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Greyhound deaths spark campaign


AN ANIMAL welfare charity has called for a Swindon greyhound track to close after a number of dogs were put down after picking up injuries at the site.

Greyhound Action, an international dog protection group, has launched the campaign after learning that four dogs were injured while racing at the Blunsdon track last month.

On July 7, two year old greyhound Rackethall Kenny, fell after he was involved in a pile up with three other dogs on the second bend. And, two days later, another two year old, Swift Abel, fell at the same bend and was carried from the track with a serious leg injury.

Then, on July 30, a two year old female, called Wots Er Name, also fell at the second bend and, the following day, six year old Day two fell after a collision with two other greyhounds at the first bend.

All four dogs were so seriously injured that the track vet decided that they should be put down.

The group’s UK co-ordinator Tony Peters, said: “We were informed of this appalling carnage by an official at the track, who has become increasingly concerned about the suffering and slaughter of dogs caused by the greyhound racing industry.

“He also told us that there were concerns about a recent deterioration of the racing surface at the track, which may have contributed to these tragic incidents.

“Thousands of injuries to greyhounds, many of them serious, occur every year in Britain. The main reason for this is that the shape of the tracks, with fast straights leading into tight bends, creates a very dangerous environment for dogs to run in.

“In addition, hundreds of other greyhounds, bred because of the demand created by the Swindon track, are put to death as puppies or young dogs, before they even make it to the track, after being judged unsuitable for racing.”

A stadium spokesman said: “Any injury to one of our greyhounds is greatly regrettable and impacts on everyone at the stadium.

“We monitor constantly to see if there is anything we need to do to avoid repetitions.

“There were in-running collisions involved in these incidents and they are thankfully rare on our large, sweeping and wide-bended track.

“No expense is spared ensuring that we have the finest sand and fixtures on the track, plus the best track preparation, veterinary and racing teams in the business, simply because we regard the safety of our greyhounds as our highest priority”.

Comments(78)

Hammer5 says...
10:05am Sat 21 Aug 10

Truth is Any Animal that cant earn his crust is either dumped or put to sleep
The very lucky few are Rehomed.
To Improve the animals welfare dont support the Blunsdon Track and hit there profits where it hurts just as where they hit those greyhounds where it hurts by the sounds of it on the first bend!!!!

Gooey says...
11:08am Sat 21 Aug 10

I won't visit the dog racing for the reasons in the article and what Hammer5 has added to it.The dogs are purely there to make money for people.If you love dogs and care for their treatment, avoid dog racing.

mr-m says...
11:19am Sat 21 Aug 10

bet you £50.00 nothing will get done about it, its good money for the races and the people that own them, little value is put on the dog, its there to earn its crust !!!, simple !!!!!

jmostfc says...
11:26am Sat 21 Aug 10

mr-m wrote:
bet you £50.00 nothing will get done about it, its good money for the races and the people that own them, little value is put on the dog, its there to earn its crust !!!, simple !!!!!
its not good money for the people that own them. the dog will not even pay for the trainers fees most months and the initial outlay could be thousands. my dog has just retired from racing after owning it for 2 years and paying 1000 pound for it. you buy a dog for enjoyment and not to make money.

antiantis says...
1:53pm Sat 21 Aug 10

Hammer5 wrote:
Truth is Any Animal that cant earn his crust is either dumped or put to sleep
The very lucky few are Rehomed.
To Improve the animals welfare dont support the Blunsdon Track and hit there profits where it hurts just as where they hit those greyhounds where it hurts by the sounds of it on the first bend!!!!
Hammer5

You obviously cannot read as it clearly says second bend ;)

Where is you proof that any animal that cant earn his crust is either dumped or put to sleep ?? or have you read that on a anti greyhound racing website and decided that is really what happens.............
.. you state that,that is the truth,where are your facts ?? or again have you read that on the anti greyhound website,i look forward to your answer with all the facts to back your truth statement up

Hammer5 says...
3:19pm Sat 21 Aug 10

Antiantis it also clearly says first bend as well you just need to read all the story.
The Proof is in the Rescue Homes that are all over the country.
Hey just a thought has antiantus got anything to do with the blunsdon track by chance

antiantis says...
5:30pm Sat 21 Aug 10

Hammer 5

Not a thing to do with the track,i can promise you that,so where are your FACTS ??? what rescue homes ??? numbers of dogs involved ??,put them on here and you may get a bit of credence although i doubt it

Hammer5 says...
6:42pm Sat 21 Aug 10

antiantis wrote:
Hammer 5 Not a thing to do with the track,i can promise you that,so where are your FACTS ??? what rescue homes ??? numbers of dogs involved ??,put them on here and you may get a bit of credence although i doubt it
Antiantis you must be on cloud cuckoo land woops thats a a slur on the cuckoo.
Type Greyhound rescue homes on any search engine and the facts will be revealed thats if you read any further than the first line as you still havnt mentioned i was correct in saying about the first bend.
Ive just learned that Antiantis translated in latin means Retard!!

Gooey says...
7:06pm Sat 21 Aug 10

Thousands of dogs have been destroyed when they become to old-injured to race anymore.There is countless amounts of evidence to back this up.Greyhound rescue charities,prosecutio
n of morons who have killed many greyhounds,mass graves discovered containing many of the murdered dogs,dogs left hanging from trees,etc,etc,etc.
Some greyhound owners keep the dog for life,but plenty dont and are despicable cretins....

