Greyhounds - Running For Their Lives - Literally.

In the 10th century, King Howel of Wales declared that the penalty for killing a greyhound was the same as that of killing a person—death. In the days of the Egyptians, greyhounds were valued by the pharaohs for their grace, beauty and mild temperament. But in the 21st century greyhounds in the racing world are prized for only one thing—speed. In 2003 alone, an estimated 7,500 to 20,000 greyhounds were euthanized simply because they couldn't run fast enough.

Because greyhound racing has little to do with dogs and everything to do with money, scant regard is given to the humane treatment of the greyhounds. This is an industry that places profits above the health and welfare of greyhounds. How else would you explain the culling of unwanted dogs, a general disregard toward animal injury, and the inhumane living conditions that the dogs endure?

Greyhounds are at a disadvantage even before they are born. Tens of thousands of greyhounds are bred annually—many more than are needed to race—in an attempt to create the fastest dogs. The greyhounds are then "weeded out"—killed if they are at any time determined unable to become racetrack stars. Throughout their racing career, the dogs routinely endure inhumane conditions and have little human contact. Many greyhound farms are barely getting by financially, so the dogs are kept caged most of the time and fed low quality foods.

Each dog is a major expense, which is why so many are killed when they are deemed unfit to race. In addition, greyhounds are very vulnerable to injury. Thousands of racing dogs are injured each year nationwide. The most common miseries are bone fractures and soft tissue injuries. Less common afflictions include spinal injuries, seizures, and death from cardiac arrest.

Luckily for greyhounds and animal lovers, greyhound racing is on the way out. What's more, attendance at racetracks is dwindling, and revenue has decreased significantly. During the 1990s, the total amount wagered on greyhound racing fell a staggering 45 percent. A recent victory occurred on May 24, 2004, when Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell signed a law banning greyhound racing in the state. That law is still in effect to this day.

Greyhounds tend to be excellent companion animals, and their easygoing nature makes them ideal for families with children. "Greyhounds are truly wonderful dogs," says Bevan. "They are generally gentle, graceful, beautiful animals." But, remember, because of the way these dogs are raised, they have had very, very little socialization, so it might take some time for them to get used to being a companion animal. And, because they are taught to chase a "lure", you need to evaluate your home situation. Example, if you have a cat or a small animal that gets to run loose, your new Greyhound might attempt to "catch" it.

Historically speaking, greyhounds are the most revered species of dog. Eliminating greyhound racing and the cruel practices that surround the sport will ensure that these beautiful dogs live out their lives in dignity, just like the ancient Egyptians envisioned. Remember, you can do your part to stop Greyhound racing by not patronizing a dog track or bet on a race, educating your friends and family on the reality of the horrors of the track or volunteer at a Greyhound rescue organization, if you live in one of the 15 states that still operate race tracks or one of the 42 states that has not banned it, yet.