Tonight 15 people and 2 adopted greyhounds gathered to remember Missy and educate passersby about greyhound racing.

The greyhound adopters and animal advocates who came out ranged from 23 to 73 years old, all bonded together to end the inhumane sport of dog racing in South Tucson.

We were a bit upstaged by an automobile accident across the street but one member of our party called 911, another went to see if anyone was hurt, and a third went to talk to the police as an eye witness.

You could tell the drivers were with us all the way as there was much honking and thumbs up and two carloads even pulled over for more information.

Go Tucson End Greyhound Racing Team! Thank you for coming out and taking a stand.

Here’s a poem to remember Missy and all the other greyhounds who have been senselessly killed by dog racing.

Trusting Eyes

I’m paralyzed
my soul frozen in an Eternal Instant
In a vision I cannot get out of my mind
I must ease its hold by sharing its demand
This vision demands to be acknowledged
It is the vision of a dog’s Trusting Eyes,
to be screamed out
while a shell of a man finishes her life.
Those trusting eyes are, somehow, now looking at me,
they plead………………please, do something

Copyright 2002 Rebeca Dugan

Read the entire story about Missy, a racing greyhound, and the people who tried to save her.

Tags: Greyhound Racing - TUCSON (TGP), Greyhounds ETC., Speak Out Against Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Three years ago on August 31, 2007, a racing greyhound named Missy was senselessly euthanized at the dog track in South Tucson even though others tried to save her.

This incident illuminates everything that is wrong with greyhound racing: Dogs still die. Dogs break their hocks and legs. Dogs suffer serious injuries. Greyhound welfare is not a priority.

A rally to remember Missy and all the racing greyhounds who have suffered needlessly because of a two-buck-bet happens August 31 in midtown Tucson at 4915 E. Speedway (1 block east of Swan), in front of an off-track-betting bar. In case you don’t know, off-track-betting props up the dying sport of dog racing.

Join animal lovers and greyhound adopters as we remember Missy from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Signs are available or bring your own.

Read more about the Tucson greyhound Missy debacle.

Read an article written three years ago about the incident in the Tucson Weekly.

Tags: Greyhound Racing - TUCSON (TGP), Greyhounds ETC. by NoMoreRacing
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Statement from GREY2K USA:

“This morning, Wonderland Greyhound Park announced its permanent closure.

In November 2008, Massachusetts citizens overwhelmingly voted to end greyhound racing.  The Greyhound Protection Act passed in nearly 290 cities and towns from one end of the state to the other.  Voters made this humane choice because greyhound racing was cruel and inhumane.

For decades, greyhounds at Wonderland were kept in small cages for long hours each day.  This is documented by statements made by greyhound trainers working at Wonderland, and by photographs that were taken by the track itself.

Additionally, between 2002 and 2008, 317 greyhound injuries were reported at Wonderland.  This includes dogs like Renkar, a greyhound who died at the track in August 2006 after suffering massive head trauma.  Most reported injuries at Wonderland were serious, and a majority involved broken legs.

These are not the only humane issues that were documented at Wonderland.  In the Spring of 2005, 19 dogs at Wonderland Greyhound Park died from a mystery illness that was later proven to be a form of horse flu that had never before jumped species.  In late 2003 and early 2004, a dog tested positive for cocaine twice at Wonderland Greyhound Park.

The end of greyhound racing in the Commonwealth is a victory for everyone who cares about dogs.  For generations, Massachusetts has been a leader on humane issues, and the end of greyhound racing continues this proud tradition.

Finally, we encourage everyone to continue supporting efforts to assist those who have been displaced by the closure of Wonderland.  We made sure that Question 3 included a 14-month phase out to help these individuals, and all efforts should be made to provide them with the transitional assistance they deserve.”

