i hate people "saving" dogs graphic warning

Pops2

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#1
so yesterday i ran into some people "promoting greyhound rescue." they were completely ignorant of what a coldblood was and their greyhounds were carrying at least 15 extra pounds. all of which was bad enough but i really wanted to slap the one witch when (after talking about my shag) she said in a snooty holier than thou way that they would never adopt to anyone who would allow the greyhound off leash or to hunt. not that i was planning on it.
i guess it's better to make the dogs morbidly obese and cause them emotional distress by prohibiting theim from engaging in their instinctive drive to run. sick ignorant f#@*$
 
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tessa_s212

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#2
Wow, as a fellow rescuer, thanks for your hatred. :) *goes off to help and save more lives*

:popcorn:
 
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#3
Sad title for one bad experience...Oh, and FYI, I would never adopt a grey out to anyone who intends to let them off leash or to hunt. I know of far too many who have bolted after a critter never to be seen alive again. These dogs track history certainly does make them EVEN MORE predisposed to problem recalls.

As far as them being overweight. While I would not be happy to see that either, and I do see overweight fostered dogs on occasion, your holier than thou attitude and lack of rescue history doesn't say much either.

You want to make a difference? Get involved and make a positive change instead of sitting back and judging others who do their best to SAVE LIVES.
 

MericoX

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#4
I think the OP was talking about how they were rescuing dogs.... but would one really consider it rescuing if they were obese couldnt do what they were bred for.
 

Dizzy

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#5
So you'd rather see them shot and tossed in a pit, or shipped to spain, or hung - ears sliced off so noone can track the tattoo?

Sorry, but I'd rather see a chubby happy greyhound living out it's days in a loving home than an abused one.

Your attitude is pretty crap.
 
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#6
This is a problem with a lot of rescues. I have not seen any greyhound rescues that will adopt to someone intending on coursing anything besides a plastic bag. Besides the obvious concern about getting lost (hmmm... a lot of coursers know how to avoid this, and I have seen some jackrabbit "fields" that you could not loose the dog in if you tried).

What I have learned to hate is the term "retired." I think its a mixing of the animal rights idea that no animal should work, and the human idea of hating the work. Most rescues retired from racing without injuries are 3-4 years old and still very capable of chasing things, if willing.
 

Fran101

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#7
after lives of being on strict diets and being nothing more than racers..
i would also probably give my adopted greyhound a few extra treats, honestly.. if these dogs are healthy and happy, then who cares about a few extra pounds?

some rescues can be a bit..holier than thou. but im not going to diss all rescues! I APPLAUD THOSE WHO SAVE DOGS and im so glad they do what they do!

and who sais a dog has to be off lead to run? lol my aunt rescued a greyhound, and believe me he wants nothing more than to lay on his bed with his feet up in the air lol and he is definitely not "emotionally distressed". she has found plenty of ways to let him run! he runs by her bicycle using a safe thingy, and goes on jogs and runs around in the dog park..
 

Dekka

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#8
I do get the OP's rant.. poor choice of title though. Over weight dogs are a pet peeve of mine.. lol unlike me they can't open the fridge on their own :) You want to give them some extra treats? Sure.. but then give them a little less dinner.

And yes there are people who are driven to byb and such by that attitude.. so they are really not saving lives... only saving individual dogs. If you want to lure course your dog you have to let it off leash. Many dogs LOVE lure coursing. I have seen many of the track greys as well as many many other breeds lure coursing.

The people 'rescuing' the greyhounds could at least have a dialogue with someone vs just saying NO. They might save more lives.
 
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#9
after lives of being on strict diets and being nothing more than racers..
i would also probably give my adopted greyhound a few extra treats, honestly.. if these dogs are healthy and happy, then who cares about a few extra pounds?
As a former Greyhound owner, and someone who worked in rescue, I can tell you that a few extra treats are the LAST thing a Grey needs. Because of their frame even a small amount of extra weight can cause far too much stress on their joints. I proudly kept my hound at racing weight to racing weight + 3 pounds his whole life.

I can understand where the OP is coming from. Many Greyhound rescues are very much like AR groups, and they don't believe in working a dog and believe that there is nothing more awful than racing. Though I can tell you that my hound LOVED his racing career and when given the chance to get back on the track 2 years after retirement he was psyched.

I think a working dog is a beautiful thing, and an overweight dog is sad. And people who don't understand the beauty of a working dog also make me sad/scare me when it comes to the future of these breeds.
 

Dizzy

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#10
The point isn't whether the dogs ENJOY racing or not.

It is about the INDUSTRY.

The amount of dogs bred, the many many THOUSANDS who never cut it.

Seriously, the UK and Ireland has a huge greyhound racing industry, and it is DISGUSTING to see the amount of dogs dumped and killed and shipped to Spain - where I can tell they don't get an easy ride.

What is wrong with them having a negative opinion of that INDUSTRY.

It's not the actual race itself, or whether the SUCCESSFUL dogs enjoy they career or are well treated (who would abuse a money making machine afterall).

