Greyhound Racing in India: A Gamble That Can Never Pay Off

Khurshid Bhathena is Trustee and Honorary Secretary of Beauty Without Cruelty-India, an organization dedicated to the way of life which causes no creature of land, sea or air terror, torture or death.

Beauty Without Cruelty-India, an animal rights organisation, objected to greyhound coursing in the Indian state of Punjab in 1988. The government took action under wildlife protection laws banning the use of the hares which were chased and torn horrifically apart by competing pairs of greyhounds.

Thereafter, greyhounds continued to be brought into India and made to race illegally on mud tracks in rural Punjab. Two-to-three day events, in which 120 to 150 greyhounds participate, are usually held every winter.

These racing events are illegal gambling jamborees involving dogs and other animals, disguised as entertainment and sport. They attract the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, so their illegality should not be overlooked. Unfortunately, many police and civil officials in Punjab are patronizing the races.

Noticing a growing demand to make greyhound racing legal, BWC-India launched a petition to stop greyhound racing in India. Soon after, Care of Animals and Protection of Environment-India, a Punjab-based organisation, joined us in this campaign.

The petition, supported by 4,269,772 persons, was handed over to the Chief Minister of Punjab on 19 July 2011.

Despite the overwhelming support, we were disappointed to learn that the Punjab government planned to set up a dog-racing track on the outskirts of Ludhiana. Simply stopping this track from materialising is not all we desire. We do not want greyhound/dog racing to be legalised.

GREY2K USA launched a petition targeting the Prime Minister of India so as to alert him to  worldwide concerns for greyhounds.  It is our hope that he will understand that dog racing is not a local issue, and that he should use his authority to step in and enforce the country's already-existing prohibition on greyhound gambling.

If the setting up of dog racing tracks is not halted, humans will suffer, and animals will die – the greyhounds, and the hundreds of rabbits, guinea pigs and cats that may be torn apart by them during “training.”

Greyhound racing is declining rapidly in the west, mainly due to awareness of the cruel exploitation of dogs during training and racing. We believe greyhounds are being brought to India to make up for losses incurred in foreign countries. Vested interests are responsible for glorifying this western “sport,” now looked down upon in the west, and pressing for it be legalised.

India should be smart enough not to fall for this gambit. No one should forget that greyhound racing involves betting so, if the government encourages it, gambling will become a way of life for the youth of India, beginning in Punjab.

Gambling on greyhounds is illegal in the majority of U.S. states as well as the U.S. Territory of Guam. Countries such as Jamaica and South Africa have refused to introduce it. It is hoped that India will follow suit.

GREY2K USA, the world’s leading organisation for greyhounds, was the first to back our efforts, to help us spread the word, and to garner support. Also, Action for Greyhounds, UK, supported our campaign from the beginning.

Recently, the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations-India issued a joint press release in which the Dogs Trust, UK, also condemned greyhound racing.

We continue to receive support from various organisations, namely Greyhound Crusaders/South West Animal Protection Team, UK, and BWC-South Africa.

With the support of organisations and individuals from India and abroad, we are hopeful of getting an assurance from the government that no greyhound racing tracks will come up in Punjab, and that greyhound racing will not be legalised.

Photo of Whitney courtesy of GREY2K USA