The Abuse of Perception Part 1
By Dick Ciampa

I love greyhounds and support adoption of retired racers. I donate to adoption groups and toward hauls to move adoption-bound greyhounds where ever they need to go. I am a racing greyhound owner, and there are many, in fact most, who are just like me. We make sure our hounds are well cared for from birth to adoption.

Not long ago it looked like a failed adoption might go bad. When the racing kennel owner heard about the problem they moved heaven and earth to arrange to get the dog safely back. Ultimately the situation was resolved by the adoption group, but that owner knew, remembered, and cared deeply about the welfare of that hound. This kind of caring isnt very newsworthy because it reflects the norm. Good news doesnt sell.

Does any of this surprise you? Then you may know less about racing greyhound owners and caregivers than you think. What we think we know depends on the sources we depend on for information.

Who do you depend on? If you are skeptical regarding what Ive just said, your source is probably an organization with a strong anti-racing stance, like Grey2K.

In spite of your skepticism, if you have an open mind, consider some of the following things.

Contrary to the perception carefully cultivated by self-interested fundraising campaigns, cases of wrongdoing are the exception. None are more outraged in such situations than those in the racing community itself. When a problem arises, those who discover it work with the proper authorities to ensure the situation is dealt with.

We do not simply lament the issue on the Internet, nor do we characterize an exception as the general rule. We take constructive action.

Since its inception 14 years ago, how many complaints has Grey2K, who constantly alleges abuse in their fundraising materials, filed with an animal control agency or with the National Greyhound Association? Ask them for a specific number.

If Grey2K is outraged by alleged mistreatment they claim to have observed, why havent they vigorously pursued it? After all, their organizations president is a lawyer whose salary, along with her executive director husbands is paid by donations from people who want to help greyhounds.

Have you ever considered why greyhounds in photos that appear in Grey2K material show little expression? Perhaps it is because they take advantage of how doe-eyed relaxed hounds look, or the sleepiness of a new greyhound mom.

Why are there no photos, among the many available, of pups being hugged and kissed by their owners, and held close by their children and grandchildren? Of pups growing strong, running and playing with their littermates, sharing common food bowls, jumping for joy when someone passes by?

Where are the photos of racers being massaged by their caregivers, being fed treats, and cuddled in their crates; photos of caregivers in tears when their hounds leave the kennel for another track or for a new life in adoption?

Those photos do not appear because they dont work well with the endlessly repeated messages of greed and mistreatment that work so well in raising funds.

As a community we care about the welfare of animals, especially those we readily identify with, like the magnificent greyhounds so many of us have in our homes. The emotional bond that makes us to want to help a creature in distress leaves us vulnerable to impulse and manipulation by fundraising organizations. With emotions at the forefront, it is easy to discard the idea that we should do a little fact checking.

Most people do research before making a purchase or investment. Have you done any independent research about the lives of racing greyhounds, beyond what you are told by self-interested organizations with a Donate button on almost every website page?

Is the anti-racing organization you support confident enough to suggest you do some research of your own before sending them money?

It isnt hard to do. Visit a farm or racing kennel. If you dont want to go on your own, contact an adoption group that organizes visits, or can refer you to fact-based resources. Contrary to what you may believe, there are many adoption groups who work collaboratively with farms and kennels, and know first-hand how their hounds are treated.

If you can, visit a track, watch the post parade and see for yourself the magnificent condition of the greyhounds, then feel the exhilaration of watching them race for the lure. See the wagging tails at the end of the race, as the lead-outs come to collect them.

Eric Jackson, who is on the Grey2K Board of Directors, and indicated he had never been on a farm, was invited to visit one. The closest farm to him was a couple hundred miles away. He said it was too far to travel; however, he travelled from New Mexico to Florida for a Grey2K meeting.

I dont know about you, but that leaves me shaking my head.

What those who take the trouble to learn will discover, is that people involved in racing are passionate, and driven by respect, admiration and love for their dogs. Contrary to the greed-motivated portrayal of organizations like Grey2K, racing greyhounds are not a primary source of income for most owners, and in fact for many it is a money losing hobby. Greyhound owners are as diverse as the folks reading this article. They are parents and grandparents, many are veterans, and they have jobs in all walks of life.

Many adopters discover their hounds racing owner is thrilled to receive news of their retirees and happy to share information about their earlier lives. Friendships have formed starting with a simple enquiry, or a shared photo.

Before you condemn a group of people you dont really know, please do a little research of your own. As a greyhound owner, I urge you to, I want you to. Does the organization you are relying on for information ask you to do the same? If not, doesnt it beg the question, why not?

Whatever you decide to do, if you really want to help greyhounds, support your local, hands-on adoption group. This website will help you find one in your area: EXTERNAL LINK
Copyright, 2014

Is part 2 available yet ?

Great stuff, Dick, thankyou. It has much commonality with the Paint the Trail story going around.

Still, it is not hard to identify that the global greyhound circuit has a major challenge. Nowhere has it succeeded in convincing the majority of the population that greyhounds and greyhound racing is a good and wonderful thing. I speak mainly of Australia.

The main reason for that shortcoming is that it has barely been tried. Despite often excellent adoption programs the starting point is that most folk put the greyhound very low on the totem pole. Greyhound publicity is almost invariably limited to abuses by a minority of participants. The industry is like a coconut shy at the fairground, waiting to be knocked off its perch.

Even those adoption programs have been expanded and pushed, not from internal initiatives, but as a reaction to alleged overbreeding and euthanasia and resultant government pressure.

To quote George Costanza, the industry has no hand. Thats what it needs.

To achieve that it has to address the public in two ways. First, the trainer group has to change its tack and start addressing the public in everyday life all the public, not just a few owners. Look outward, not inward. Second, controlling authorities must ditch their bureaucratic bent and start exposing that public to the amazing history and capability of the animal.

We need serious marketing and PR programs to tell the story and to better inform everyone from media types to naysayers about the real facts of greyhound life, much as Dick and a few others have done.

What is being done for adoption has to be multiplied ten times in broader messages across broader media. It will cost money but by creating more fertile ground any subsequent advertising dollars will generate much greater returns. Basically, it means bringing the public to the greyhound rather than just hoping their paths will cross.

Well I hope you get chance to write Part 2 Part 1 looks to have gone Global over night on Facebook etc.

In my opinion you are correct about PR and getting our side out to the public. What hate groups like the HSUS, PETA and Grey2K do is they control what their followers see. They are true dictators, but instead of trying to rule a country or the world they are trying to rule the animal world.

They control their propaganda and delete anyone that posts on their FB page a differing opinion.

These organizations prey on the weak of mind and in doing so the minions donate hundreds of millions of dollars to these groups.

The truth is the enemy of these groups and as long as they control the media they control the truth because in the absence of truth people believe lies, they have no other choice.

I almost never get mad at a person on the street that sees me with a greyhound t-shirt on and makes an AR type comment. I see that as a chance to turn this person around and unless they already drank the Kool-Aid I can usually at least get them to think about our side.

Getting mad right off the bat only alienates another person, but if I can get them to listen to reason that person will probably tell a friend what I said.

It's a process, but a process that we can do.