Thursday, January 6, 2011

Seven Wishes for the Greyhounds in 2011

Every New Year brings renewal, an opportunity to start again. For GREY2K USA, the New Year also brings fresh efforts to end the cruelty of dog racing. In my first Saving Greys post, I would like to look forward to 2011, and highlight seven wishes I have for the greyhounds this year.

First, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I currently serve as executive director of GREY2K USA, a national non-profit greyhound protection organization. We work across the country to pass stronger greyhound protection laws and phase out greyhound racing. As executive director, I am responsible for making sure GREY2K USA operates efficiently, and also serve as the primary strategist for our campaigns. I this role, I have the honor of working with an incredible Board of Directors led by President and General Counsel Christine Dorchak. She inspires me every day, and is the heart of our organization.

I also collaborate on an ongoing basis with a very diverse group of individuals and organizations. This includes close friends in the animal protection community, like the Humane Society of the United States and American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, anti-gambling advocates, greyhound adoption leaders, and even racetrack owners who have come to the realization that dog racing is no longer viable and should end. Finally, I am blessed to work with many greyhound advocates from around the world who care about these amazing dogs and want to see the cruelty of dog racing end.

On a personal note, I live with a beautiful rescued greyhound named Zoe and four mischievous cats. I recently adopted an adorable but restless kitten named Little Ricky from a local municipal shelter, and as a result have not slept well in months. In my spare time, I volunteer for several non-profit organizations and am a National Master in chess.

Now, let’s look at my top seven wishes for the greyhounds in 2011.

  1. The closure of Tucson Greyhound Park. A recent GREY2K USA investigation proved that dogs at this facility endure lives of terrible confinement, kept in small cages for long hours each day. The dogs our investigators observed lived in darkness, and most were permanently muzzled. This is one of the worst greyhound racetracks in the country, and to date has resisted even the most basic efforts at reform. We will continue to try to negotiate with track management, but ultimately this issue may need to be resolved directly by Arizona voters. Stay tuned, as we are poised to release more information soon about this cruel greyhound track very soon.



  2. The end of greyhound racing in Iowa. In the coming months, Iowa lawmakers will consider a proposal that would disconnect greyhound racing from other forms of gambling, allowing it to mercifully end in the Hawkeye State. Since 1995, greyhound breeders in Iowa have received more than $140 million in subsidies, and dog racing only exists there today because the state requires that two casinos race dogs in order to stay open. This law makes no sense, and should end.

  3. Similarly, Florida lawmakers should pass a law disconnecting greyhound racing from poker and other forms of gambling. Most Florida dog tracks are now losing money on greyhound races, while making money on poker and other forms of gambling. Unfortunately, under the current law they cannot do one without the other. Like Iowa, this archaic law makes no sense, and should be repealed.

  4. Continued reductions in greyhound breeding, and continued increases in greyhound adoption. In recent years, the number of greyhounds bred to race has dropped significantly. That is good news, and means that fewer greyhounds are being euthanized simply because they are no longer profitable as racers. At the same time, greyhound adoption groups have proven themselves to be extraordinarily adaptive, and are finding more homes for greyhounds than ever before. These are both wonderful trends for the greyhounds that will hopefully continue.

  5. The defeat of a Texas proposal to prop up greyhound racing with casino gambling. In Texas, greyhound racing has been reduced to only one track, and could soon end completely. However, greyhound breeders have joined with powerful racetrack owners in an effort to prop up dog racing with casino gambling. If this dangerous proposal passes, greyhound racing would expand again in the Lone Star State and exist for decades to come. This harmful effort must be defeated.

  6. Justice for the Ebro greyhounds. In late October, greyhound trainer Ronnie Williams was arrested and charged with dozens of counts of felony animal cruelty after 33 greyhounds were found dead at Ebro Greyhound Park. Even though it is too late to help these poor dogs, we must make sure that this case sets a forward-looking precedent when it comes to animal cruelty. Williams should receive a fair trial, and if he is convicted, should be held accountable for his crimes.

  7. Finally, I hope that this blog can meet the high standard that has been set by other compassionate blogs, like Living the Greyt Life, End Tucson Greyhound Racing, Ironicus Maximus, Pack Mentality and many others.

Whatever the outcome on these important issues, it is a certainty that 2011 will bring surprises in the fight for greyhound protection that we cannot even imagine now. I can also guarantee that I will work hard to ensure that GREY2K USA achieves as many of these goals as possible, and continues to be an outspoken voice for the greyhounds.

If you have thoughts on these goals, or would like to share your wishes for the greyhounds in 2011, please do so by commenting below.

Also, please share this blog with anyone you know who cares about dogs. If enough people support these humane efforts, I am convinced that 2011 can be another Year of the Greyhound.

