Boycott Skechers

Skechers Protest – Tucson – January 28

Dear animal lovers and advocates,

It doesn’t matter what city you’re in – you too can protest Skechers. That is your right as a citizen. Just gather some like minded friends and family and make some signs and make a statement against lack of responsible brand marketing. Here are some handouts. Or you can take these handouts and post them on bulletin boards and give them to Skecher stores.

Maybe we should call it OccupySkechers?

However, if you’re in Tucson
We’ll be meeting on the SW corner of Campbell & Ft. Lowell Blvd in front of 3175 N. Campbell Avenue from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday – January 28.  If it’s not hot, please bring your greyhounds. No small dogs, please.

Make a sign or use one of ours.

Hundreds of letters were sent to Skechers along with 45,000 petition signatures (and counting) asking them to retract this Super Bowl commercial which will promote the cruel sport of greyhound racing.

Here are more facts at Boycott Skechers.

Animal lover Ellen Degeneres tweeted

Tags: Greyhound Racing, Greyhound Racing - TUCSON (TGP), Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Dear Mark Cuban

It’s come to my attention that you and along with Skechers intend to promote the cruel “sport” of greyhound racing in an ad spot on Super Bowl Sunday.

Have you done any homework or research about greyhound racing cruelty?

No? I didn’t think so. Are you related to Michael Vick?

Otherwise you would know in the state of Texas where the Dallas Mavericks hang, that according to records obtained from the Texas Racing Commission — 1,351 greyhound injuries were reported at Gulf Greyhound Park between January 2008 and August 4, 2011.

During this same period, 49 greyhounds died or were euthanized.  Read the report. Educate yourself.

The most commonly reported injury was a broken leg. Other reported injuries include torn muscles, puncture wounds, lacerations, dislocations, sprains, paralysis and a fractured skull.

What happens when a basketball player breaks his leg? Is he euthanized? No. Why not?

That’s what happens to many greyhounds. They don’t have a voice; they have greedy owners and kennel operators who if their dogs break their legs or pull up or collide – they are no longer money makers.

Greyhound racing is in the same bloody ballpark as dog fighting. They don’t call it a blood sport for nothing. Dogs die. They die while racing for their lives.

Along with Skechers, your name and your brand the Dallas Mavericks will be forever associated with animal  cruelty. You lose.

Boycott Skechers

Tags: Greyhound Injury, Greyhound Racing, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Another year passed and more injured and dead greyhounds racing for their lives.

While there has been good news for some greyhounds, many continue to race in Tucson well past their prime.

For instance, let’s start with:

AK’s Toureg who has raced 216 races and CDC Make Me Stop has raced 220 races.

How many more times do these dogs have to race before they break a leg or a hock or collide or have a heart attack?

Their moneymaking days are over.

Here are the people who are squeezing every last drop of blood out of these poor dogs:

AK’s Toureg – kennel  - Cliff Hale – owned by Stephen Valletta

CDC Make me Stop – kennel – Willard Eyler  – owned by Debra Chitwood

Are there no racing statutes or rules to protect these dogs?  Let’s kick the Arizona Department of Racing to the curb and combine it with the Dept. of Gaming for all the good it does these dogs.

Here’s a sad story – (as seen on Facebook) a dog that left Tucson dog track who was on the way to his forever home / adoption group was found to have osteosarcoma…advanced osteo. End of story. He raced until he died of bone cancer.

Why is it that only racing greyhounds get osteosarcoma and not their AKC counter parts? Why? I’ll tell you why…because of the inbreeding. Bad blood and bad genes repeat itself over and over. That sounds stupid to me but hey, well, let’s leave sleeping dogs lie.

But enough crap about the racing industry. It stinks. And always will.

I want to thank the rescue groups who help clean up the mess left by the racing industry. It is the adoption groups who fix the broken leg dogs (some of the adoption groups fix broken leg dogs; other adoption groups don’t or won’t). Adoption groups fund all the meds & veterinarian fees needed to give these so-deserving dogs another chance at a life they so rightly deserve.

And in Florida where there are 13 damn dog tracks,  dogs were given termite insecticide as a flea treatment in Dayton Beach. Can you imagine? If pesticides were supposed to be used for fleas, don’t you think the rest of us would be using it? According to this article an employee reported it but got fired for his concern and earlier, “”It’s an industry standard,” Francati said. “A lot of kennels use the Termidor product because it’s cheaper and gives dogs less chemicals.”

