Hold On, Help Is No Longer On The Way

To say greyhounds are my life is an understatement. From 5am in the morning until 11pm at night, seven days a week, I live and breathe greyhound racing. I am a platinum supporter of the Program, give weekly donations to Greyhound Rescue and I'm currently in the process of running a raffle for Golden Oldies Animal Rescue. However despite all this I'm still not deemed ‘worthy' enough to be a volunteer at an organisation who despises greyhound racing.

To put it simply I was immediately shattered by the following response, “because we have a strong stance against greyhound racing, you can't volunteer with us.” Every week I purposely walk into my local Coles store and buy products to place into this rescue's donation bin and as much as it hurts me to , I will not be doing this in the future. To be discriminated against because of my involvement in a sport is downright disgusting.

If I owned a racehorse would I not be allowed to volunteer because of ? Would an elephant, orangutan, gorilla or tiger rescue refuse my donation because I had visited a zoo? If I have children am I not allowed to help an orphanage? To be labelled as someone not worthy of being a volunteer is degrading and defeating the purpose of the organisation to rescue abandoned and abused animals. For one, I have never abused an animal and two, I have helped re-home so many animals they should be begging for my assistance!

Incorrect reports and statistics that have been published by various outlets have never been good for greyhound racing and its image. Participants are viewed as heartless creatures that simply get rid of dogs if they aren't good enough. If this is the case across the board, then why is it that I know of so many trainers who have retired greyhounds sitting in their lounge rooms and others who regularly donate their prizemoney to worthy animal causes? It's a tough and exhausting battle that we are struggling to win and despite all the good that's being done, it appears the fight against anti-greyhound racing activists is continuing to go backwards.

For this organisation to be consistent with their decision to exclude me from becoming a volunteer, I urge them to conduct a background check on every single person who donates and offers to volunteer. I'm sure they have taken donations from people who have abused animals, committed a crime and worse. Yet I'm immediately disregarded because of my involvement with greyhound racing.

By refusing the assistance of someone who can raise serious money and help re-home animals, which funnily enough is in their mission statement, this organisation has reduced their own credibility more than mine.

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Shannon
Shannon
9 years ago

Their agenda is obviously more important than the animals themselves… Pretty sad really!

peter smith
peter smith
9 years ago

Name and shame them so we can withhold any future donations

michael sigalas
michael sigalas
9 years ago

You have my utmost respect and support Dimity,this sort of ‘abuse’ is disgraceful.To tell honest people not to help in their area of ‘expertise’ is downright shameful.
As you are aware I’m pretty crook atm…would I be ‘dissed’ because I have a disease, by these pious no nothings….Continue to be a good person…find other outlets for your energies,you will always be a winner if you continue to to strive to educate and enlighten
regards 
ziggy

AaronC
AaronC
9 years ago

@peter smith Because punishing the dogs is how industry participants roll, right?

Sue Mawby
Sue Mawby
9 years ago

Refusing Dimity’s monetry / food help isn’t punishing dogs? Thought rescues needed every bit of help they can get…Now who is looking stupid?? Aaron C

AaronC
AaronC
9 years ago

Sue Mawby
Dimity wrote:
“Every week I purposely walk into my local Coles store and buy products
to place into this rescue’s donation bin and as much as it hurts me to
do it, I will not be doing this in the future.”
To answer your question, you are Sue.

Sue Mawby
Sue Mawby
9 years ago

How can I be? The dogs are going to miss out on Dimity’s generous weekly donations…yep real smart!

nendex
nendex
9 years ago

@AaronC
You’re a wank

PeteB
PeteB
9 years ago

So you’re criticising an rescue group because they are sticking to their guns. Don’t you think that to accept money from the greyhound racing industry would be hypocritical for a group that is so staunchly against it? And for good reason might I add.
This article says more about you and your opinion of yourself than it does to help any sort of cause or indeed to help greyhounds.
So they stood by their morals? get over it.
Anyone who believed in what they are doing as much as you claim to would continue to be charitable.

Bridgid
Bridgid
9 years ago

You are part of the reason why these rescue groups are needed
Do you think that if you were giving up a child due to abuse and neglect the orphanage, foster parents or adoptive parents would accept your help?

Dimity
Dimity
9 years ago

I will tell u one thing if I didn’t give up my time to help these groups a hell of a lot more dogs would be in heaven right now. Maybe you should consider that. Every greyhound I own lives a full life and this charity had no idea I was involved with greyhound racing when I donated food, yet they still accepted it. I made an offer to help them and they refused, how many animals will suffer because of that decision?

