There is a side to greyhound racing that the industry would much rather the public didn’t see. Behind the excitement of race nights and the money changing hands is a world of exploitation, suffering and secrecy. Now a new short documentary from Animal Aid is bringing some of that hidden reality into the open, with special screenings taking place across the UK throughout November.
Read more below.
The Secret Lives of Greyhounds is an investigative film exploring what happens to dogs bred and raced for entertainment. Featuring exclusive undercover footage and expert testimony, the documentary examines the pipeline of exploitation at the heart of an industry facing growing condemnation around the world.
It challenges the legitimacy of greyhound racing and asks a question that deserves serious consideration. Can this industry really justify its continued existence?
Animal Aid has been campaigning against animal cruelty for decades and this documentary is another important part of its work to expose what happens behind the scenes. The film’s website also contains plenty of additional information for anyone who wants to learn more about the treatment of racing greyhounds.
The evidence and facts presented are deeply disturbing. They include information about drug testing, deaths and injuries, as well as the horrific reality of trackside freezers where dead dogs are stored. These are the kinds of details that rarely make it into the public-facing presentation of greyhound racing.
I think it is important that people have the opportunity to see this information, hear the evidence, and understand what happens to the animals involved. Films like this can help challenge public perceptions and encourage conversations that the racing industry would rather avoid.
Thankfully, there are plenty of opportunities to see The Secret Lives of Greyhounds in person this month. Screenings are being organised in towns and cities across the country, giving people a chance to come together and show their support for the campaign to end greyhound racing.
Here are the upcoming dates and locations:
November screening dates
- Tuesday 10 November: Sittingbourne
- Tuesday 10 November: Southampton (sold out, waiting list only)
- Thursday 12 November: Brighton
- Saturday 14 November: Nottingham
- Saturday 14 November: Harlow
- Sunday 15 November: Northampton
- Wednesday 18 November: Sheffield
- Thursday 19 November: Birmingham
- Saturday 21 November: Manchester (Hannah Spencer MP presents, with Animal Aid)
- Sunday 22 November: Norwich
- Monday 23 November: Newcastle
- Wednesday 25 November: Leeds
- Wednesday 25 November: Wolverhampton
- Friday 27 November: South Shields
- Friday 27 November: London
You can find the full screening information and ticket links on the official The Secret Lives of Greyhounds website.
If you are able to attend one of these events, please consider booking a ticket and encouraging friends, family, and fellow animal advocates to come along too. If there isn’t a screening near you, sharing the information online could help someone else discover an event in their area.
Greyhounds deserve lives free from exploitation, injury and suffering. The more people who understand what happens within the racing industry, the harder it becomes to ignore.
Please help spread the word about these important screenings. Let’s get people watching, talking, and questioning an industry that has gone on for far too long.
Click here to see all my upcoming events and book tickets. You can also join my FGV email newsletter online here.
If you appreciate these blog posts and the work I do to support vegan business, please consider making a one time small donation of a couple of quid online here. You might also be in the position to sponsor my work on an regular basis via Patreon.
Get 25% off vegan dog and cat food from Just Be Kind using code FATGAYVEGAN. This is an affiliate code so I can earn commission when you shop!
You can order my book ‘Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Drink and Live Like You Give a Sh!t’ online now. It has been out a while now but is still a good read. You can also listen to the Audiobook read by me!
You can watch/stream my weekly podcast Tell Me Where I’m Going (Wrong) on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Follow me on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Facebook, and Blue Sky.