An industry standard. Wow!

Like giving the dogs RAW 4D meat.  It’s cheaper.  That’s how much these bleeding heart kennel operators love their dogs – dousing them with pesticides and feeding them raw road kill.

These dogs are vehicles to make $$$ and nothing more. I told you the racing industry stinks.

For the top 10 greyhound stories for 2011, view this.

I am blessed to be surrounded by my two retired racing greyhounds (whose racing names are ancient history) plus a visiting greyhound. When I look into their eyes and they put their sweet faces in my lap for trusting pets – I know that they are the lucky ones and I cry for those who are not.

Tags: Greyhound Racing, Greyhound Racing - TUCSON (TGP), Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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GREY2K USA is a national non-profit organization working to pass laws to protect greyhounds.

Since its formation in 2001, it has helped close 26 tracks from one end of the country to the other, and has prevented the introduction of dog racing to Jamaica and South Africa.

In October 2011, GREY2K USA re-filed a joint greyhound bill with dog track owners to drastically reduce the cruelty of greyhound racing in Florida.  HB 641/SB 382 removes the legal requirement that dog track licensees conduct live racing.  By law, the holders of dog track licenses must offer at least 100 days of live racing each year. But while track owners make money from other activities, they tend to lose money on dog racing.

So now, track owners and greyhound advocates are working together to sever this requirement or “decouple the live racing mandate,” from law.  Track owners want to save dollars and activists want to save the dogs.

You can take action to help greyhounds now:

1. Learn more about the progress of the campaign on GREY2K USA’s dedicated Florida page.
2. Call your lawmakers right away and ask them to support HB 641/SB 382, the “Greyhound Decoupling Bill.”  You can find your state representative and state senator here:
3. Stay informed by joining GREY2KUSA’s online alert list.  Sign up here.

There are still 13 greyhound race tracks in Florida. Do something about it!  Please link to this blog post, share on Facebook, and blog about it. Your voices do make a difference.

Tags: Greyhound Racing, Nationwide Greyhound Racing, Speak Out Against Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Tags: Greyhound Injury, Greyhound Racing, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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West Virginia–On Jan. 4, 2008, a 1-year-old brindle greyhound named Moving Marla was euthanized after she fell during a race and was then run over by other dogs, breaking her legs in several places.

Is this a sport?

I call it animal cruelty for profit.

More than 3,200 greyhounds have been injured at the Tri-State Racetrack in Cross Lanes, West Virginia. During that time, repeated requests for injury reports have been denied until now. According to newly-obtained state records, at least 3,208 greyhound injuries have been reported at this one track since 2005, and nearly 200 dogs have died. Also, it’s likely that the actual number of injuries is even higher, as the state still refuses to produce several months of records.

Read the article which appeared on the front page of today’s Charleston Daily Mail.

Get educated about greyhound racing in West Virginia or the six other remaining states where the dying “sport” of dog racing still exists.

To the racing industry Moving Marla was just a money making pawn. To me, she missed out on being a beloved pet with a soft bed and one-to-one loving kindness. She didn’t deserve the unfathomable cruelty as to how grizzly her life ended.

You can read more about Marla here and here. Such detailed records provided by the racing industry yet one damn dog track in West Virginia cannot find all its injury records.

How convenient is that?

How telling is that?

P.S. Arizona Department of Racing and Tucson Greyhound Park have passed the buck and ignored repeated requests for 2010 injury reports.

Tags: Greyhound Injury, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Kudos to Greyhound Action, a greyhound protection group in the UK, for protesting outside Owlerton Stadium.

Two year old Royal Raider suffered a serious break to one of her front legs after colliding with several other dogs at the first bend. Royal Raider died the following day, despite veterinary treatment.

In fact, all greyhound tracks are inherently lethal, because their oval shape, with fast straights leading into tight bends, creates a very dangerous environment for dogs to run in, leading to thousands of injuries to greyhounds, many of them serious, occurring every year in Britain…the same can be said in the United States.

An RSPCA report on greyhound racing has stated that ‘at least 20 Greyhounds a day – either puppies which do not make the track, or retired dogs aged three or four – simply disappear, presumed killed’ (in the UK)

If there was an loud uproar every time a dog died in the United States, our tracks would be long boarded up and made into shopping centers.

