Who is Behind This Pathetic Industry

It's all about MONEY for the TRACK OWNERS - that's all, nothing else.

Our favorite and perhaps one of the most accurate statements about the Greyhound racing industry comes from an actual greyhound kennel owner in Massachusetts who stated in an interview with Boston Globe Magazine: "You've got to be an animal to enjoy this business." I'm sure he doesn't even realize how true his statement is.
Source: Boston Globe Magazine, Interview with William O'Donnell, Massachusetts Greyhound Kennel Owner, 11/5/00, page 35.

 

DOG RACING INDUSTRY FOOD CHAIN

The greyhound racing 'food chain' consists of the following: Track Owners, Greyhound Breeders/Owners, Kennel Owners, to some degree Veternarians, and finally the Greyhounds. The greyhound racing industry is fueled by the dog tracks and their patrons demand for newer, faster dogs to replace the sickly abused dogs that can no longer win races. Greyhound Breeders/Owners fill this demand by breeding more and more dogs every year. The veterinarians are around to 'clean up the mess', i.e. the unneeded dogs. If fortunate enough to be killed 'humanely' these young greyhounds are usually brought to local veterinarians where for a fee, they can be 'humanely euthanized'. Of course, if the owners don't want or can't afford to pay for a the 'humane' killing of their dogs, I'm sure you can imagine some of the less humane methods these people will use to kill the dogs that they've bred but have no use for. Of course the unfortunate victims at the bottom of the food chain are always the racing greyhounds, bred only to live a tortured and thankless life that usually ends in an early death. It is really no wonder that 34 states have banned this inhumane and archaic industry.

 

PROFILE OF INDUSTRY 'PLAYERS'

Track Owners:

• Number one prority is to MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE.
• Profit more from the dog racing industry than any of the lesser players (mentioned below).
• Have seen revenues from dog racing decline sharply over the past ten years.
• Are hoping and praying that their state lawmakers will allow them to introduce slot machines into their dog tracks so they can stay in business and CONTINUE TO MAKE MONEY.
• Will adamantly deny that there is any animal abuse, but they are not involved with the handling of the dogs first hand, so their statements are essentially meaningless.
• Will also contribute lots of money to other 'charitable' or 'good' causes within their state to insure that the local lawmakers will allow them to stay in business and eventually let them have slot machines.
• Are usually involved with other business ventures inside or outside the state. (which are great to boycott if you can find out what they are).

Racing Greyhound Breeders/Owners:

• Supply the thousands of greyhounds that participate in dog racing.
• May genuinely like greyhounds, however their perpetuation of dog racing cancels out any love of the dogs they claim to have.
• Profit from breeding 'winning bloodlines'

Greyhound Kennel Owners:

• Could be considered one step down on the food chain from the greyhound breeders/owners.
• Also interested in making money - but only get a cut of the winnings after the state, track and owners get their piece of the action.
• In the business of boarding and sometimes owning racing greyhounds
• House and care for many (sometimes hundreds) of dogs at the same time - this can prove to be very expensive and time consuming, many kennel owners are ill equipped financially and emotionally to care for the dogs.
• Given slim profit margins, kennel owners are not financially incented to provide dogs with adequate housing, food and medical attention - dogs lives in the kennels are usually short and filled with neglect and oftentimes abuse.
• According to documented reports, most instances of abuse and neglect actually take place in or around the kennels.

Veterinarians:

• Could be considered 'reluctant participants' in the industry
• Care for sick or injured dogs (if the dogs are lucky enough to get medical attention)
• Paid to 'humanely euthanize' the unneeded greyhounds.

Greyhounds:

• Unfortunate victims
• Bred & killed by the thousands every year for the entertainment of a few.

 

How the MONEY is divided among the players:

According to Massachusetts trainer Henry Chin, the winnings are split up as follows: "When a dog places in the money, the owner gets a negotiated percentage of the purse, usually 35-50 percent, and the kennel gets the rest after the state and track take their cuts."
Source: Boston Globe Magazine, 11/5/00, page 35

It's just one big happy family where everyone wins, except the greyhounds.