No matter how many times I read that greyhounds are treated well at the tracks, I still can't bring myself to believe it. In 2003, there were 17,414 greyhounds killed. I can't even imagine how many non-greys die in shelters and pounds every year.
I've been reading this thread on greytalk.com, and it's just heartbreaking. To sum it up: A bunch of greyhounds need foster homes or otherwise they're going to be killed to make room for new dogs coming in for the new season. I know this happens all the time, but to read this post and to have something like that right in my face...it's totally different than reading that "greyhounds still die every year." I'm so thankful that we were able to let Brooke into our family. I can't imagine the poor pup being killed after racing, every greyhound deserves a couch to retire on!
Someone on the thread posted that "there's no sense in making a crisis over it, when it happens the other eleven months, just in a smaller, steady stream," but I'm sorry - just because it happens all the time doesn't mean that it's not a big deal.
I really like one of the comments that Brooke's foster mom, Christine, made: "...crisis today or crisis non stop is still crisis to me. Just means that we all need to work harder. Mutts die everyday here in Ohio too...and I am trying to make a difference for them too. The whole country needs to make changes to make it all better. The more advertising we can all do for recycled pets the better. Showing off your pups at Petco, Petsmart or Pet Supplies helps too. Fostering, transporting, donating, organizing...it all makes a difference. We can all only do what we can but we all should try to do as much as we can."
If things work out, Kory and I will be fostering one of these greyhounds through Rose's Rescue. I only wish I could do more. And I wish everyone would stop breeding and buying pets and using animals for entertainment!
