What Happens to Racing Dogs after they Retire?

Dog racing in the United States has a history that goes back to the early 20th century. Greyhounds quickly emerged as the dog of choice for the racing industry because of their combination of speed, grace in motion, and sweet disposition. However, these admirable qualities did not lead to feelings of respect for the animals involved in racing among industry professionals. In fact, just the opposite has been true. Greyhound breeders and racers have traditionally seen their dogs as a disposable resource, not as living, breathing, loving creatures deserving of affection and respect.

Greyhounds in the racing industry start out their lives on breeding farms, where the animals are over bred for the purposes of “natural selection”. What this means is that dogs considered unfit are killed, while those considered race-worthy are then put into training in preparation for their futures on the dog racing circuit.

And bleak futures they are. The dogs will spend their racing careers penned up in cages at dog tracks or in kennels, exposed to all kinds of weather conditions. The stresses associated with their oppressed lives combined with the intensity of greyhound racing leaves many dogs suffering from chronic injuries and illnesses, and many – maybe most – of the dogs end their racing careers as sick and broken creatures. But the end of their racing days does not bring relief in many cases. Frequently these dogs are killed, while the lucky ones may end up unwanted in an animal shelter. In some instances, these dogs have even been sold to laboratories for use in medical research. Racing dogs are commodities to their owners, and concern for their welfare basically ends after their relatively brief careers as racers are over (and they have made their owners lots of money). Mind you, the dog racing industry denies this reality, claiming that their dogs are well cared for and that most are adopted out to good homes after they are retired from competition. But this is an industry that is determined to do everything it can to keep its dirty little secrets hidden from public scrutiny.

Wait; Don’t Leave! It Gets Better!
Thankfully, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Adverse publicity has damaged the dog racing industry greatly, and there are now only ten states left that still have tracks in operation. Best of all, an enormous number of greyhound rescue and adoption organizations have now come into existence, as the plight of these fragile and gentle creatures has come into the public eye. Greyhounds are being rescued and placed in good homes by the thousands in every state. The organizers of these rescue groups are the ones responsible for the encouraging adoption rates trumpeted by the dog racing industry, which deserves little credit for any of the progress that has been made.

If you have been thinking about adopting a dog, then you should seriously consider a greyhound. These dogs are very sweet natured, and they are especially good with children because they will simply leave rather than attack if they feel threatened or stressed in any way. Greyhounds do indeed love to run, and if you have a yard or there is a park nearby, they will love to be there where they can be free to run around in circles for their own entertainment, not for someone else’s. Finding a greyhound rescue and adoption group in the US is not hard; simply look on the Internet and you are sure to find contact information for an organization operating in your state or area. Be prepared to answer some questions, however, as these organizations care a lot for their canine charges, and they will not adopt one out to just anyone. They want to make sure these kind and gentle creatures end up not just in any homes, but in great forever homes.

Ultimately, the end of the plight faced by racing greyhounds can only come about if the dog racing industry is rendered extinct once and for all. This is up to you – if there is a racing track in your state or city, use your power as a voter and a citizen to let your elected officials and the local media know that you do not approve of this operation, and let them know the sad truth about what goes on inside this industry. All dogs are wonderful, we know this, but Greyhounds are quite a unique breed. They are sweet and special creatures deserving of loving homes, but it would be so much better if they could find them before they have been subjected to exploitation and abuse.