Greyhounds: Remembering Their History While Working to Change Their Future

by Stephanie Ernst

categories: Animals in Entertainment, Companion Animals

Published May 27, 2009 @ 01:57PM PT

I have a greyhound friend. Her name is Ella, and she is 9 years old. She was adopted at 2 years old, neurotic and in desperate need of love and one-on-one attention, after being rescued from the racing industry. A couple years ago, I used the numbers tattooed inside her ears in an attempt to track down her history and some of her littermates. In the little time I was able to spend searching, I ended up finding not much beyond a couple names and proof that some siblings had raced here and there; the name of one of her parents--I can't even remember which one now; and the name of one sibling's "owner"--about whom I could find nothing.

If I'd had the time and resources to do more digging, perhaps I would have found more; perhaps I would have found some surviving siblings even. But perhaps not. Perhaps the trail would have gone cold. Or perhaps I would have found that all were dead, given how very many greyhounds are killed every year for not being fast enough.

When I was still living with Ella and acting as her primary caregiver much of the time, she periodically drove me nuts, perhaps because she was just one of several animals in a madhouse, so I was more easily worn down than I otherwise would have been--and she can be whiny. But I loved her and still love her. And normally, when she's whiny, it's just because she wants affection and comfort--she just wants a soft bed or couch to lie down on and a person to cuddle up with. And she deserves that.

Greyhound issues started hitting me harder--and I started learning more about greyhounds and the racing industry--after I met Ella, just like pit bull issues started hitting me harder after Mabel came into my life. And I have to think that if everyone could meet and get to know (and love) their own Ella, their own Mabel, the world would be a much gentler, kinder place for these dogs. Greyhounds would not be so terribly exploited, discarded, and killed, and pit bulls would not be so feared and demonized (and fought). People would more inclined to stand up and defend them--loudly, consistently.

Today, Mary Martin, who also lives with and loves rescued greyhounds (and who contributed a guest post on greyhound racing in October), wrote about successes in helping these sweet dogs, in ending the racing industry. And she remarked on and linked to a feature article out of her state of Florida, where 13 greyhound tracks are in operation, that I hope all of you will take the time to read: "Heartbreak at 45 mph." When you get to the part where dogs in one location seem happy and well cared for, remember what horrible things you've read elsewhere in the article about what others' lives and deaths are like--and consider that the less happy existence is the more common.

Fight to end greyhound racing. Visit Grey2K USA for more.