I cannot envision someone abusing or maltreating a dog that might just turn out to be his meal ticket. Counterproductive as well as inhumane.

My only acquaintance with the world of greyhound racing is minimal, and through an old friend of my wife's who has owned three retired racing greyhounds.

My wife's friend, Sherry, occasionally has seizures, but for some reason she was unable to get a service dog. A friend recommended a retired racing greyhound, so she managed to acquire one. After a short period while Sherry and "Genji" (the name she gave the dog), got acquainted, Genji was almost as good as a trained service dog. On those (fortunately) rare occasions when Sherry did have a seizure, Genji stood over her protectively and whined for help, then stood by and watched carefully when someone came to assist. No, particular training, Genji just did it.

Genji eventually died of old age, and Sherry got a second greyhound. Unfortunately, she didn't have the second dog very long because one day when they were out walking, the dog slipped its leash and took out after a car (love to chase, apparently) and a second car hit it.

Sherry just got her third greyhound and how that one will work out remains to be seen.

I became acquainted with the first two dogs on visits to our apartment (she lives only two blocks away), and they were very nice dogs. Bright, alert, and friendly. Sherry's apartment is very small and I asked her how that was working out for the dogs. She said it didn't seem to be any problem as long as she took them out every day to a large nearby park and let them have a good run. They seem to love that, she said.

"And fast…!!"

Don Firth

P. S. I read on a couple of web sites about greyhound racing in the United States, Florida in particular, that after a dog's racing career is done (circa five years, apparently), that if a dog is not kept for breeding, or if they can't find a home for it, that thousands of healthy greyhounds are simply "put to sleep."

Appalling!!