http://www.explorenorth.com/wordpress/?p=128

Mary Martin Says:
October 27th, 2007 at 4:34 am
I’m from very far away–South Florida. I’m attracted to this issue because South Florida is the home to more Greyhound racing tracks than any other state in the US. Supporters of dog racing down here like to say, as mushers do, that they dogs love it. They love to run. I have adopted two ex-racers and can attest to the fact that they do indeed love to run. However, that doesn’t mean we have a right to take over their lives and decide when they will run, for how long, and of course, what the consequences are if they don’t run as fast as we’d like.

Greyhound owners down here say, “So they live in a cage for 22 hours a day. At least they’re safe from the elements, they get some daily exercise, and they get two meals a day–that’s better than some dogs!” I hear the rationalizations echo in what mushers say. But the reality is that the desire to dominate and control the animals and the desire to profit from their lives and hard work is what underlies mushing and racing.

And as for any kind of population problem, it is usually people who are the cause: people who breed the dogs and people who don’t spay and neuter the dogs. If that part of the equation were resolved, soon there would not be a problem.

Finally, I take my dogs for chiropractic treatments as well as for acupuncture, as I don’t want them taking drugs for their arthritis from racing and I want them to live comfortable lives, NOT so they can continue to run as fast as they can, at my command.