What’s Important?

Keyboard warriors.

You know the type - those who think they know best, know everything, have mastered all things greyhound racing in 3 short years.  Those who have been on a tangent to rid the greyhound community of good homes for ex-racers based on the social media post of someone they have never met. The keyboard warriors feel being pro-racing makes them experts in all things greyhound racing and adoption since the dawn of time.

Not very long ago the racing industry and the adoption world respected each other's field and boundaries. Everyone focused on their expertise and met in the middle to work together - especially in the time of crisis - and knew the importance of a good home for each ex-racer.

Today's keyboard warriors pontificate that potential greyhound adopters should disclose their personal opinions regarding racing. Today's keyboard warrior’s witch-hunt any adopter who dares to use a word or phrase said warriors don't like. Today's keyboard warriors act as if they and only they are qualified to determine what adoption groups should receive dogs and what individuals should be allowed to adopt.

I for one firmly believe that if a group is placing ex-racing greyhounds into homes where the greyhound will be loved, respected and become a part of the family then guess what, that is WHAT’S IMPORTANT!

I for one firmly believe everyone has a right to their personal opinions on racing however a personal opinion on racing seldom has any bearing on the level of love, care and pride that an adopter gives their greyhound. Today's keyboard warriors often present themselves as never having had a misstep with any greyhound they have ever adopted nor are they able offer their brand of guidance without vilification to anyone who is of a different mindset.

I for one will not let a list dictate my goal of finding greyhounds loving homes, and in reality, the worst thing that happened to greyhound adoption was the creation of all these "approved" lists. When racing makes adoption lists and adoption makes racing stance their criteria for a good home while knowing some in racing have and will continue to send dogs to those that the keyboard warriors condemn, it is the ex-racing greyhound who will get lost in the equation.

That’s my opinion and that’s what is important to me…..the greyhounds.

Time to Retire?

When an active racing greyhound no longer has the speed or their skills have diminished, the greyhound is retired and placed in adoption.

From the beginning I’ve been very concerned that SWA (as well as its previous incarnation) would fail simply due to the skill set of the main players. When attempting to mount a successful politically oriented mission, the leadership team must be prepared to ask and answer the hard questions, ready to make the hard decisions and willing to be honest and fully transparent with contributors and supporters. Many ridiculed myself and others (and I know still do) for being blunt about SWA. Diehard supporters’ usual response was "well at least they are trying/doing something" and "f*** you".

Every year at the beginning of the sports season, regardless if it is NBA, MLB, NFL or NHL, we know that certain teams just won’t make it to the playoffs for the simple reason that they just don’t have the leadership and players with the proper skill set to win. Sorry to those who have been continually offended by the honesty over the last few months, but isn't it time to stop buying into the SWA impossible dream and allow them to retire because it is my honest opinion that as long as their leadership remains the same, they are doomed to fail.

I would also like to address a comment made on Facebook by a “humane advocate protector” - SWA was not operating as the greyhound racing industry. SWA was a very limited small group with a worthy but unrealistic goal. The attempt to overturn Florida Amendment 13 in Florida was not an expertly organized and well thought out plan by the greyhound industry working as a whole.

Is it time for SWA to retire? Is it time for all those supporting them to start not only asking questions about the continued failed attempts, but demand a shakeup of leadership and question exactly how much more will be asked for in donations to fulfill their dream? I have an idea...if SWA leadership is going for the goal, their leadership should wholly fund their next phase and allow donation dollars that are in short supply in the greyhound community to assist the greyhounds being retired in record numbers due to continuing track closures, to say nothing of those greyhounds still on the farms?

Foolish Behavior.....

On this April Fool’s Day, I wonder if 70% of the citizens of Florida got fooled...played...taken advantage of...snookered by some what could be described as shady individuals. By now many of you have heard the rumors about the individual who runs the Tampa-based Big Cat Rescue and the accusations about a previous husband.

Big Cat Rescue of Tampa

For those of us that have been in the real greyhound welfare movement for years, it doesn’t surprise us in the least to see that an individual who was swept up in some shady dealings in West Virginia a few years ago is linked up with Big Cat Rescue. We in the real welfare movement have come to know and realize that all these shady organizations calling themselves advocates or rescues, seem to have connections to each other.

Greyhound "humane advocate protector" enjoying company of fellow shady characters?

Dear 70% of Florida - you got fooled.

Florida Amendment 13 Disaster Relief Fund….

In a blog titled “Getting to know the humane advocate protector” posted Thursday, August 2, 2018 I wrote the following: 

“You see the legislative actions spearheaded by “” humane advocate protectors”” always lack provisions for the proper placement, funding and care of those greyhounds who will be needing homes when their racing careers are forcibly ended by “humane advocate protectors”.

It is now February 2020. Two months into the calendar year in which per Florida Amendment 13, the betting on live greyhound racing is to cease in the State of Florida by December 31, 2020.

What does this mean? 

It means that the remaining tracks currently open in Florida will start the process of ending live racing. 

What does this mean? 

It means that THOUSANDS of greyhounds will soon be in need of relocation and adoption in no small part due to the work of those who "claim" to love, care and always do what they do "for the greyhounds".

