Covering Up the Death of a Nameless Greyhound

Camby the greyhound

According to state records, two greyhound trainers and an assistant trainer have been suspended at Southland Greyhound Park after they failed to report the death of a dog. The greyhound, which is not named in official records, died while being transported to the track to race.

Here is what the records show regarding this tragic incident:

• On April 14, 2012 a kennel at Southland received seventeen dogs. When the hauler arrived at the facility, it was discovered that one greyhound had died during the trip.

• After the dead dog was discovered, assistant trainer Will Rogers and greyhound trainer Gerald Love transported the body to a local veterinary clinic.

• Later that night, Southland track officials learned of the incident and questioned Rogers along with greyhound trainer J.J. Moore. Moore was the licensed trainer responsible for the kennel that the dog was being sent to.

• Under questioning, Rogers and Moore indicated that they did not report the dog's death because they did not have the necessary phone numbers, and did not believe the track's policies regarding deceased greyhounds applied to the incident. Rogers also claimed that the hauler was in a parking lot outside the kennel compound when the dead dog was discovered.

• Greyhound trainer Love was also questioned and supported the statements made by Rogers.

• After these initial interviews, track officials uncovered proof that Rogers was lying, and the dead dog was in fact discovered inside the kennel compound.

• Rogers then submitted a letter to track officials in which he stated that he had "lied" about the incident and apologized.

• Trainer Love then also recanted his initial statement, and said that he and Rogers had "discussed the situation before hand in order to get their stories straight."

For their part in the cover up, Rogers and Moore were both fined $1,000 and suspended for six months. Love was fined $250 and suspended for two weeks.

As sad as this incident is, it does raise an important issue about transparency. Perhaps it is apropos that the greyhound who died in this case remains nameless. This dog had a name, a family, and a story. Now, however, he or she is just another nameless greyhound who died for the racing industry.

State Veterinarian Accuses Arkansas Greyhound Trainer of Animal Neglect

Bobby Munson the greyhound, photo by Rachel Hogue

According to state records GREY2K USA recently obtained from the Arkansas Racing Commission, a greyhound trainer has been suspended after he was accused by a state veterinarian of animal neglect. Although the details of this case are not complete, the facts we do have are concerning.

In April 21, the Southland Greyhound Park Board of Judges held a formal hearing for greyhound trainer Bob Gray. Gray was asked to respond to a complaint that had been filed by Arkansas State Racing Commission veterinarian Lisa Robinson, in which she alleged that Gray "had been negligent in the care of Greyhound 'Bobby Munson.'"

According to a database maintained by the dog racing industry, Bobby Munson is a black greyhound that would now be three years old. He won at least six races, and was a 2011 Southland Festival of Stakes finalist. Another similar database indicates his last race occurred on April 16 and during this race he "pulled up."

The Southland Board of Judges ultimately could not verify Dr. Robinson's accusation of animal neglect. They did, however, suspend trainer Gray for 30 days after finding him "in violation for failure to follow Southland Park's Section 1200-04 on the DNC injured greyhound policy." This appears to be an internal Southland Greyhound Park policy related to injuries.

It is not clear where the greyhound Bobby Munson is now, or what his ultimate fate was. I certainly hope he is sleeping on a couch somewhere.

Dog Deaths Highlight Problems at Arkansas Racetrack

This morning, information on greyhound injuries in Arkansas was made public for the first time in a front-page Arkansas Times news story.

In part, the Times reported on a GREY2K USA analysis of greyhound injuries at Southland Greyhound Park. According to data we received from the state, 452 greyhound injuries were reported at Southland between 2008 and March 2012. Nearly half of the reported injuries involved broken legs.

During the same period, 32 dogs died or were euthanized due to injuries at the track.

This new injury data also tells the sad story of individual dogs who suffered and died at Southland. For example:

The final race for Bow Rockabilly. Image by Southland Park.

• On February 24, 2011 a three-year-old black greyhound named Bow Rockabilly died after he fell into the track rail during a race at Southland. According to statistics kept by gamblers, Rockabilly raced more than 70 times before he died.

• A three-year-old red greyhound named Marvel At This was euthanized in October 2008 after she suffered a broken neck during a race at Southland.

• A two-year-old white and fawn greyhound named CG's Spectator was euthanized after he broke both front legs during a race at Southland on July 19, 2008. At the time of his last race, the temperature was 96 degrees.

These dogs were never given the chance to know a loving home. Rather than become part of a family, they raced so that gamblers could use them as a number to bet on. In the end, each of them suffered a catastrophic injury and paid the ultimate price of their lives.

Please read our full report on greyhound injuries at Southland Park, and check out today's Arkansas Times report. Then, tell others about the ongoing humane problems at Southland. If you have friends or family that live near the track, ask them to not support this facility.

We can't help dogs like Rockabilly, but we can try to help the greyhounds at Southland now. That starts with giving them a voice, and spreading the world about their cruel fate.