CANADIAN NEWS WEBSITE GETS THE FACTS FROM AGC

Your comments about greyhound racing ("Animal cruelty controversial subject") were so inaccurate that our first response was to laugh at them. We can’t imagine where you received such misinformation.

The use of mechanical lures at greyhound tracks is mandated both by state laws and by industry standards. There are no live animals used at tracks or during the training of racing greyhounds. Anyone who violates this rule is punishable under state statutes as well as industry disciplinary rules. The prohibition against using live lures is written into track contracts as well as the regulations applying to breeders and kennel operators.

Greyhounds are never housed with any other animals. Each greyhound has its own crate, which must be large enough for the dog to stand, sit, lie down and turn around comfortably. It should be obvious that these canine athletes must receive top-quality care in order to perform at their best. That includes nutritious and plentiful food and water, regular exercise, lots of rest, careful oversight and prompt veterinary care.

More than 90% of all racing greyhounds are either adopted or returned to the farm as pets or breeders when they retire. The animal rights groups that criticize greyhound racing contribute nothing to the adoption effort. Instead, they misrepresent the facts and mislead the public. Unfortunately, your website published their propaganda without checking the facts.