Tucson Citizen.com
Tucson Tails - Connecting Pets and People

Absolut Greyhound Vodka Promotes Animal Cruelty

by on Mar. 20, 2012, under Animal Cruelty, Greyhounds
Adopt a greyhound - ban greyhound racing

Painter - ambassaDOG

The youtube music video for the new Absolut Greyhound vodka promotes animal cruelty in the form of greyhound racing. While slick with a catchy soundtrack by Swedish House Mafia, greyhounds are once again perceived as futuristic exploited racing machines. The video is a deadly cross between Project Runway and Mad Max.

Let the cruelty begin!

Vapid fashionistas pose in an arid wasteland for the thrill of watching three starkly beautiful robotic greyhound creatures race for their lives. Once again they are muzzled and attired a la Mad Max style. It might have worked for Mel Gibson, it is no way justifiable for a dog, even a CGI dog.

And just like at the real dog track, an elegant black beauty falls to the ground at 40 mph. While one model looks appalled, the other laughs. The dog gets up and continues to run. At real race tracks, dogs who usually take bad falls like that break their legs, break their hocks, break their toes, pull their butt muscles, or are paralyzed. Laugh models laugh.

Many are euthanized at the discretion of the track vets and dog owners; some with broken legs are adopted.

Some tracks bill this as “paw pounding action” but I bill it as canine heartbreak.

In case you don’t know why Absolut would name a product Greyhound, there’s a cocktail called Greyhound. It’s a mix of vodka and grapefruit juice and if the bartender adds a rim of salt – the cocktail become a Salty Dog.

This ad is haunting…haunting in the way it promotes greyhound racing as subhuman depravity. Haunting in a way, I feel nauseous and want to vomit.

Portraying greyhounds as graceful pets running across the grass not hardcore racing machines would’ve been more humane. Absolut responsible, it is not.

(Photo by Carolyn Karpin. Painter was my first greyhound. He has since gone to the Rainbow Bridge but lives on in my heart and inspired me to  promote greyhound adoption  and advocate for the end of greyhound racing.)



  • CraigKS

    Karyn Zoldan, you are beyond stupid. This is a computer generated commercial, and a very good one at that, just like the Skechers commercial.  Neither one has anything to do with promoting greyhound racing.  They are just fun commercials.  You and your fellow g2k wackos never fail to take any opportunity to whine about the “exploitation” of greyhounds, when, in fact, it is you people who are exploitiong greyhounds.  People like you should never own greyhounds because you are too stupid to own one. 

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000140065398 Jay Hooligan Malik

       THANK YOU. WELL PUT.

      • grayeyedgirl

        Does she even have one? I have one and we think the commercial was cool! So did the folks over at Greytalk forums.

        Sorry – was too livid by the end of the article that I skipped the italicized mention of the author owning a Greyhound.

  • CraigKS

    Karyn Zoldan, to use this fantasy commercial to push your anti-racing agenda shows how low you people will stoop.  The only people exploiting racing greyhounds are you g2k wackos.  .

  • Barry Wilson

    Your comments about falls show just how uneducated you are about greyhound racing. Most greyhounds who take a fall like that get right up and keep on running. According to Arizona injury reports obtained by Grey2k, fractures are very rare. And most all fractures are completely healed in a few months. And most greyhounds who have fractured a bone are retired and adopted to loving families. CraigKS is right, you are too stupid to own a greyhound. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/maryann.dituro Mary Ann Dituro

    Let me get this straight, you are now extending your anti-racing rhetoric to virtual, robotic dogs?  Are you kidding, Karen Zoldan???  I mean, surely, you jest!  I know this may come as a surprise to you but THEY AREN’T REAL DOGS IN THE ABSOLUT VIDEO!!  When are you going to learn the difference between reality & fantasy?  (Didn’t you learn ANYTHING from your failed campaign against Skechers?)  I guess the folks at Grey2K must need more donations since you’re out there beating the drum against yet another big corporation – anything for attention.  You know what happened to the little boy who cried wolf, Karen?  People stopped paying attention to him, altogether!

  • Barry Wilson

    By the way, why not head out to Tucson Greyhound Park for some exciting Greyhound Racing. This is a great sport. Despite the lies from Karyn Zoldan and her Grey2k USA cronies, these fine canine athletes are treated like royalty. TGP is located in South Tucson and betting is also  available at many OTB locations throughout Tucson. Support your local Greyhounds!

