Greyhounds suffer needlessly in New Hampshire:

By Scottie Devens
Guest Commentary

A RECENT article in the New Hampshire Union Leader persuasively challenged both the economic and cultural value of the Lakes Region Greyhound Park, whether live or simulcast racing (“Lakes Region Greyhound — Good Riddance,” May 11). Yet beneath the practical consideration of track closures and unsavory betting culture lies the more fundamental ethical issue facing the people of New Hampshire. Because of the industry's brutal treatment of the racing dogs, New Hampshire should follow the lead of its more enlightened neighboring states, Vermont and Maine (as well as six other states nationwide), which have banned greyhound racing, simulcasting and pari-mutuel betting.  

Even if greyhound racing became economically viable and attracted the upper classes, it is a vicious industry that overbreeds thousands of dogs each year, brutally separates puppies from their mothers, and exterminates those that show no racing potential — and they are the lucky ones.  

Those that go on to race are subjected to multiple abuses ranging from being fed diseased meat to being kept muzzled and crated when not racing. Human beings receive “pink slips” when they lose their jobs — but not the greyhounds. When their racing days are over — due to injury, decreasing speed, or a track closure — most are brutally killed. Some are abandoned and starve or freeze to death; others have had their tatooed ear mutilated to avoid owner identification or been buried alive in mass graves.  

Despite the recent effort of a large number of adoption organizations from across the nation working together to place nearly 1,500 dogs after the recent closure of the Plainfield Greyhound Track in Connecticut, many will die. Because they are bred by the thousands solely for the purposes of racing, there will simply never be enough reclocation resources or adoptive homes. As long as greyhound racing continues, so will such abuse and suffering.  

New Hampshire citizens need know the harsh facts of greyhound racing so they can no longer say they “just didn't know” about the cruelty to which these dogs are subjected. Should our state be complicit in this torture of defenseless animals? One one hand, we should act to end greyhound racing solely on behalf of the dogs — purportedly “man's best friend.” On the other hand, this issue is ultimately not just about the dogs but about the people of New Hampshire too. We are capable of a kinder and more enlightened society, and one measure of that is our treatment of other living beings.  

Beyond the valid economic and cultural arguments against greyhound racing, stands a moral premise: Such organized abuse and cruelty to animals is also demoralizing to man.

Scotti Devens is the founding director of Save The Greyhound Dogs!