My mother, Venice Witch lived a life of pain and suffering. She was bred to breed. She was forced to breed with a money-making male greyhound when she was young. She became pregant, expanded, and had her puppies in a cage big enough for her to lay down in. She could not completely stand up. She couldn't turn around. She sat in her cage all day-every day.
Then she had me, Phrantik. (aka Abby. Phrantik is my racing name) When I entered this world I was scared. I heard dogs screaming in big metal cages stacked on top of each other. I was scared! I looked to my mother for protection, but I saw pain in her eyes. Where was I? I was at a greyhound farm. This was where I would be trained to become a racing greyhound.
I woke in a cramed, hard metal cage every morning. I had no idea that somewhere out there, dogs where waking up in a warm bed next to loving humans.
Then, the trainers yanked at my collar and threw my in a pin where I was supossed to learn how to race. Why should I race, for them? They barely take care of me?! I'm just a puppy! I don't want to race! I want to live a life of comfort and love!
Then, the worst thing happened, I'll never forget it. I had apprently refused to run. They took a knife and cut the end of my tail off, to teach me a lesson.
3 months later I was shipped to actual racetrack. After one race, they decided I was too slow and was a waste of their money. I would be killed in a week. 2 days later, I met the best people I will ever meet for the rest of my life. They came to visit me, I stood right by their side, because I never wanted to leave! They looked into my eyes,t alked to my trainer for awhile and decided to visit again in a couple days. When they came back to visit, they decided they were going to adopt me!
The next week, they took my home and I would never have to go back to the racetrack! Because I had never lived in a house, I didn't know what it felt like to be pet, how to walk through the door, what windows are and that you can't walk through them, how to go up stairs, and how to play with toys. It took me awhile to adjust, but I'm glad I did!
I'm one of the lucky greyhounds.
Of the 838,426 greyhounds whelped from 1986 to 2006, 652,205 were individually registered, a difference of 186,221 young dogs eliminated from the system before reaching racing age.
28,000; alive on breed-ing and training farms: 28,000; and greyhounds that have been adopted: 179,000, indicates that more than 600,000 greyhounds have died in the 21-year period from 1986-2006.
Greyhounds are not always killed humanly:
– Euthansia
– Sale / donation to medical research
– Mass euthansia
– Abandonment (often muzzled)
– Gunshot
– Sale to racing interests in 3rd world countries
– Starvation
– Electrocution
– Bludgeoning
I have focused one breed. Think of all the other breeds that are suffereing and living in animal shelters.
Adoption is the BEST way to go! Don't consider anything else! Opt to Adopt!
Woof Woof! I have a new partner in crime! His name is Onyx and he's a black greyhound! Mommy is helping our greyhound adoption group by signing up for vacation fostering. There have been quite a few foster parents that are vacationing, but have no place for their foster dogs to go! So, they'll give us a vacationing greyhound. (We got Onyx) He is a special needs dog. He has diabetetes, allergies, and seperation anxiety. They sent us Onyx, because he's used to being around lots of dogs, which is the cause of his seperation anxiety. If he does fine with just one other dog, it could open up more adoption oppertunites. (most people don't have 3-10 dogs) I've been showing Onyx around Dogster and decided to let him talk for a little big: Heloo Dogster! My name is Onyx! I'm living with my new friend, Abby! My foster mommy is currently taking care of 10 doggies! (some are vacationing foster greys) Abby's mommy said she'd help out, and took me in for a few weeks! I'm a lot bigger than Abby. Sometimes, I don't relize how big I am and I plow right over her. I just want some petting! =D Last night, there was a big scare. I escaped from my harness, and got loose! The humans caught me very soon. Back to Abby! Thanks for listening! You can se pictures of Onyx right here.
Hello Everydog! I'm writting to wish you a very very safe and happy Independence Day! Tell Mommy and Daddy to stay safe while shooting off your fireworks and playing with sparklers. And for you, make sure to find a nice cozy spot to hide while the "the booms" are going off! Don't forget to have your parents see if fireworks are legal in your area, also!
So, any plans for the 4th? I am!! Mommy, Daddy, and Big Sis are having a picnic while watching fireworks! (aka "the booms") Big Sis says she'll put all my favorite blankets and toys in my room while the family is on their picnic. I go crazy during thunderstorms, how am I gonna survive with fireworks.......ALONE!?!?!?!?! You see, last year, Big Sis and Her Friend (and mommy and daddy) went to a 4th of July parade in the afternoon. So they didn't go to see fireworks that evening, they watched the fireworks in New York and Chicago on TV. And they were there to comfort me!
Please pray for the stray dogs, cats, birds, deer and other wildlife on July 4th! This is extrememly scary for them! I'm sure some small critters have heart-attacks! Big Sis feels so sorry for all the animals on the street this day! Please Please Pray Pray Pray!
Dogster Obsessions: The Starter Kit for Dogs by Wildebeest
10