    • Mooninnorfolk

      Greyhounds are treated like royalty? You must be referring to Czar Nicholas and his family–who were murdered by the Bolsheviks. I’ll never forget the horrifying story of the dozens of racing greyhounds who were found shot to death in an Arizona orchard and their ears cut off to eliminate their identifying tattoos. I found a factsheet on Arizona greyhound abuse here: http://www.greyhoundnetworknews.org/tracksfacts/AGPA%20Deaths%20_SA_.pdf Some royal treatment.

      • grayeyedgirl

         Some kennels actually do take care of their dogs. And some kennels do not. But we cannot lump all the kennels into one general label as Bad. The kennel we got our dog from, not so great, but other kennels treat their dogs much better.

  • EarleL

    Might we the readers get some clarification as to who is deleting the comments and for what reason? Is this paper solely the bastion of Grey2k supporters?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000140065398 Jay Hooligan Malik

    Who in their right mind takes time to write up something like this? I swear people have no lives.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000140065398 Jay Hooligan Malik

    On a side note, Abolute/Swedish House all the way!!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tom-Grady/1489457767 Tom Grady

    Karyn,
    It is clear that the people who produced this ad are clueless as to the cruelty of dog racing.
    Not only are the injuries on the tracks something to be concerned about, but the confinement of the dogs for 20-plus hours per day and the extremely high rate of cancers in racing greyhounds are also very troubling.
    And then there are the dogs – by the untold thousands – who never make out alive.
    Some people think of animals as nothing more than money-making commodities. But thankfully, the majority have compassion for animals.
    It is telling that as more people become aware on the topic of animal welfare, greyhound racing has shown a marked decline.

    • mamacitadeperros

      Finally, someone with some sense. “There are none so blind as those who will not see”. 

    • EarleL

      “The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance — it is the illusion of knowledge.”        Daniel J(oseph) Boorstin
                                                            

    • DaniGalgo

      People like you and Grey2K should go to Spain….you want to fight for injustices to Greyhounds….your work would be appreciated there. I have adopted 2 retired racers and I see many of them come to our adoption .org….they are never problematic or uncared for…they come with good personalities and love their new environment. I believe it would be a much different picture if the abuse you all speak of was as you say. 

    • mamacitadeperros

      Finally, someone with some sense.  ”None are so blind as those who will not see”.  Get educated folks!

    • DaniGalgo

      You people should take your efforts to Spain. That is where the real abuse, and worse, is inflicted on Greyhounds…called Galgos there. I’m sick and tiered of hearing the g2k people want to abolish the racing industry…I have adopted 2 retired racers and they are perfect dogs…if the abuse you speak of was true they would be traumatized and difficult. I volunteer at the .org I adopted them through and I see many many hounds come from the tracks…straight away…and there are no problems with these hounds…they are very happy go lucky and have very good attitudes. So go somewhere you would be welcomed…to do what you “love”…and save some Galgos…they need your help in Spain desperately.  

    • http://www.facebook.com/maryann.dituro Mary Ann Dituro

      Tom,
      Please state where you get your data/statistical FACTS with regards to:
      a.  Confinement of 20 hours per day.
      b.  Bonafide, medical study stating correlation of cancer in dogs having raced versus those that have not.
      c.  Registration numbers of the “untold thousands – who never make it out alive.”
      d.  Census documents showing that the decline of Greyhound racing is due to awareness of people “on the topic of animal welfare”.
      Thank you.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Suzanne-Carlson/1500425395 Suzanne Carlson

    Thank you, Karyn!

    Greyhound
    racing is an industry fraught with cruelty. Greyhounds are treated as if they
    are equipment, dogs who don’t “make the cut” are discarded like trash, and
    these gentle, sociable animals are subjected to a life of servitude and misery.

    People who care about dogs will
    avoid the track and speak out against the industry until these cruel races are
    nothing but an awful memory.

    • http://www.facebook.com/maryann.dituro Mary Ann Dituro

      Suzanne,
      You imply that you have firsthand knowledge, but I suspect otherwise.  What kennel have you worked in, when, and where?  Or, are you just repeating what you have been told by folks like Karen from Grey2K?  I care DEEPLY about Greyhounds and will NOT avoid the track.  On the contrary, I enjoy watching Greyhounds do what they LIKE TO DO – (RUN!).  Also, I am more than happy to know & associate myself with folks in the Racing industry who are good people and work to improve conditions when and where needed.  BTW, the dogs are not “subjected to a life of servitude”.  The average Racing Greyhound is put into adoption between 2-5 years of age – ask the adoption groups about it since I know you won’t believe me.  

