Greyhound Action

30,000 greyhounds are disposed of by the greyhound racing industry every year

Running for their Lives

Every year in Britain and Ireland 30,000 greyhounds enter racing and 30,000 others end their racing lives.

The thousands of greyhounds that are surplus to the racing industry are more likely to end their days, not in front of a warm fire, but drowned, poisoned, beaten to death, starved, dumped on the streets or impounded and destroyed.

Greyhound puppies are killed if they fail to reach racing standards. Around two thirds are deemed fit, whilst the others will be put to death before they reach a year old.

Substantial numbers of greyhounds are exported to Spain for racing, hunting and coursing. Conditions in some Spanish kennels are appalling and many greyhounds are locked up 23 hours a day. Hunters and coursers often dispose of unwanted dogs by hanging and other horrifically cruel methods.

The natural lifespan of a greyhound is about 14 years, but the lives of most of those in racing end at 2 years old. Most greyhound owners and trainers, who are in the business to make a profit, are not prepared to pay the costs of allowing greyhound to live out their natural lives. Many are not even willing to pay the price of having the dogs humanely put to sleep by a vet.

There is just no way that good homes could ever be found for so many thousands of greyhounds every year. Greyhound racing inevitably leads to massive killing and suffering. The only real solution is abolition.

What you can do to help

Don't attend greyhound racing and never bet on a greyhound race. Better still, boycott bookmakers altogether, as many greyhound tracks are owned by the betting industry.
Write to your MP and newspaper letters pages to express your disgust at this so-called 'sport'. Ask newspapers not to cover greyhound racing on their sports pages.
Tell your family and friends about the suffering involved in greyhound racing and ask they to boycott it.
Collect signatures for our petition to abolish greyhound racing. Write to us for a petition form and/or copies of a leaflet to distribute.
Send a donation to help our campaign to protect greyhounds from suffering.
A few lucky dogs are saved. Contact your local animal sanctuary or dogs home if you can offer an a loving home to an ex-racing greyhound.

Thanks for anything you can do!

Contact

Greyhound Action
PO Box 127
Kidderminster
DY10 3UZ
UK

Links to Other Organisations

Greyhounds In Need (UK)

Greyhound Protection League (US)

Greyhound Rescue Groups in the UK (UK)

What the Greyhound Racing Industry Doesn't Want You to Know (US)

Why ban Greyhound Racing? (US)

Discussion

Greyhound Gang: Bulletin Board

rec.pets.dogs.rescue (Newsgroup)

Last updated 30 June 1999