Florida Study: Racing Greyhounds are Underfed

Puppies at a Kansas breeding farm, circa 2013

Over the years, I have heard the claim that greyhounds are intentionally underfed while at commercial racetracks. I always assumed this was a misunderstanding based on the sleek greyhound physique. It turns out, however, that this claim may in fact be true.

According to a 2005 study, it is a "common practice" for greyhound trainers to "mildly restrict" the food intake of racing dogs "to reduce body weight." The study, titled "Effect of mild restriction of food intake on the speed of racing Greyhounds," was conducted by the University of Florida, University of Minnesota, University of Aberdeen, and the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition. It was also supported by the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Novartis.

The Florida study found that dogs were "significantly faster" when food intake was restricted. It also found that when dogs were restricted food, they had "slightly fewer neutrophils," white blood cells that form an essential part of the immune system.

Finally, the study also comments on the general body condition score of racing greyhounds:

"A body condition score of approximately 3.5 on a 9-point scale is normal for a trained Greyhound in racing condition."

According to the widely cited Nestle Purina Body Condition System, 3.5 is considered "too thin." It describes this designation as:

"Ribs easily palpated and may be visible with no palpable fat.  Tops of lumbar vertebrae visible. Pelvic bones becoming prominent. Obvious waist and abdominal tuck."

This is yet another standard practice that the dog racing industry uses to increase profits while at the same time reducing costs. The racing industry can't exist without cutting corners, and it's always greyhounds who pay the price.

Two-Faced Report Highlights Greyhound Suffering and Death in New Zealand

A greyhound at Manukau Stadium in Auckland, November 2012 

In February the Greyhound Protection League of New Zealand presented more than 1,500 signatures to the government, and called  for an independent review of greyhound racing. Although this call for transparency has not yet led to government action, it did result in a very unusual response from dog race promoters.

Last week, the New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association released a 56-page report in which they review themselves, while at the same time calling it an "independent" inquiry. Their findings are, to put it mildly, a bit bizarre.

The report begins by announcing on the very first page that the authors found no evidence of  humane problems:

"The review team investigations found little evidence of issues relating to the care of greyhounds during their racing careers."

It goes on to add:

"Interviews with participants in the Greyhound Racing industry highlighted that many owners and trainers are committed to the welfare and safety of their dogs and care passionately about them throughout their lives."

Of course, it is no surprise that the dog racing industry would approve of the way it does business. What is surprising, however, is the rest of the report. Once you get past this blanket dismissal, the remainder of the review represents the strongest case yet for why dog racing should end. In fact, documentation of a serious humane issue is cited in the very next paragraph:

"Our analyses suggest that approximately 35% of greyhounds whelped never make it to the track. Due to a lack of effective reporting the review team was unable to establish what happens to these greyhounds."

In the paragraph after that, the report indicates that roughly seven hundred greyhounds were killed between 2009 and 2012, and that the true number may be much higher:

"30% of the 2,305 greyhounds leaving racing between 2009 and 2012 are recorded as deceased by NZGRA with the potential for this number to be significantly higher due to the lack of effective tracking of retired greyhounds."

The next thirty pages are essentially a long laundry list of one humane problem after another:

"A further issue facing the greyhound racing industry is the incidence of injuries occurring during racing."

"Although there is veterinary attendance and at every race meeting, the practice of recording and monitoring injuries in NZ has been inadequate."

"In the process of the review a culture of non-enforcement and non-compliance of welfare rules was evident."

"There is a need for more responsibility to be taken by greyhound owners for their dogs. There are currently no NZGRA rules that specifically impart this responsibility."

"There are no controls or regulations in place over controlling the numbers or quality of greyhounds bred."

"During our review we asked owners and trainers if they have ever had a healthy greyhound euthanized. The response was that 77% have had a healthy greyhound euthanized."

This extensive recitation of animal welfare concerns is briefly interrupted on page 31, when the report strangely claims again that there are no problems:

"Whilst there will always be exceptions in any diverse community, it is our conclusion that, on the whole, racing greyhounds during their career are well looked after and cared for."

However, this denial is contradicted by the very next sentence, which indicates that "there are no formal minimum standards of welfare in place."
In its closing pages, the report continues to document a myriad of serious animal welfare concerns:

"It is noticeable that 40% of trainers interviewed did not know that NZGRA has an Animal Welfare Policy."

"There is currently no detailed analysis of injury reporting undertaken and there are no analyses in place to establish issues with particular tracks or parts of tracks, particular trainers or particular greyhounds."

"The NZGRA Board formed an Animal Welfare Committee in 2012 ... However, it is noted that there are no independent members on this committee with a detailed knowledge of animal welfare matters."

"The NZGRA Board has not been as pro-active as it should have been with regard to welfare issues."

"There is currently no designated Welfare Officer in place at NZGRA and it is noted that welfare activities undertaken by NZGRA are performed by several management and staff members on top of their standard workloads."

Finally, the review ends by stating that there is a "clear need" for "change in the greyhound racing industry in terms of rules and regulations, education and awareness, and in attitudes towards welfare."

I have to wonder whether such a two-faced report could only come from the greyhound racing industry. To summarize this bizarre review, there are no problems, except there are lots of problems, but there really are no problems, and finally there is a "clear need" to fix the problems that the industry does not have.

Lawmakers, journalists, and members of the public should read this report thoroughly and draw their own conclusions. Do they really want to support an industry that is responsible for so much greyhound suffering and death?

Study: Greyhound Training Causes Bone Density Changes and Microfractures

Researchers at Massey University in New Zealand just completed a five-year study of issues related to the greyhound racing industry. Not surprisingly, their conclusions provide even more evidence that dog racing is cruel and inhumane.

According to an abstract for the study, which was conducted between 2007 and 2011:

"We identified that hock injuries were the single most important cause of catastrophic failure and dog loss. The combination of training practices, questionable feeding practices, and the suspicion of stress-induced fractures was also a significant cause of dog loss."

In particular, the study found that training and racing on an oval track actually changes a greyhound's bone density, and results in microfractures:

"An initial subjective assessment has revealed asymmetry between the bone density of the left/right central tarsal bones, as the result of track running, and increases in bone volume and density following training. Also, microfractures appear to result during training."

Finally, and perhaps most notably, the study found that the bone density changes that take place during training may cause greyhounds to be predisposed to a later catastrophic injury:

"We are uncovering the early changes in bone that occur after the onset of training, and which may predispose it to catastrophic fracture later."

Greyhound breeders often claim that catastrophic injuries are mere accidents they are not responsible for. In their own words, a broken leg is "no big deal." This new study provides even more evidence that this is simply not the case. Catastrophic greyhound injuries are an entirely predictable result of this cruel industry. As long as dog racing continues, thousands of greyhounds will suffer broken legs and die on the track.