Gooey says...
7:19pm Sat 21 Aug 10

antiantis wrote:
Hammer 5 Not a thing to do with the track,i can promise you that,so where are your FACTS ??? what rescue homes ??? numbers of dogs involved ??,put them on here and you may get a bit of credence although i doubt it
Google 'cruelty to greyhounds'
take your time to read the countless reports and evidence of disgusting treatment of greyhounds.
You should be carefull what you wish for as there are huge amounts of proof of cruelty.

highfive says...
7:54pm Sat 21 Aug 10

EXPOSED-This, like horse racing is a cruel sport where animals are treated like commodities. These aren't animal lovers and people who are go along for an evenings 'entertainment' should think again if they have any conscience. I think horse racing is just as bad and will not bet on the grand national etc, as the horses are whipped to race around the course and then shot as soon as they are injured. These people make me sick.

sun_set says...
8:09pm Sat 21 Aug 10

Exposed-violence against horses or dogs shouldn't exist but unfortunately it doth.Its a cruel, cruel, world we live in!
There are some really twisted,wicked people out there who appear real-nice but aren't!

sun_set says...
8:24pm Sat 21 Aug 10

Actually, the reason why horses are shot is because if they break their legs then they won't heal and shooting them is the only way to put them out of their misery and that is the only way!
One can debate wether or not horses should be made to run at the Gran National and wether or not it is fair! Horse racing is classed as a sport, and one that generates a lot of money so on that basis it comes down money and unfortunately, money is the root of all evil!

sun_set says...
8:26pm Sat 21 Aug 10

grammatical error, should spell route!

mr-m says...
1:43am Sun 22 Aug 10

if there was no money in dog racing, no-one would race them, its a big con anyway, making the dog go in a slow race, when your dog is faster,talk about take it in turns to win, the dog owners are cheats, the only winners are the stadium, and the bookies, "next scam please"

Greytexploitations says...
7:15am Sun 22 Aug 10

“No expense is spared ensuring that we have the finest sand and fixtures on the track, plus the best track preparation, veterinary and racing teams in the business, simply because we regard the safety of our greyhounds as our highest priority”.

No expense spared? A greyhound’s life is governed purely by economics - period.

The governing body's rules state a greyhound can be destroyed simply because the injury is 'UNECONOMICAL' to treat - whether it be a pulled muscle or broken bone.
Trainers are constantly under pressure from the bookmakers to supply the demand for 'betting units' and as a result this highly commercial industry churns out 1,000's of dead dogs – deemed financial liabilities - on a conveyor belt of mass destruction.

Rest In Peace Rackethall Kenny - Swift Abel - Wots Er Name and Day two

greyhound fiction says...
10:20am Sun 22 Aug 10

I have two retired dogs and have re homed another seven after fostering. I also own four dogs running at Swindon and when they retire they will also stay with myself or other members of our syndicate.
Now let me tell you about an experience I had last year with Greyhound Action. I was walking my two greys when a couple of guys came over and congratulated me for rescuing my greys. I pointed out I was a racing owner and they were not rescues just retired. I was then called a tirade of names , mostly obscene and threatened with violence. My car was followed home and when I got out these guys made a cut throat gesture to me. That's Greyhound Action for you. This organisation positively relishes greyhound deaths at the track as they can use these unfortunate and rare occurrences to raise money. Raise money for whom?. Certainly not greyhounds as they do not re-home them so where does the money go??
As for the others on this subject having a pop at greyhound racing, just think how many male calves were destroyed so you can enjoy your MILKY Latte. Or cup of tea etc.

moonraker says...
10:48am Sun 22 Aug 10

I may be accused of being pedantic - but it is 'the love of money is the root of all evil'.

mr-m says...
10:51am Sun 22 Aug 10

"only the best"
only the best costs money to make money, you need a good dog,!!!, if the dog was useless you wouldnt even want the thing, if the dog was good it earns you good money !!!

its all fixed anyway tell me there aint no scams in greyhounds, i know owners of them !!!!, that race up blunsdon

mr-m says...
2:34pm Sun 22 Aug 10

heres a question then, how many dogs when retired are re-homed !!!
most of them get put down, or put out to breed more money, how much does a good dog earn its owner in a dogs lifetime, if i had to take a dog to london, and it wasnt or would not win, i wouldnt bother taking it !!!, unless i knew the dog was going to win "fixed" should i say !!!. "fatten the old dog up before the race" so that others can win, !!!!.
would you run on a full belly NO!

polly777 says...
9:07pm Sun 22 Aug 10

No one races dogs for enjoyment, they do it for money. If they say it is for enjoyment I feel extremely sad that their mentalitity is so low that they get enjoyment from the pain and destruction of these gentle creatures.
Anyone doubting the abuse these dogs suffer please look up www.greytexploitatio
ns.com
and also google greyhound rescue and see how many there are.
Greyhounds are the oldest and most gentle dog on this planet and they are exploited, abused, discarded when of no use and yet when they are rescued by loving owners they repay them ten thousand times over with love & loyalty. Racing greyhound owners/trainers should be thoroughly ashamed of how they earn their living.
If the general public only knew a small part of what happens they would never frequent a track again.
This will happen soon

deepforest says...
9:14pm Sun 22 Aug 10

I'm suprised no one has blamed penhill, after all its only over the road

sun_set says...
9:22pm Sun 22 Aug 10

mis-treatment and cruelty to dogs is not acceptable and has to stop! Pet owners that really care for their doggies are heros in my eyes!

