for word copies of this post on the Internet, and all of them lead back to this site. However, there are bigger issues here so I will swiftly move on...
Unfortunately Anonymous, you yourself have proved that I am not a lemming because I do not agree with you and my opinion has evolved from much of the research that I have completed over the past few years. Also, unlike some individuals out there, who are also entitled to their own opinion, I do not believe that all greyhound trainers and owners are fundamentally bad. In fact, I know of at least four trainers in my local area that go out of their way to find a good home for their retired racers and never have a good dog put to sleep, whether or not they are injured.
At least one of those trainers will keep all of her greyhounds on at her own personal expense until she has found them a good home. However, she is in the minority, as are all of the trainers and owners that love their dogs and treat them the way they should be treated... and this is why so many are left to starve in the streets, have their ears cut off so they cannot be identified, or are murdered in cold blood. All because they are no longer useful. If you do want to discuss facts then how about that? Even one owner/trainer abusing his or her greyhounds is one too many. Fact!
The minority referred to above should be commended, but a quick Google search will highlight just how many animals are murdered every year or left to die because they can no longer earn their heartless owners money. I will not apologise for the blog, or for publishing my opinions, for that very reason.
I am writing about the mistreatment of greyhounds for one reason only - to help educate others about the greyhound racing industry. If one person reads this blog and decides to help out or forms an opinion or is even inspired to look into the issue a bit further than I have had the effect I established this blog for.
Your personal comment about nobody reading this blog may have been designed to hit a nerve but it missed every single one in my body by a mile because... guess what! In order to comment you had to read it yourself! Therefore someone has read this blog! If you felt the need to comment instead of disregarding what I have put then I have had an effect on someone and that is what counts.
There are hundreds of fantastic people out there who devote their lives to helping abandoned, mistreated and abused greyhounds every single day, and I salute them all. This kind of abuse and scorn is what they have to put up with every day. I have only just begun my personal journey, but by God I will be here every step of the way and nobody, not even Anonymous, will change that.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Your Greyhound And Children
Is there anything more adorable than a child playing with a pet that they hold dear? They love the family pet with all of their heart and what better to love to pieces than man’s best friend? When deciding what type of dog to adopt into your family, you'll want one that will be good with children, whether you have them or are planning on having them at some stage in the future. If this is the case then the greyhound may be the perfect pet for you and your home. They are intelligent and loveable because they enjoy bonding with their human companions... and this is why they can be trusted with your children.
There are many reasons to get a pet greyhound puppy for your family. For example, they are calm and lazy inside of the house as long as they are given an opportunity to get some exercise on a regular basis. Despite what some may think because they are used for racing, the greyhound is quite relaxed and fits in well just lounging along on the couch with the rest of the family!
They do need some exercise, but usually don't have a lot of stamina despite their racing image! Around forty mnutes a day will be more than anough so it is a great excuse to take your greyhound and family out for some fun in the park. Greyhounds do need room to run in a safe and enclosed environment but this is also a good excuse to encourae your little ones to play and get exercise too. This kind of dog, despite it’s size, is great for small children because they do not like rough house play either and so won't maul them. A little run is great for both children and dog so you can just relax and enjoy!
Another great reason to get a geyhound if you have children is thhe breed's loyalty. They are protective over their family and bond strongly with the members. They also don’t tend to bark much, preferring to lay quietly on a warm bed! As such, there's very little chance of startling your little ones!
Loyal, intelligent, and calm with minimal exercise required, these animals are a great choice if you have a little one. The pet greyhound is a beautiful dog who will not disappoint if given the chance to be a part of your family and the best friend of your child.
There are many reasons to get a pet greyhound puppy for your family. For example, they are calm and lazy inside of the house as long as they are given an opportunity to get some exercise on a regular basis. Despite what some may think because they are used for racing, the greyhound is quite relaxed and fits in well just lounging along on the couch with the rest of the family!
They do need some exercise, but usually don't have a lot of stamina despite their racing image! Around forty mnutes a day will be more than anough so it is a great excuse to take your greyhound and family out for some fun in the park. Greyhounds do need room to run in a safe and enclosed environment but this is also a good excuse to encourae your little ones to play and get exercise too. This kind of dog, despite it’s size, is great for small children because they do not like rough house play either and so won't maul them. A little run is great for both children and dog so you can just relax and enjoy!
Another great reason to get a geyhound if you have children is thhe breed's loyalty. They are protective over their family and bond strongly with the members. They also don’t tend to bark much, preferring to lay quietly on a warm bed! As such, there's very little chance of startling your little ones!
Loyal, intelligent, and calm with minimal exercise required, these animals are a great choice if you have a little one. The pet greyhound is a beautiful dog who will not disappoint if given the chance to be a part of your family and the best friend of your child.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Protecting Your Greyhound To The Best Of Your Ability
If you are adopting a greyhound or considering it in the very near future then there are several factors (routine, dog insurance, the rules and so on) that you need to take care of in order to greyhound-proof your home in advance. For a greyhound that has been used to an outdoor kennel, which is effectively a confined space, having a warm, large house to wander around is often daunting. This is the main reason why you should have everything ready to welcome the new edition to your family before he or she arrives!
