How do 20 racing greyhounds starve to death and nobody notices until it’s too late?

According this article, …”it appeared they’d been starved to death.”

At what point does someone take notice?

Why are there no checks and balances and oversights in place so 20 racing greyhounds don’t starve to death?

Why are there no checks and balances and oversights in place so that one racing greyhound doesn’t starve to death much less 20?

How long does it take 20 racing greyhounds to starve to death?

According to this article, “Ebro officials made it clear Friday night under their agreement the dog owners are solely responsible for the health and safety of their animals. At this point authorities are trying to determine what killed the animals. It’s possible they may have gotten some bad food or contracted some type of disease. But witnesses on the scene told us Friday night it appeared they’d been starved to death.”

What can Ebro do to get a better handle on the health and safety of greyhounds who race in their track?

Here are 20 reasons why greyhound racing must end in Florida and nationwide. I can think of thousands of more reasons why it must end ASAP.

Update: 33 greyhounds found dead at  Ebro, 4 near death.

Tags: Greyhound Racing, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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There has been so many news articles and blogs written about greyhounds as pets recently and that makes my heart sing.  The more people who know about what gentle creatures retired racing greyhounds are, the better.

Here’s a beautifully written article about adopting greyhounds.

One quote in the article made the hair on the back of my neck stand up:

“We take a neutral stance on the racing industry,” she said. “We must remain completely neutral to keep good relationships with the farms and tracks so they will continue to give us their dogs.”

What does that mean exactly?

Has “she” been threatened to not speak out against the cruelty of greyhound racing?

If “she” did speak out against greyhound racing, what would happen to the dogs?

Are the greyhounds held hostage in return for neutrality?

Or is the vow of neutrality a convenient myth passed on from group to group as a convenient way of  not having to confront the harsh realities of greyhound racing? You know the harsh realities like picking up a dog from the track who is covered with so many ticks that the water turns scarlet from the blood? Or dogs that waste away in urine-stinky cages with badly wrapped broken legs?  Or brood mamas who have been used too many times as breeding machines? Or dogs that continue to race after being injured, lame, or sick? And these are the lucky ones because they have been rescued and go on to be beloved family pets.

Does the person or rescue group who speaks about neutrality actually believe it? And do they try to brainwash their adopters with that same boogie man blather?

Here in Arizona there’s a group that has falsely told their adopters that the reason the dogs have bald butts and thighs is because they have been shaved and massaged with cream. Yeah, right.  Perhaps as a newbie adopter  you believe that dreck for 15 minutes and then wonder what else your adoption group lied about.

You might be able to be neutral about whether to have rye toast or an English muffin with your breakfast but nobody or no entity is neutral about greyhound racing. You’re either pro racing or anti racing. If you’re neutral – you’re copping out and you’re very afraid.

Here’s an essay written many years ago about the myth of neutrality. It still rings true. I recommend everyone read it.

And by the way, there are plenty of greyhound rescue groups that are anti racing and they still have relationships with race tracks, track personnel, and get as many greyhounds as they can place for adoption.

Tags: Greyhound Racing, Speak Out Against Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Good News: Bingo Players Sue Victoryland Dog Park

This news article made me smile. Things are not going well in Alabama for Victoryland Dog Track.

First the dog track owner gets indicted and now hundreds of plaintiffs file a lawsuit claiming that the Victoryland Alabama dog track’s electronic bingo was rigged.

If this were a TV show, nobody would believe the plot.

In this case, strange as it is, real life is better. Hell hath no fury than gamblers who think you’re cheating them.

It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. Bingo!

Tags: Good News, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Animals especially greyhounds need all the help they can get especially in the Arizona legislature.

You are invited to a fundraiser to meet Nancy Young Wright, House Representative for LD 26 – Oro Valley, Marana, and parts of the northwest and Foothills.

Check out this event and please RSVP by October 20. Come meet Ms. Wright in a casual setting and let her know what your concerns are regarding animals, especially greyhounds.

Tags: Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Kudos to the GREY2K USA and ASPCA advocates  who are meeting with Iowa politicos to drive home the point that greyhound racing is cruel and must end.

Iowa is an enigma in my eyes – it’s progressive as Iowa is one of the few states allowing same sex marriage.

On the other hand, Iowa continues to demand dog racing even though it’s a fiscal drain on the state’s funds while sanctioning state dog abuse.

I always want to vomit when someone says, “If you compare dog racing to any other athletic activity, the number of injuries are astoundingly low, and greyhounds are doing what they love to do,” Hardison said.  Hardison is president of the Iowa Greyhound Association.

Mr. Hardison: What is the number of injuries to Iowa racing greyhounds? Greyhounds love to run but how do you know they love to race? If I was confined to a cramped cage for 19 to 21 hours a day, I would love to stretch my limbs and run around the yard too.

Mr. Hardison: Human athletes have the option of whether or not they want to participate. Racing greyhounds are captive slaves.

Here’s a well done article in the Des Moines Register. Thanks for the extensive coverage.