    • http://www.facebook.com/reggie.gross Reggie Gross

      I would like to add that live racing and simulcast action continues at Tucson Greyhound Park. Greyhounds are certainly not “discarded like trash”. After racing, all greyhounds are either returned to the breeding farm, provided to approved adoption groups or returned to their registered owners.

      • Eric

        You forgot to include, “or killed by their owners/trainers.”  Yes, that does still happen.  Ask the folks doing adoption at tracks.  Certainly not as many are being killed now as were ten or twenty years ago, but it’s still an issue.

        • http://www.facebook.com/reggie.gross Reggie Gross

          Nope, that’s extremely rare. There are many approved adoption groups to take the greyhounds. In fact, certain anti-racing greyhound “rescue” groups are being boycotted by the industry because of their lies and hate-mongering (e.g. Greyhound Companions of New Mexico). 

          • Eric

            Which means even more dogs will die rather than go to appropriate homes.  You say that euthanising healthy dogs is extremely rare, but can you say how rare?  Is it one in ten dogs, one in twenty, that will never make it to an adoption group?  The industry likes to throw out numbers like “90%” but there’s nothing to support that figure.  What’s “extremely rare”, and can you support it?

            • http://www.facebook.com/reggie.gross Reggie Gross

              More unsubstantiated claims. You are not able to prove that a single healthy greyhound is unnecessarily euthanized in today’s racing industry. 
              Until you can, your claims are completely baseless. Meanwhile, the industry will continue to boycott hate groups like Greyhound Companions of New Mexico. The only reason people make these ridiculous claims in to promote monetary donations to radical profit-based animal rights groups like HSUS, Grey2k, PeTA and ALF.

              • Eric

                What do you want, “Reggie”, vet receipts for the killing of healthy dogs?  UPC codes from ammunition boxes?  I’m afraid I don’t have those.  What I do have is direct quotes from people in YOUR industry saying, “I could throw out names…But all I would end up with is a lawsuit.  It’s definitely not 100% [adoption] even at the top tracks.”

                Another industry insider said, “There are a lot of dogs unaccounted for.  We know where some of them went (not to homes).”

                Yet another person said, “If the resources are available, why do some kennel operators choose to euthanize rather than turn over for adoption?”

                Can you answer that question?  Why are healthy greyhounds still being euthanized?

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/AWGHVQI2FTCPB23BSKFRFRYGYU D

    Wow, the vitriol that comes out of some people’s mouths, especially the ones trying to justify a cruel activity that passes itself off as a sport. Sorry, but all your screaming doesn’t drown out the suffering of these dogs. 

    Good post, Karyn.

    • http://www.facebook.com/maryann.dituro Mary Ann Dituro

      Vitriol?  How about what Ms. Zoldan posted on the Grey2K Facebook blog which was blatantly racist & anti-Semitic?  If you’re going to play, you’re going to have to pay!  BTW, Screaming about virtual, robotic dogs is causing me to suffer:  I am -sick- of Grey2K using every possible instance to garner attention & line their pockets at the expense of Greyhounds!  Once again, I’ll remind ALL of you:  the commercial was fantasy, made with CGI, and NO DOGS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THE COMMERCIAL.  Get over it!

  • http://www.facebook.com/katekaemerle Kate Kaemerle

    Shame on you, Absolut. Dog racing accidents like the one shown in the commercial is how dogs get killed and maimed. The woman laughing when that happens is nauseating.  Of course it’s just computer generated commercial, but it glamorizes a sport in which dogs are injured and die.

    Let’s show some kindness and compassion for all of God’s creatures and eliminate this cruel sport.

    • EarleL

      Kate show some kindness and compassion and give up your cell phone it is causing grave harm to birds.
      “Both conservationists and the wireless industry continue to press the
      Federal Communications Commission for some response to concerns that
      millions of migratory birds fatally collide with mobile phone towers
      every year. But there are no obvious signs that the Commission has plans
      to do anything—despite a court order requiring agency action.”

  • http://www.facebook.com/reggie.gross Reggie Gross

    Karyn – Are you planning to apologize for your racist and anti-Semitic comments that you made on the Grey2k Facebook page? You’re upset about a computer generated greyhound race, but have no problem insulting people of color who attend greyhound races?

