What Goes 45 Miles per Hour, is 5,000 Years Old
and is in a Heap of Trouble?

April 6, 2001 Europe & North America

Well, besides my rusty old Toyota, that is.

The correct answer is: a greyhound.  A long-standing symbol of the aristocracy and even honored in Egyptian tombs from 3,000 B.C., this unique breed has certainly seen better days.

Brody the Greyhound
Want to give Brody a home? Click here.

With such an illustrious past, it comes as a shock to learn that this noble animal has become disposable in our century.  Their legendary speed and grace has put them in the spotlight at race tracks all over the world, but once greyhounds hit age 3, or even sooner if they don't win, it's time for retirement.

Unfortunately, "retirement" for a greyhound does not mean a trip to Disney World.  In the United States, "25,000 to 30,000 racing greyhounds are destroyed [annually] when they retire, often inhumanely," says Senator Debbie Wasserman-Schultz of Florida.

In Ireland, the greyhound breeding capital of the world, 14,000 Greys somehow meet their demise every year.

And you don't even want to know what happens to them in Spain.

But thanks to a heightened public awareness in recent months, the greyhound seems to have found a few dedicated friends.

All over the northern hemisphere, new legislation is being reviewed and submitted that could make a difference.  In Florida, Sen. Wasserman-Schultz (pictured above) has recently introduced SB 1692, which would require dog-tracks to operate an adoption service on the grounds.

In Europe, the American-European Greyhound Alliance, together with the Dublin-based Alliance for Animals' Rights have called for a full investigation into the full extent of the transport irregularities and inherent greyhound suffering.

If you live anywhere near Europe or North America, now's your chance to help out.  For detailed information, click on one of the following related articles:

The Irish Greyhound
from irishanimals.com

Slow, Old Greyhounds Find Some New Backers
from The Miami Herald

A Few Greyhound Rescue Organizations
from TheDogNet.net

Warning: Eat your lunch before visiting this one:
The Canine Situation in Spain
from animals.de.co

Thanks to Scoop reader Herma of Belgium for the suggestion, as well as the links & information!

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