ragwort says...
10:12pm Sun 22 Aug 10

How anybody can defend this disgusting 'sport' beggars belief! So many dogs killed every year in the name of 'a good night out'. It needs to be stopped NOW!

mr-m says...
10:28pm Sun 22 Aug 10

the dogs are "EXPLOITED", the owners should be put down with the dog !!!
simple answer dont go to the dogs and the bookies make no money, if everone done that, then the doggie lovers wouldnt even own a dog let alone a greyhound!!
the sport is bad and should be banned now!!!

supergabs says...
10:48pm Sun 22 Aug 10

Disgusted with the Swindon Advertiser Comment.
If "the safety of the dogs is their highest priority" the track owners will immediately stop making money out of their suffering and insist that loving homes for these short term, expendable investments ... sorry ... I meant to say loved and respected greyhounds.
And anyone who enjoys watching greyhounds literally running for their lives is just plain sick.

sun_set says...
10:52pm Sun 22 Aug 10

There is a real difference to owning a domestic doggy as a pet and trying to control and deal with the sport of racing greyhounds, very different ends of the spectrum indeed!! The sport itself isn't bad it is the choice of hound!

ragwort says...
10:54pm Sun 22 Aug 10

If you want information about the cuelty of racing look up the 'Greytexploitations' website, also Greyhound Action. So many dogs are killed and injured every year. I, for one would not attend a track and have this on my conscience that I was supporting this cruelty.

sun_set says...
11:04pm Sun 22 Aug 10

Yes it is a cruel world we live in, very cruel indeed! Doggies should always be properly looked after and kept on leads, why, with all the moronic drivers in this world on the roads then the track seems a safer option for the poor doggies!

equinepainter says...
11:10pm Sun 22 Aug 10

the killing of greyhounds with treatable injuries will continue in perpetuity until dog racing ceases to exist. Racing enthusiasts turn a blind eye to the atrocities commited upon these lovely dogs.

greyhound fiction says...
11:31pm Sun 22 Aug 10

I see no-one has replied to my post about greys I re-home and the threat of violence to myself from GA members. Can't think of a reply folks, so you just ignore it, you make me sick.

ragwort says...
11:32pm Sun 22 Aug 10

I blame the government for allowing this industry to continue,of course they get revenue from it. Even now there are plans to reopen Walthamstow Greyhound Track meaning more dogs raced to their deaths.

ragwort says...
11:42pm Sun 22 Aug 10

greyhoundfiction, blunsden...are you surprised nobody sympathises with you? The tide has turned and more and more people are realising how cruel greyhound racing is. I do not condone you being threatened, that is wrong. When you place a greyhound in a trap to race you are putting it's life at risk. How dare you?

mr-m says...
1:51am Mon 23 Aug 10

One word "MURDERER"

muns says...
8:32am Mon 23 Aug 10

5 dogs killed by the track is 5 too many and there has to be a logical explanation why so many have been injured so badly in such a short time. All in the name of entertainment and to feed the bookies? RIP lovely innocent souls.
I am glad folk are speaking out and trying to get something done to save future lives. These dogs need all the support they can get given the short lives they have in the racing world and dubious fate thereafter if they survive!

greyhound fiction says...
9:17am Mon 23 Aug 10

How many contributing to this thread will have the courage to admit to using milk and other dairy products? What happens to the male progeny of dairy herds? I do ,anyone else?
I guarantee the silence will be deafening.lol.

ragwort says...
9:31am Mon 23 Aug 10

Greyhound fiction, we are discussing dogs racing here, not cattle! It's not just Swindon, there are dogs killed and injured in tracks all over the country. Also, some kennels are disgusting...check out the anti racing websites, they have photo's to prove it. Dogs sat behind bars almost round the clock. Anyone who supports racing should be ashamed.

WendySWT says...
9:34am Mon 23 Aug 10

I don't understand the mentality of pouring money into a dog to watch it become injured or worse on the track. If you allowed a companion dog to become injured time and time again, you'd be called irresponsible. What is irresponsible is churning out litter after litter to produce the odd winner. Clearly there are issues with this track and many more. It is a brutal industry where the welfare of greyhounds is minimal.