  • Kathy Johnson

    This is a commercial, fiction, and digitally generated to boot. It’s hard to tell that those robotic animals are even supposed to be greyhounds. You really, REALLY need to get a real life and get off the computer. You’re losing your sanity.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/EB2Q344WKTXAE32HVKZ4L3ACSQ spot

    so making a commercial with robots is now cruel to greyhounds? Then I suppose posting a commercial with robot people being models is cruel, or showing a car commercial (with horsepower) promotes horse cruelty. Lay off the sauce and post something of whit and meaning. You come across as a hack taking aim at a poorly thought out attempt to push a “pet” cause.  And yes, I do own a rescue dog and rescue cats.

  • BettyMabel

    I applaud Karyn for speaking out about the cruelty of greyhound racing. The very fact that Absolut Greyhound shows racing at all is a form of promoting or okaying this inhumane form of “entertainment.” The fact of the matter is that dogs will die–thousands in fact–just so some guy at the track can make a buck. Check out http://grey2kusa.org/ to find out more, and way to go, Karyn!

  • Lucy_P

    Karyn, I agree completely–there is no excuse to promote a cruel event in which dogs are forced to run for their lives and are killed for being “too slow.” The dogs in the video may not be real, but it still sends the message that exploiting these trusting animals for entertainment and money is somehow acceptable. Thank you for speaking up for the dogs! :)

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ruth-Hagenbaugh/1168925249 Ruth Hagenbaugh

      Lucy_P, who told you they are forced to run and are killed for being to slow? Where do you get this crap from? This is so 1950ish..back in the old days that might have been true to an extent, but it is so untrue now. If greyhounds don’t make the grade and can’t run fast or refuse to run, they are GIVEN to adoption groups and placed in good forever homes. They are not killed by any means. They are never forced to run. They LOVE to run and do so happily. Go to a track, volunteer there, see how they’re actually treated, then try to tell me they are killed or forced to run. Until you’ve actually witnessed this so called killing, then don’t insert foot in mouth.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ruth-Hagenbaugh/1168925249 Ruth Hagenbaugh

    Hey Karen, have you seen the other commercials with greyhounds? Really awesome too! And this commercial doesn’t show one bit of animal cruelty…not one bit. Do you ever stop whining about racing greyhounds? Try volunteering at a race track and walk the dogs, feed them, play with them.. then tell me how badly they’re treated. Until then stop lieing about them!

  • Heidi Parker

    Although the ad is done in CGI, it still romanticizes greyhound racing, a dirty industry which treats dogs like objects and throws them away like garbage. Thank goodness there are groups like Grey2k and writers like Karyn Zoldan to get the message out there that greyhound racing is cruel to dogs.

    • http://www.facebook.com/reggie.gross Reggie Gross

      The problem with Karyn and Grey2k are the lies and misinformation. What happens if you disagree with Karyn Zoldan? She throws out an insult like “educated white people don’t go to bet on the dogs”. That’s right, a direct quote from Zoldan, the queen of vitriol. Retired greyhounds are either sent back to the breeding farm, returned to their registered owners or provided to approved adoption groups. They are not “thrown away like garbage”.  

      • Eric

        Reggie, you forgot to include, “euthanised” to your list of what happens to greyhounds at the end of their racing careers.  Yes, that still happens.  Ask the folks doing adoption at the tracks.

        • http://www.facebook.com/reggie.gross Reggie Gross

          Perhaps a few are, Eric. People who own animals (chickens, cows, dogs, cats, horses) have been known to euthanize them. But with greyhounds, that is certainly the exception, not the rule.

    • grayeyedgirl

       I respectfully disagree with you. The dogs in the commercial aren’t even on a track. We don’t see any betting taking place, we see the idea of the lure, but for all we know those silly steampunk models own the dogs and are out for a day of greyhound running around fun. With our greyhound, we take her to the park and she runs like the wind for about 5 minutes before plopping down on the ground. But while she’s running everybody at the park is cheering her on because it’s the most beautiful thing to see. My dog LOVES to run. LOVES it.

      Maybe I’m a glass half full chick, but this commercial was really just a commercial and oh look how cool is it to show how awesome greyhounds look while running! Maybe someone will see it and think, “Dang that’s cool, gotta get me a greyhound!”

      We would never race our greyhound. We’re lucky we got her. Her post kennel life was awful. When we got her she was underfed and extremely thin. But that isn’t what she looked like while she was racing. She was healthy then. Her father and her grandfather are both national champions who were both very healthy, very much cared for.

      Look at what the commercial really is: a way to get people to talk about Absolut. And look we are. So all we’ve done is played right into the hands of Absolut, those evil capitalists who make some really fine vodka.

      But to say this commercial promotes dog racing? I just have to roll my eyes and quote my 13-year-old cousin, “Whatever.”

