Racing is no way to treat a dog (From Oxford Mail)

Racing is no way to treat a dog

5:27pm Tuesday 31st May 2011 in Letters

I am writing about your article, “Oxford’s greyhound stadium named in race to find housing sites”.

We hope that Oxford Stadium will be transformed into a property which would be a 180-degree shift from its current use.

This would create a step toward freedom for the greyhounds.

No longer a secret, cruelty is inherent in greyhound racing.

Public awareness of that cruelty continues to contribute to dog racing’s decline.

As a national non-profit greyhound protection organisation, Grey2K USA believes that dog racing is cruel and inhumane.

The greyhounds are investments whose purpose is to generate a profit for their owners.

While racing, they risk suffering serious injuries, such as broken limbs, broken necks, paralysis and death by cardiac arrest.

When no longer fast enough to win, the greyhounds’ welfare falls to volunteer adoption groups.

Despite the devoted work of those groups, many greyhounds are euthanised, as the number retired from racing exceeds the number of adoptive homes.

This is no way to treat a dog. Dogs play an important role in our lives and deserve to be protected from industries that cause them harm.

I have personally adopted beloved ex-racing greyhounds since 1997.

Caryn Wood Member, board of directors Grey2K USA, Somerville, Massachusetts