| Because of high profile cases that have been brought | | | | Whilst not directly performing acts themselves that |
| to the attention of the public through media | | | | causes suffering, they nevertheless turn a blind eye |
| coverage, most people today are aware that there is | | | | to things that others are doing, preferring not to hear |
| something not right about the greyhound racing | | | | about it so that it doesn't lie heavy on their |
| industry. Those who have read of the mass slaughter | | | | conscience. These blinkered people are the most |
| perpetrated by David Smith from Seaham, Co. | | | | obstructive to anyone who is trying to bring about |
| Durham and exposed by the Times newspaper in | | | | change for the better. They are the ones who are |
| 2006 will know that it is happening on a massive | | | | keeping the greyhound racing industry afloat in spite |
| scale. Smith was convicted of killing 10,000 | | | | of more and more opposition from other, more |
| greyhounds over a period of years and burying them | | | | caring ones. These are the people I want to address |
| on his land. Another case that got media coverage | | | | in this article. |
| was that of Andrew Gough who left a greyhound | | | | If you ever go to a greyhound race, even if it's only |
| called Rusty to die on a welsh mountainside. Gough | | | | once a year for the firm's Christmas party, there is |
| had shot Rusty and cut off his ears to remove the | | | | no way that you can escape the fact that you are a |
| ear tattoos through which he could be identified. | | | | link in the chain of causation that ultimately leads to |
| Unfortunately Rusty didn't die right away and he was | | | | the early death of thousands of beautiful greyhound |
| still alive and whimpering for help when a man found | | | | every year in the UK alone. Saying that you are doing |
| him days later, he had to be euthanised at the scene | | | | no harm yourself doesn't cut it. Compare it to a man |
| by a vet. | | | | who wants to build a house in beautiful woodland. |
| These are just two cases that made media headlines. | | | | Unless he is multi-talented this man will employ various |
| There are many hundreds more that don't. On my | | | | tradesmen to undertake the building of his house, |
| web site and others like it you can find more | | | | and when it is finished he will just see the end result. |
| information. Most people, when they hear of cases | | | | A fine home for himself and his family. He doesn't |
| like these will be horrified. Before the media became | | | | need to know if the electrician has put in ring mains |
| involved the general feeling seemed to be that these | | | | or in-line sockets, or if the joiner has used beech |
| cases were rare, and the greyhound racing industry | | | | wood or ash. He has trusted these tradesmen to do |
| went to great lengths to maintain that view and | | | | their job correctly without his interference. He also |
| indeed, still does. Unfortunately the truth is that even | | | | doesn't need to know about the ten fine mature |
| the cases that have been exposed are a mere drop | | | | trees that were felled to make way for his house |
| in the ocean of the cruelty that is far more | | | | and garden, with the subsequent loss of their homes |
| widespread than anyone outside of the industry can | | | | to various wildlife. He doesn't need to know any of |
| know, because it is a closely kept secret. You can | | | | this but he cannot escape the fact that he is |
| understand why this is the case quite easily. If the | | | | involved in it. Indeed, he is the cause of it, because it |
| truth about the racing industry with it's death and | | | | was he who wanted his house to be built. He is a link |
| suffering were generally known it would cease to | | | | in the chain, and when you go to a greyhound race, |
| exist --- wouldn't it? That's a valid question actually. | | | | you are a link in the chain of causation that keeps |
| On the home page of my web site are four pictures | | | | alive one of the most exploitative and cruel activities |
| of a greyhound with a statement about the racing | | | | in the world today. |
| industry followed by the question, "is that OK with | | | | Please remember this and don't support greyhound |
| you"? Someone sent an e-mail to me a while ago | | | | racing by burying your head in the sand, and please |
| saying that it was OK with him and that it was fine | | | | tell everyone you know what is happening in this |
| for greyhounds to suffer and die to entertain him. | | | | terrible industry. There is lots of information on my |
| Fortunately most people are appalled by cruelty to | | | | web site and others. Please take the time to have a |
| animals and when they learn that someone is | | | | look and become more informed, it's then your |
| perpetrating cruelty they will try to stop them. There | | | | choice if you want to be a link in the chain of death |
| are others who seem to have a different view. | | | | any more. |