First things first, make sure that you have decided upon the rules and routine that your greyhound will have to live by. Establishing a routine is very important when you are caring for an adopted greyhound because he or she will settle much better and be less inclined to panic or bolt and injure his or herself as a result! This is why you should also have a good dog insurance policy in place to cover your new pet. Dog insurance will cover any medical expenses that you have, aside from the excess of course. As greyhounds can take time to settle in and can be a little nervous to begin with, a dog insurance policy is always a good idea!
As a greyhound is a purebred dog, it is important to compare pet insurance before settling for one policy because they can work out to be extremely expensive. I was once quoted in excess of £400, so the current equivalent of $800, for a 12 month policy. This is the reason why you should compare pet insurance! My current policy is £220 and is actually a lifetime policy. I found it on a comparison site called About Your Money. It seemed to have the best deals and plenty of providers to choose from and I’ll look there again if the need ever arises.
One final tip about insurances - if you are adopting a greyhound make sure that your home contents insurance covers damage caused by pets. Nothing may ever be damaged but it is worth taking the precaution. Many policies do not so double check!
First things first, make sure that you have decided upon the rules and routine that your greyhound will have to live by. Establishing a routine is very important when you are caring for an adopted greyhound because he or she will settle much better and be less inclined to panic or bolt and injure his or herself as a result! This is why you should also have a good dog insurance policy in place to cover your new pet. Dog insurance will cover any medical expenses that you have, aside from the excess of course. As greyhounds can take time to settle in and can be a little nervous to begin with, a dog insurance policy is always a good idea!
As a greyhound is a purebred dog, it is important to compare pet insurance before settling for one policy because they can work out to be extremely expensive. I was once quoted in excess of £400, so the current equivalent of $800, for a 12 month policy. This is the reason why you should compare pet insurance! My current policy is £220 and is actually a lifetime policy. I found it on a comparison site called About Your Money. It seemed to have the best deals and plenty of providers to choose from and I’ll look there again if the need ever arises.
One final tip about insurances - if you are adopting a greyhound make sure that your home contents insurance covers damage caused by pets. Nothing may ever be damaged but it is worth taking the precaution. Many policies do not so double check!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
How Home Friendly Is a Greyhound?
If you are considering a Greyhound adoption, you may be wondering if the Greyhound will be a good fit for your home. Having children in your home will bring up concerns of how well the Greyhound will get along with your children, as well as pets you may all ready have. Sometimes bringing a new pet into your home where there are all ready pets can cause jealousy or anxiety. Some dog breeds are not fond of small children and may have a low tolerance for them. Finding out all that you can about the Greyhound before you apply for a Greyhound adoption is a great idea.
Most Greyhounds that are up for Greyhound adoption have retired from racing and have never been in an actual home before. Many of them are not house trained and you can expect each Greyhound to react differently as they all have their own personality.
Children should never be left alone with a new dog. There should always be supervision when your children and your new Greyhound adoption are interacting. The Greyhound is one of the most tolerant breeds of dog that there is. However, the Greyhound can become aggravated when being mistreated and may try to defend himself, or could even possibly become frightened of the child.
Children should also not be allowed to walk your new greyhound adoption without being watched over by an adult. Separate any children that may be pestering him from the dog for a while. Allow him to get a break and some uninterrupted rest.
When introducing your Greyhound adoption to other pets that are in your home, always use caution. Remember to not make your pets jealous that were all ready there by not giving them just as much attention as you do your new greyhound.
When you introduce your new Greyhound to your dogs, make sure both are leashed so that they can be easily separated if need be. Same with your cat, show your Greyhound adoption that holding and petting your cat. Let the Greyhound sniff and get close to the cat, with a muzzle on, and get on to him if he gets out of line.
Never leave your new pet alone with your other pets until you are sure that they will get along. Eventually they will get used to each other after they see that the other one is there is to stay.
Most Greyhounds that are up for Greyhound adoption have retired from racing and have never been in an actual home before. Many of them are not house trained and you can expect each Greyhound to react differently as they all have their own personality.
Children should never be left alone with a new dog. There should always be supervision when your children and your new Greyhound adoption are interacting. The Greyhound is one of the most tolerant breeds of dog that there is. However, the Greyhound can become aggravated when being mistreated and may try to defend himself, or could even possibly become frightened of the child.
Children should also not be allowed to walk your new greyhound adoption without being watched over by an adult. Separate any children that may be pestering him from the dog for a while. Allow him to get a break and some uninterrupted rest.
When introducing your Greyhound adoption to other pets that are in your home, always use caution. Remember to not make your pets jealous that were all ready there by not giving them just as much attention as you do your new greyhound.
When you introduce your new Greyhound to your dogs, make sure both are leashed so that they can be easily separated if need be. Same with your cat, show your Greyhound adoption that holding and petting your cat. Let the Greyhound sniff and get close to the cat, with a muzzle on, and get on to him if he gets out of line.
