Greyhounds in History

There is much speculation as to the origin of the name
“Greyhound” It may stem from the word “gazehound”, which is
another word for sighthound. Other possibilities include from the
word “Graius” or “Grecian” meaning Greek, the Latin word
“gracillius” meaning slender or slim, the old British word “grech” or
“greg”, meaning dog, or “hundr”, meaning hunter.

The first evidence of long, lean canines resembling the
Greyhound appeared in temple drawings in the city of CatalHuyuk in Turkey. The temple drawings dating back to 6000 BC
depict a Greyhound-like canine assisting a hunter.

Greyhounds were the most valuable possession of the Egyptian
Pharaohs, adored for their speed, grace, elegance, and loyalty.
Greyhounds in History

During the Middle Ages, Greyhounds nearly became extinct due to
famine and disease. Priests and clergymen took special care to protect
the Greyhounds, and later bred them for nobleman.

Around the year 900, the King of Wales ordered that the punishment for
the killing of a Greyhound was the same for the killing of a human ~
death.

In the year 1014, King Canute enacted the Forest Laws, stating only
persons of nobility were permitted to own a Greyhound.

Greyhounds eventually made their way to the United States in the late
1800’s to help control the jack rabbit population.

In 1912, marked the birth of the mechanical lure. It was not too long
after the first track opened in 1919 in Emeryville, California.
Greyhounds in Literature

There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in
going: A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not
away for any; A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against
whom there is no rising up. (Proverbs 29:31) King James Version

As they were thus talking, a dog that had been lying asleep raised
his head and pricked up his ears. This was Argos, whom Ulysses
had bred before setting out for Troy, (The Odyssey, Homer)

She mates with any beast and will mate with more before the
greyhound comes to hunt her down. (The Divine Comedy Canto I,
Dante)

I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
straining upon the start. The game's afoot: (Henry V,
Shakespeare)
Greyhounds in Art

In ancient Egypt, Greyhounds were kept as companions, hunting partners and
were practically worshipped. Anubis is the Egyptian god of the dead, represented
as a dog, or as a man with the head of a dog.
Greyhounds in Art

The King of England, Edward the Confessor, sends his son-in-law, Harold, to
Normandy to tell Duke William that he is to be his heir. The hounds lead the way.
Greyhounds in Art

Francois Desportes, Portrait of the Artist in Hunting Dress
Greyhounds in Art

Lisa Wolfe "Greyhounds" Diptypch, Pastel on Paper
Famous Greyhound Owners









Alexander The Great
Hannibal
Cleopatra
William The Conqueror
George Washington
Buffalo Bill
George Armstrong Custer
Rutherford B Hayes
Al Capone
Greyhounds as Commodities

Life at the kennel (an industry view)
Greyhounds as Commodities

Life in the kennel (an investigative
report)
Greyhounds on the Track

At Tri-State Racetrack in West Virginia, 3,208 greyhound injuries have
been reported since 2005.

At Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack in West Virginia, more than
700 greyhound injuries were reported between January 2008 and
September 2009.

At two Arizona dog tracks, 923 greyhound injuries were reported
between 2007 and 2009

At Bluffs Run Greyhound Park and Dubuque Greyhound Park in Iowa,
530 greyhound injuries were reported between 2006 and 2010.

At two dog tracks in Texas, 342 greyhound injuries were reported in
2008 alone.
Greyhounds on the Track
Crystal B Disco's Last Race, Sanford Orlando
After Racing Ends

Greyhounds no longer fast enough to earn money have four
options


Death
 Estimates varying but the industry admits to 5000 dogs
killed. (most sources put the number closer to 8000)
Medical Research
 "But the dead can count themselves lucky. Those left to live
are truly the damned. Their crates are wheeled into the Wide
World of Animal Labs. “
Fred Halliday
"A Race to the Death“
No clear numbers are available for how many dogs are given to
research facilities. It is thought to be in the thousands




Being returned to the farm for breeding stock (mostly females)
Adoption
What You Can Do

Educate yourself and others
Grey2K
 End Tucson Greyhound Racing
 Citizens Against Greyhound Racing


Speak Out
Letters to the Editor and article comments
 Governor’s Initiative

What You Can Do
Donate
 Foster
 Adopt