Every time a racing greyhounds dies at a U.S. track it should be on the front page of the sports section.

Also dead racing greyhounds should be announced on the TODAY show. Every racing dog that dies should be announced just like that old dude Wilbur announces all the folks who turn 100.

Maybe if the public knew how often this poor race dogs died here in the U.S. and abroad, it would be the end of this dying sport.

Michael Vick’s dogs have a public face. What about dead racing greyhounds who have died senselessly for greed and profit?

Here’s an interesting blog that is starting to put the story of dead racing greyhounds in people’s faces.

“At six and a half years of age, Amy Jo was still running for her life.

At six and a half years old, Amy Jo ran her 258th, and final race.

On January 22, 2005, this little red brindle girl severely fractured her left hock, and she was euthanized.

The injury report included the following description of the injury:
“piece of bone protruding from leg”

After hundreds of races, Amy Jo suffered a terrible, painful injury, and then she was killed.”

This is happening in the United States. We are a third-world country when it comes to greyhound racing standards.

Why are there no standards for how long a dog can run?

Tags: Greyhound Injury, Greyhound Racing, International Greyhound Racing, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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10 worst greyhound racing news articles of 2010

It was difficult to choose just 10 stories about the horrors of greyhound racing that made it to print, to cyberspace, or to high definition TV. Some stories didn’t make it to the great medium but they still exist and dogs still suffer. I’m on a greyhound listserv where a Florida adoption group was begging for help because it had 40 broken leg dogs. I give them much credit for trying to solve the problems the damn racing industry regurgitates.

Arizona—Dec. 21, 2010 – KOLD-TV
Undercover video raises questions about conditions at Tucson Greyhound Park

“I am not going to let the press in because you are going to show it to thousands of people and we don’t know how they are going to take it. It doesn’t make any sense to do that Heather. I could show you the Taj Mahal and people would say that it is too religious.”

The Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The people of Tucson wonder how Tucson dog track can stay open.

Kudos to GREY2K USA for sharing their investigation with KOLD-TV and to Heather Rowe for pursuing the story! The people of Tucson and Arizona should be outraged. To see a longer video of the bowels of a TGP kennel, click here.
Arizona—Dec.15, 2010 – Arizona Daily Star
8 greyhounds die on trip; haulers fined, suspended
“The eight greyhounds likely died near El Paso, documents show. The couple traveled through Tucson with the dead dogs, but never stopped at Tucson Greyhound Park to look into veterinary care for the surviving dogs, documents say.”

This is not the first time dogs died being hauled to Arizona or out of Arizona.
Arizona—Nov. 25, 2010

Southside Showdown – Tucson Weekly
Tucson Greyhound Park thumbs its nose at a city ordinance, and officials do nothing

“For nearly two years, the track has been breaking the law. And for at least one of those years, South Tucson city officials have known this, and have done nothing about it.”

South Tucson acted slowly when some cop embezzled almost a half million dollars from the town coffers. Is there some regulatory agency we can refer South Tucson to for not enforcing laws?

Florida–Jan 20, 2010 – Broward/Palm Beach New Times
Woman Arrested for Helping Kill More Than 2,000 Greyhounds Is Training Dogs in Florida Again
The photos are gruesome. The act is abominable. Is this greyhound racing as usual in Florida? What happened to Ursula O’Donnell? Is she still racing dogs? How many dogs do you have to help kill before your license is suspended permanently?
Florida—Dec. 30, 2010 – Chipley News
Looking back at 2010: 37 greyhounds found dead (from Nov. 2010)

Florida Freedom Newswire rehashes the gruesome story of 37 racing greyhounds found dead at Ebro Racetrack. The alleged perpetrator sure seems like one sick bastard who even the other trainers despise.

Florida—June 17, 2010 – Palm Beach/Broward New Times (blog)
Greyhound at Palm Beach Kennel Club Tested Positive for Cocaine

“Reached by phone this afternoon, Theresa Hume, the PBKC (Palm Beach Kennel Club) publicity director, said she wasn’t aware of the incident or any others like it.”

Note to PBKC: You can run but you can’t hide.

