So I've decided instead of dating again (for the foreseeable future), I'm going to get a dog. They're loyal, fun, always happy to see you, and don't yell at you. I've been wanting to for a while, but my hectic work and personal life hasn't left much free time to devote to the care necessary for a dog. Since I will now be in Vancouver more and Grindrod less (actually not at all), I think this could be doable. Though I need to talk with my boss on whether it's possible to occasionally bring the dog to work (if I think I'll have to put in long hours that day).
The dog I've wanted for the past couple years is a Greyhound. A greyhound from Greyhound Rescue to be exact. Surprisingly despite their size and speed, they apparently make great apartment dogs. And are considered "couch potatoes" (Greyhounds enjoy resting on beds and sofas, often sleeping or dozing 16 hours a day or more). I guess having spent their whole life running, they're tired and just want to nap. Which is perfect for my small condo. I could get a little lap dog, which might technically be a better fit, but to be frank I can't stand them. I can't understand how other people do either. They're yappy and often ugly. To each his own, I guess.
In high school, I had a collie who we rescued from an abusive relationship. The poor thing was petrified of brooms :( Incredible the cruelty of people to helpless creatures. And to other people for that matter. Which brings up Greyhounds. They spend their young lives at a track either racing or in a crate until they are no longer useful to the track (usually sometime between the age of 2-5!) Greyhound Rescues across North America and Europe work with race tracks and take the dogs in for adoption out to good homes. Prior to the formation of these groups, in the US over
20,000 retired greyhounds a year were euthanized; recent estimates
still number in the thousands, with about 90% of National Greyhound
Association-registered animals either being adopted, or returned for
breeding purposes (according to the industry numbers upwards of 2000
dogs are still killed annually in the US while anti-racing groups
estimating the figure at closer to 12,000.)
In the US, greyhound racing is not governed by the Animal Welfare Act, so treatment of the dogs depends largely on the industry's self-regulation. Similarly, in Canada Greyhound racing is completely unregulated.
Kennels are indoor crates stacked two levels high, with the females
usually kept on the upper level, and males on the lower level. While
the space allocated to each dog varies between locations, typical crate
size is 3-1/2 feet wide by 4 feet deep by 3 feet high. During their racing years these dogs will spend most of their time in these kennels. Geez that has got to suck for such a large animal.
For Pharaohs, Kings, Don Quixote and uncle Jimmy at the track?
Some interesting trivia...
- Greyhounds are the oldest purebred dogs, dating before the Pharaohs, where in ancient Egypt they were kept as companions and hunting partners
- During the dark ages, they were saved from extinction by priests who breed them for noblemen, and during this time, greyhound ownership became the exclusive right of the nobility
- They are by far the fastest breed of dog reaching speeds in excess of 40 miles an hour in less than 1.5 seconds. They are exceeded in speed only by the cheetah in acceleration land speed. (should be a good running companion!)
- They have phenomenal vision and can see clearly over half a mile away
- They have only 16% body fat (less than half of similar weighted breeds)
More to come on this if I'm successful with the adoption :)
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