GREY2K USA is a national, non-profit greyhound protection organization with more than 30,000 supporters nationwide.  If you want greyhound racing to end, please consider supporting their efforts by making a donation and/or educating the public about greyhound racing cruelty. Thank you

Tags: Good News, Greyhounds ETC., Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Good News: Soccer Team Wants Phoenix Greyhound Park

What a brilliant idea. According to this article, “The Monsoon are attempting to work with the city of Phoenix on revitalizing an abandoned greyhound racing facility into a suitable soccer stadium.” (It’s the Pacific Monsoon Soccer team or what I like to refer to them as PMS.)  Wouldn’t it be grand if PMS trumps PGP? Yowza! No more greyhounds become sick, lame, injured or die.

Further in the article, it says, “There is another group, Phoenix Pro Soccer, also looking to secure a Divsion 2 franchise for the Phoenix area.”

Bright idea: Why doesn’t the Phoenix Pro Soccer team or another soccer team negotiate with the dog track in South Tucson? Its popularity continues to wane as does its patrons. Through the years, Tucsonans are grown hip to greyhound racing cruelty.

Last year during a fire in the historic tower, there were less patrons than employees on the premises (no dogs or people were injured thankfully). And the fire damage has not been fixed yet. Does South Tucson let other businesses with fire damage continue to be open? What are they waiting for?

Perhaps a soccer team?

It would be good business for the community and family entertainment. Watching dogs race and break their legs and run into the rail is not family entertainment; that’s child abuse AND animal abuse.

Tags: Good News, Greyhounds ETC., Phoenix Greyhound Park by NoMoreRacing
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Phoenix Greyhound Park Injury List – July 2008

It’s a good thing that Phoenix Greyhound Park closed Dec. 19, 2009 and let’s hope and pray that it never reopens.Why?

According to injury reports which are a matter of public record, in July 2008, 81 dogs were injured, sick, or lame. Here’s the list. You can see it for yourself. The dogs’ names are bolded as are particularly striking comments written by track kennel operators, handlers, or trainers. Text in italics are blogger’s comments.

One of the many problems associated with Arizona greyhound racing is that dogs that are on the injury list 2008, go on to race and some are still racing in 2009 and 2010 at the other dog track in South Tucson. Another problem associated with Arizona greyhound racing is that this “sport” is supposed to be regulated by the state but very little  time and effort is placed on greyhound welfare. If it was, dogs wouldn’t be racing in 100+ degrees. It’s all about the money and the bettor, not greyhound welfare.

If I were the Arizona director of racing, the injury report would be completed in a cognizant manner not with minimal to no information. I would want to know why information was “not provided” so many times.  I’d want to clear up the discrepancies as to which side of the body the poor greyhound was injured. If greyhound welfare was of great importance to the state of Arizona, wouldn’t it be important to know why 5 dogs were injured or too sick or too lame on July 5? Someone really concerned about greyhound welfare would have the problem fixed by July 6.

As you can see, far too many dogs were injured July 2008 at Phoenix Greyhound Park.

DATE/ DOG NAME/ TRACK INJURY/ TYPE INJURY/ LOCATION/ TREATMENT/ RECOVERY TIME NOTES

07/01/08 BF Get fracture right hock (not provided) “finished” “No vet on track premises – need vet to be at the track for morning schooling”.

07/01/08 CDC Buddy fracture left hock splint, medication (not provided) (discrepancy between Mishap Report and Suspension List on which side injured: left vs right respectively).

07/01/08 Charlie (not provided) left quarter bone (not provided) 6 weeks

07/01/08 Goldie (not provided) left quarter bone (not provided) (not provided) (Blogger’s note: We don’t know if not provided means no treatment was provided.)

07/03/08 Backseat Rhythm fracture right hock splint, medication career ending

07/04/08 Double Squeeze sick (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List) “Vomiting several times food + bile”

(Blogger’s note: In one day 5 dogs fractured, sprained, and became lame. Why?)

07/05/08 Action Of The Day fracture right hock (not provided) N/A “retired”; “forced into rail far turn, bounced off and planted hard on R.R. leg, broke hock/tore ligaments in joint” (Blogger’s note: Holy Hell!)