Sadly, the animal protection organizations who spent heavily to ensure passage of Amendment 13 in Florida have moved on to spending even more money in other states and other countries in hopes of ending live greyhound racing worldwide yet they have they have left those of us who truly care about the greyhounds high and dry. The charitable organizations who have for years made the adoption of retired racing greyhounds a labor of love, however the problematic situation we face now requires more than love. It requires funding.

Will PETA, HSUS, and Grey2K step up and pay for the damage they created? They spearheaded amendment 13 yet did not place any provisions into amendment 13 to ensure the safe transportation of every greyhound they fought to put out of a job. Will they donate to assist in the transport of the racing greyhounds that will be displaced by their actions?

Join me in insisting that these organizations that claim they did it "for the greyhounds" yet now that financial help is need, fail to actually help the dogs. They continue to bank millions of dollars of donations but offer zero funding to transport, care for and adopt out these wonderful greyhounds. 

PETA, HSUS, Grey2K, and all the Floridians who voted to pass Amendment 13 - Now is the time to step up and do as you claimed - care about the greyhounds. Put your money where you tell the world your heart is. Help the thousands of greyhound dogs that now need to get to adoption groups across the United States and Canada in order to be adopted into loving homes.

You can send your donations to:

Greyhound Pets of America – National

Attn: Amendment 13 Disaster Relief Fund

P.O. Box 40

Highlandville MO 65669

To those who supported Florida Amendment 13 and lobbied for its passage - are you aware that a transport haul of 40 greyhounds can cost $3000 to $5000. Do you care that the Daytona and Sanford Orlando tracks will be closing in the next few months? Do you even care that now others will have to somehow scrimp and beg for the funding to transport these greyhounds to adoption groups? Do you even care at just these 2 tracks it may require upwards of 30 hauls, costing the charitable greyhound adoption organizations $120,000.00?

You got what you wanted. You brought about the end of live racing in Florida. You claim you did it for the greyhounds. Time to pay for what you have done.

Again, I promise that all funds will be used for the transportation, housing and care of each greyhound that PETA, HSUS, and Grey2K lobbied to put into this predicament.

Do it now. Do it for the greyhounds.

Rory S. Goree’

President

Greyhound Pets of America-National

#RonDeSantis

#Floridasenate

#Floridahouseofrepresentatives

#Florida

#Greyhoundpetsofamerica

#Greyhoundnation

Damn Shame...

Many of us got into greyhound adoption not for the cause or personal gratification but merely for the fact that greyhounds brought joy into our hearts. We enjoy them as pets, we enjoy them as sprinters in our yards, we enjoy them at coursing meets and we enjoy them for a thousand more reasons.

But it is a sad day when those who claim to be supporting animals that work and claim to be all about the dogs are the ones who now are sucking the enjoyment out of anything greyhound.

Sad day that we now have groups forced to give greyhounds a cover name when they come into programs to avoid the harassment from those who claim to be supporting animals that work and claim to be about the dogs.

Sad day that we have same gang complaining about changing the name of any ex-racing greyhound.

Here are some of my personal facts: I’ve been around for years and visited farms and tracks in most states that have and had racing. To those that think the call name is an important issue of debate, my own personal experience would make me think that there are a few greyhounds who would respond to the call names of “F*****”, “A******”, and “B****".  Very often a greyhound in an adoption program does not know its name let alone it's call name. Very often a greyhound comes off a haul with the wrong name on its collar or no name on its muzzle. 

Damn shame the enjoyment of racing, adoption and the love of the breed is being sucked right out from under us by a few angry individuals lead by voices who haven’t a clue or have zero knowledge of the history and facts.

For years many accused the other side of harassment and rightly so, but now a few think it is right to act like children and harass not only the other side but those who have given their life and soul for the greyhounds and might actually be good resources for fact and guidance on helping and saving the greyhounds.

The leadership - term used very loosely due to lack of leadership - of those claiming to be supporting animals that work will bring about the complete end of greyhound racing in the United States in little less than two years.

Personally, I’m not sure the pendulum can be swung back, but each day the pendulum gets further and further to the left and at some point, any chance of swinging back is impossible.

Save greyhound racing by first saving us from those who claim to be supporting animals that work yet relish in turning us against each other, nitpicking at issues that only bring more discord and insinuating if you are not with them 100% you are against them,

Bring about real dialog. No more secret groups, no more spying, no more in-fighting. Our greyhound’s survival depends on it.

Swarm or Reason?

I’ve been stating for some time that the effort to restore pari-mutuel wagering in Florida needs leadership. Not only is the lack of leadership extremely evident, I now see the other glaring issue - lacking the ability to control the digital conversation. Instructing followers to swam the Facebook pages of those who oppose them without a short, clear, concise message points to a lack of leadership, direction and (just a guess) no guidance from a public relations firm which all amounts to political suicide.

The parties that seek to end greyhound racing has been extremely clear and precise in their digital message yet we continue to post rambling personal views, call names and present undocumented statements and wonder why the public perception of greyhound racing sinks even lower. 

Saving pari-mutuel wagering requires leadership that offers direction, guidance and the ability to formulate a team that can control the digital conversation so as to point out the qualities of greyhounds and their culture.

Can't Stop the Roo...........

Greyhounds Make Great Pets - Can't Stop the Roo.....