  • grayeyedgirl

    So what you’re saying is that it’s bad to race ROBOT (really, CGI) greyhounds… Um…you realize that it’s not REAL right? I have a retired racing Greyhound that we absolutely love. She’s the light of our life. And I have actually seen a video of one of her races in which she immediately stumbles coming out of the gate and I’m shocked that her beautiful legs survived that. But the difference here is: I can at least understand the difference between my beautiful REAL dog and these beautiful CGI dogs.

    Duh.

    In fact if you had done any kind of research with retired greyhound owners, you’d probably find that most of us think this is one really cool video. You even said it yourself: three starkly beautiful robotic greyhound creatures.

    So with your theory that CGI (which means fake, computer generated just in case you’ve missed that point) greyhounds racing in the desert (not at a track) I shouldn’t let my greyhound race around the dog park with the other greyhounds. Because it’s natural for her to run at 40 mph. To not let her sprint and play is more cruel than your ridiculous story.

    Maybe you should talk to some retired racing greyhound owners before you speak for us. Thanks.

  • grayeyedgirl

    I was mad when I read your article. I’m sorry to hear about your greyhound, but come on. I’m anti-racing just as much as the next person. Our dog had a horrid post-racing life before we got her. But when she runs it’s the most beautiful and amazing thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Seriously. People at the dog park cheer for her and she runs up to us with her big doggie grin and flops down in the sand and takes a nap while the other dogs run around her.

    There are other ways to tackle race track racing. But I think your approach here isn’t helping. It just makes the cause to end race track racing and those who support the end of said racing look like fanatics. The best thing we can do is show the truth of actual racing in the US. Some kennels take very, very good care of their racers and others do not. It’s those guys we need to reach out to and help them see that their dogs are not just money makers. And we need to share the REAL information with people who don’t know.

    But this…this article is just setting the whole thing back. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=36617986 Tess Fogell

    So tell me, were the Power Rangers promoting animal cruelty?? All their mecha bots were in some form of an animal(in EVERY incarnation of the series!) And they got the crap beat our of them on a daily basis.

    • Eric

      Tess, greyhounds are used for real greyhound racing, and they really get hurt.  I don’t know of anyone using the Power Rangers “Mecha Bots” real-life analogs for profit in the same way.

  • http://twitter.com/PatriciaCadyUSA Patricia Cady

    Super article, Karyn & well articulated!  You hit the nail on the head as this commercial DOES depict greyhounds in an exploitive fashion – any fool can see that if they open their eyes.  Thanks again, Karyn!  Sharing EVERYWHERE!!!  :-)

  • http://twitter.com/HMOORE123 Heather Moore

    Ugh. The only thing I hate about living in Florida is seeing commercials for greyhound races. It’s animal abuse and exploiation, plain and simple. Now I’m not a fan of Absolut for promoting it either. All racing greyhounds should be retired. Let’s be kinder to all animals, too.

  • marie alessandro

    Reality isn’t where you live, apparently.

  • http://twitter.com/FurryTalkRadio Klonoa @

    I didn’t know that dog racing was considered animal cruelty. I think you’re being a little over sensitive. 

  • Eric Basco

    There is no need to reiterate what has already been put so well by so many posters before me, however Ms. Zoldan I do offer you this small condolence. I am in the advertising industry and as such I know that no marketer can release a video like this (even with computer generated robotic animals) without first obtaining approval from ASPCA. Perhaps you’ve seen this approval in the credits of films or television shows you’ve watched. It usually reads “No animal was hurt in the making of this film.” Television commercials and videos must get this approval too, though they are not obligated to display it like film and TV due to the limitations of their overall length. 

    The people responsible for this video have undoubtedly obtained such approval as Absolut Vodka is a respected brand that works with a prestigious and well known New York advertising agency.  Niether organization would gamble by releasing something that could even be slightly construed as animal cruelty or without obtaining the proper approvals to use animals (or the likeness of, in this case). It’s no secret that big companies are risk- adverse. So all things considered you’re ire shouldn’t be with Absolut Vodka, but instead with ASPCA who apparently does not share your feelings about this video and its alleged portrayal of animal cruelty. 

    Food for thought…

    • Eric

      Clearly no animals were harmed in the filming of this commercial, and that’s not the issue.  The commercial portrays a futuristic version of greyhound racing.  The current incarnation of that “sport” does lead to the death and injury of thousands of dogs every year.  Real greyhounds die on the track, or are euthanized due to injury, every year.  

