The Great Bend Towards Justice

Nearly two centuries ago, abolitionist Theodore Parker gave voice to the idea that the arc of the moral universe bends towards justice. Although I believe this to be true, change can also be disappointingly slow.

Saving Greys has been silent for several months, because I have been deeply engaged in fights to help greyhounds in several states. The legislative season is almost over, and the greyhound protection community did win important victories, including a $2 million reduction in dog race subsidies in West Virginia.

At the same time, I'm deeply disappointed by the work that has been left undone. Although the Florida Senate unanimously passed a greyhound injury reporting law, the House never followed suit. Greyhound decoupling passed three Florida committees, but never advanced to the floor of either chamber. Meanwhile, Lawmakers in Oregon and Connecticut neglected to vote on proposals to outlaw dog racing.

Of course, not ever year can be like 2014, when we helped pass multiple major pieces of legislation to help greyhounds and end dog racing. Still, it's easy to be frustrated when we see greyhound continue to suffer while change is delayed.

It's important to keep in mind that commercial greyhound racing has existed for more than eight decades. After its introduction in Florida in 1931, it took the industry a full sixty years to peak. At its high point, dog racing was legal and operational in nineteen states, and roughly $3.5 billion was bet on greyhound races nationwide.

Today, the industry has shrunk to only 21 tracks in seven states. In the two decades between 1991 and 2012, the most recent year we have data for, gambling on greyhound racing fell by 81%. Similarly, since 2012 betting on dog races in Florida, where twelve tracks are located, declined by a further 6.5%.

It's also very notable that the movement to end greyhound racing has gone global. There are now active campaigns to reform or end greyhound racing in Great Britain, Australia, Macau and New Zealand. Just last week John Kaye, Greens Member of the New South Wales Parliament, introduced the first ever bill to outlaw dog racing Down Under. He has launched an informative web page and petition, and deserves our support.

Every year, we grow stronger while the commercial greyhound racing industry grows weaker. GREY2K USA now has more than 100,000 supporters worldwide. We have an expanding team of researchers and advocates, and have established key relationships with allies like the ASPCA, Humane Society of the United States, League Against Cruel Sports and Animals Australia.

Meanwhile, dog race promoters have added nothing substantive to the debate. Their cynical strategy of personal attacks has failed, and their cruel industry is slowly slipping away one day at a time.

The moral arc of the universe does bend towards justice, and we are winning the fight to end greyhound racing. Although it pains us to see the daily suffering of racing dogs, we must be patient and stay the course.

Greyhounds Win Victories, but the Best is Yet to Come

Rescued greyhound Flak living the good life in Texas.

Across the country state legislatures are adjourning, ending what has been the best session for greyhounds in at least three years. Several states passed important greyhound protection laws, while others rejected attempts to prop up the cruelty of dog racing.

• In Arizona, lawmakers passed a requirement that greyhound injuries be reported to the public.

• In Arkansas, Texas, and Arizona, laws were passed to increase the maximum penalties for dog track violations, including the strongest penalties ever.

• Proposals to revive greyhound racing were rejected in Texas and Kansas, while a bill to encourage the legalization of dog racing in Hawaii was defeated.

• Lawmakers defeated a bill that would have required the Texas Racing Commission, a regulatory agency, to promote greyhound racing.

• In Colorado, lawmakers refused to permanently extend greyhound simulcasting.

Each of these victories is important. Taken together, they reflect a growing consensus that greyhound cruelty is a serious issue that deserves legislative attention. They also suggest that the dog racing industry, which was once a legislative force to be reckoned with, has lost much of its influence.

GREY2K USA was actively involved in every one of these efforts. We joined other animal protection groups, grassroots volunteers, state regulators, and compassionate lawmakers to make sure that the greyhounds were given a voice. In fact, this legislative session is a textbook case of how we approach our work as a non-profit greyhound protection organization.

First, we extensively research greyhound racing until we know the industry better than it knows itself. Second, we collaborate with other humane organizations and grassroots volunteers. Finally, the coalitions we form engage in the public arena and call for positive changes to help greyhounds.

This recipe for success works, and our victories this year bode well for future greyhound protection campaigns. As Frank Sinatra once sang, the best is yet to come.

Texas Greyhound Cruelty Revealed For the First Time

Last week, GREY2K USA President Christine Dorchak traveled to Texas to release a groundbreaking report about dog racing in the Lone Star State.