07/05/08 Lazy K Bogart sprain left ankle (not provided) (not provided)

07/05/08 Phoenix Arbee fracture right hock (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/05/08 Savvy Macho lame (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/05/08 UCME Mango Tango lame (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/06/08 Demello sprain right hock (not provided) 2 months (discrepancy between Mishap Report and Suspension List on which side injured: right vs left respectively)

07/06/08 Roman Az Pullo lame (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/07/08 KB’s Hot To Trot x fracture right stopper bone (not provided) “finished”

07/07/08 Phat Az Carmen pulled muscle right leg (not provided) (not provided)

07/09/08 Bella Corona fracture quarter bone (not provided) (not provided)

07/09/08 Starz J Leo (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (not provided)

07/10/08 Bella BB Jessica sick (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/10/08 Kay Peyote Pearl pulled muscle right leg (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/10/08 Midnight Secret lame (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/10/08 Shaker N A Mover cramp “all over” (not provided) 1 week “should be fine with a brief rest”

07/10/08 Sol Johann pulled muscle right leg (not provided) (not provided)

07/11/08 BC’s Another Chance fracture left toe (not provided) (not provided)

07/11/08 Zero Point Zero fracture right hock (not provided) (not provided)

07/14/08 Like Royalty fracture right stopper bone, right carpus splint, medication career ending

07/14/08 Midnight Secret lame (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/15/08 Doin Diddily tear right leg muscle (not provided) career ending

07/16/08 RLM’s Winter tear right leg muscle (not provided) (not provided) (Blogger’s note: See 7/25.)

07/16/08 Still Smokin fracture right hock splint (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/16/08 Stress Reducer sick (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/17/08 Algoa Sassy laceration left foot (not provided) 2 weeks

07/17/08 Club Congress laceration right foot (not provided) 1 month

07/17/08 Deal Flush pulled muscle right leg (not provided) 8-10 weeks

07/17/08 Oxbow Daffodil dropped muscle right leg (not provided) 4-6 weeks (discrepancy between Mishap Report and Suspension List on which side injured: right vs. left respectively)

(Blogger’s note: On July 18, 2008, bad things including one euthanasia happened to TEN greyhounds at PGP.)

07/18/08 BC Boogity Belle pulled muscle right leg (not provided) (not provided)

07/18/08 BC Maximum Heat fracture right toe (not provided) 2 months

07/18/08 BC Moon River (not provided) right quarter bone (not provided) 2 months “Track – dry places, wet places, real wet places”

07/18/08 Bella Raheng fracture right hock (not provided) (not provided)

07/18/08 Big Ball Burro sprain left toe (not provided) 1 month

07/18/08 Line (not provided) left quarter bone (not provided) 6 weeks

07/18/08 RLM’s Windy dislocation left toe (not provided) 3 months (discrepancy between Mishap Report and Suspension List on which side injured: left vs right respectively)

07/18/08 TNJ Skyler fracture right tarsus euthanasia died (From Suspension List)

07/18/08 Top Of The Rock sprain right ankle (not provided) “finished”

07/18/08 WJS Lester (not provided) metatarsal (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/20/08 Greyt Onyx sprain right hock (not provided) 1 month

07/20/08 Ucme Cry N Out sprain right hock (not provided) 2 months

07/21/08 Bella Jessie fracture right leg (not provided) (not provided)

07/21/08 Get Out Of Town fracture hock (not provided) career ending

07/21/08 Greyt Galaga sprain right hock (not provided) 2 months

07/22/08 Greyt Donkeykong sprain right hock (not provided) 1 month

07/24/08 Astar Clayton tear left leg muscle (not provided) (not provided)

07/24/08 BC Shesa Jewel fracture right ankle (not provided) “2 months, if at all” “I lost count of how many dogs I’ve crippled in the last 2 weeks” (Blogger’s note: “crippled” and I wonder why this so-called sport exists. Don’t you?)