    • Karyn_Zoldan

      Mr. Basco:
      Before I wrote the blog post and before I realized it was (mercifully) CGI — I contacted the American Humane Association. That is the organization that put the “no animals were harmed” stamp on movies, video, TV, etc. Here’s what they said:

      Hi Karyn,

       

      Thank you for taking the time to
      write to our organization regarding
      this video/commercial. I screened this last
      year and can assure you that no real greyhounds were used in the spot; they
      were all created using Computer Generated Imagery (CGI). I hope this assures
      you that “No Animals Were Harmed during filming. Please contact us if you have
      any other questions or concerns.

       

      Thank you,

       

      American Humane Association

      I responded:

      Claudia

      Thanks for getting back to me.
      In the meantime I did discover that it was all CGI and that was relief.

       

      While this has no reflection on
      the AHA, I think the music video promotes greyhound racing in a Mad Max kind of
      way and to show one dog falling and someone laughing is reprehensible to me.
      That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.

       

      Karyn Zoldan

      As I said, that’s my opinion and I’m sticking  to it.

  • lunarwhiplash

    In some point I do understand that will be poor owners. Sometimes using the reason why certain dogs are bred for certain reasons to the extreme. However, using a blanketing statement and applying it to all owners of racing dogs is incorrect. In the commercial, they don’t have real dogs. I hope that you are consistent in your beliefs and use the animal abuse issues to include these: 1. In one of the Hulk movies, they give the dogs the same treatment (experimentation) as Dr.Banner making them into hulk-like creatures and having them as attack dogs. 2. Also being against other competitions such as herding competitions, agility courses, competitions dealing with hunting dogs like how far they can jump into water and a bunch of other ones pertaining to their bred abilities. 3. Keeping dogs inside a house. Dogs do not have an opposable digits, hence, can be extremely difficult for them to use standard door knobs. We should be compassionate to canines and understand that they are an animal and most animals should live outside… with the other animals. We domesticated cows, I normally don’t see a cow walking in the living room at someone’s house or laying down in it watching animal planet. 4. You should be against the new breeding programs to make smaller more agile dogs for the newer race competitions. 5. Should be against breeding programs like the labradoodles so children who need hypo-allergenic dogs for pets because of allergies. 6. Other breeding programs who selectively pick and choose traits they want to make better security dogs, medical dogs who can accurately sniff out cancerous areas, medical dogs for therapies and people with disabilities. 7. Take “Old Yeller” and other movies that depict the long standing relationships we as humans have with our canines off the shelves.

    If you don’t fight for all of those, then sure I can understand you wanting to just select one kind of dog to protect. Due to the protection of one and not all the rest, shows that you are prejudice and spiteful. Personally I don’t like dog fights, dogs do fight in the wild… but not under those circumstances. Dogs who are made to run like Greyhounds, run. It is those faster running dogs who keep that lineage strong.

  • Mike morgan

    If the actual racing of the dogs is cruel to animals, then tampon commercials are cruel to guys. The shock and awe approach to journalism is also cruel to the public. I personally went to a local dog track because of your last story about the cruelty issues you were so adamant about. The conditions there were great, maybe last time you helped that cause, but the conditions were better than any shelter I’ve been too. Racing would have been outlawed long before this story or even the last time you cried wolf if in fact it was cruel. Cruelty is handled on a case by case basis and the law is swift. These conditions you talk about are cruel compared to what? The humane society “humanely” kills animals everyday. Every animal species known to man. Please focus on reality, not your personal opinion as a whole. The problem is people from all walks of life, with good intentions, has created a booming animal population. The shelters need funding for animals to live, period. I wonder if these tracks donate money to shelters. If they do, they are help the animal population survive. Animal rights awareness is good, when presented the right way to the public. You cannot label everyone and thing as a whole. The worst case scenario happens to one animal not them all. We punish swiftly with the law, then and only then. Innocent until proven guilty by law. I love MOST pitbulls too. I also love responsible dog owners. Just my opinion.
    #EpicFail

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Han-Masters/100001051611328 Han Masters

    ….Did she not see the part where it showed the robotic Greyhounds were controlled by humans? So now the video is wrong for taking a widely acclaimed sport that you frown so much down upon and giving it a futuristic alternative where real greyhounds are no longer used? What’s your issue?

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/PTI63Z4SBL45RC23XTEWWMLT7Y Luis

    So I google “absolut greyhound” and I come upon this nonsense. Come on now, is it even possible to be cruel to digitally created “greyhounds”.