Persuasive Essay On Greyhounds

Imagine if you were locked up in captivity every day and forced to race, with an increased risk of serious injury such as broken legs, head trauma, and even cardiac arrest. This is how hundreds of thousands of innocent greyhounds feel. The greyhound racing industry has been around in Australia for years and many are not happy about the fact that it is still legal. The sport is illegal in 38 American states, South Africa and Italy. So why is it still legal here, when 82% of Australians want the practice banned?
Every year in Australia, around 20,000 greyhounds are bred, however, the industry has admitted to killing up to 17,000 healthy dogs each year, 7000 puppies and young dogs won’t make it to the track, and thousands of dogs retired from racing will die, purely because they are too slow to win. Greyhounds who do make it to the track are at an alarmingly high rate of sustaining serious injuries. Up to 200 dogs are reported injured during official races each week. On many occasions the injuries are inefficient to treat and the owner will instead have the dog killed.
Often underfed, off the track they are kept in tiny kennels, only released to train or race. The use of drugs in greyhound is extremely common. With so much at stake, trainers will do almost anything to give their dog an advantage without considering the welfare of the …show more content…
This practice is illegal in all states and territories in Australia. 'Bait' animals are tied to a mechanical lure and flung at speed around the track while greyhounds are released to follow and catch them. Live baiting may also involve pulling animals on leads/ropes and inciting dogs to catch them. The animals involved suffer horrific pain, fear, injury and distress and will eventually die. The same animals may be used repeatedly, suffering a very long and painful death. Kittens, rabbits, piglets, and possums are all most commonly