Sharing Information about Greyhounds

We usually reserve our blog for sharing family adventures, pictures, or video. Recently, however, we received an interesting email from Mike and Kristin sharing their experience of adopting two greyhounds and describing how badly greyhounds are treated when they race. Because I'm a dog lover myself, I thought it would be nice to share the information they've provided with all of you! Below I've copied the email.

Hello Everyone,

Many of you have met our wonderful girl Ruby, and some of you have also met our new boy Homer. When we first got these beautiful dogs, we didn't know much about Greyhound racing. Since then we have learned quite a bit, and we've also come to know what gentle and loving creatures they are. Kristin and I want to share with you our desire to end Greyhound racing in Massachusetts, and perhaps ask you to join us in this effort. This year's Ballot Question #3 is a binding resolution that would prohibit dog racing in the state. A vote yes for question 3 would end the cruelty that many Greyhounds endure on these racetracks in Massachusetts.

A summary of the ballot question can be found at: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Massachusetts_Greyhound_Protection_Act_(2008)

We've had Ruby for a year and a half, and Homer for nearly a year now. During that time we've come to realize that their pasts must have been difficult. Homer especially shows signs of abuse. He has numerous scars on his body left from his racing days, and he was especially timid when we first got him. To this day, he will run and hide downstairs whenever we simply take out a broom to sweep.

Even with their difficult pasts, both of our dogs are sweethearts. Without an ounce of aggression or malice in them, they simply want to be loved, and to give love. We have met dozens of other Greyhounds since then, through numerous community supported events, and every greyhound we meet shares the loving personalities of our two dogs. Tragically most people view greyhounds as racing dogs that are unfit to be companions, though nothing could be further from the truth. It's unfortunate that so few people know their true personalities as wonderful loving companions, who are content to snuggle, be couch potatoes, and lick your face whenever they can. Greyhounds cannot be bred or acquired as puppies because so many of them are already bred (and then put to death) in the racing industry. It is a shame that such beautiful god given creatures are condemned to be tools for our vice.

More information about these dogs and why voting yes on 3 will protect these wonderful animals can be found at:
http://www.protectdogs.org/index.php

Thanks for taking the time to listen. We hope you'll pass this information along and join us this November 4th to vote yes on question 3. If anyone has any questions (or even if you'd simply like to say hello or meet Ruby and Homer), please feel free to contact us at any time.

Love,

Mike, Kristin, Ruby and Homer

Homer

Ruby