The evidence of abandoned greyhounds is everywhere. Rescues are full to the rafters with hounds no longer wanted. I just don't understand why anyone could abandon a creature that has given their all for their owner. But it happens in droves. Then charities have to work hard to find those ellusive homes time and time again. About time humans realised they have responsibilities and any enjoyment shouldn't be at the cost of a less fortunate creature's life.

greyhound fiction says...
9:51am Mon 23 Aug 10

ragwort wrote:
Greyhound fiction, we are discussing dogs racing here, not cattle! It's not just Swindon, there are dogs killed and injured in tracks all over the country. Also, some kennels are disgusting...check out the anti racing websites, they have photo's to prove it. Dogs sat behind bars almost round the clock. Anyone who supports racing should be ashamed.
That's all right then, cattle are expendable, my god , the stench of hypocrisy is overpowering.
As regards kennels check out the pro racing sites then you will see what a racing kennel looks like, because you have not got a clue. The photos you will see on GA for example are almost always from abroad. They print pics like that because people like yourself are gullible, like tabloid press readers if you will, who never question what they read, they believe it because it's printed. I would guess you contribute to GA, do you know where the money goes? They do no re- homing, unlike myself, so what happens to the money ay?? Someone is doing alright and I do not think it is the greyhounds they purport to help. Admin costs maybe??? lol.

ragwort says...
10:18am Mon 23 Aug 10

The photo's are from abroad? what about the Pickering kennels, what about the Blanchard kennels, what about that evil monster in the north east who shot and buried thousands of unwanted hounds on his farm in 2006? Sorry, but the public are becoming more aware of the shortcomings of racing...it's getting harder to hide things now isn't it? all thanks to organisations like Greyhound Action. There's a rumour there may be a chance that the GBGB may be forced to disclose deaths and injuries soon. Well, can't see that doing the likes of you any good.

greyhound fiction says...
10:38am Mon 23 Aug 10

Thousands is an total exaggeration as you know. But that does not absolve what the evil man did, the whole of the greyhound fraternity were up in arms about it as they were about the other two isolated cases. You see we care about our greys and love them. How many greys do you keep at home by the way? You seem concerned enough to rehome these lovely dogs. I have two and am fostering one in a couple of weeks prior to rehoming him to someone who wants to give a loving home to one of this great breed.
As regards the public becoming more aware of greyhound racing, this was certainly the case at Hove recently, when they were 22 short of a capacity crowd.
As regards the GBGB they are certainly going to publish figures about the amount of greys re homed soon, the figures will shock. GA will probably have to change their tactics and concentrate on Staffies instead, now there's a breed which is being exploited. GA will always go where there is a money making opportunity.lol.
Hope I haven't put you off a cup of tea or coffee, or will you drink it black in future?

Greytexploitations says...
11:00am Mon 23 Aug 10

I hope you reported the threat of violence to the police as clearly these aggressors were not representative of greyhound protection groups and could pose as a danger to any member of the public - regardless of their involvement in greyhound racing!

As for the rest of your defence of this gambling industry we only have 'your word' that you have dumped the responsibility - financially and physically - of all but two of the seven greyhounds you have exploited onto the public and you think you should be applauded for exasperating the already critical situation we have in this country of unwanted dogs???

Rather than diverting attention away from the injury issues and attacking greyhound protection groups or highlighting other animal welfare issues - I suggest you offer some form of justification for the deaths of these four innocent creatures and a fifth dog - Brizzle Bling, a littermate to 2 year old 'Wots Er Name' - who was destroyed during a trial race at Swindon on August 1st.

Greyhound Fiction - stop avoiding the issue and please tell us how you justify the deaths of FIVE dogs in just under FOUR weeks at Swindon dog track!

sun_set says...
11:02am Mon 23 Aug 10

It is the 'commercial' dogs ie the greyhounds that are being truly exploited! The domestic staffie breed does seem to have an unwarranted, fabricated and exagerated reputation but actually are a stioc, loyal breed and good round children, it is how they are 'looked after' by their owners that matters! And wether they are kept on a lead or not!

Gooey says...
11:05am Mon 23 Aug 10

Greyhound fiction.Just what is fiction?
Also trying to divert the topic onto others breeds and cattle doesn't excuse the disgusting practices involved in greyhound racing.You are p1ssing into a tornado trying to defend the sick pastime.

ragwort says...
11:08am Mon 23 Aug 10

Greyhound fiction, your preoccupation with cattle and milk is slightly unnerving! However, yes, let's hear how you justify these recent deaths.

Cosmos says...
11:16am Mon 23 Aug 10

Whilst acknowledging that, as in all walks of life, there are genuine people in the greyhound racing industry who are committed to the welfare of their dogs, it must also be acknowledged that there is an unacceptable level of cruelty. For those in any doubt as to the evidence, I suggest they google the National Assembly for Wales All Party Group for Animal Welfare (Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare) and read about the Evidence on the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds. This document provides hard evidence based on robust research into abandoned greyhounds in Wales. It reveals the number of greyhounds being shot each year in South Wales alone by their owners. It reveals how greyhounds are often shot with captive bolt guns because this is cheaper than than the cost of euthanasia by a vet. A representative of the racing industry attended a meeting of the Wales Greyhound Forum and argued that shooting greyhounds with CBG was more humane than taking it to a vet. However, the working party affirmed that this practice was NOT an acceptable fate for a greyhound and that even one greyhound being shot each year was one too many. A Sunday Times article dated 16th July 2006 uncovered the large-scale and sytematic slaughter of greyhounds, performed as a kind of service for owners. Apart from the slaughter of such large numbers, the National Welsh Assembly Working Party calculated that approx 2,800 greyhounds are also abandoned each year and end up in British dog pounds once their racing careers are over.

greyhound fiction says...
11:17am Mon 23 Aug 10

Please answer my question who amongst you "worthy" people abstains from dairy products in view of the untimely deaths of millions of male dairy cattle. Truth please, no GA style lies.

greyhound fiction says...
11:25am Mon 23 Aug 10

Some reading for you all over your lattes.
http://www.vegsoc.or
g/info/cattle.html

Gooey says...
11:30am Mon 23 Aug 10

greyhound fiction wrote:
Please answer my question who amongst you "worthy" people abstains from dairy products in view of the untimely deaths of millions of male dairy cattle. Truth please, no GA style lies.
No.This topic has nothing to do with cattle.

