RGT Greyhound Gathering
posted by Troy at 14:14
Wotcha. Yesterday we was at the RGT Greyhound Gathering in Nottingham. There was 'undreds of 'ounds there - brill to see so many - and once the early mornin' mist cleared the current was out pretty much all day.
We 'ad a pop at a few classes but none of us won nuffink. Hey ho, that's the way it goes sometimes. Still, someone we know did; Skye won a cup in 'is class WTG Skye.
Skye the Champeen
We're often the biggest group of 'ounds at most dos (not next week though - we'll be out numbered two to one) and I reckon we were yesterday. And that gets loads of people to come up and say 'ello, which is triffic. But 'ere's a fing. If I 'ad a pigs ear for every time we was asked if we got on OK I'd be well 'appy. Just to clarify the point, yeah, we all get on OK. But then like, why wouldn't we?
Anyway, we was filmed (more on that in a bit) and photoed by loads of people.
We did 'ear one bit of bad news - from Hooch's mum's sister. She said that Hooch had had a minor stroke a couple of weeks back. 'Pparently 'ee's got to take it easy for a bit. Hmmm, summink tells me that ain't gonna be 'ard for Hooch. Anyway, all of us at The Beastly Beasts 'ope you're all right and back on form soon as mate.
Like I said, the current was out and come the afternoon we all 'ad a bit of a chill out. And while we did a few of our mates turned up.
Mack says 'Ello to Jess (but she's only got eyes for Tiny
Kai
Jack
Rosie
But they didn't get the spot - dad's lap; that went to me!!
Yours T on Dad's Lap
Buddy and Lola
Zak
Now, being 'ounds we might not understand everyfink what goes on, but we did 'ave to wonder about some of the stuff yesterday. See, loads of the classes at the show were sponsored by the greyhound racing industry - racetracks, NGRB and stuff - and it turned out the filming was for Sky Sports - who put racing on the telly - to show at a race meeting. Perhaps we're being a bit cynical 'ere, but after we've been frough what we 'ave (an' we're the lucky ones) it seems a bit off to have sponsorship from the very industry what causes all the problems in the first place. 'Course, it's so they can show their films and flash some photos and say they is doin' all they can to help 'ounds into 'omes, carefully avoiding the minor detail of thousands of 'ounds wot get killed each year. 'Course, they've got the RGT over a barrel ain't they: "Let us look good on your day or yer next pay cheque might be bit smaller than the last one".
So yes we enjoyed the day for a great day out and meetin' loads of people, but you knowin' the industry was usin' it to paint a rosey picture of life after the track kinda puts a bit of a taint n fings. OK, it is rosey for those of us that get a life after the track, but what about the ones what don't get to live, before or after the track? We fink they should be remembered too and more should be done to make sure there ain't any more of them in the future.
Will we go again next year? We ain't sure to tell the truth.
We 'ad a pop at a few classes but none of us won nuffink. Hey ho, that's the way it goes sometimes. Still, someone we know did; Skye won a cup in 'is class WTG Skye.
Skye the Champeen
We're often the biggest group of 'ounds at most dos (not next week though - we'll be out numbered two to one) and I reckon we were yesterday. And that gets loads of people to come up and say 'ello, which is triffic. But 'ere's a fing. If I 'ad a pigs ear for every time we was asked if we got on OK I'd be well 'appy. Just to clarify the point, yeah, we all get on OK. But then like, why wouldn't we?
Anyway, we was filmed (more on that in a bit) and photoed by loads of people.
We did 'ear one bit of bad news - from Hooch's mum's sister. She said that Hooch had had a minor stroke a couple of weeks back. 'Pparently 'ee's got to take it easy for a bit. Hmmm, summink tells me that ain't gonna be 'ard for Hooch. Anyway, all of us at The Beastly Beasts 'ope you're all right and back on form soon as mate.
Like I said, the current was out and come the afternoon we all 'ad a bit of a chill out. And while we did a few of our mates turned up.
Mack says 'Ello to Jess (but she's only got eyes for Tiny
Kai
Jack
Rosie
But they didn't get the spot - dad's lap; that went to me!!
Yours T on Dad's Lap
Buddy and Lola
Zak
Now, being 'ounds we might not understand everyfink what goes on, but we did 'ave to wonder about some of the stuff yesterday. See, loads of the classes at the show were sponsored by the greyhound racing industry - racetracks, NGRB and stuff - and it turned out the filming was for Sky Sports - who put racing on the telly - to show at a race meeting. Perhaps we're being a bit cynical 'ere, but after we've been frough what we 'ave (an' we're the lucky ones) it seems a bit off to have sponsorship from the very industry what causes all the problems in the first place. 'Course, it's so they can show their films and flash some photos and say they is doin' all they can to help 'ounds into 'omes, carefully avoiding the minor detail of thousands of 'ounds wot get killed each year. 'Course, they've got the RGT over a barrel ain't they: "Let us look good on your day or yer next pay cheque might be bit smaller than the last one".
So yes we enjoyed the day for a great day out and meetin' loads of people, but you knowin' the industry was usin' it to paint a rosey picture of life after the track kinda puts a bit of a taint n fings. OK, it is rosey for those of us that get a life after the track, but what about the ones what don't get to live, before or after the track? We fink they should be remembered too and more should be done to make sure there ain't any more of them in the future.
Will we go again next year? We ain't sure to tell the truth.
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3 Comments:
Every year between eight and nine thousand greyhounds, aged from 4 to 6, retire from racing and without the efforts of the RGT many of these dogs would meet an untimely end. Greyhounds make wonderful family pets. They are intelligent, lovable, fun-loving, gentle creatures and make loyal companions for people of all ages.
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kesha
Internet Marketing
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Hi Kesha,
What you say is true - especially that greyhounds and lurchers like me make great pets (actually humans make great slaves - but don't tell them, they think they are in charge).
Unfortunately the sad reality is that despite the great work that the RGT and other rehoming charities do, many of the greyhounds no longer needed by the industry do meet an untimely end - over 4,000 of them each year according to the APGAW report. And many many thousands more are bred but never seen on the tracks each year; one can only imagine what happens to them.
I hope you don't think any of our doubts about the RGT day were to do with RGT - far from it. No, our concerns were to do with the involvement of the racing industry on the day. Our feeling is that the R in RGT should be what the day is about, not a stage for the industry. It is the way that industry is run that causes the very problem the RGT and others attempt to solve.
One got the feeling that the racing industry was there and sponsoring classes in order to present a respectable face and gloss over the fact that many dogs die each year because of the way it is run.
Another example, a video was made to be shown at a race meeting (we chatted with the guy doing the videoing). I am sure it shows the many hounds there enjoying themselves and happy in their retirement. I am prepared to bet quite a few bones that:
a) it suggests that this is how most if not all greyhounds their retirement, and
b) it does not even mention that thousands of dogs die each year, let alone show any images of the suffering they go through
I would be very happy to loose the bet.
The RGT is of course in a difficult position - the industry is its pay-master, and therefore no doubt has to dance to the tune being played; it does not mean the tune is a good one.
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