07/25/08 Bella Corseus fracture right hock (not provided) (not provided)

07/25/08 Bella Ioniz pulled muscle right leg (not provided) (not provided)

07/25/08 MRL Platinum pulled muscle right leg (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/25/08 RLM’s Winter lame (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List) (Blogger’s note: This hound was injured on 7/16/08 with a tear in the right leg muscle. Why is the dog being forced to race again so soon?)

07/26/08 Bella BB Oscar sprain right hock (not provided) N/A

07/26/08 Figs UCME Nomoto lame (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/26/08 Get Out Of Town luxation right hock (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/26/08 Grumpy Malone tear right leg muscle (not provided) “2 months, if I’m lucky”

07/26/08 Mark Quad Pro sprain groin, hip (not provided) 1 month

(Blogger’s note: On July 28, 2008 NINE greyhounds were injured, sick or lame. WTF? What entity allows too many injuries to happen on one night? So many injuries all month. Can’t the problem be fixed way before month end?)

07/28/08 Bella Gallery laceration right leg (not provided) (not provided)

07/28/08 Boc’s Saturn x abrasion left foot (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List) “LR under foot foreign body ulcer causing lots of pain on palpation”

07/28/08 Djays Mac Ten tear left shoulder muscle (not provided) 1 1/2 months

07/28/08 Gawain sprain right shoulder (not provided) 2 months

07/28/08 On Your Mark Go fracture right leg (not provided) 3 months (Blogger’s note: Is this dog going to race again in 3 months after a right leg fracture?)

07/28/08 Phoenix Cyclone sick (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/28/08 That’s Just It sprain right hock (not provided) 2 months

07/28/08 Vegas Dream sprain right hock (not provided) 2 months

07/28/08 WWW Queen Latifa dislocation right toe (not provided) (not provided)

(Blogger’s note: Three dogs fractured their right hock plus two other injuries on July 29. Weren’t enough hurt on July 28?)

07/29/08 Bella Azcarate fracture right hock (not provided) (not provided)

07/29/08 Bella BB Oscar fracture right hock (not provided) (not provided)

07/29/08 Bella Globalized fracture right hock (not provided) (not provided)

07/29/08 Hudson Brawl tear right shoulder muscle (not provided) 1 1/2 months

07/29/08 Phoenix Aztec laceration right leg (not provided) (not provided) “Gash so deep you can see his bone”

07/30/08 Multi Tasking fracture right hock splint, wrap, medication 6 months (Blogger’s note: Is this hound going to race again after a right hock fracture?)

07/30/08 Vapor Spray laceration right leg wrap, medication (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/31/08 BC Color Me Good (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List) “Judges” scratch “Pulled up”

07/31/08 BC Maeken Noise (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List) “Judges” scratch “Pulled up”

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money, Greyhound Injury, Greyhounds ETC. by NoMoreRacing
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It’s always good news when a reporter is acknowledged for his or her work.

In this case, it’s especially good news when the reporter writes about what is happening at Tucson Greyhound Park.

“Tim Vanderpool won his third Altweekly Award in the last three years, this time earning honorable mention in the short-form news category, for his coverage of Tucson Greyhound Park: “Kennel No. 1″ (April 23, 2009), “Ordinance Ignored” (Oct. 15, 2009) and “Greyhound Runaround” (Dec. 3, 2009).”

Not only is his work read locally and virtually which is now globally, but his informative articles are hung out to dry a second time on other news related sites.

The Internet has brought the greyhound racing industry out of the closet into the frying pan and that’s a good thing for us advocates, but most of all for the greyhounds.

Tags: Greyhound Racing - TUCSON (TGP), Greyhounds ETC. by NoMoreRacing
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This act of kindness makes my heart sing!
A message from GREY2K USA:
Governor John Lynch has signed into law House Bill 630, a humane proposal to outlaw greyhound racing in New Hampshire.  New Hampshire now joins a majority of states where greyhound racing is illegal.
This is a victory for everyone in the state who cares about animals.  It sends a clear message that the cruelty of greyhound racing will not be tolerated, regardless of whether the perpetrator is an individual or a profit-driven industry.
Greyhound racing is cruel and inhumane.