So yes - the many many THOUSANDS of greyhounds who don't cut it DO need to be rescued and it is down to the individual rescue who they home to.

If they won't home to you because you want to course a "retired" racing dog - then look elsewhere.
 

DaVinci

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#11
The title is a bad choice of words and I have to agree that if yo are dealing with dogs that like to chase/hunt ie...coon hounds, beagles, greyhounds it is best to find owners that will take the precautions so the dog is not harmed say long lines or fenced in areas. I do think that the dogs should not be overweight as sismorphine stated it is hard on their joints. I hope that the op does not judge all rescuers into one lump.
 

Phoenixangelwyngs

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#12
Greyhound racing and the industry behind it just sorta make me sick. I wish I could handle a greyhound.... They are such beautiful dogs.... I just don't know if I could deal with the personality.

I too have a pet peeve about people with over-weight dogs. I have the opposite problem... keeping weight ON mine. I know this will change when they get older and MELLOW OUT.... but for now it's COME EAT MORE!

Dogs shouldn't be allowed offleash unless you know for certain that their recall is FLAWLESS or the area is fenced in and it's safe for the dog to be offleash, like a yard or fenced dog park. As for hunting.... the point of the activity is to keep the dog entertained and fit.... can't this be done without KILLING something else?
Greyhounds in rescues have probably had enough trials and hardships in their lives.... they just need homes to be happy and healthy in... forever. What's the harm in finding that for them? They can't do it themselves, after all.
 

Dizzy

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#13
It is estimated that 40,000 dogs are bred for racing in the UK and Ireland each year.

How many do you reckon make it to the track?

Add that to the 10,000 odd dogs which "retire" each year.

You think they all get nice cosy houses?

Once again, if people are rescuing these dogs, then good for them. They might be a little ignorant, but they are not damaging those dogs. At least those dogs were not sliced up and dumped in a ditch.
 

Dekka

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#15
Yes its horrible there are so many... but that really doesn't have much to do with the snarkiness of the people who the OP ran into.

You would think they would want MORE dogs adopted so they could save others. (yes I suppose a grey could run off while hunting or LC.. but that is a smaller chance than a for sure PTS)
 

ihartgonzo

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#16
I have met some condescending Grey rescuers, too. I think the OP said "saving", as in, the dogs are not treated as they should be in those particular rescuer's hands. I also find that some Grey rescuers act like they're easy, lazy, harmless little dogs. They are an ancient hunting breed, and extremely prey driven, but I mostly hear about them being big couch potatoes. I don't think it's right to encourage treating a super-athletic breed like it's a couch potato, either.

As far as hunting with a Grey, doesn't the OP hunt with a sighthound? A Borzoi, I think? I'm sure there would be precautions before letting the dog loose, and I'm sure it would be very happy to work.
 

Dizzy

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#17
Maybe they were having an off day?

Maybe they're just not blessed with good social or communication skills?

Does it make their job less worthwhile because she had a "holier than thou" attitude?

Wouldn't you want someone to want the best for those dogs? Rightly or wrongly so in YOUR eyes? In many peoples eyes she is doing a sterling job wanting the dogs to have a break and relaxing life....

I don't think they are emotionally distressed because they're not running.

In fact, most greyhounds I have come across are right lazy buggers... they're built for a short sharp sprint, not a life of galloping through fields all day.
 

Sweet72947

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#18
I'm confused about something. I didn't think you COULD put extra weight on a greyhound. I have seen the greyhound rescue's adoption events at various petsmarts and things many times, and I have NEVER seen a greyhound who I would classify as anything but lean and muscular. There's even an old Scottish saying "You can't fatten a greyhound."

I always thought they stayed lean because of their high metabolisms. So is this untrue. CAN you actually fatten a greyhound?
 
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#19
I'm confused about something. I didn't think you COULD put extra weight on a greyhound. I have seen the greyhound rescue's adoption events at various petsmarts and things many times, and I have NEVER seen a greyhound who I would classify as anything but lean and muscular. There's even an old Scottish saying "You can't fatten a greyhound."

I always thought they stayed lean because of their high metabolisms. So is this untrue. CAN you actually fatten a greyhound?
The longer they are off the track and on the couch, the easier it is to fatten them up.

When I worked at the rescue kennel I got there one night and found a yellow lab in the kennel. I was confused . . . until I realized that it was a fawn colored Greyhound who had been severely overfed by his old owner (and elderly man who had passed away). It was such a sad sight to see a Greyhound so morbidly obese that it literally looked like a Lab.

Yes, it is still difficult to make a Grey super chunky, especially since most aren't super food hogs, but it can happen. But I have definitely seen some who could lose a good 5+ pounds to be healthy again.
 
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#20
I can have some empathy with Pops, I'm afraid. I've run across some "rescue" groups who were so wound up in their own egos as to be insufferable. They had the mentality that only THEY knew what was best for ALL dogs and anyone who wasn't just like them was an abomination to all dog owners.

Too many of them are also borderline hoarders.
 

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