Seeking a greyhound, and remembering Eight Belles

Los Angeles Times Entertainment Editor Betsy Sharkey is going to adopt a racing greyhound from the Caliente Racing Track in Tijuana. She will periodically post updates on his assimilation into her family at L.A. Unleashed. This is her first report:

Meet Riley. He's a 4-year-old racing greyhound just days off the track -- 17, to be exact. I'm in the process of adopting him from a local rescue operation, Greyhound Pets of America, and maybe that's why the death of filly Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby over the weekend hit me especially hard.

Riley, like all racers whether horse or canine, was at constant risk not only of career-ending injuries, but also of life-ending ones. And so it was for Eight Belles -- fractured ankles at the end of a race that she literally gave everything for. No happy ending.

Racing greyhounds, even injured ones, stand a much better chance of survival; a broken leg can be set, and most greys manage to hobble around in a cast during recovery. And because of the aggressive efforts of various greyhound rescue groups, who pick up the medical costs for many injured greys, the tracks don't automatically euthanize them anymore.

I'm still waiting for Riley's racing stats, which will come when I pick him up Friday, after shots, neutering, teeth cleaning and my foster care training. The rescue group thinks he must have been a pretty consistent winner for the track to have kept him racing that long. But success, as we saw this weekend, can exact a high price. I'm just glad the race is over for Riley and that in just a few days he'll be coming home forever.

Next: How I found Riley

-- Betsy Sharkey

Comments

[detroit dog]

Ms. Sharkey - Good for you and for Riley for adopting a retired grey; they make the most wonderful pets.

Having said that, you have a lot to learn about greyhounds, racing, and coming off the track. Thousands of greys are put down every year, because they cannot be adopted, the owner doesn't want them adopted, and because of injuries on the track, and because rescue groups only have foster homes for a limited number of greys. Many are sold to research. Why does the track support adoption? Because paying a group $25 per dog or giving it for free, it is still cheaper than paying to euthanize a dog. What kinds of racing injuries happen? Dogs accidentally hitting each other at 40+ mph, running into rails, broken bones, or getting tangled in equipment - it's not a pretty sight. When my girl came off the track at age 4, it took another 5 years for her hair to grow in on most of her body; she went blind early thanks to being hit in the head numerous times as a disciplinary measure. Rescue groups pick up the cost because the dogs' owners, kennels and track will not - they'd just as soon euthanize the dog. Not all greys go to adoption groups. Have you seen the photos of mass graves where dogs are dumped and their ears lopped off so their tattoos can't be traced to owner and track? Remember that incident in Alabama about 2 years ago where several thousand dog carcasses were found on the property of someone that was paid to find them new homes? He used them for target practice. Greys go through equal if not worse on track conditions and look forward to ugliness. Riley was lucky. In celebration of Riley and your new found love of greys, please let the public know about the conditions of other not-so-lucky greys.

Best wishes.

[susan peckham]

I always regret if I miss one of the Derby Crown races, as horses are part of my inner soul. When I heard the Kentucky Derby had been run, and I'd missed it. I chastised myself for not paying more attention to the date of it's running. The news reported the winner,...and later the tragic lose of the only filly in the race. She had run her heart out to win, and for a filly to come in second to a field of colts shows how great she was! I saw Ruffian break a front leg. I saw Barbaro break a back leg, all on live TV. I saw the pain and yet the determination these horses had, to go on and try to win the race. I'm not sure they understood, that they were at a tragic handicap, and that this time they would lose the race. I feel so fortunate that I missed this horrific scene; of the screens around a struggling horse, as she was relieved of the pain and confusion at the end of her race. Put down safer turf, and take away the whips. Let the strongest horse whose spirit and body can win. Horses will kill themselves trying to please.............Susan

[Jennifer Weekley]

What a wonderful thing you are doing by adopting that gorgeous greyhound. Thank you for also speaking about the horrors of the animal racing industry. They are brutal and cruel sports and I only wish for more happy endings like the one you and Riley are about to experience. Best of everything to you both!!!