Cosmos says...
11:52am Mon 23 Aug 10

I for one no longer use dairy products, greyhound fiction.blunsdon. Soya is a perfectly good substitute. I also no longer eat meat now that I have become aware of the cruelty involved - but again use soya or Quorn substututes. I agree with you that bullocks are killed on an unacceptably massive scale. (Not always humanely) And let's not forget the cows which are so distressed and agitated when their calves are taken from them, leaving the cows to cope with painful and massively distended udders in order to satisfy a milk quota. Who do we think we are to treat other sentient beings the way we do?? Including racing greyhounds!

sun_set says...
12:19pm Mon 23 Aug 10

Cosmos wrote:
I for one no longer use dairy products, greyhound fiction.blunsdon. Soya is a perfectly good substitute. I also no longer eat meat now that I have become aware of the cruelty involved - but again use soya or Quorn substututes. I agree with you that bullocks are killed on an unacceptably massive scale. (Not always humanely) And let's not forget the cows which are so distressed and agitated when their calves are taken from them, leaving the cows to cope with painful and massively distended udders in order to satisfy a milk quota. Who do we think we are to treat other sentient beings the way we do?? Including racing greyhounds!
Really! How are cattle to do with the topic of greyhound racing?Thats going a bit of tangent, this discussion is about the cruel treatment of greyhounds! Wether people prefer milk in there tea,coffee and latte isn't either here nor there! It is about the malpractice and mis-treament to those poor,poor doggs!

queenie1 says...
12:36pm Mon 23 Aug 10

I would simply ask this; If you racegoers have a dog at home, would you be happy to see it shot with a Captive Bolt Gun and pithed like cattle in an abattoir? Because that's exactly what happens to these Greyhounds when they get too old to race, or start to lose races. THOUSANDS die like this every year, and racegoers are aiding and abetting this cruelty without a thought beyond how much they might win!!

greyhound fiction says...
1:33pm Mon 23 Aug 10

queenie1 wrote:
I would simply ask this; If you racegoers have a dog at home, would you be happy to see it shot with a Captive Bolt Gun and pithed like cattle in an abattoir? Because that's exactly what happens to these Greyhounds when they get too old to race, or start to lose races. THOUSANDS die like this every year, and racegoers are aiding and abetting this cruelty without a thought beyond how much they might win!!
I would ask you this, do you like milk with your tea?

Cosmos says...
1:35pm Mon 23 Aug 10

In answer to sun_set, I was merely responding to greyhound fiction.blunsdon. Believe me I feel as strongly as you do about any mistreatment of greyhounds. I have previously posted a lengthy comment regarding the evidence for this. I also feel just as strongly about the mistreatment of ALL animals.

Grey.dk says...
1:51pm Mon 23 Aug 10

This archaic track should be closed down until such a time that a more modern humane track can be installed instead. A track that does have the welfare of its performers the greyhounds in focus. A track that is straight with a stand placed at the starting boxes and another at the finishline and then perhaps big screen tv´s placed about the place so that people can see the greyhounds run without endangering them every time they race. The welfare of the greyhounds should be first and foremost in this "Sport" If this is not implimented how can you then live up to your own words as an industry? "The welfare and safety of the greyhounds is our main priority". When this is not the case. If you want us to believe in that then prove it to us beyond a shadow of a doubt. Can you do that are you ready to put the greyhounds first and yourselves last? .Is this not what those who realy love their greyhounds would demand?

jmostfc says...
1:54pm Mon 23 Aug 10

mr-m wrote:
if there was no money in dog racing, no-one would race them, its a big con anyway, making the dog go in a slow race, when your dog is faster,talk about take it in turns to win, the dog owners are cheats, the only winners are the stadium, and the bookies, "next scam please"
how can you say dog owners are cheats? the only time i saw my dog was at the track from the same place as any of the other spectators. i probably only went to the kennels where he was trained three times and only saw it twice there. not too sure how i could be a "cheat". facts not fiction please.

Grey.dk says...
2:33pm Mon 23 Aug 10

There will always be zealots in both camps the main stays of the issues within this sport must be dealt wether we belong on one side of the fence or the other the issues and arguements presented here are fairly clear on the one side it is the shape and maintainnance of the track or rather the lack there fo that kills the greyhounds. Should it not be a top priority to rectify those matter first and foremost? Should the welfare and racing conditions of the track not have first priority should this not be rectified before letting another greyhound enter a race there.I would think that those who claim to love their greyhounds should demand these changes for the sake of their greyhounds before letting them race at that archaic death track. Demand changes for the sake of the greyhounds as the prized athletes they are supposed to be.

mr-m says...
2:50pm Mon 23 Aug 10

jmostfc wrote:
mr-m wrote: if there was no money in dog racing, no-one would race them, its a big con anyway, making the dog go in a slow race, when your dog is faster,talk about take it in turns to win, the dog owners are cheats, the only winners are the stadium, and the bookies, "next scam please"
how can you say dog owners are cheats? the only time i saw my dog was at the track from the same place as any of the other spectators. i probably only went to the kennels where he was trained three times and only saw it twice there. not too sure how i could be a "cheat". facts not fiction please.
so as a loving dog owner, you have seen "your dog" twice, how degrading is that, you own an animal, and seen twice, you bought the dog to race not love and you done it for money not love, how degrading are you "jmostfc"
your dont give a **** about the dog, you to need banning from owning any animal !!!!

