Jasper was beyond despair. Locked in a cramped cage for nearly 24 hours, the greyhound felt a desperate need to move around. But all he could do was continue to endure the interminable hours until his handler finally let him out. Jasper’s miserable existence is shared by the thousands of greyhounds still forced to race. But that grim reality will soon be history.
Greyhound racing is done. From dozens of tracks operating around the country just a few years ago, there will be only two left operating by the end of this year. The consensus is overwhelming: The public will no longer tolerate a cruel pastime that causes dogs to suffer terribly.
From the day they’re born, greyhounds destined for the track experience nothing but deprivation. Only “useful” when it’s time to race, greyhounds are warehoused like inventory, spending hours on end in stacked crates in which they can barely move. They are often muzzled. They’re only let out for brief sprints around the track or occasional turn-outs to relieve themselves.
