Remembering Laika

Work with animals is a source of suffering to all of us. We treat them like babies who cannot speak. The more time passes, the more I'm sorry about it. We shouldn't have done it... We did not learn enough from this mission to justify the death of the dog.

Those are the words of scientist Oleg Gazenko, who worked on the Sputtnik 2 mission which sent Laika into outerspace.

Laika was a small mixed breed found on the streets of Moscow. Chosen to go into space for her temperment, size, and heartiness, the mission never planned to bring her back to earth. On this day in 1957, Laika was launched into space as part of an experiment. Scientists wanted to determine if we could survive outside of the earth's atmosphere.

Conflicting reports exist about her death. Some say that she died several hours after takeoff due to heat exhaustion, other reports state cause of death as oxygen starvation, and yet another says cause of death was days later due to eating poisonous food.

Over fifty years later, we haven't learned much. Companies are still using animal testing. Most companies openly admit that the tests are not 100% accurate. No animal serves as a reasonable stand in for humans. Yet, inhumane testing continues. Hopefully, someday in the near future, we'll find a better way to do testing. Even better, maybe we won't have to do testing at all.

Too Close to Home

This week 32 dogs were seized from a farm northeast of Regina by the SPCA. Most of these dogs are Greyhounds and Greyhound-mix breeds. Many were chained to rusty appliances, and bails of hay around the property.

According to the Animal "Protection" Act, the person who "owns" the animals has three days to pay the seizure fees and can get the animals back. What? Yes, you read correctly. Isn't it obvious that someone doesn't want these animals and isn't taking care of them properly? I guess since "only" one of the dogs is in veterinarian care, they must consider them in bad enough shape to be seized, but not poor enough condition to be taken away permanently. Anyone who has adopted a greyhound can recite verbatim the speech given by adoption groups. "Greyhounds are not outdoor dogs. They should never be tied/chained. These are companion animals that love the company of humans."

I've been involved with Greyhound adoption since 2004. Since that time, I considered (naively) Canada as the "good" guys because we don't allow pari-mutual betting on dogs in our country. The dogs being brought here to find homes are from the U.S, with an exception. There is one track in Alberta (pool betting is legal at the track) and adoption groups in that area find homes for dogs at retirement.

In the past six years I've read numerous stories from other countries about the poor (understatement) condition that a group of greyhounds was found in. It shouldn't happen in any country to any animal. I'm disappointed that we are letting it happen here.

Pictures of some of the hounds can be found on-line.

Florida Enacts Bill which eliminates Minimum Number of Races Required by Tracks

From the Florida House of Representatives website: CS/CS/CS/HB 1145 - Greyhound Racing Greyhound Racing: Provides that greyhound permitholder shall not be required to conduct minimum number of live performances; revises provisions relating to applications, converted permits & tax credits, tax exemptions or license fee credits, greyhound racing purses, intertrack wagering, slot machine gaming licenses & gaming areas, & cardroom licenses.

Effective Date: July 1, 2011

Last Event: 04/29/11 S CS passed as amended; YEAS 25 NAYS 14 on Friday, April 29, 2011 3:46 PM Before everyone starts planning their celebrations, let's consider this: What does this mean for greyhounds? Is it good? Bad? Ugly? Will this create an extreme influx of hounds available for adoption? Can adoption groups find homes for the number of dogs that will need them? Are there dogs that will end up going to "lesser" tracks or in circumstances where animal welfare is even more of an issue that in the U.S.? Be careful what you wish for.

Phone Apps Cross the Line

Android smartphones have released a new free app. Dog Wars. I probably don't have to go into great detail in order for you to get the picture. The game allows players to "feed, water, train, and fight" virtual dogs.

A petition has been started to have the game blocked. Visit this link to add your name to the petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-android-to-block-dog-fighting-app

Dogster's blog, http://dogblog.dogster.com has a great article if you would like more information.