Cosmos says...
3:28pm Mon 23 Aug 10

mr-m wrote:
jmostfc wrote:
mr-m wrote: if there was no money in dog racing, no-one would race them, its a big con anyway, making the dog go in a slow race, when your dog is faster,talk about take it in turns to win, the dog owners are cheats, the only winners are the stadium, and the bookies, "next scam please"
how can you say dog owners are cheats? the only time i saw my dog was at the track from the same place as any of the other spectators. i probably only went to the kennels where he was trained three times and only saw it twice there. not too sure how i could be a "cheat". facts not fiction please.
so as a loving dog owner, you have seen "your dog" twice, how degrading is that, you own an animal, and seen twice, you bought the dog to race not love and you done it for money not love, how degrading are you "jmostfc" your dont give a **** about the dog, you to need banning from owning any animal !!!!
It has to be said here that, as in horse racing, some people own or part-own racing greyhounds as an investment. They take little, if any, part in the care of the dogs which are kept in kennels where they are fed and watered etc by kennel staff-possibly hundreds of miles away from the 'owners'. It is simply a business to them. The dogs are a valuable commodity. Such registered owners will naturally assume that their 'investments' are being properly looked after.

ragwort says...
4:03pm Mon 23 Aug 10

The dogs may be a valuable commodity but thats only the really fast ones. As you cannot insure a racing greyhound you could lose the many thousands of pounds you paid if the dog gets killed during a race. Maybe it's a 'tax dodge' thing? Your average grader can be bought for peanuts and if they suffer an injury many owners will not pay a vet to treat them, far cheaper to put them to sleep and buy another.

greyhound fiction says...
4:26pm Mon 23 Aug 10

750,000,000 million animals slaughtered every year in the uk. Maybe you should be campaigning elsewhere ay?
Though I'd guess a fair few of you, like me, love a juicy steak, or a chicken madras and a nice milky coffee. Hypocrites.

ragwort says...
5:04pm Mon 23 Aug 10

How do you know we dont campaign elsewhere? Silly assumption! Seems like you have no answer to the question of why the deaths of racing greyhounds should be tolerated. All you have done is try to deflect people from this topic. Lets face it...you CANNOT defend this disgusting 'sport'. I for one will do anything I can to make people aware of what a 'night at the dogs' means. Pure and utter cruelty.

Grey.dk says...
5:17pm Mon 23 Aug 10

deflection when it is this obvious is a weak attempt of defence. I have this question defence of what the lack of concern and action for the greyhounds? or a weak attempt to cover up the lack of action on behalf of the greyhounds. The lack of action and concern for greyhounds is obvious and therefore I think racing should be stopped at Swindon now. This track is a track of death and owners and trainers should boycutt this track on the grounds that precious lives are lost frequently. This should call all decent owners and trainers into action for the greyhounds and against the lack of repair and safety of the greyhounds of this drery old track.

greyhound fiction says...
10:16pm Mon 23 Aug 10

You so called "Animal Lovers" also deflect the obvious. Answer me, do you consume flesh and consume dairy products? If you do you are hypocrites. End of! Fact!

Grey.dk says...
5:18am Tue 24 Aug 10

Sticks and stones might break our bones but names will never hurt us. Wake up and smell the rot. Instead of throwing mud you should act for the greyhounds what have you got to loose.The thing is is the more insults you fling through the air the worse of a picture you are painting of the racing industry is that what you realy want? or do you want to help solve the problems you have with old worn down tracks dwindling numbers of spectators greyhounds gettting hurt at every bend inate cruelty exposed or would it not be better to clean up your act and make the tracks more modern and humane for the greyhounds?: Instead promote them as family hounds they are realy good at it. Instead of going of topic every time any of us mention the word greyhound.Those of us who work to save them when you are through using them and discarding them see the results of your "sport" The state some of the greyhounds are in is heartbreaking many of them have had traumas of this or that magnitude. This shows beyond a shadow of doubt that things are bad for the greyhounds if you realy want to do something for your sport then help clean up the messes help to stop the cruelty within the sport help bring the welfare of the greyhounds up, help repair the tracks make sure they are safe for the greyhounds before you let them race there. Make sure there are fewer accidents at the too tight bends do something to make it humane for the fourlegged athletes instead of flinging insults through the air at those of us who demand a change for the sake of the greyhounds we love and yes care deeply about. Enough of the killing and mistreatment and neglect.

greyhound fiction says...
8:03am Tue 24 Aug 10

Throwing mud? Behaviour brreds behaviour maybe, as you antis are very good at throwing mud, are you not? As regards re-homing I have personally re- homed 7 greys this year at my expense travelling wise and the trainer has paid for the neutering. I do this to help out my trainer as otherwise he would eventually clog up his kennels with retired greys, you see he loves greys and keeps them until re-homed. Trudy from greytexploitation hates me doing this see her post above.
As regards going off topic greys are animals cattle are animals so can you be selective about welfare, I don't think so, think about it, when you have your morning cuppa today. You refuse to answer that question don't you?
The track at Swindon is perfectly safe and I am happy to let my dogs run there. If I was not happy I would pull them from there. Most of the tragic events mentioned were things that could happen to greys running at home after retirement, remember this breed was bred to run. Do you want to stop them doing this, if your lot had their way it would be the end of this noble breed.

Grey.dk says...
10:10am Tue 24 Aug 10

Hogwash. The greyhounds are indeed a noble breed some of us love the greyhounds just as they are. Some of us have had greyhounds for years on end so why do you think that will be the end of greyhounds? I don´t think so. So you have taken your own greyhounds home lots others do not as for the safety of Swindon I would not call it safe when greyhounds loose their lives at the second bend for at the second one at the first. yet you persist in saying you will let them race there? In word that does not make sense since you know of the dangers of Swindon and delibretly expose your greyhounds to it then I will have to ask if you realy care that much about the greyhounds instead of the sport. I have three retiered racers and they are let loose in a very large fenced in paddoc every morning one with a smoothe grass surface without any holes in it they are safe there and accidents are prevented from happening because they are well taken care of the paddoc is large enough for them to run at top speed without incident. So before blurting out as you have done previously please consider your greyhounds before subjecting them to the Death track at Swindon.

cwayzee14u says...
10:39am Tue 24 Aug 10

Hello to all, i dont see a problem at all in greyhound racing. They do what they enjoy doing and thats chasing something, accidents happen in life be it animal or human.But you all keep blabing on about the 2nd bend, maybe its not the track thats the problem but the grader who grades the race before hand. Sometimes you can read a dog card before the race and blatantly see theres a pile up going to occur at the first 2 bends. You cant possibly grade 4 or 5 railers in same race with same split times or near as.Ive seen this not only at swindon but across the board on most bags meetings. I say this greyound racing is a fun sport, be it for money or not, i think bended tracks should close and the horse race tracks SHOULD accomadate greyhound racing on there tracks. Its a betting levy sport which the gaming industry should inforce fullstop.Dogs then would only run straight courses, which would keep most dogs injury free. As for the animal welfare maybe you should stop worrying about greyhounds and learn the word STAFFIES you want to talk figures over 2,000 destroyed yearly and climbing. Have a good day

Greytexploitations says...
11:36am Tue 24 Aug 10

A fun SPORT?

How much fun is this?


http://www.youtube.c
om/user/Greytexploit
ations#p/u/1/nZjzY3C
Oods

tomstrix says...
12:14pm Tue 24 Aug 10

How do you know cwayzee14u, that many of us aren't appalled for Staffies too? This board though is about 'GREYHOUNDS.'
Worldwide because of greyhound racing many tens of thousands of greyhounds end up being tortured and left to die. They are for most involved in this so called 'sport' a commodity whose only use is to make money.
Check out this fact as just one example: greyhounds are exported from Ireland to Australia and then end up, after what living horror, with their decapitated heads on barbecues in the far east.
It's not hard to find, if you abhor cruelty, masses of hard evidence as to why Greyhound Racing should be abolished.
RIP: Rackethall Kenny - Swift Abel - Wots Er Name and Day two.
(who each had their own personality and individual nature).

jmostfc says...
1:30pm Tue 24 Aug 10

mr-m wrote:
jmostfc wrote:
mr-m wrote: if there was no money in dog racing, no-one would race them, its a big con anyway, making the dog go in a slow race, when your dog is faster,talk about take it in turns to win, the dog owners are cheats, the only winners are the stadium, and the bookies, "next scam please"
how can you say dog owners are cheats? the only time i saw my dog was at the track from the same place as any of the other spectators. i probably only went to the kennels where he was trained three times and only saw it twice there. not too sure how i could be a "cheat". facts not fiction please.
so as a loving dog owner, you have seen "your dog" twice, how degrading is that, you own an animal, and seen twice, you bought the dog to race not love and you done it for money not love, how degrading are you "jmostfc" your dont give a **** about the dog, you to need banning from owning any animal !!!!
how unfair is that? where did i ever say i was a dog lover? i knew when i bought the dog that it was not going to make money but still thought it would be fun which it was. one of the other syndicate is picking it up tomorrow to take home as a family pet. i cant see a problem, dog had fun racing, i had fun watching and they get a new family pet.

Grey.dk says...
3:03pm Tue 24 Aug 10

You are still not seeing the bigger picture. Greyhounds are treated as cheap comodities. Black greyhounds have been refered to as binliners because there are so many of them. You may not see a problem with owning a greyhound for racing and then discarding it after use those of us who love greyhounds see the results of racing with the greyhounds we rescue after they have become surplus to requirements. The baggage they carry with them is at times heavy. Many are traumatised either physcially or mentally. It takes time before they settle depending on their past lives. granted there are some good owners and trainers among the rotten appels in the barrel. It is high time that these good owners and trainers demand the nescessary changes to the tracks and over all welfare of all racing greyhounds it is high time that the rotten appels within the racing fraternity are dealt with and saying that these appaling cases is not in the UK is hiding your heads in the sand the truth is they happen on a fairly regular basis. Remember the dogs and in this case greyhounds is supposed to be man´s best friend so when are greyhound owners and trainers going to return the loyal winnings of their greyhounds into care and concern for the greyhounds in their keep.When there is a better more modern design of racetracks for greyhounds they should replace the archaic death tracks. Yes it will cost money but that is far better than it costing precious lives on too large a scale as is the case today. So instead of justifying your ownership of a racing greyhound do something to show that you are a good owner instead of just shipping the greyhound to saint elsewhere. You have no idea what owning a greyhound is all about in a sense it is a pitty because you will never get realy close to this nobel sighthound you will never know the loyal love they are capabel of showing. Greyhounds are simply the very best family members you can have other than humans.