Jennifer - jenzmonte

[Marla Hart]

My husband, Hugh Hart,who freelances for the Times, and I have a rescued afghan hound named Huck. He was 4 or 5 when we got him. He's my fourth beloved hound. He has his own blog huckisland.blogspot.com. When we lived in the Old Country--aka Chicago--we fostered a magnificent beast Arrow, a greyhound rescued from Wisconsin racetracks by Greyhounds Only, a Midwest group stuck between a rock
(greyhound racetracks) and a hard place (rescuing the dogs from those very tracks before they got piled alive on top of one another into dumpsters or sold to Midwest research labs).
As a TV writer for the Chicago Tribune, I could sometimes stray to other topics and was able to write two stories about greyhound adoption after the horrors of the track ended. These elegant dogs have docile natures (which is why researchers want them). As far as I'm concerned yesterday is too late to end greyhound and horse racing.
You will love your dog Riley. He will lean into you with all his weight against your legs and inspire you with his resilience.
For all the dogs, thanks!
Marla Hart

[Christopher G. Grieb]

Congratulations on your impending adoption! You'll soon find that you've adopted a friend for life... and he'll quite possibly lead you into adopting another one!

Don't mind the negative posts that have nothing but bad things to say about racing... they're zealots w/ nothing to do with their time other than to badmouth people; most of whom they've never met, nor have these people actually been to a greyhound farm or track. I help breed, raise and train racing greyhoundsand letme tell you.. by and large these dogs are given better care than the majority of pets out there.

If you'd like to learn more, then please... by all means get in touch with me and I'd be happy to share pictures, stories and news of our racers and adopted retired racers all day long!

Good luck to you and your new best friend... the only regret you'll have is that you waited solong to adopt a retired racing greyhound!

By the by... if you can get in touch w/ me through the email address I provided to post here, I'll be happyto help you find out his racing history and pedigree.

[TJ]

Some tracks keep video tapes of the dogs' races. You may want to contact the track to see if you can get a tape of some of those races for Riley. We found out about it when we adopted our last dog, and it's a GREAT thing to have! (They don't keep them forever though, so act fast.)

[Jenn]

Congratulations on your new adoption!! I got my frist greyhound from the same group (and track) about 15 years ago and haven't been without one since. I hope to see many future articles about your experiences with Riley. You have no idea how helpful this can be in getting more greyhounds into homes.

My next comment goes out to all of the posters. Please think before you start using this as a sound board for endless debates on greyhound racing. The editor obviously has a head on her shoulders and can manage to form her opinion on the subject without the usual deluge of inflammatory remarks. If we want to see greyhounds get the positive press that we all know they deserve, then we should allow the writing of such to be a pleasant experience, or she may just decidie not to write about greyhounds at all.

Thanks!

Sue

[Charity]

I am a volunteer with a greyhound rescue group here in Southern California...and our goal and purpose in life is to find homes for these amazing dogs. We are in the business of rescue and NOT in the business of debating racing and bad talking the industry.

We work together with our track to insure the best possible future for the dogs, and they are very helpful and supportive of our cause. They call us when our pet kennel is full, they call us if there is a broken leg dog. They do all they can to insure the safe retirement for all of their dogs. They don't have to do that, but because of the relationships that have been formed over the years they do all they can to help. Without their cooperation and lasting support we would not be able to do what we do...find forever homes for these noble hounds. So let's focus on what is important here...the hounds.
I commend you for rescuing your first grey...and believe me, they are like potato chips...you can never stop with just one. =)
Congrats on your new love! You have started a journey that will change your life forever!

[houndrescue]

I agree that greyhounds deserve "positive press" as they are excellent companions, but to ignore the negatives surrounding the life of a racing greyhound only perpetuates the idea that racing is okay as long as some of the dogs find homes. Not all will be as lucky at Riley. I don't dispute that the editor has a "head on her shoulders", otherwise how would she have arrived at the conclusion that greyhonds are wonderful pets? Greyhounds are not suitable pets for every household and it's good that the editor is doing research, which is even more proof that she has a head on her shoulders.