RedFlagMagazine

Location: Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand

Name: Keeli McCarthy

Thoughts of New Zealand tend to elicit grand visions of the earth’s natural beauty – the great Southern Alps, volcanoes and beaches abundant.  Yet on a recent February summer Saturday afternoon, I met Keeli McCarthy in a little corner of Steele Park in the Hamilton East section of the fourth largest urban area in New Zealand.  She is co-founder of the Greyhound Protection League of New Zealand (GPLNZ), a small organization working to raise awareness of the plight of greyhounds born into a life of racing in paradise, beasts of burden stuck on two islands in a corner of the south pacific. We sit in the shade and chat.  Keeli tells me that the greyhound is the only dog mentioned in the Bible and the first dog bred by humans.  Admittedly, I don’t know much about greyhounds, but soon I’m learning more and beginning to understand.  Though exceptionally fast, greyhounds are fragile animals and the physical exertion during races can cause fractures, sprains and torn muscles.  Young, otherwise healthy dogs that are seriously injured are often euthanized.  In New Zealand, there is no independent body to formally oversee these racing dogs’ welfare.

Throughout New Zealand, most bars tend to have a TAB, similar to Off Track Betting in the United States.  Run by the New Zealand Racing Board, a TAB is found in almost all sports bars in New Zealand and gambling is omnipresent throughout these establishments.  When the sports bar/TAB is open, betting is taking place, often on greyhound racing.  Keeli and I finish chatting and head across the street to a TAB.  The sky is blue and it’s a warm afternoon.  We shoot a few photographs in the parking lot and though we’re in New Zealand, it feels like we could be in a parking lot in Florida.  We go inside and a number of men are gathered around television screens watching horse racing.  The day’s greyhound races are posted the wall.  Keeli breaks out the red flag beside the racing sheet.  A few men look over at her briefly, but take little notice, they gaze back to the television, to the races, to a stupor with visions of riches.  Keeli says hello to one of the gamblers, though I don’t think he says hello back.  We take a few photographs and decide to head back outside.  It’s a beautiful day and we’re standing in a parking lot surrounded by two liquor stores, a gambling centre and a McDonald’s.  It doesn’t take much to realize that for Keeli and GPLNZ, there is still much work to be done.

For information on how to help visit www.greyhoundprotectionleague.org.nz