EDITORIAL: "All Facets Of Greyhound Racing Bear Responsibility"

May 24, 2002 - "All facets of greyhound racing bear responsibility"

"Pensacola Greyhound Park's Web site promotes a future of bliss for retired dogs and the loving owners who adopt them.

'Intelligent, calm and graceful creatures, greyhounds make uncommonly good household pets,' says the section on adopting greyhounds. 'Thriving on love and attention, these good-natured sighthounds reward their owners with a lifetime of unconditional love and affection. Adopt a gentle greyhound and make a lifelong friend.'

But for some 2,000 to 3,000 greyhounds, their reward was a bullet in the brain. Or the neck. Or the mouth. Their crime was being too slow. Maybe they were too old, or injured, or maybe they just never were fast enough. For some 10 years, dogs who couldn't outrun their fate were rewarded with a trip to Robert Rhodes' place in Lillian and a 4-cent bullet.

Mr. Rhodes' arrest, and his admission this week that he regularly shot and buried dogs for $10 apiece, is already a national scandal and the worst possible publicity for greyhound racing. Mr. Rhodes' nonchalant excuses-that euthanasia by injection costs too much and that shooting a dog is just as humane-make the entire industry appear cruel and unconcerned about the fate of its animals.

...This isn't an isolated instance of a 'rogue trainer', as racing proponents put it; this is systematic disposal of and cruelty to the animals on which the entire dog racing industry depends.

The case will, rightfully, inflame the debate between the greyhound industry and animal protection groups on such questions as whether over breeding leads to a glut of dogs, and whether the sport ought to be restricted or banned entirely.

It's a debate worth having. Meanwhile, greyhound owners, breeders, trainers and track operators have to do a better job of promoting adoptions, and see to it that dogs that must be destroyed are put to death humanely.

The damage to the industry from this case is already too great for them to shirk responsibility on the grounds that they weren't directly involved. These dogs are bred and raised to run for money and to be gambled on. People who make their living off racing greyhounds have a responsibility to ensure that they are cared for properly, both during and after their careers.

Greyhounds shouldn't have to run for their lives."

The Greyhound Protection League agrees!

Editorial reprinted with permission of the Mobile Register 5-24-02

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