In the greyhound racing industry, dogs can spend much of the day in crates stacked on top of each other with little to no access to medical care. They’re almost always muzzled and contagious diseases can spread easily among them. The conditions at racetracks can also be dangerous. The worst part, though, is that when they are no longer “useful,” some racetracks have sent dogs off to slaughter. One good thing to come out of the pandemic is the end of racing at Birmingham Greyhound Racing and the rehome of the dogs into forever homes!
The Alabama racetrack has been hosting live greyhound racing events for almost three decades and had to make the decision to stop during the pandemic. They had to make the financial decision to stop racing.
The good news is that their 450 former racing dogs are up for adoption!
They hope to reopen the track in May, but there is no guarantee that they will be able to do so. Hopefully, greyhounds will be able to enjoy being in a loving home rather than being exploited and forced to race.
Alabama was actually one of the only states in the United States to host live greyhound racing events. Animal Wellness Action executive director Marty Irby says he’s “elated to see this archaic and abusive enterprise cross the finish line in my home state for good.”
The Birmingham Race Course has an adoption program with connections around the nation and there are plenty of people in Canada and New England interested in adopting. They will also place some dogs in convalescent homes and service organizations, and it’s great to know the dogs will be places where they can help others!
Sign this petition calling for an end to greyhound racing in the United States!
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Other than the track closing due to financial reasons, none of your information here is true. I’ve worked with trainers, owners, and my adoption group since 1993, and although I believed all these things happened in the past, they don’t today. Greyhounds are treated well, are loved, have socialization and a great diet from day one of their lives. They stay with their litter for the first year of their lives, which is huge in the dog world. The people who breed and train these dogs treat them well, and keep the dogs and kennels clean. Muzzles are typically only worn out in the turnout pen, not in the kennels, and they protect against bites to the greyhound’s extremely thin skin. They are out of the crates more than in. Google “Hercules and the Fitbark” device. He was the greyhound who wore the canine version of a Fitbit, and over a period of time, it showed that he was out of his kennel between 11 and 14 hours a day. Rather than spend money on expensive public relations firms like activist groups do, the NGA spends money on vaccine development and other things for the health of racing greyhounds. They have a 100% retirement plan, with 98% going to adoption groups, and 2% staying with their racing owners or kennel staff who have come to love them. They are not sent off to slaughter. In this time of so many being put out of their life’s work that they love, because they love the dogs, please don’t tell misinformation to the public. Lies hurt. Please investigate the truth of what makes these dogs happy. I did and see the truth. They love their life on the farm, at the track, and on someone’s couch later in life.
Hey Sharon Vega – what greyhound owner/trainer/adopters did you interview for your BS article? Seems you just copied and pasted the lies of those who used them to shut down racing. what happened to truth in journalism? Balanced journalism? No greyhounds are euthanized. They get the best care (including an onsite vet) and food becasue they are athletes and need to be in tip top shape. None are euthanized unless a vet declares they should be. None will die – there are adopters all over the continent waiting for them. Not unwthical. Not inhumane. They do NOT spen most of their lives muzzled and the only “disease” that spreads amongst them are parasites – common in any colony of dogs and treated constantly. Shame on you perpetuating lies and not doing your job reporting the facts.
This whole story is so wrong. The person who wrote it has absolutely no knowledge of greyhounds, their care or their careers. Greyhounds are never slaughtered or euthanized. They are never forced to race. They sleep in large crates big enough for a full size human and greyhound to fit easily at the same time. Next time you write an article, try researching 1st and learning the truth.