COMMENTARY: Greyhounds and Paychecks
By Ron HevenerSpecial to Huntington News Network
The biggest thing about Greyhound lovers is their passion. No matter what -- No matter if we agree or if we don't -- Greyhound lovers (just like the dogs we love) don't back down from a debate.
Nutritional discoveries, health breakthroughs, political topics -- everything is a lively topic, nothing is sacred and everybody is fair game. It's a lifestyle, having Greyhounds. But, how often do we hear the criticism that if we really love our dogs, we shouldn't "exploit" them for money? "Exploitation" is the operative word here. Pay close attention to it. It's used over and over again by critics of Greyhound racing and some people get pretty loud about it. But "loud" doesn't win debates. It just stops people from talking.
Let's take a closer look at critics who sincerely feel that Greyhounds shouldn't be "used" to earn money.
Most of us would grab picket signs and march outside the courthouse if we thought dogs were mistreated to gain money. But, what about when they're not being mistreated, and yet the public thinks they are? What about critics who think Greyhound lovers only care about money and we don't have any sensitivity for the lives or higher emotions of our dogs (or any animal for that matter)?
How did this happen to us? We're not bad people. How did the greatest sport ever created for dogs end up banished from the sports pages?
I don't have the answer. Oh, I have some pretty good ideas. But, some of them are pretty wild and you might find them hard to believe. So, let's just accept the idea that Greyhound racing is working to make itself the cleanest sport in America and all of us are doing something about it.
Love goes two ways and these are changing times. When critics say Greyhound racing "exploits" dogs for paychecks, think about this: If you work outside the home to pay the bills, how much time can you spend with the dogs you love? Not much.
But . . . if your dogs can earn a paycheck, it doesn't matter if the boss fires you. It doesn't matter if the company shuts down, sends your job overseas, and the best work you can find is at a burger joint. If life takes a turn for the worse, and you end up bringing home that dreaded pink slip, dogs with their own paycheck can help the family keep a roof over its head and food on the table.
If anybody thinks there's something wrong with that, I guess they're just not into standing on your own. Animals are part of the family and being part of a family means pitching in to make things better, not just going along for the ride.
Responsible Greyhound owners pay for housing, food, vitamin supplements, training, boarding, medications, surgeries, breeding reports, registration fees, hauling, licenses, advertising, collars, leashes, brushes and the list goes on. Exploitation? Now, I don't call that exploiting animals …. Do you?
Join GRA/America and make Greyhound racing the cleanest sport around.
On With The Show!
* * *
Ron Hevener is president and CEO of the Greyhound Racing Association of America Inc.
110 W. Ninth Street #813, Wilmington, DE 19801. He can be reached at: Voice: 800-372-3047
Fax: 443-946-0683. Web site:www.gra-america.org
"High Stakes" by Ron Hevener was reviewed by David M. Kinchen in December of 2005:
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/columns/051216-kinchen-review.html