11-6-2011 at 10:05 AM

while i agree that Ala needs to implement some more dog related activities, dog racing shouldn't be one. people keep saying this site is supposed to be realistic. if that's so, read what Roo posted and tell me you'd want that on here.<br /> <br /> No support.<br /> <br /> edit: if you were contemplating a more lax racing, then i would suggest rewording your post, or perhaps adding something about it not being modeled after racetracks, because that's how it seems once read.

11-6-2011 at 10:03 AM

Atomic roo, my suggestion wasn't based on any specific real-life racing events, especially not greyhound racing, as alacrity doesn't even have greyhounds. ): I was thinking of racing in general, where the goal is to get from point A to point B.

11-6-2011 at 9:56 AM

No, no, no support. Never. The dog racing industry is almost never a humane one, and I <i>really</i> hope Ala never chooses to show support for the racing industry by incorporating racing in the site. If it's added, it'll spread the message that it's perfectly fine to exploit dogs for gambling purposes.<br /> <br /> Here's a bit about the racing industry, for those who don't know:<br /> -The laws concerning it vary from state to state and country to country. In some states, it's completely outlawed. In others, it (including the care of the racing hounds) is hardly regulated at all.<br /> -While each track has its own laws concerning Greyhound welfare, the adoption groups that receive the dogs after they're no longer useful to the racing industry often report that the dogs have severe tooth and gum disease as well as tick-borne illnesses and parasites due to lack of prevention. <br /> -The dogs are only useful as long as they consistently place within the top 4 during their races; once they stop placing, they are "retired"<br /> -Before adoption groups were created, over 20,000 retired Greys were killed. That's only the retired ones - they don't mention what happened to the ones that wouldn't race, couldn't race, or weren't good enough at racing.<br /> -Sometimes they're even considered as "livestock" and the breeding operations are referred to as "farms".<br /> -Injured dogs are often put down (and not always humanely) even if their injuries are treatable - the breeder/trainer doesn't want to lose money treating them when they can buy a younger, faster, better dog.<br /> -While Greyhounds truly love to run and chase things, and often get much enjoyment out of the race itself, the treatment and sale of these dogs is akin to dog fighting. Even though the dogs aren't trained to attack each other, thousands are bred each year. If they don't measure up to standards, if they don't "perform", they're killed or given away. The ones that make it are only useful as long as they're winning. After that, many trainers and owners don't really care what happens to them.<br /> <br /> Having owned retired racing greyhounds, I can tell you how sad it is. They make wonderful, loving, calm companions, but some of them are so mistreated on the track (despite the "regulations") that they are nervous and jumpy the rest of their lives. My first Greyhound, even though descended from champions, never wanted to race. He didn't want to chase and eat small fluffy things - he wanted to cuddle with them (he was best friends with the cat next door). My most recent girl, Dusty (rest in peace, sweetie), was on the track till she was over 5 years old. She was a winner, so they ran her and ran her. She had an extremely high prey drive and wanted to chase everything that moved (including horses). She loved to run, but all her years racing took a toll on her and she passed away at the age of 9 (only two weeks from her 10th birthday) from a neurological problem (we think maybe a stroke or a neurological disease, but we know it was related to her racing days somehow). She couldn't walk anymore, she couldn't hold down or digest her food, and she could hardly stand.<br /> <br /> Dog racing is bad. Very, very bad. And what you said isn't accurate, either - speed and drive play huge roles in it. If the dog has speed but not drive, it won't chase the lure. If the dog has drive but not speed, it'll chase the lure but end in the back of the pack (and won't be a good racer, and will therefore probably not survive track life). <br /> <br /> Now, if you mean you'd like for Ala to incorporate lure coursing, which is an extremely humane, fun, enjoyable sport for the dogs and their loving owners, then by all means - yes! But if you're trying to suggest adding dog racing that is modeled after Greyhound racing, then no, <b>no</b>, <b><i>no</i></b>.<br /> <br /> For information on Greyhound racing, I'd suggest the following sites:<br /> <a href="http://www.nightatthedogs.org/antiracing.htm">A Night at the Dogs</a><br /> <a href="http://nogreyhoundracing.com/whos/whos-monitoring.php">Citizens Against Greyhound Racing</a><br /> <a href="http://greyhound-data.com/index.htm">Greyhound Data</a> (a site containing almost all of the racing hounds, their stats, and various adoption agencies all around the world)

11-6-2011 at 8:31 AM

I like. c:

11-6-2011 at 8:16 AM

I think it would be SO cool. Then the weight of dogs could finally have some use.

11-6-2011 at 6:58 AM

i will support because this souds so much fun

11-6-2011 at 6:32 AM

I like the sound of that.

11-6-2011 at 6:30 AM

support :)