And best of all here’s a groundbreaking report about greyhound racing in Iowa.  As for injuries — 530 greyhound injuries were reported at Iowa tracks between January 2006 and August 2010.  57% of all reported injuries involved broken legs, and other reported injuries include puncture wounds, fractured skulls and paralysis.

Mr. Hardison: If you think this is “an astoundingly low” number of injuries, I’d like an explanation. Hypothetically, that’s more than 100 dogs a year suffering injuries and Iowa has seasonal tracks.

Iowa is one of the seven states where greyhounds still run for their lives. End greyhound racing in Iowa now!

Tags: Greyhound Injury, Greyhound Racing, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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People ask me why I hate Tucson dog racing so much. Let me count the ways:

Below I am going to share with you some greyhounds who were injured, sick, or lame in 2008 but continue to race in 2010.

If this is not an example of greyhounds racing to their death — I don’t know what is.

BOC’s Woodrow – 122 races
This hound was injured Oct. 16, 2008 at Phoenix Greyhound Park (PGP). He suffered an injury to the right quarterbone. No treatment was provided. That  means we don’t know if treatment was or was not provided; that’s a wild card. Why it isn’t required to list if treatment is provided or not? I think these trainers shoot themselves in the head by not listing whether treatment was provided or not.

Boc’s Woodrow was again bumped two times on Sept. 19, 2008 and then he didn’t race for 5 months.

Unfortunately, he is still racing at TGP as of October 11, 2010, two years after suffering an injury to his quarterbone.

CDC Make Me Stop – 130 races
On Oct. 4, 2008 CDC Make Me Stop was bumped the first turn. On Oct. 10, 2008 the injury report listed CDC Make Me Stop as lame at PGP. If there was any treatment, none is listed.

Her most recent race is Oct. 9, 2010 and she’s on the schedule to race Oct. 13, 2010. Very sad.

Mississippi Mule – 136 races
MM was injured on Nov. 25, 2008. He suffered a dislocation to his right toe. No race was listed on Greyhound-Data but other racing industry information shows him running on that date.

MM’s most recent race was Oct. 6, 2010. Track info notes: “poor effort”. Why do you suppose that is? Could MM be tired of racing especially after having a dislocated toe?

(Note:  one full week without racing, not on schedule, uh oh)

PJs Lethal Chic – OMFG!  202 races (10/14/10)
Poor Chic has been racing since Nov. 1, 2007, almost 3 years. Chic was injured June 12, 2008 when she suffered a break to the left dewclaw. Chic most recently raced Oct. 11 and is scheduled to race Oct. 14. Why must a greyhound race every 3rd or 4th day?

Why must a hound who has raced for almost 3 years continue to race every 3rd or 4th day?

I adopted Chic’s littermate, PleaseSendMeaCheck. Unfortunately, he raced 150 times. I will pamper him until his dying day. I hope to high hell that Chic has the opportunity to find a soft bed and a loving household immediately if not sooner.

RLM’s Damage – 152 races
Damage was lame on Dec. 12, 2008 at PGP. If treatment was provided, it’s not listed. Why does the state veterinarian allow for such omissions on the injury reports? Why? It seems like greyhound welfare has never been high on the Arizona Department of Racing’s agenda.

Damage’s most recent race was Oct 9, 2010. He is scheduled to race again on Oct. 13, 2010.

RLM’s Divert – 170 races
Divert was sick at PGP on Nov. 19, 2008. No further info was provided. Sick can account for any number of things but keeping it vague is the order of the day, week, month, year. Divert most recently raced on Oct. 11, 2010.

Savvy Single – 188 races
Savvy’s first race was Dec. 6, 2007. On June 1, 2008, Savvy was lame at PGP. No further info was provided. Savvy’s most recent race was Oct. 11, 2010.

How many races does Savvy have to run before the hound either drops dead or goes to an adoption group?

AK’s Toureg – 136 races
AK was injured on Oct. 18, 2008 at TGP. She suffered swelling to her left hip. On Feb. 10, 2010, Toureg fell in the homestretch. Since then she has still raced 46 times in races that last approx 18 seconds vs. the longer 31 or 32 second races.

It seems obvious that Toureg cannot run the full race.

Nevertheless someone is giving her no choice but to continue to run and make money squeezing every drop of life from her limbs. Her most recent race was Oct. 12, 2010.

God help Toureg. I hope she crossed the finish line without any injuries and I hope her racing days are over and she races into an adopter’s heart.

You can find more info on Greyhound-Data (but it’s not up to date), on Track Info, and you can review the 2008 injury report and also find out how you can get involved in helping to end dog racing in South Tucson.

Resources

• Greyhound-data.com – enter dog’s name for dog search
• More & better  racing stats from Track Info
• 2008 injury reports received from a public records request from the Arizona Dept of Racing

Help end live dog racing in Tucson - I just gave you 8 reasons why now is the time to join in the cause to end live dog racing in South Tucson. There are thousands of reasons; these are just 8. End greyhound racing abuse now.

Tags: Greyhound Injury, Greyhound Racing, Greyhound Racing - TUCSON (TGP) by NoMoreRacing
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