http://www.EndTucsonGreyhoundRacing.com/blog/2009/12/19/phoenix-greyhound-racing-ends-good-news/ Dogs race to their death Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:11:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 http://www.EndTucsonGreyhoundRacing.com/blog/2009/12/19/phoenix-greyhound-racing-ends-good-news/comment-page-1/#comment-240 Anna Townsend Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:03:40 +0000 http://www.EndTucsonGreyhoundRacing.com/blog/2009/12/19/phoenix-greyhound-racing-ends-good-news/#comment-240 I am delighted that the Phoenix Greyhound Park has closed, and can only hope that the Tucson Greyhound Park will likewise fold in the near future. Greyhound racing as a ’sport’ in Arizona is archaic and should be abolished. No one with any sense of compassion for this magnificent breed can believe that greyhound racing is family entertainment, as is touted by TGP on its website. I am by no way a pedigree snob. I adopted a retired racing greyhound because a greyhound’s temperament matches mine and I empathized with the plight of these dogs that are used as a commodity by the racing industry. I also inherited an American Eskimo. and a mutt called Daisie Mae, all of whom I love equally. In November 2008, the citizens of South Tucson voted and passed an amendment to a City Ordinance that would provide improved living conditions for ‘animals in human custody and control,’ which includes racing greyhounds. According to several recent articles in the Tucson Weekly, the track has violated this ordinance by continuing to pump steroids into racing greyhounds, using a vet that lives in Green Valley and works part time for TGP. In the articles I read, the vet admitted to doing so. Despite an email complaint to the South Tucson City Manager and copies to the Mayor of the City of South Tucson protesting this violation, I have yet to hear that anything has been done by the City of South Tucson to investigate or rectify this problem. According to the Department of Racing, it has no jurisdiction over city ordinances and there is no statutory authority governing anabolic steroids for racing greyhounds. However, the Department of Racing’s website shows a rule governing the use of steroids for racing horses. Are greyhounds any different? I think not. One woud think that the City Manager for the City of South Tucson would have turned over the email complaint about an alleged violation of the city ordinance to the City Attorney. Maybe he has and, if so,is the City Attorney investigating the complaint? I lodged the complaint and I’ve heard nothing so far that any investiation is under way. A similar letter was sent to the Arizona State Veterinary Board and this agency has opened an investigation, the results of which are not yet known. Under the Department of Racing Rules, there is a provision that the department maintain a log as to the disposition of individually, registered greyhounds at the end of their breeding, racing, or non-racing careers. Now that the Phoenix race track is closed, I woud think that the Department of Racing has such a log and it would it be available under a public records request. I wonder what the log would show as far as disposition of the greyhounds remaining at the Phoenix track. I intend to direct a letter of complaint concerning the allged violation of the amendment to the South Tucson City Ordinance directly to the South Tucson City Attorney, as I understand he is also the prosecutor for this small empire in South Tucson. The citizens of South Tucson did the right thing when they voted YES to amend the South Tucson City Ordinance to improve the lives of animals under human custody and control. Their vote should not be ignored by the officials that govern this small empire. I am delighted that the Phoenix Greyhound Park has closed, and can only hope that the Tucson Greyhound Park will likewise fold in the near future. Greyhound racing as a ’sport’ in Arizona is archaic and should be abolished. No one with any sense of compassion for this magnificent breed can believe that greyhound racing is family entertainment, as is touted by TGP on its website. I am by no way a pedigree snob. I adopted a retired racing greyhound because a greyhound’s temperament matches mine and I empathized with the plight of these dogs that are used as a commodity by the racing industry. I also inherited an American Eskimo. and a mutt called Daisie Mae, all of whom I love equally.
In November 2008, the citizens of South Tucson voted and passed an amendment to a City Ordinance that would provide improved living conditions for ‘animals in human custody and control,’ which includes racing greyhounds. According to several recent articles in the Tucson Weekly, the track has violated this ordinance by continuing to pump steroids into racing greyhounds, using a vet that lives in Green Valley and works part time for TGP. In the articles I read, the vet admitted to doing so.
Despite an email complaint to the South Tucson City Manager and copies to the Mayor of the City of South Tucson protesting this violation, I have yet to hear that anything has been done by the City of South Tucson to investigate or rectify this problem.
According to the Department of Racing, it has no jurisdiction over city ordinances and there is no statutory authority governing anabolic steroids for racing greyhounds. However, the Department of Racing’s website shows a rule governing the use of steroids for racing horses. Are greyhounds any different? I think not.
One woud think that the City Manager for the City of South Tucson would have turned over the email complaint about an alleged violation of the city ordinance to the City Attorney. Maybe he has and, if so,is the City Attorney investigating the complaint? I lodged the complaint and I’ve heard nothing so far that any investiation is under way.
A similar letter was sent to the Arizona State Veterinary Board and this agency has opened an investigation, the results of which are not yet known.
Under the Department of Racing Rules, there is a provision that the department maintain a log as to the disposition of individually, registered greyhounds at the end of their breeding, racing, or non-racing careers.
Now that the Phoenix race track is closed, I woud think that the Department of Racing has such a log and it would it be available under a public records request. I wonder what the log would show as far as disposition of the greyhounds remaining at the Phoenix track.
I intend to direct a letter of complaint concerning the allged violation of the amendment to the South Tucson City Ordinance directly to the South Tucson City Attorney, as I understand he is also the prosecutor for this small empire in South Tucson. The citizens of South Tucson did the right thing when they voted YES to amend the South Tucson City Ordinance to improve the lives of animals under human custody and control. Their vote should not be ignored by the officials that govern this small empire.

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