The Mighty Celt

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

The Mighty Celt

Beauty William · Old Hand

Like you I was determined that I wouldn't watch any of it and pretended I wasn't by doing things around the house. Managed to switch off after the initial "hammer" threat thank goodness! Wonder what kind of audience it got as it's amazing how many ( even "doggie") people still know nothing of that side of it despite all the publicity, so maybe it did some good. Generally can't bear to watch anything with groos in it, not event that recent ad which featured one. Distressing as it was at least it didn't have a "happy" unrealistic ending.

Michelle · Master

I watched it all and I cried my eyes out at the end. I did think it was a good film though because it showed exactly what the reality is for greyhounds and the racing industry - hopefully it'll actually do some good and as Beauty William said, i'm glad it didn't have a hollywood happy ending, it would only have given the wrong message.

weejake · Master

OH bought me this film last year, hated it at first after throat cutting incident and found it disturbing, not like Lassie at all. Have watched it since and am glad now it was on TV as it does show the other side of greyhound racing, and people who are ignorant of what actually goes on maybe have got a chance to see. Great lines like "groos are not pets, they're tools" which is how they are viewed. The line had me howling but it's necessary as we all know this is the reality and especially in Ireland, where a household can have the pet dog by the fire and a shed full of greys. So hard to watch but worth it.

Jacks
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Maureen · Graduate

My Mum rang me on Sunday to ask if I had watched it.Told her I couldn't-never watch anything involving Greyhound cruelty-makes my waterworks overflow,but did flick over a couple of times.We talked for a while on the subject of threats of the dogs being hit with hammers etc.,then the stupid woman says "Oh,it's only a film,surely that does not happen in real life?" Where is my hammer?!!! After all the years I have been involved with Greyhounds for her to come away with that took my breath away,especially when I have taken so many up to let her see what does happen to them.I hope she is not looking for a Mother's Day pressie>

Michelle · Master

I must admit Jet never had so many cuddles in one night! Maureen, I hope you told her that it does happen in real life, i've spoken about it with 3 or 4 people now who watched it and set them all straight.

weejake · Master

Oh my family know all right. Bought my nephews 6 and 8 the book "Born to Run" for Xmas and was texted by my brother "thanks for making my boys cry, but great story" and at a BBQ last Summer, some young lass stated that she wanted a dog and my mate said why not a greyhound? And she then said "oh no they are soo ugly" and was met with (and I am not joking here) a huge intake of breath and every head turned to me, and I am reliably informed my chin was sticking out, which is a sure sign of my displeasure. She got the speech, about thousands being bred, not enough home, the ones killed before even making it etc etc. She was suitably chagrined, and the thing is I am so shy at stuff like that, but this subject is something I feel strongly enough about to have everyone at a party looking at me. Ugh. I get on my own nerves.

Jacks
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scoobcleecook · Master

Haven't seen the film - couldn't stand the trauma (even knowing that the dogs on screen are actors - as opposed to the poor souls out there in real life). Have read the Born to Run book, though (my son bought it for me for Christmas) - enjoyed it, shed a few tears at the appropriate places. Just goes to show, you're never too old....!

Jean

PS Like the rest of you, I do the soapbox thing regularly about the bad treatment, needs for homes, etc, etc.....and don't start me on the Spanish and what they do to the dogs! I wonder why people run away when they see me coming???

skydivingturtle · Master

Seen an advert for the film but didn't watch it. Gald I didn't now, even reading the posts about it makes a lump in my throat. Maybe one day morbid curiosity will set in. Like so many of you my soap box comes out pretty quickly when anyone mentions greyhound racing or how ugly or odd looking they think they are.

evilshiddenclaws · Old Hand

i watched that, at first i didnt like it because the boy looked after the grey so well i felt like it was giving the wrong impression on racing dogs but when that horrid man killed the hound i felt like the film did the right job by showing them for what they really are.

broke my heart, the dog in the film is the spitting image of Bailey who is wasting away in front of my eyes

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

evilshiddenclaws wrote:
i watched that, at first i didnt like it because the boy looked after the grey so well i felt like it was giving the wrong impression on racing dogs but when that horrid man killed the hound i felt like the film did the right job by showing them for what they really are.

broke my heart, the dog in the film is the spitting image of Bailey who is wasting away in front of my eyes

How sad about Bailey. I thought the boy's care of the dog highlighted one of the extraordinary things I come across in Leith quite a lot - which used to be a big racing community when Powderhall was running. You have this terrible side to the industry and lack of regulation which allows them to turn a blind eye to the waste of life but at the same time I meet so many people with such an affection for greyhounds because they, their dads, grandad etc raced them.
The kids round by me constantly surprise me with their knowledge of racing dogs, just the other night I passed a group in the park and the girl was visibly frightened of Mason until one of the boys said to her 'he's a running dog, he's not going to bite you" I was quietly thrilled that someone so young knew how gentle greyhounds are.
Marie

weejake · Master

I have had this a lot too, down in York and here in Leven. Like the people who come up to us have previously had contact with greys for whatever reason, mostly a family member had them as racers and therefore have a huge affection for them. But the general public just haven't come into contact with them and at most have "heard" that they are very gentle,but have been put off by their image, like the big poster in most bookies windows. baring the teeth, muzzled and all that malarkey. It's getting better though... Slowly.

Jacks
xx