Language is important
There’s a word which is misused by some people when referring to the greyhounds from Ireland they find homes for, and that word is ‘retired‘.
It is a word used by some rescues, but also by people who pretend not to but who in reality share their same vision.
‘Retired’ effectively means ‘dog that has reached the end of his/her career as an athlete and is now going into retirement’: the implied analogy being that of a sports athlete who, after a successful career, devotes himself to a nice restful life.
In Ireland there is a phoney institution, created by the racing industry with which it shares its headquarters and its staff, which handles ‘retired’ greyhounds: the Retired Greyhound Trust.
Like a Pension Scheme for greyhounds, judging by the name and also by the statements of some of the industry’s lackeys (including those here in Italy), who in recent months explained to us that while they are racing, greyhounds are treated well in Ireland. An extraordinary piece of bullshit, readily disproved by the numbers at hand.
In 2013 the Irish adoption program saved…wait for it…all of 420 greyhounds, set against the 13,000 that had disappeared into thin air. Basically for every ‘pensioner’ that makes it 30 disappear, many already killed as pups…’retired’ ahead of time, perhaps?
The term ‘retired’ is therefore simply a convenient device used by the industry to hide the truth, and those who use it also contribute to hiding the truth, the actual substance of things.
The truth is that most Irish greyhounds are considered rubbish, and in addition greyhounds in Ireland are not even considered athletes but ‘agricultural goods’ (their legal definition there), only good for making money.
There is a story that illustrates well how things are, and that’s Gilbert’s story. Exploited by the racing industry, he had an accident while racing which damaged his salivary glands. His owner decided to take him to the pound to have him euthanised instead of treating him.
Rescued by Limerick Animal Welfare who had him operated, Gilbert cannot be defined as ‘retired’ but abandoned, rescued, a survivor. He was lucky, because most of his brothers don’t get rescued and don’t survive.
So when you read about greyhounds on the Internet or elsewhere, pay attention to the words that are used, because they are hugely meaningful. Sometimes they hide the truth, and in so doing help those in whose interests it is to hide the truth: those who exploit and kill greyhounds.
By Massimo Greco Translated by Isobel Deeley
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