Greyhound Racing in Texas covers both humane and economic issues, and is based on hundreds of state records, mainstream news reports, and industry statements. Thanks to a generous grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), we were able to spend months searching for all information that was available about the Texas dog racing industry. Sadly, the results show an industry that is cruel and inhumane. For example:

• As many as 700 dogs are kept at Gulf Greyhound Park, in small cages that are barely large enough for the dogs to stand up or turn around.

• Between 2008 and 2011, a total of 1,507 greyhound injuries were reported at Gulf Greyhound Park. The most commonly reported injury was a broken leg, and other reported injuries include puncture wounds, lacerations, paralysis and a fractured skull.

• Like other states, dog racing is dying in Texas. The total amount gambled on greyhound racing has declined by 61% since 2007, while dog track attendance has fallen by 52%.

• In recent years Texas greyhound trainers have been cited for animal neglect, cruel live lure training, and dog race drug positives.

• Greyhounds are fed raw "4-D" meat from diseased animals that has been deemed unfit for human consumption as a way to reduce costs.

• Six greyhounds died in 2012 at Gulf Greyhound Park from an apparent outbreak of the dog flu.

Based on these facts, it's clear that greyhound racing should end in Texas. As difficult as it is to learn about these humane problems, we must turn our grief into action. Already, we are working to defeat legislation that would prop up dog racing with casino gambling profits. Moving forward we will also fight proactively, both by advocating for an end of dog racing and by supporting reforms to make life better for greyhounds. For many years, the Texas Racing Commission has been a leader when it comes to regulating dog racing, and we look forward to working with them to continue improving the state's greyhound welfare rules.

Finally, we are extremely grateful to the ASPCA for their leadership and partnership. As the oldest humane organization in the country, they epitomize our American values of compassion and common sense. Together, I know we can make a difference for Texas greyhounds.

Help Didn't Come Soon Enough for Isaiah the Greyhound

Photo by FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation

A year ago, a Florida proposal to decouple greyhound racing from other forms of gambling stalled on the last day of the legislative session. Even though the measure had passed overwhelmingly in both the State House of Representatives and State Senate, it lost steam in the final hours and did not become law. I was heartbroken, and knew the failure of this important bill would result in the needless suffering and death of more greyhounds.

In fighting for Florida's greyhounds, we assembled a strong and diverse coalition. Supporters included the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The Humane Society of the United States, Greyhound Adoptions of Florida, and newspapers across the state. The measure was also supported by racetrack owners who are losing money on live greyhound racing. Our coalition remains strong today, and I am optimistic that we will pass greyhound decoupling into law. This change, however, cannot come soon enough for the dogs now at Florida tracks.

Sadly, some dogs have already needlessly suffered due to the failure of decoupling legislation. For example, on July 10 a four-year-old greyhound named Kiowa JSK Isaiah died at Flagler. According to records we obtained from the state, he collapsed after winning a race and suffered a fatal heart attack. Isaiah's death was completely avoidable. In fact, it's possible that had decoupling become law in 2011 Isaiah would be lounging on a couch somewhere, living with a loving family.

For Isaiah, greyhound decoupling did not come soon enough. I know that greyhound racing will eventually end in Florida, the question now is how long it will take and how many more dogs will become casualties of inaction.

Over the past two years, the only real opposition to decoupling has come from greyhound breeders. Of course, these breeders have a direct financial interest in preventing change. The current racing mandate is effectively a state subsidy for their cruel business, and they will do whatever it takes to perpetuate it. These greyhound breeders have also convinced a small number of greyhound adopters, by using scare tactics, to oppose decoupling. They have made all sorts of wild accusations, including the false claim that decoupling will somehow harm greyhounds.

The truth, however, is that doing nothing in Florida is harming greyhounds. Dogs like Isaiah can no longer wait. It's time for greyhound decoupling to pass, so that thousands of greyhounds can be given the second chance they deserve.

Latest Greyhound Breeder Smears Cross the Line, Show Their Desperation

Last Spring, dog racing supporters engaged in a campaign of smear tactics while trying to defeat a commonsense proposal to decouple greyhound racing in Florida. They even went so far as to call State Senator Maria Sachs, a sponsor of the bill, a "condescending cow."

Thankfully, their smears had little impact on the legislative debate. Over their objections, greyhound decoupling bills passed overwhelmingly in both the State House and Senate, and nearly became law. This year we are working even harder to pass these important measures, which will help thousands of greyhounds in the Sunshine State.

Meanwhile, at the same time that we are renewing our fight to help Florida's greyhounds, greyhound breeders have unleashed a new wave of smears. In fact, their angry rhetoric is even more off the rails now than it was last time greyhound decoupling was considered.