Obviously, the game's promotors are defending their creative genius. Comparing it to such favourites as Crazy Birds. I'm not sure, but where is the likeness between a game that glorifies a "sport" which in real life results in prison time and cartoon birds plummeting to their death?

Chance Encounter

Pictured above:  Louis, one of the greyhounds recovered in Guam.

More pictures can be found at:www.guamgreyhounds.org/Story.html 

A few weeks ago, I was perusing the Internet, looking for greyhound memorabilia.  Nothing out of the norm, I do this often.  I found a great site selling beautiful jewelry & other hound inspired items, NorthCoast Greyhounds, www.northcoastgreyhounds.net/store/.  What is especially interesting about this group is that they are not an adoption group.  Their focus is on raising money & awareness for groups that place retired greys.  And what really caught my attention, was the note on their homepage about a campaign for collars for greyhounds in Guam.

Guam?  There are greyhounds in Guam?  What are greyhounds doing in Guam?

Turns out that there is greyhound racing in Guam.  Or should I say, "there was" greyhound racing in Guam.  When the track closed suddenly in November of 2008, they started a public, "give away", of the dogs.  These dogs were free to anyone who wanted them, not spayed or neutered, no training was given, no transfer papers were signed.  There were absolutely no adoption policies in place until early December when an agreement was made with Guam Animals in Need (GAIN), the agency responsible for animal welfare on the island.  GAIN has found many of the hounds nearly starved, badly sunburned, dehydrated, injured, & dead.  Many people were not prepared/trained for the care that greys require & elected to turn the dogs lose. 

Once they are well enough, the dogs which are recovered will be placed in qualified homes in Guam, many others are headed to adoption groups on the U.S. West Coast.  The fate of those greyhounds at the track is still undetermined.  

NorthCoast Greyhounds started a collar & squeaky toy campaign in early February to entice anyone with a greyhound in Guam to contact GAIN.  (The collars/toys are shipped from California to Guam. When they reach Guam, the care packages will be given to new adopters.) The adoption group that I am involved with generously donated 20 collars & many more members donated money on-line to help with the rescue efforts.  

For more information & to donate, please visit:  www.guamgreyhounds.org/Story.html .  

 

      

For Stan the Man

Stan the Man

color Black
sex male
weight 37.5 kg ~ 83 lbs
date of birth MAY 2003
land of birth US USA
land of standing US USA
ear mark 53D-20115
owner ?
Euthanized for space 11/2006

I found Stan by accident one day while researching my own greyhounds' "family trees". This is the thing that all of us involved in greyhound adoption, wish would go away.

It's not the actual racing that I despise. The dogs love to race. You will never see a greyhound more happy than when they are running. And I'm sure that the majority of these dogs are treated well. In fact, racing greyhounds are probably treated better than the average pet. They are turned out often, played with, see a vet on a regular basis, & are fed high quality food.

Unfortunately, there is always a down side. Stan the Man was euthanized for space in November of 2006. He would only have been 3. Terminating a dog merely because real estate is at a premium, simply boggles my mind.

When I found the picture of Stan (over a year ago now), I saved the picture. It reminds me of the reason why I have greyhounds & prompts me to continue promoting responsible pet ownership & animal adoption.

Sad But True

Something to think about...

• Statistics from the US SPCA (2007) estimate that 8 - 12 million animals are in shelters each year.
• Of these, 5 - 9 million are euthanized.
• Approximately 50% of dogs & 70 % of cats.
• Some shelters have euthanasia rates as high as 80%.

Before you, or anyone that you know buys a pet, make sure that you are ready for the long term commitment. Consider this:

• Would I be able to take care of my pet financially if I lost my job?
• What would happen if I had to move?
• If my family structure changed, IE: decided to have children, divorced, sickness, death of a spouse, would my pet still be a priority?
• Does my significant other want a pet as much as I do?
• What pet suits my lifestyle?

Be honest with yourself. Many people fool themselves into thinking that their lifestyle will magically change if they get a pet. Or that the animal will adapt to the human's schedule. The statistics from the SPCA suggest otherwise.