Bridgid
Bridgid
9 years ago

Greyhounds wouldn’t be going to heaven if it wasn’t for the greed and horrors of greyhound racing.
Maybe you should consider giving up a coward and horrible hobby.
I wonder how many of your hounds suffered through horrible injuries.
I personally know of many greyhounds taken to the vet to be euthanized as the they were considered worthless.

Dimity
Dimity
9 years ago

None of my greyhounds have ever suffered injuries because they were looked after. They are all happily living in retirement. I have never euthanised a greyhound because it wasn’t worthy. Maybe u need to use your brain and research a bit more and pick a fight with someone who actually is cruel to animals, because it certainly isn’t me.

PeteB
PeteB
9 years ago

Dimity Your comments strike me as a little detached from what is actually going on around the greyhound racing industry. Ok so you care about them, and you look after your dogs. Thats GREAT! Really, it is.  Were the industry and the breeders that supply the industry with dogs more like you, then people would obviously not be so against greyhound racing. So I will suggest this, maybe you should do some research. A blind man could easily find evidence of horrible things occuring within the greyhound racing industry and yet you turn a blind eye to it, and instead… Read more »

Bridgid
Bridgid
9 years ago

I don’t need to research anything.. I see and hear of the horrors in the industry on a daily basis. You are the one who needs educating.

Dimity
Dimity
9 years ago

I know enough about the sport to know that it’s not perfect and many people have applauded my involvement to bring animal welfare to the attention of others. Go and start a keyboard argument with a real animal abuser and use your time more wisely.

DarrynMelvaine
DarrynMelvaine
9 years ago

Aaron C , Bridgid if I were you lot is be checking my info a little bit more before opening your mouths. I’ve known Dimity for a very long time and probably know her a lot better than most in this industry. You will not a emotional person when comes to greyhounds even any animal and for you lot to bag the crap about her because of what you’ve heard from some knit wit or someone with a vendetta against greyhounds than you lot are truly the fools. Yes there are some bad apples in this sport but isn’t there… Read more »

Bridgid
Bridgid
9 years ago

DarrynMelvaine 
I’m sorry but it was quite hard to comprehend what your comment says so I do not know what your point it.

greyracer
greyracer
9 years ago

Keep your head held high Dimity, to knock back a volunteer whether connected to greyhounds or not is a mistake on their part.
Can anyone tell me how many greyhounds THIS Welfare Group have  ADOPTED to responsible families, I would be very interested to know the statistics, with proof of course?

Shannon
Shannon
9 years ago

Their agenda is obviously more important than the animals themselves… Pretty sad really!

peter smith
peter smith
9 years ago

Name and shame them so we can withhold any future donations

michael sigalas
michael sigalas
9 years ago

You have my utmost respect and support Dimity,this sort of ‘abuse’ is disgraceful.To tell honest people not to help in their area of ‘expertise’ is downright shameful.

As you are aware I’m pretty crook atm…would I be ‘dissed’ because I have a disease, by these pious know nothings….Continue to be a good person…find other outlets for your energies,you will always be a winner if you continue to to strive to educate and enlighten

regards 

ziggy

AaronC
AaronC
9 years ago

I think though, if you’re contributing to the problem then really who are you trying to kid by masquerading as part of the solution? Maybe you should look to your own industry and tell us where all the dogs are actually going. You’re not fooling anyone by telling us 18,000 greyhounds introduced to the industry every year is creating 18,000 greyhounds on couches at the end of their u lives each year. We know for fact that many are killed trackside – for your pocket and gamblers entertainment, but there are still many thousands going missing that those in the… Read more »

AaronC
AaronC
9 years ago

@peter smith Because punishing the dogs is how industry participants roll, right?

Sue Mawby
Sue Mawby
9 years ago

Refusing Dimity’s monetry / food help isn’t punishing dogs? Thought rescues needed every bit of help they can get…Now who is looking stupid?? Aaron C

AaronC
AaronC
9 years ago

Sue Mawby

Dimity wrote:
“Every week I purposely walk into my local Coles store and buy products to place into this rescue’s donation bin and as much as it hurts me to do it, I will not be doing this in the future.”

To answer your question, you are Sue.

Sue Mawby
Sue Mawby
9 years ago

How can I be? The dogs are going to miss out on Dimity’s generous weekly donations…yep real smart!

nendex
nendex
9 years ago

@AaronC

You’re a wank

PeteB
PeteB
9 years ago

So you’re criticising an rescue group because they are sticking to their guns. Don’t you think that to accept money from the greyhound racing industry would be hypocritical for a group that is so staunchly against it? And for good reason might I add.