For example, earlier this afternoon a greyhound trainer named Davina Filapelli posted on an internet message board that she would like to "slap" renowned actress and GREY2K USA supporter Betty White. Specifically, she wrote:

"Don't you just want to slap her!"

Unfortunately, Betty White is not the only target of these latest smears. In another message that was posted last night, a former greyhound trainer expressed his anger that the ASPCA is supporting our work to help greyhounds in Florida:

"It seems that the once reputable ASPCA has been infiltrated by the Animal Rights nuts and grifters."

Perhaps the most outrageous smears, however, have been directed at GREY2K USA co-founder Christine Dorchak. Christine is an inspiration to everyone who works at GREY2K USA, partly due to the fact that she and her dog Kelsey survived a catastrophic, near-fatal train accident in 1992.

You would think that even greyhound breeders would agree this personal tragedy is off limits. Sadly, that is not the case. In fact, only three days ago a greyhound trainer named Chris Grieb posted the following message on Twitter:

"Christine. Btw... when do you plan on walking in front of a trolley again?"

The following day, another dog racing supporter named Leslie Csokasy posted a news story about Christine's accident on an industry bulletin board and wrote:

"This is a highly amusing article ... I know... not very nice of me. But why pretend?"

Without a doubt, greyhound breeders have restarted their smear campaign because they know we are closer than ever to ending the cruelty of dog racing. I am proud of the support we have from mainstream opinion leaders like Betty White and the ASPCA, and am confident that our best days are ahead of us.

Florida Greyhound Tour Enters the Homestretch

I have been on the road for nearly two weeks now, meeting with grassroots activists all across Florida. On Tuesday, I joined GREY2K USA President Christine Dorchak and Ann Church, Senior Director of the ASPCA, at a press conference in Tallahassee. We released a groundbreaking report on greyhound racing in Florida, and met with lawmakers. If you haven't read this report yet, please do so. It is the first document of its kind, and provides a glimpse inside Florida's thirteen dog tracks.

At every stop, I have met dedicated people who are ready to fight for the dogs. One example of this dedication is Cyndi Rennick with Greyhound REscue and Adoptions of Tampa Bay. In addition to her adoption efforts, Cyndi is a GREY2K USA volunteer and is working hard to pass greyhound decoupling. This morning, I received the following message Cyndi sent to other activists about the meeting:

"It was great to see Christine and Carey, and although they must be exhausted, they are hanging tough through this whirlwind Florida tour. The report that they released on Tuesday is beautifully done and represents a lot of hard work on their part. Some of the pictures are difficult to look at, but they need to be there, for those who may not know. The report sheds a bright light on the reality of everyday life for racing greyhounds in Florida. And it's an ugly picture."

Cyndi also wrote about her hopes for the upcoming legislative session:

"I am optimistic that all our hard work this session will be rewarded next year when the decoupling legislation makes it through both houses and is signed in to law! It's going to be a tough road and the greyhound breeders are going to fight dirty, but we are just as determined as they are. Their focus is the money and our focus is the greyhounds. I have to believe that we will prevail. I do it for Bandit, Sweetie Pie, Joe, Dodd and Taylor and all those others who were not lucky enough to make it to someone's sofa. I know that's why you each do what you do as well. I'm proud to be part of such a passionate group of advocates."

Although it has been exhilarating to meet so many amazing activists like Cyndi, I am looking forward to returning home and hugging my greyhound Zoe. As we enter the homestretch, it is the prospect of seeing her that propels me forward.

A Grassroots Movement for the Greyhounds

Over the last week, GREY2K USA President Christine Dorchak and I have met with grassroots activists across Florida. Working with the ASPCA and The Humane Society of the United States, we have held organizing meetings in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, New Smyrna Beach, The Villages, Orlando and Sarasota.

All across the sunshine state, we are talking with volunteers who are committed to helping greyhounds.

At our heart GREY2K USA is a grassroots organization, and I firmly believe in the power of this type of advocacy. Our most important victories are often due in large part to the hard work of volunteers who want to make a change.

It is no surprise that the effort to help greyhounds has so much grassroots support. Without question, standard practices in the dog racing industry, like the cruel confinement greyhounds endure, go against the mainstream values of Americans from all walks of life.

We are only half-way through our Florida tour, and in the coming week I look forward to meeting grassroots volunteers at additional meetings throughout the state. Together, I know that we can help end the cruelty of dog racing.