Florida—June 5, 2010
Euthanized racing greyhounds prompt concerns – Heraldtribune.com

“Fourteen greyhounds were put down after track accidents during 19 weeks of racing at the club, three of which were euthanized on a single March day after a series of collisions…”

According to the racing industry this is a small number when compared to the number of dogs racing. But to us advocates or to anyone who has ever loved a greyhound as a pet and a family member – this is murder.

West VA—Jan. 30, 2010 – San Diego County News (bad news travels)
More than 700 Greyhounds injured at dog track, 62 dogs die

“In total, at least 707 greyhounds were reported injured at Wheeling between January 2008 and September 2009, according to state records provided by the West Virginia Racing Commission. More than one hundred of these injuries involved broken legs, and other reported injuries included dislocations, broken ankles, lacerations, fractured skulls and spinal injuries. Additionally, 62 dogs died or were euthanized during this period.”

West VA – Dec. 3, 2010 – Charleston Daily Mail
Injuries remain high at racetrack

“From Sept. 18 through the end of October, there were 41 reported injuries, according to the records. At least 22 of those injuries involved broken legs, the records show. Four dogs had injuries so severe that they had to be euthanized.”

United Kingdom – Jan. 9, 2010 – Indy Media UK
Week of Slaughter at Manchester dog track

“In addition, hundreds of other greyhounds, bred because of the demand created by Belle Vue, are put to death as puppies or young dogs, before they even make it to the track, after being judged unsuitable for racing.

“According to recent research, more than 12,000 greyhounds, bred for the British racing industry, are ‘put down’ every year, after failing to make the grade as racers or when their ‘careers’ on the tracks come to an end.”

“An RSPCA report on greyhound racing has stated that ‘at least 20 greyhounds a day – either puppies which do not make the track, or retired dogs aged three or four – simply disappear, presumed killed’.”

Tags: Greyhound Racing, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Oh, happy day. The time cannot come soon enough. Vanish, baby, vanish!

Of course, now is the time to prepare what these tracks are going to do with all the race dogs and for god sakes – stop the damn breeding. You know it’s going to end sooner vs. later. Stop the breeding!

Thanks to the Miami Herald for this hopeful article.

I have to wonder if Mr. Barney O’Donnell is related to Ursula O’Donnell?

While Mr. O’Donnell claims to be compassionate towards the dogs, Ursula O’Donnell was anything but.

You may recall that last year she was found to have taken a number of greyhounds across state lines to have them shot for $10 a head. Ever heard of adoption, Ursula?

“When you enter the casino, it’s not easy to find the dog track. The people who do can choose from thousands of empty seats.”

That is pathetic. Why do the dogs have to suffer so much for so little?  With poker, there’s no confinement, no 4D meat, no injuries, no pain and suffering, no euthanasia, and no breeding. It’s a win-win for the dogs and the casino owners.

Tags: Good News, Greyhound Racing, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Greyhound Racing and Giving Thanks

As an anti racing advocate you’d think there would never be anything I’m thankful for in the same sentence as greyhound racing but here’s a few:

I’m thankful for Jett Greyhound – He raced 150 times at Phoenix Greyhound Park & Tucson Greyhound track. Someone finally had enough sense to retire this boy*.

I’m thankful that Phoenix Greyhound Park is closed. In July 2008, there were 81 sick, lame, or injured dogs.

I’m thankful there are no more breeders awards in Arizona. Yee Haw!  No more will breeders be awarded when their dogs cross the finish line first. Breeders should get a new life.

I’m thankful the Arizona Department of Racing can no longer use the General Fund as its cash cow and must figure out solutions to pay its own way. Good luck. View the most recent budget.

I’m thankful for the Internet, Google Alerts, blogs, Digg, Facebook, and Twitter. Bad news travels fast and furiously educating many about the cruelty associated with greyhound racing.

I’m thankful for reporters  at the AP and mostly alternative newspapers like Tucson Weekly and Broward/Palm Beach New Times who still report the news.

I’m thankful for a light at the end of the Ebro Dog Track starvation horror scene. A few dogs survived. A few dogs will go on to be beloved pets. Thank you to GPA-EC for all your help and keeping us informed.

Only seven states (23 dog tracks) have greyhound racing and like in past years, this coming year that number shall diminish.

*Jett’s littermate is still racing. PJS LETHAL CHIC is 4 years 11 months old and has raced 211 times, currently racing at Tucson dog track. How long must a dog race before it’s too long?

Tags: Good News, Greyhound Racing, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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