Ban Greyhound Racing
- by: Stefan Keller
- recipient: U.S. Congress
Greyhound racing began in the early 20th century and still continues today. It is considered a "sport" but in reality it is no more than a way for gamblers and states to make money. At the peak of greyhound racing popularity, tens of thousands of greyhounds were killed every year because they were not fast enough or able to race anymore. Due to many organizations resuing greyhounds and a drop in its popularity, we do not see that many greyhounds killed today. However, despite the efforts of all these organizations working to save these animals, thousands are killed every year.
The treatment of greyhounds in the racing world is also deplorable. They are kept in small crates for 18-20 hours a day. Many times they are undernurished and the food they get, raw meat from diseased farm animals, is inadequate and makes many of them sick. Also, the only real excercise the greyhounds get is the races they run every 4 days or so.
It is time to put a stop to this deplorable and deadly practice. 8 states have already banned greyhound racing completely but active racetracks still exist in 14 states. (For a complete list see http://www.greyhounds.org/gpl/contents/PDFs/Racetrack_List_Sept_2007
.pdf)
Please help to put a stop to these races and end the needless suffering of these beautiful and gentle creatures.
Dear [Decision Maker];
We the undersigned find the death and suffering of greyhounds due to greyhound racing to be unacceptable. Greyhound racing began in the early 20th century and still continues today. Many invovled in the races call it a "sport", but the truth is that it is just a way for gamblers and states to make money.
However, not even this is a valid excuse to keep greyhound racing around because attendance at races has dropped significantly and very little money is earned as state revenue.
One of the biggest problems with greyhound racing is the amount of animals senselessly killed every year. During the peak popularity of greyhound racing, tens of thousands of dogs were killed every year. That number has declined in recent years thanks to the help of rescue agencies saving many of the dogs that would have been killed. However, even with all of their efforts, thousands of dogs are still killed every year. And why is this done? Simply because the dogs are not fast enough to compete in races anymore. Some young dogs are killed even before they get to the racetrack because they are injured or do not seem to have enough potential. This practice is inhumane and unacceptable.
Even the treatment of dogs that race well is far from satisfactory. Racing dogs are kept in crates 18-20 hours a day and the only real exercise they get is when they race. The thing is that they only race about every four days! That is definately not enough exercise for an active dog like the greyhound. Also, many of the dogs are malnurished, as they are not fed well. Even the food they do get, raw meat from diseased farm animals that could not be used for human consumption, is inadequate and makes many of the dogs ill.
It is time to put a stop to this sickening "sport." 8 states have already banned greyhound racing completely and many race tracks have shut down in recent years. However, there are still active race tracks in 14 states.
Please support a ban on greyhound racing in your state if legislation is already on the table. If not, we would appreciate you looking into the issue and putting new legislation on the table to ban this disgraceful and inhumane sport.
Thank you for your time and attention on this important cause.
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