What’s good for racing would also be good for the advocates!

"When there's accountability, there's more responsibility”

Wouldn’t it be great if the person leading a greyhound advocacy/lobbying organization that made this statement would open the organization up to accountability and transparency – as I’ve said all along, it is ok if you want to be anti-racing, but while demanding accountability and transparency in racing, do the same of the organizations claiming to be the advocates and voices!

Remember those who served

Memorial Day is a time for our country to remember our service men and women who stepped forward for our country.  During this weekend, please spend time with family members and friends who served. If you know someone who gave their life in service to our country, visit their gravesite or perhaps a war memorial and lay even just a single flower in their memory.

I extend my sincerest gratitude to all our service men and women.

Rory

Finding My Sleep Number...........

I recently attended a greyhound event and spent four nights in a hotel that used the sleep number bed system.  I stay in hotels quite a lot and the biggest thing I want out of a room is a good night’s sleep. I had no idea how difficult it was to get a good night sleep when I had no clue what my sleep number was!!

Each night I tried a new number but to no avail. 

An organization that claims to be “greyhound advocates” can be a lot like a sleep number bed. You see the surface presentation and think "This is exactly what I want.", Yet when you take the time to really investigate what they are offering and what you are supporting, you find out they are not the solution and what they offer does not directly assist greyhounds.

They work to pocket as much money as they can.

They spread unrest and discomfort.

They do not adopt/place/foster/transport ex-racing greyhounds. And in some cases they do not even share their life with a greyhound.

They are not comfy. 

They destroy.

Unfortunately the greyhound community has an organization that claims to be advocates for the dogs, but when one looks at all the numbers, does a bit of research, learns the history, reviews all the various state fillings (you have to dig deep because they creatively hide many things) you find out over 50% of all money goes directly to benefit (salaries, expenses, etc.) of two individuals. 

You will also discover EXACTLY how much is used to adopt/place/foster/transport etc. ex-racing greyhounds.

It’s OK if you want to be anti-racing. I just suggest you make sure the organization you support is truly what you thought them to be and your donations go directly to greyhound dogs and not to fluff up an organizations sleep number mattress.

April is Greyhound Adoption Month.............

We’ve all heard that the evil industry runs the dogs till they can’t make a dime, this of course is spread by people that I believe have anger management issues, they hate greyhound racing and will in my opinion say anything to garner support.

I’ve been paying attention to a particular greyhound, but I figured he would not be available for a long time, as this greyhound was running very well, he was still running in the money, grade A. Since I’ve been calling the trainer occasionally to see how he was doing, I was shocked when my latest call had this response “Rory, he is still running in the money but I want him to go home with you, you can get him anytime you want……………… Screeching breaks here – you mean the “evil” industry could still make some money but out of evilness has chosen to send this dog into adoption?

April is greyhound adoption month, do like me, adopt and get to know the industry people – I’ve made some very good friends and these friendships have brought me some tremendous new members into my family! 

Sinner’s Swing…………

This morning I received a response to my blog of April 5^th 2013

"Why were these dogs even alive in the first place? Because they were BRED for the race track. There are too many dogs in this world without homes. Breeding dogs for human entertainment which later have to find retirement homes is the problem here. Stop the racing, stop the breeding. It's not like dogs are about to become extinct as a species."

"Why were these dogs even alive in the first place?"

Does this person feel all racing and ex-racing greyhounds should not be alive? 

The topic of the blog entry was why is someone who is against racing is allowed to put a greyhound down when individuals & groups were willing to come forward and accept responsibility for the dogs? One could say that those against racing have a double standard.You should be equally outraged if any dog in any condition in any circumstance is put down! 

Let he who is without sin……………

Over the year’s individuals and organizations that have made a living and/or profit off the greyhounds by paying themselves salaries, granting benefits, using personal property as tax write-offs, etc. have been leading the crusade to end greyhound racing. They make claims of victories for the dogs in states they do not reside in, they demand data from anyone and everyone in any way associated with racing, yet keep their own books closed and smear anyone who asks for accountability regarding their empire.

They travel the world over preaching - do as I say...or else.

They claim to write and promote bills to “protect” greyhounds yet not a single bill they take credit for writing or promoting contains any accountability or protection clauses for the greyhounds once they no longer race.

  

It has come to the attention of the greyhound community that two greyhounds in Massachusetts have been put to death  by a group that is against greyhound racing.

If this had happened at a greyhound track, the public would be flooded with a “donation blitz" by the haters requesting funds to protest the needless loss of greyhound  life.

Two greyhound lives have been lost. Not while racing...but while these retired racing greyhounds waited and waited to find the right person to adopt them.

Yet the "protectors" and "the voices" remain silent. 

If this had happened at a track there would be demands for documents, accountability, for loss of jobs, for closing of businesses, for fines and jail time.

Yet the "protectors" and "the voices" remain silent.

"What is Question 3 -- The Greyhound Protection Act?
Question 3 phased out live dog racing in Massachusetts by 2010. Over 150,000 signatures were collected in an all volunteer effort in order to place the Greyhound Protection Act on the ballot.   

Why Is This Measure Important?
Dogs play an important role in our lives, and deserve to be protected from INDIVIDUALS and industries that would do them harm. Dog racing is cruel and inhumane. While at the racetrack, dogs are confined in small cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around for long hours each day."

Are the "protectors" and "the voices"  uninterested in protecting the greyhounds from Individuals who share their views on greyhound racing? Two deaths in their own back yard, yet they continue to travel out of state telling others to do as they demand.

Maybe it is time to stay home if this is how the greyhounds are "protected" in Massachusetts.

One hopes that those against greyhound racing will demand the same accountability from one of their supporters. Or will they pick and choose when a greyhound death is valid or invalid according to their needs.

It is time for them to take care of their own yard and when they are without sin, they may cast stones.

Those True Eyes - Part II

I had to see for myself, with my own eyes.

I had long heard how the greyhounds are "forced" to run. 

So in my quest for the truth I visited a track after first getting involved with greyhound adoption.

When I was younger I had a habit of getting up close and nose to nose with animals...even if they didn't want to know my nose. Once I wanted to get closer to a deer and the not too happy deer knocked little Rory on his butt. Another time I found myself scratched up quite badly after trying to say "hi" to a family of feral homeless cats living under an old church next door. In both cases I had to see and learn for myself. 

As I stood next to the fence at the track, I watched the handlers walk the greyhounds to the starting box, watched them load them in, and then watched the greyhound’s race.

Not once that night did I see any fear or distress or did they shy away at what they were doing.

What I saw was excitement and anticipation. The same look that I see when one of my adopted pet greyhounds run around the yard by themselves or with me (not that I can keep up with them!)

The attitude of a greyhound about to race has remained constant over the years at every track I’ve visited. It is the same eyes. The eyes don’t lie – but those who want your donations to pay their salaries, to travel around the world, to "educate" you sure seem to.

Go forth with a clear free mind and learn for yourself.

Reports, statistics and pictures can all be manipulated, especially if they are created with an agenda in mind and a donation button attached.

Always remember that you see with your own eyes is the only truth you can believe in.