Dog Racing in SA

Dog racing has been put back on the gambling agenda just three years after government decided to abandon the idea, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw) said on Monday.

In May, the trade and industry department tabled a new draft national gambling norms and standards bill in the Government Gazette, said Ifaw Southern Africa companion animal adviser, Cora Bailey.

The bill included dog racing as part of a proposed suite of gambling activities.

"What can have possibly changed since 2011 when the department... backed down from the idea of greyhound racing?" asked Bailey.

"Then, and despite a massive lobby by the pro-racing fraternity, they responded positively to overwhelming evidence of the cruelty and welfare concerns related to dog fighting.

"This was not to mention the financial implications for gamblers."

She said that since that time nothing had changed regarding the welfare of dogs in disadvantaged communities or for the people they lived with.

"It's not just the dogs that suffer, but the financial situation for people in these communities is dire and will only become worse if greyhound racing is approved."

This was because it would lead to illegal racing and illicit gambling.

The Ifaw believed legalising greyhound racing would only worsen an already out-of-control animal welfare crisis.

It had submitted its concerns to government.

Ifaw director Jason Bell said: "The fact is that South African authorities don't have the laws, or the manpower to manage illegal activities such as dog fighting and puppy mills."

Such tasks were left to animal welfare NGOs to sort out, who were already overwhelmed, and under these circumstances it was inexplicable how government would even consider legalising greyhound racing.

The re-introduction of greyhound racing under the poor socio-economic conditions that affected much of South Africa would lead the dogs to be seen as expendable commodities.

Sylvester I see all over Facebook SPCA advertising NOT to allow dogracing in SA..I thought it was strange all of a sudden again.

Dog racing still takes place in the Free State but with no spectators and no formal gambling. They race on a few oval and straight tracks but obviously no grand stand, catering, etc. However, some races are even sponsored by local businesses. The Freestate Provincial Ordinance defines a dog race in such a manner that it can only be considered an illegal dog race if there are spectators present.

It must never be allowed

A big difference between controlled dog racing and dog fighting.
A greyhound or whippet is bred to run much the same as a thoroughbred horse.
The stadium is the size of a soccer stadium, cheaper than a racetrack to upkeep.
The dogs run on time no jockeys holding them back and a well run dog racing industry properly controlled under a NGRA is the same as horse racing under the NHRA
It's a cheaper entry level for owners and is a great fun night out.

IMO

One of the difficulties is that dogs start breeding earlier, have about 4 pups per litter and litter twice a year. And there is no market for surplus dogs except as pets, unlike racehorses that (if sound) can have a second career as sporting horses or riding horses. And they can't eat grass.

So what to do with slow, injured or old dogs? It's the same question as we've often had re racehorses, in spades.

Not sure Mav maybe input from the UK guys?

scotia Wrote:

---

> A big difference between controlled dog racing and
> dog fighting.
> A greyhound or whippet is bred to run much the
> same as a thoroughbred horse.
> The stadium is the size of a soccer stadium,
> cheaper than a racetrack to upkeep.
> The dogs run on time no jockeys holding them back
> and a well run dog racing industry properly
> controlled under a NGRA is the same as horse
> racing under the NHRA
> It's a cheaper entry level for owners and is a
> great fun night out.
>
> IMO

Dave take a trip to your local SPCA or shelter and you'll see more than enough unwanted dogs - We don't need more animals that need homes to flood the market - I have friends that have a home rescue and they battle to find homes for dogs - Now you'll have an Industry producing dogs that need homes - I will never support it (racing already has the Horse Care Unit which should be enough to tell us that once off track there is little or no control of these animals - Why start a new problem when Racing is battling to get new punters involved?)

Scoyia you are correct, but if I ever happened to catch the people controlling dog fighting I think I would lose it and just start shooting, that to me is the worst thing I have ever heard about on planet earth.

Its not what happens when the dogs are racing and winning. Its what happens to many of them after their racing ends. That's the problem the world over.

Much easier to rehome a dog when they retire from racing than a horse

hibernia Wrote:

---

> Much easier to rehome a dog when they retire from
> racing than a horse


Bob you need to see how dogs are treated in SA - My own neighbours have a new puppy every year - It escapes(because they don't care to secure their home) and is either run over or is taken to the SPCA where many are PUT down and not re-homed - We live in a country rife with poverty where there is hardly enough cash to feed the children so really dogs are last on the list of priorities so there really is no need to add to an already saturated problem
from the SPCA site
Dog racing, including greyhound racing, involves many welfare problems which are inherent in other countries and are not limited to:

Lives of confinement, some being confined more than 20 hours per day
Lack of or inadequate medical/veterinary attention and treatment
Serious injuries which include broken legs, paralysis, head trauma and death from cardiac arrest
Continual breeding: - South Africa already having an overpopulation of dogs
Potential inhumane disposal of unsuitable, injured or "retired” dogs
Cruel and inhumane training methods, in some instances live animals are used
50% of greyhounds are "disposed of” before they even reach the tracks.
Drugging of the dogs to hide injuries or to enhance performance
Excess dogs will be contributing to illegal hunting and poaching of our wildlife

I own 4 dogs at present and have had to spend 30k + over the last 3 years on vet bills (my dogs are TBred which like Greyhounds are often more prone to injury and sickness than cross breeds ) How may people can spend that on dogs when there are hungry humans to feed. The animals will suffer and there is no good reason to start this as the gambling rand is already stretched.