Greyhound Racing: What You Can Do to Help

The ASPCA describes the grim reality behind greyhound racing. The dogs are bred by the thousand on breeding farms, where most pups are destroyed and only a select few make the cut to become racers. Those that survive are kept confined most of the time. While greyhounds naturally love to run, the tracks are a dangerous place for dogs. Many break limbs, necks, and spines, and are euthanized on site. After a short life of just 1-5 years, the dogs are "retired"-- and, usually, that means killed.

There are ways that you can stop the cruel industry of greyhound racing. Here are a few things that you as an individual can do to help.

Adopt a greyhound.

Get in touch with rescue groups to find out how you can adopt a retired racing greyhound. This prevents these poor, abused animals from being killed at a young age after a life of torture. You may be able to adopt directly through the race track, but many organizations all over the country will collect, transport, rehabilitate, and rehome retired greyhounds so you don't have to deal directly with the track.

Write your local legislators.

If there is a greyhound racing track in your area, contact your local and state government about the cruelty of greyhound racing. Push to have it banned in your by either state, county, or city legislators. Consider contacting shelters and animal-welfare groups in your area to start a petition to your state or local government.

Discourage friends and family members from attending greyhound races. 
If you have friends and relatives who attend greyhound races, don't assume that they have bad intentions. Most simply don't know how grisly the industry is under the surface. Refer them to information from the ASPCA, Humane Society of the United States, and other credible sources and explain how cruel the industry really is. Education is the best way to get people to stop going to greyhound races.

Organize a protest.

You have a right to protest greyhound races just outside the property where they take place. Pick the busiest time of year and organize a large protest. Spread the word through animal shelters, animal-welfare groups, social networking media, and flyers. Encourage people to bring signs, photos, and pamphlets about the nature of greyhound racing and get in touch with your local news media to have them cover the protest. Will your protest stop the races entirely? No. But they will call more attention to the plight of racing greyhounds, eventually leading to a domino-effect that could, at the very least, put a dent in the pockets of greyhound race tracks.

Donate or volunteer to help.

Get in touch with a greyhound rescue group in your area to see if you can become a foster-owner or rehabilitator for a retired racing greyhound. if this isn't possible, donate to shelters and rescue groups that are trying to find new homes for retired greyhounds. Also consider donating to the ASPCA and other organizations that are fighting against animal cruelty. Your help can go a lot further than you might think.

One individual can do a lot, especially when it comes to the rights of animals. You may not be able to single-handedly dismantle the greyhound racing industry, but even if you've only helped one dog to avoid a life of torture or to find a loving home, you'll mean the world to that animal. Get involved and do your best to end greyhound races, and we might one day see an end to this cruel and inexcusable "sport."