At New Hampshire racetracks thousands of dogs endured lives of terrible confinement and many suffered serious injuries.  According to state records, nearly 1,200 greyhounds were injured in New Hampshire since 2005, including dogs that suffered broken legs, paralysis, and head trauma.
New Hampshire has a rich tradition when it comes to the humane treatment of animals and this tradition was strengthened today by the signing of House Bill 630.  Dogs play an important role in our lives and deserve to be protected from individuals and industries that would do them harm.
GREY2K USA and advocates everywhere are extremely grateful to Governor Lynch for his signing of this humane bill and to everyone who fought for its passage.  In particular, we would like to thank Senator Sheila Roberge and Representatives Mary Cooney, Steve Vaillancourt, John Reagan, and Mary Beth Walz.  Without their extraordinary leadership this victory would not have been possible.

Tags: Good News, Greyhounds ETC., Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Around 8 p.m. tonight, I decided to go for a walk without my hound. It was too damn hot to inflict her to the 98-degree temperature with stifling humidity hanging in the air. Plus the sidewalk was too hot to the touch.

As I labored around the neighborhood, I started thinking about the greyhounds running at the dog track in South Tucson. They would not be strolling slowly like I was, instead they would be running at 35 mph, all because somebody somewhere placed a $2 bet.

Would you allow your Golden Retrievers or Jack Russell Terriers to do the same on a hot summer night?

Why is it that only greyhounds race in this hotter-than-hell heat and not horses?  Horses race seasonally.

Why do greyhounds run for their lives during the height of Arizona’s summer?

Tags: Greyhound Racing - TUCSON (TGP), Greyhounds ETC. by NoMoreRacing
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Good news ToTo: Greyhound racing’s not in Kansas anymore.

Excerpts from the article

“The Woodlands’ racing license has been revoked by the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.

The horse and dog track in Kansas City, Kansas, closed since August 2008, will no longer be able to run races at the track unless some future action is taken to apply for the license again.

Licenses also were revoked for Wichita Greyhound Park, and Camptown Park in Frontenac, Kan., a dog track.

Tracks were given until June 28 to get a new plan to the state to reopen.

Earlier, Woodlands officials said they had been weighing options, including selling the racetrack.”

This really is good news because without greyhound racing in Kansas, less dogs are bred for racing. Less dogs are confined in small cages for hours on end. Less are fed raw 4D meat. Less dogs are dosed with steroids and other drugs like cocaine in Florida and Alabama. Less dogs are injured and euthanized. Less dogs disappear like in Tucson. Less tracks are getting tax breaks at the state’s expense. Less money is made through live handle racing and off track betting.

Yes, ToTo, greyhound racing’s not in Kansas anymore and that’s really good news for greyhound advocates — but best of all for the dogs.

And believe it or not, there is some humor in this too. Yes, I know, greyhound racing AND humor rarely go together in the same breath or sentence but here’s an exception.

Tags: Good News, Greyhounds ETC., Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Arizona: Race Cars Not Dogs

What a good idea. Too bad nobody in South Tucson has thought of that.

Just think if they changed the South Tucson dog park into a car race park, what a wonderful world it would be especially for the dogs because no dogs would be confined 20+ hours a day; no dogs would eat harmful RAW 4D meat; no dogs would be injected with anabolic steroids; no dogs would break their legs and hocks; and no dogs would be euthanized or disappear.

Yes, what a wonderful world it would be.

Colorado is one smart state as it’s doing just that. A former dog track is converting into a wildly popular race track for cars. Now that’s family entertainment…not a dog running into the railing and being electrocuted. My family would have nightmares for weeks if they saw that.

So few people go to the dog track in South Tucson that the local restaurants would actually benefit far more from car racing than dogs dying racing.

Tags: Greyhound Racing - TUCSON (TGP), Greyhounds ETC. by NoMoreRacing
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