23 comments:

  1. Let's all work together to end dog racing!
    Christine

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  2. I hope all your wishes and the dreams we all dare to dream come true!

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  3. I'm so happy to see GREY2K USA's new blog, and even happier to be a part of this amazing organization with Carey and Christine, working to end dog racing.

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  4. I concur with your hopes for the coming year. It's amazing that while you're busy trying to disconnect racing and casinos in two states, the racing industry is trying to link them in Texas.

    ~ Eric

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  5. Best of luck with the new blog and thank you for the link to Pack Mentality.
    I have posted a link to Saving Greys on the Pack blogroll.

    Tom Grady

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  6. May this blog reach far and wide to get the word out about the cruel reality that is greyhound racing.

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  7. The blog is the best medium for getting the word out fast. Previously people were in the dark about the horrors of greyhound racing but with invent on the Internet and now social networking, the dog racing industry can run but it cannot hide.

    I love your seven wishes. They collide with mine. Better our wishes collide than dogs.

    I look forward to reading your blog and commenting frequently.

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  8. Joining you in the hopes that ALL your "7 Wishes" come true!

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  9. I am ready to work hard to make your "7 Wishes" come true, as each one is my wish as well!

    Together we CAN end the cruelty and death of dog racing.

    What a wonderful blog idea. I look forward to getting regular updates on our fight!

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  10. I certainly agree with you that the cruelty must stop. Even though not all racing greyhounds are brutalized (I grew up with a pack of racing greys next door, and they were treated like the owner's children) too many are. Like any recreation involving animals, there is potential for abuse if law enforcement and regular people alike don't hold owners accountable. Myself and my greyhound-mutt thank you for your work!

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  11. This is such a horrible industry!! I own four ex-racers and they enrich my life everyday! They are the most incredible and loving creatures on this planet! This is a great way to spread the word across the country to end this cruelty!! Thanks for all you do!

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  12. I just don't understand how people can be so cruel to one of God's greatest Gifts....our for legged fur babies...I would not want to be in their shoes come judgement day.... :(
    I pray this kind of treatment ends soon....

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  13. Thank you for your blog, my husband and I have 2 Greys and one happens to be from the Tucson track, at first we were going to foster him but it was a foster gone bad... we loved him couldn't give him away. We got him 48 hours off the track, he was in the worst condition of any Grey I have ever seen. He walked like he was walking on glass the vet said it was because he was in a tiny cage most of the time, his teeth were black, he was skinny and broken. Now almost 2 years later he is health,GOOFY, and very happy he is the love of my husbands life. Keep this blog going Thank you for your work.

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  14. Congratulations Vicky, on your adoption.

    Sadly, there are many dogs still at Tucson Greyhound Park that need help.

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  15. I agree with what you're saying and I think it's wonderful that you have a 7-Step/Wish Plan in place. If there is anything I can do to help, I will. I am a strong advocate for all animals. I don't live far from Ebro, and I remember this story was all over the Panama City news. I do hope things change over time for these animals. I'd like to see the dog racing obsolete altogether.

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  16. I live in Texas and want to write letters to the "powers that be" and help end the racing at the Galveston area track.

    Please post info for what those of us who care can do to make a real difference. Blogging is great, but it won't change much!
    thanks,
    D. Shelton
    Montgomery, Texas

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  17. Thanks for your post Donna. The best thing you can do right now to help greyhounds in Texas is to contact the state lawmakers that represent you, and ask them to vote NO on any proposal to prop up the greyhound racing industry.

    You are represented by one State Representative and one State Senator. You can find your State Representative by going to:

    http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/find-your-representative/

    You can find your State Senator by going to:

    http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Members.htm#FYI

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  18. More ball chasing, less dog racing!

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  19. Carey, thank you for creating this GREY2K USA blog and for a very inspiring first blogpost.

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  20. I am very happy to be a part of this wonderful organization. It would be nice to see greyhound racing end. I did one of the hardest things I have ever had to do recently. I took in a special needs greyhound puppy and had to put her to sleep because we couldn't get the seizures to stop. She was on a dog farm and found unresponsive and didn't grow. I had her for only 11 months. She was only 18 months old. She also had other neurological issues. I have done rescue for over 12 years and nothing has ever been this difficult for me. Please, let's stop the greyhound racing. In memory of Chickers.

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  21. Glad you created this blog and good luck with having the seven wishes come true. I'm here in FL and ready to help in anyway I can to stop greyhound racing!

    Pat South

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  22. I cant believe what I just read about Ebro. I lived in PC for 5 years. I never went to the track for obvious reasons, but I had no idea the conditions where so bad. I hope that they shut the track down for good.

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  23. Hello,
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