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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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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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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Good news! Another nail in the greyhound racing industry’s coffin. Hooray!

All the tracks in New England are gone. So many hundreds of dogs that no longer will be bred. Mercifully.  Thankfully.

The best part is even the track owners didn’t want to race any more.

“The legislation had the backing of the current and prospective new owners of the Twin River slot parlor in Lincoln who wanted out of the dog-racing business which, for years, had cost more than it made.”

Here’s a video also.

Tags: Good News, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Whoopee! Read the article.

By a close vote, Senators rejected a bill that was geared at making slot machines more profitable for owners of The Woodlands horse and dog tracks in Kansas City, Kan. as well as Camptown Greyhound Park in Frontenac.

Another measure that was hotly contested was the allowing for a revote in Sedgwick County to ask for slot machines to be placed at the Wichita Greyhound Park. That measure was voted down by a 20-18 vote.

Under current state law, the share of slot revenues to track owners is capped at 40 percent whereas the new bill would have increased that to 58 percent. Track owners have said that the current percentage makes opening not profitable. The new bill would have also dropped the minimum investment in a casino in southeast Kansas from $225 million to $100 million.

Tags: Good News, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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The sound is sweet and melodic not like the sounds of dogs crashing into railings and breaking their legs.

Oh, how sweet it is…progress of dog tracks closing and not to reopen in THREE  northeast states — New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

Read the update and rejoice!

Tags: Good News, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Goodbye and good riddance. The last dog track in Wisconsin closed its doors.

Depending on what articles you have read, 350 to 900 dogs will need to be adopted or go elsewhere to race or back to the farm for breeding and dog knows what else.

Here are some articles about Dairyland and the mistreatment of the dogs. For you diehards out there who say, “Oh, but the dogs love to race.” Read these articles:

Four Dairyland dogs bleed to death.

Dogs may like to run but not on frozen tundra tracks. Thanks to the anonymous employees who spoke out!

A (PDF) history pockmarked by bad incidents.

The weather plays a role in injuries at Dairyland. The dogs are subjected to rain, wind, snow, sleet and very dry conditions.

There are more article, more tragedies, and many more abuses. Enough said for now.

My hope is that the majority of these dogs find loving forever homes and don’t have to race to their death at other tracks, aren’t disposed of, or sent to blood banks or laboratories to be used as medical experiments.

So which is the first dog track to close in 2010?

Tags: ABUSE-Greyhound History, Good News, Greyhounds ETC., Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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I didn’t get what I wanted on Christmas but a wonderful thing happens today — greyhound racing ends in Mass.

Oh, happy day. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

That means less greyhounds will be bred and overbred. Less greyhounds will be injured and euthanized.

Almost 900 greyhounds were seriously injured while racing in Massachusetts since 2002.

Read the article and rejoice.

Who’s next?

Tags: Good News, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Tonight – December 19, 2009 is the last night of live greyhound racing at Phoenix Greyhound Park. Hooray!

Good riddance to 55 years of greyhound abuse and death.

Never forget about one of the incidents when 124 greyhounds were found dead in Chandler Heights with ears cut off so their tattoos were not visible and ownership or blame couldn’t be pointed. That’s all part of the proud and glorious history of Phoenix Greyhound Park.

Tonight for the last 18 last races,  18 dogs from the 2008 Arizona injury list are still racing. Four of the 18 dogs have been injured twice in 2008 and yet continue to race through the end of 2009. I hope to high hell that none of these dogs (18 races x 8 dogs per dogs) are injured so badly that they have to be euthanized tonight.

What’s going to happen to the Phoenix dogs?

Some are going to race elsewhere probably Tucson Greyhound Park and tracks in the Southeast. Some dogs will be adopted. Some will go back to the farm, however, ambiguous that might be. No one in Phoenix has come forward to talk about the disposition of these dogs. Don’t ask. Don’t tell.

We’ll be curious if the Arizona Department of Racing will  continue to encourage and promote the breeding of greyhounds when there’s only one low level track — Tucson.  If ADOR continues to do so, they have no common sense, so much for government regulation.

Oh, and in a state that’s so bankrupt, in 2009, according to the audit report for the Department of Racing, the state of Arizona gave $223,112 in breeding awards to 612 dogs. The money goes to 6% of the breeders.

Tags: Good News, Greyhounds ETC., Phoenix Greyhound Park by NoMoreRacing
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