This article says more about you and your opinion of yourself than it does to help any sort of cause or indeed to help greyhounds.

So they stood by their morals? get over it.

Anyone who believed in what they are doing as much as you claim to would continue to be charitable.

Bridgid
Bridgid
9 years ago

You are part of the reason why these rescue groups are needed

Do you think that if you were giving up a child due to abuse and neglect the orphanage, foster parents or adoptive parents would accept your help?

Dimity
Dimity
9 years ago

I will tell u one thing if I didn’t give up my time to help these groups a hell of a lot more dogs would be in heaven right now. Maybe you should consider that. Every greyhound I own lives a full life and this charity had no idea I was involved with greyhound racing when I donated food, yet they still accepted it. I made an offer to help them and they refused, how many animals will suffer because of that decision?

Bridgid
Bridgid
9 years ago

Greyhounds wouldn’t be going to heaven if it wasn’t for the greed and horrors of greyhound racing.

Maybe you should consider giving up a coward and horrible hobby.

I wonder how many of your hounds suffered through horrible injuries.

I personally know of many greyhounds taken to the vet to be euthanized as the they were considered worthless.

Dimity
Dimity
9 years ago

None of my greyhounds have ever suffered injuries because they were looked after. They are all happily living in retirement. I have never euthanised a greyhound because it wasn’t worthy. Maybe u need to use your brain and research a bit more and pick a fight with someone who actually is cruel to animals, because it certainly isn’t me.

PeteB
PeteB
9 years ago

Dimity Your comments strike me as a little detached from what is actually going on around the greyhound racing industry. Ok so you care about them, and you look after your dogs. Thats GREAT! Really, it is. Were the industry and the breeders that supply the industry with dogs more like you, then people would obviously not be so against greyhound racing. So I will suggest this, maybe you should do some research.A blind man could easily find evidence of horrible things occuring within the greyhound racing industry and yet you turn a blind eye to it, and instead invest your… Read more »

Bridgid
Bridgid
9 years ago

I don’t need to research anything.. I see and hear of the horrors in the industry on a daily basis. You are the one who needs educating.

Australian Gambling
Australian Gambling
9 years ago

@PeteB Dimity Not even the parliamentary inquiry actually believed those submissions as most were fabrications and repeated myths and rumours that were found to have no substance. Asked for specific details so that GRNSW could act upon them, none could be provided. We encourage anyone with specific details of animal welfare concerns to report them to the relevant authorities.

Australian Gambling
Australian Gambling
9 years ago

@PeteB Dimity

Australian Gambling
Australian Gambling
9 years ago

@PeteB Dimity Not even the parliamentary inquiry actually believed those submissions as most were fabrications and repeated myths and rumours that were found to have no substance. Asked for specific details so that GRNSW could act upon them, none could be provided. We encourage anyone with specific details of animal welfare concerns to report them to the relevant authorities.

Australian Gambling
Australian Gambling
9 years ago

Bridgid  We encourage anyone with specific details of animal welfare concerns to report them to the relevant authorities. There are no allegations of abuse or neglect pending against anyone referred to in this article, and your comments  are totally out of line.

Australian Gambling
Australian Gambling
9 years ago

@PeteB Dimity Not even the parliamentary inquiry actually believed those submissions as most were fabrications and repeated myths and rumours that were found to have no substance. Asked for specific details so that GRNSW could act upon them, none could be provided. We encourage anyone with specific details of animal welfare concerns to report them to the relevant authorities.

Dimity
Dimity
9 years ago

I know enough about the sport to know that it’s not perfect and many people have applauded my involvement to bring animal welfare to the attention of others. Go and start a keyboard argument with a real animal abuser and use your time more wisely.

DarrynMelvaine
DarrynMelvaine
9 years ago

Aaron C , Bridgid if I were you lot is be checking my info a little bit more before opening your mouths. I’ve known Dimity for a very long time and probably know her a lot better than most in this industry. You will not a emotional person when comes to greyhounds even any animal and for you lot to bag the crap about her because of what you’ve heard from some knit wit or someone with a vendetta against greyhounds than you lot are truly the fools. Yes there are some bad apples in this sport but isn’t there… Read more »

Bridgid
Bridgid
9 years ago

DarrynMelvaine 

I’m sorry but it was quite hard to comprehend what your comment says so I do not know what your point it.

greyracer
greyracer
9 years ago

Keep your head held high Dimity, to knock back a volunteer whether connected to greyhounds or not is a mistake on their part.

Can anyone tell me how many greyhounds THIS Welfare Group have  ADOPTED to responsible families, I would be very interested to know the statistics, with proof of course?