Never leave your new pet alone with your other pets until you are sure that they will get along. Eventually they will get used to each other after they see that the other one is there is to stay.
Monday, January 14, 2008
The Process of Adopting a Greyhound
Greyhound adoption is not a complicated process, but one that is well worth the effort to bring a Greyhound into your home. If you are looking to adopt a Greyhound for your home and family, you may be wondering just what kind of process you will have to go through to get the pet that you want. Keep reading while I walk you through the steps of Greyhound adoption below.
1. The Application
The first step for your Greyhound adoption in most places is the application. Many greyhound adoption centers will have you fill out an application so that you can be approved for the adoption. The application will ask you a series of questions to make sure that a Greyhound will be the right pet for you and your family.
The questions on the application will be geared towards your home environment for your new Greyhound adoption. They may ask if you have children and their ages, as well as if you have a fenced in yard, and whether or not your Greyhound will be kept indoors or outdoors.
2. The Background Check
Well it’s not really a background check, but the center you are considering your greyhound adoption with may want to call the vet that you use for your pets and make sure that you have kept all of your pets healthy. This would include bringing them in for regular check ups, worming and shots. They may also want to contact a few family and friends of yours as well to make sure that you are capable of caring for your new addition to your home.
3. The Search
Once your Greyhound adoption application is approved, most centers will search through their greyhounds and find the perfect fit for your home. Sometimes this step may take a while, as they may not have the Greyhound that is recommended for your household on hand at the time. However, you are considered for each and every Greyhound that comes through the center and that can be adopted until yours is found.
4. Meeting Your New Greyhound
Once the perfect Greyhound is found for your family, some greyhound adoption centers will want to bring the Greyhound to your home to meet everyone for the first time. They do this to see how the Greyhound will react in his new environment. It is a good idea to make sure that everyone in your household is at home for this step. In the event that everything goes well, the greyhound adoption is finalized, and you will own your new pet.
5. Follow Up Of Your Greyhound Adoption
Many places that offer Greyhound adoption will want to call or visit the home that has adopted the greyhound. The centers will want to make sure that you are caring for your Greyhound correctly and staying within the guidelines that you agreed to on the application.
Greyhound adoption is a great way to get a family pet that you will fall in love with. If you are considering adopting a Greyhound, contact your local Greyhound adoption center for more information.
Friday, January 11, 2008
10 Reasons Why Greyhound Racing Should Be Banned
Greyhound race tracks operate legally in more than a dozen of the fifty states in the US and many countries around the world. There is a lot of controversy over how well greyhound racing actually is regulated. In the US, there is very little oversight for the welfare of the greyhounds. There are strong advocacy groups petitioning for banning this “sport” in the US altogether, however, race supporters have a lot more money than these volunteers and argue that allegations of dog abuse are overblown. We do know, however that abuse does happen and for the following reasons greyhound racing should be regulated:
1.) Race dogs live in crates or pens an average of 20 hours per day. Pens are for the most part not climate controlled and the dogs are subject to weather extremes and the elements. Pens and kennels have been found to be squalid.
2.) Even with the greyhound rescue groups, greyhounds continue to be euthanized simply because they cannot run fast enough or have outlived their racing usefulness. This happens at 3½ to 4 years of age, when a companion greyhound can live to be 13 years old.
3.) Many more greyhounds are bred than are actually used for racing; puppies are culled, which is just a nice word for killed off, if they do not appear to have racing potential.
4.) Many times the dogs endure inhumane treatment with no real professional veterinary care and very little human contact.
5.) Greyhounds are very prone to injury and greyhound racing needs to have stronger regulations to ensure proper and professional care of injured animals.
6.) Small animals such as rabbits are used as live bail during practice sessions and are maimed and killed. The argument that this is necessary because it enhances the greyhounds “taste for blood” is totally invalid as greyhounds are sight oriented in hunting. They will chase moving objects; they are not motivated by the scent of blood.
7.) In the US greyhound racing is not governed by the Federal Animal Welfare Act, which is enforced by the United States Department of Agriculture. There are regulations in some countries such as the Australian Greyhound and Harness Racing Regulatory Authority, but unregulated tracks still persist.
8.) In 2000 the Wall Street Journal reported on a disreputable greyhound racing track that was under criticism from the neighborhood. When neighbors attempted to have the track shutdown the owners greatly inflated the number of employees, citing that a shutdown would send all these people out on the streets looking for work. Since there is no regulating body for greyhound racing in the US, there was no way to know if these numbers were true. It was only through investigation by the newspaper that they discovered the owners were lying.
9.) By regulating greyhound racing, greyhounds will be registered; coming under the protection of Animal Welfare and recording of ownership and transfer will be enforced. However unregulated tracks will still exist.
10) Current regulations for greyhound racing are applied only to the gambling aspect of the track and need to be applied equally to the welfare and oversight of the animals.
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