Reply #10: Greyhound trainer

[skygazer]

1. Got into it on a dare when I was 17. A guy I knew worked at the track as a leadout (the people who bring the dogs onto the track and put them in the starting box). He said they needed someone, I joked that I'd do it, he said, "A girl couldn't do it!"

That's all it took. Never had any interest before then but discovered I loved the dogs - they were so wonderful. Within 6 months, I was working in the kennels and before I was 18, I was a trainer.

2. Close to ten years - racetracking is kind of a way of life.

3. I couldn't stand the waste - young dogs put down because they weren't fast enough. People hear horror stories about cruelty - it happens but the real tragedy is the day-to-day waste - I adopted dogs myself because I couldn't stand to see them go but you can't adopt them all yourself and this was before any organizations had come into play. It just got to be too much.

I have some great memories of some wonderful dogs and some great people but I'm perfectly happy to see greyhound racing phasing out. :hi: