The Greyhound is an intelligent friend to man and has actually been around for thousands of years. They have been documented as existing for centuries and have been present all over the world, from Ancient Egypt to the Middle East initially and in a huge number of countries in more modern times.
These dogs have been featured in early Egyptian pottery and indeed the hieroglyphics left behind in various tombs. They were rumored to belong to many pharaohs and the Egyptian royalty, such as Cleopatra. The remains of these greyhounds were often mummified and buried in the tombs with the remains of their owners. Close analysis has demonstrated that the greyhounds of that era very closely resemble the greyhounds we know and love today.
Traveling a little farther forward in time to the Middle Ages, the greyhound was thought to have almost succumbed to extinction. Thankfully, clergymen of that era took the greyhound under their wings and decided to breed them. As a result, it was later decided that only those individuals of noble blood were worthy of owning the greyhound because they were so rare. They were treasured within the home to the extent that a law was implemented in 1014 to prohibit the unlawful slaughter of a greyhound. The punishment for committing this crime against the animal was death. As we all know, this directly contrasts the law today because no law actually protects these noble and loving creatures from the barbarous human nature that many of them suffer throughout their lives and ultimately may directly cause their deaths.
Greyhounds were bred mainly in England and Ireland at that point and were transported to America in the 18th Century. In the New World, they were used to rid farms of jackrabbits and the coyotes that were killing the farmers’ livestock at the time. They were also helpful in spotting Native Americans and were used to chase them because they were fast enough to keep up with the horses the Natives rode. Meanwhile, they still lived in the homes of royalty and nobles in England during the 19th Century. In fact, Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, owned one! Eos was a black and white greyhound that can still be found in many court portraits of the era today.
However, shortly after the turn of the 20th Century the greyhound seemed to fall from grace. Still revered by some, it was decided that the beautiful greyhound would be put to better use for man – making money. Owen Smith opened the first greyhound racing track in 1912. It located in Emeryville, California. It was the first track but it was not to be the last. Over the years, the many tracks that exist have become more and more popular. As a matter of fact, in 1992 there were 3.5 million people attending these races over the course of a year, but the figure had been much higher in 1980. The racing of these animals has lost much popularity still as other forms of gambling have come into play.
Today, we should remember the original functions of the greyhound and hold them in the same high esteem. Man has brought about the fall of this beautiful creature and it is about time that man made changes for the better, taking more care of one of the oldest creatures on Earth and the most loving. Human nature really can be barbaric so it is time we rectify the balance and take a leaf out of the greyhound’s book.
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