Greyhound racing is a sport and a multi million-dollar industry for Australia. Dogs are trained to catch an electronic hare which races ahead of a group of the dogs around a long racing track. If you bet on the winning hound, you are likely to win a great deal of money.
The dogs used for this sport, greyhounds, were dogs specially bred for their speed. Originally this was used for hunting fast game animals such as rabbits and deer. Now, greyhounds are still bred for their speed, but mostly only for sporting reasons.
As this racing industry is driven by profit, breeders ensure that they produce as many of the animals as they can in order to maximise their chances of having a winning hound. Most of these dogs are not fast enough to make them eligible for racing and unfortunately these dogs are often mistreated.
The dogs used for this sport, greyhounds, were dogs specially bred for their speed. Originally this was used for hunting fast game animals such as rabbits and deer. Now, greyhounds are still bred for their speed, but mostly only for sporting reasons.
As this racing industry is driven by profit, breeders ensure that they produce as many of the animals as they can in order to maximise their chances of having a winning hound. Most of these dogs are not fast enough to make them eligible for racing and unfortunately these dogs are often mistreated.
Dogs who are not fast enough are simply not deemed worth the money it would take to keep them. This means that many of the greyhounds that are bred for racing are then euthanised. In New South Wales alone, 3000 greyhounds are being euthanised per year.
Fortunately, there’s a solution to the unfortunate future of the dogs in the greyhound industry.
Jan Cameron from Dysart, Tasmania has taken it upon herself to privately fund a not-for- profit greyhound sanctuary. A new beginning for the dogs who without Jan would be put to death. Jan’s home, run by Animals Australia is home to over 100 rescued greyhounds.
The greyhounds are loved, well fed and have lots of room to run; as Jan’s property is a 250 hectare farm. Jan, together with Animals Australia, has even begun the process of rehoming and putting saved greyhounds up for adoption to families who will give them a loving ‘forever home’.
Fortunately, there’s a solution to the unfortunate future of the dogs in the greyhound industry.
Jan Cameron from Dysart, Tasmania has taken it upon herself to privately fund a not-for- profit greyhound sanctuary. A new beginning for the dogs who without Jan would be put to death. Jan’s home, run by Animals Australia is home to over 100 rescued greyhounds.
The greyhounds are loved, well fed and have lots of room to run; as Jan’s property is a 250 hectare farm. Jan, together with Animals Australia, has even begun the process of rehoming and putting saved greyhounds up for adoption to families who will give them a loving ‘forever home’.
Although the solution of a sanctuary for greyhounds is a good idea, the problem with it is that there are just too many greyhounds needing rescue. With over 3000 of these dogs euthanised a year in New South Wales alone, a single woman manning a privately funded animal refuge will simply not be able to afford to save all of them.
The reality is that more needs to be done in order to save these poor animals from certain death. Unless laws are passed that ban the euthanasia of healthy animals, each year, thousands of greyhounds will be put to death. At the same time, by regulating the way in which breeders are allowed to manage their ‘investments’, money will be lost both personally for the breeders, and nationally for the economy. What we need to think about is, thousands of lives versus thousands of dollars. Which is more valuable?
The reality is that more needs to be done in order to save these poor animals from certain death. Unless laws are passed that ban the euthanasia of healthy animals, each year, thousands of greyhounds will be put to death. At the same time, by regulating the way in which breeders are allowed to manage their ‘investments’, money will be lost both personally for the breeders, and nationally for the economy. What we need to think about is, thousands of lives versus thousands of dollars. Which is more valuable?