cwayzee14u says...
3:06pm Tue 24 Aug 10

Hello to all, im back. I have only one question left to ask. To all them ANTI GREYHOUND animal lefts people, my question is for you and you only. How many of you are actualy vegetarians oooops good question!!!!!

Grey.dk says...
3:30pm Tue 24 Aug 10

No taken out of context and nothing to do with this article. You might want to ask that question in a diffrent setting since it is a waste of time and space here. It might be relevant to your life style but it has nothing to do with the deaths of these five greyhounds at Swindon the death track. So get your act together and fight for the greyhounds as this is the topic of discussion not what you feel like eating or not.Quit wasting our time and get back to the subject at hand thank you. Greyhounds deserve more respect and love than what you are showing with your weak attempts of deflection. They need us all to pull together for better welfare and more humane modern tracks and to realy get the status they deserve namely that of the prized athletes they are supposed to be as claimed by the racing fraternity.

cwayzee14u says...
4:04pm Tue 24 Aug 10

Grey.dk My point earlier theres many reasons why a greyhound can get injured on a race track. Most injurys occur either 1st or 2nd bend, reason for this is because the dogs travel at such high speed early part of a race longer the straight to the bend faster there traveling,thats fact. What doesnt help is when the grader who grades the race puts them all in the same place at sametime,it does take alot of maths to workout problem races when reading a card.Not sure which track it is but one ive seen on sky sports a few times, have there traps closer to the first bend so dogs aint at full strength when hitting it, as to there injury count for the track im not sure. The only way to acount for it is as ive said above, i think horse race courses should accomadate greyhound racing.It would then be straight racing from start to finish, and im sure a high percentage injury free. As for the dogs injured at swindon, theres people on here making it sound like the owner and trainer just shrug there shoulders and shout NEXT.Well i can asure them its nothing like that at all, nobody in the racing game wants to see injured parties, but sometimes it happens and yes they should ask questions and make it safer.Greyhound racing is very hard to predict as into who will win and wont, as for the guy shouting cheats, id like him to try and stop a none trier when its on the lure, ive had trainers say to me i cant win and ive won, and your go close tonight and ive finish last.When those traps open, its in the hands of the gods.

Grey.dk says...
4:22pm Tue 24 Aug 10

As a whole I agree with you. However after having seen first hand some of the dreadful things including accidents at the track and what happens to the poor greyhounds I am deeply concerned with their welfare. too many precious lives are lost this is heartbreaking and therefore I think it is time for action hence my arguements which as you see are thought through and might work in the long run. I like your idea of utilising the horse tracks for greyhounds simply put you are right in saying it will greatly reduce the numbers of greyhounds getting injured during the races. I think it is possibel to make a diffrence if we all work together to stop the cruelty when it rears its ugly head within the sport I know it works because that is how I do it here in Denmark. I have always thought it a better approach to have a good constructive discussion and work to find an agreement both sides can work with. A dialouge is far better than monosylabic attitudes. I like talking to you because you have the same attitude towards these issues as I have. Thank you for that.

cwayzee14u says...
6:16pm Tue 24 Aug 10

One other thing i think should be introduced, is that when a greyhound retires from racing, from an ngrc track. It should automaticly go to a greyhound rescue holding place, for rehoming if unwanted by the owner as a pet.This should be the duty of the track manager and owner to make sure the greyhound has reached the centre for rehoming. These dwellings and land should be payed for by the racing industry.Owners should then have to pay the kennel bill, untill a vetted home is found for the dog.
If unpaid kennel bills aint met for the retired dog, it can be sorted by heavy fines from a court and a ban from ngrc tracks with other dogs. Something does need to be put into place, its to easy to hand a dog over to any willy nilly and walk away.Ive read trainers this trainers that, there job is to care for the greyhound in always possible,and supply the dog to a track fit to race which they always do.When the dog becomes unable to race due to injury or retirement the problem should then fall into the hands of the owner and racing manager, the trainer has done its job.

Grey.dk says...
6:25pm Tue 24 Aug 10

I agree with this as well as you say too many greyhounds end up as unwanted in pounds some abandoned ect ect. My own Greyhound Tristan is a good exampel of willy nilly. Simply put when his racing career ended in Sheffield he was sold to an owner in Denmark and then sold to another owner here where he lived in squalid conditions I picked him up in December 2008 in a sadly neglected state. I kept my cool simply to get him out of there. He is thriving has finally settled in and is a deeply loved familymember as are my three other sight hounds. Two other retiered greyhounds and one whippet. Good sugestions by the way and I think it should be mandetory to look after the greyhounds from cradle to grave as it were.


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