A Birthday Wish for Zoe the Greyhound

Today, my adopted greyhound Zoe turns nine.

While meeting with Florida lawmakers in recent days, I have joked that she might be angry with me for being away on her big day. All kidding aside, I do miss her. While I am working for the greyhounds in the Sunshine State, she is staying with a close friend who also has a rescued greyhound. When I called today to see how Zoe was doing, my friend told me how excited Zoe was this morning when, on her early walk, she saw several inches of new snow on the ground.

Living with Zoe has given me a greater understanding of and empathy for all greyhounds. She inspires my work, and every day living with Zoe is better day because of her.

Happy birthday, Zoe.

Debate Over Florida Greyhound Racing Makes a Wrong Turn

Over the past month, I have been working to pass two humane bills that would decouple greyhound racing from other forms of gambling in Florida. The Sunshine State is now home to a majority of dog tracks nationwide, and these proposals (House Bill 1145 and Senate Bill 1594) would significantly reduce greyhound injuries and confinement.

These bills are supported by every major animal protection group in Florida and nationwide, and have already begun to advance. Earlier this week, a House subcommittee approved HB 1145 by an overwhelming vote of 14-1, and a Senate Committee has already voted in favor of SB 1594. Despite these initial victories, there is a long road ahead. To become law, these bills must still pass four additional committees, and be approved by the House of Representatives, Senate, and Governor. In short, this debate has only just begun.

While I am thankful for the progress that has already been made for Florida's greyhounds, I am also disturbed by the vitriolic, even violent rhetoric that is now being used by greyhound breeders who are opposed to greyhound decoupling. In fact, there is evidence that an organized campaign is now underway to defeat these common sense measures, using scare tactics and intimidation.

This underhanded effort began last month, when dog racing supporter Leslie Wootten posed as an independent journalist, and then wrote a series of "articles" attacking GREY2K USA and other greyhound protection advocates. Wootten used flawed logic to argue that greyhound decoupling would actually harm greyhounds, a claim that is not only false but is completely absurd.

The campaign then shifted to online intimidation tactics that appear to have no boundaries. For example, yesterday morning an opponent of greyhound decoupling using the name "Chuck" posted a comment on a media website in which he personally attacked GREY2K USA President Christine Dorchak, referring to her manner of dress and accusing her of being responsible for the death of greyhounds:

Christine Dorchak and Grey2k (sic) couldn't be less concerned with the safety and welfare of greyhounds. Curiously their actions seem to result in the deaths of more greyhounds than are saved ... that red dress she wore when testifying is stained with the blood of those greyhounds.

When greyhound breeders learned of this message, they applauded the author. In a post on American Greyhounds, a website used by greyhound breeders, pro-racing adoption advocate Pam Davis referred to this as a "pretty good" post, and encouraged greyhound breeders to "comment away on this one!" These comments by Davis contain a good dose of irony, since it was only a few months ago that she asked GREY2K USA to assist her in filing a complaint against a greyhound trainer at Jefferson County Kennel Club.

Anger has not only been directed towards greyhound protection advocates, but also lawmakers. In a post on American Greyhounds, a greyhound breeder named Kate D'Arcy personally attacked Senator Maria Sachs, who is the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 1594:

I listened to the podcast, and it seemed evident to me that Sachs is certainly funded by Grey2K (sic) + the HSUS nutters ... it made me sick just listening to the condescending cow!

This is only one of many hateful statements that have been posted on American Greyhounds. In another comment posted on March 18, greyhound owner Mike Tice from Alabama wrote that he wished physical harm would come to greyhound protection advocates:

The local fruitcakes are partying it up on that commentary. I really hope they all fall off of a cliff...and get trampled

In another post, a greyhound owner from Boca Raton, Florida named Kenny Kilgore suggested that their strategy should be to irritate lawmakers until they vote to continue the cruelty of dog racing:

Lobbying works by constant irritation......they'll give in just so you will leave them alone.

A similar comment was posted by greyhound enthusiast Brian Lee, who posted this morning that greyhound breeders are engaged in "political warfare."

Lee is also the author of what is likely the the most ironic statement that has been made so far on greyhound decoupling in Florida. After participating in several of these hateful online discussions, he posted the following:

Y'Know this reminds me of a few years back when the KKK had their Grand Wizard, David Duke - take off his white sheet and, dress up in a fancy suit and tie. This was the "kinder gentler" Klan remember? I think he even talked about running for President. Well they can put lipstick on a pig all they want ...

While these statements are hurtful, they should be a rallying cry for greyhound protection advocates. Rather than respond in kind, we must channel our aggravation into action.

We must strive to make a sound, policy-based argument that greyhound decoupling should pass, and be a chorus of compassionate voices in doing so.

Because at the end of the day, greyhound breeders are lashing out because they are desperate. They simply cannot stand the fact that their cruelty is finally coming to an end.

When the Tail Wags the Greyhound

A few days ago I wrote about a dog racing supporter named Leslie Wootten who posed as an independent journalist, and is now publishing a series of "articles" on greyhound adoption and dog racing in other countries. Wootten is not an independent journalist at all, but is in fact a greyhound racing supporter and the daughter of a former dog track executive.

With this biased background, it should surprise no one that her "articles" are nothing more than a thinly-veiled assault on greyhound protection advocates. Specifically, her "articles" claim that efforts to end greyhound racing are somehow causing greyhounds to be harmed elsewhere. On this point, Wootten writes:

Make no mistake, some individuals from other countries have purchased Greyhounds with owner consent, but other Greyhounds have slipped through the cracks, unwitting products of Grey2K’s doctrinaire cause to stop what they call “the cruelty of Greyhound racing.”

This kind of logic is like the tail wagging the greyhound. The fact is, American greyhound breeders have been selling dogs to other countries for decades, long before GREY2K USA existed. For example:

• According to a newly published book titled Satan's Playground, Mobsters and Movie Stars at America's Greatest Gaming Resort, a Mexican gambling resort named Agua Caliente was built between 1927 and 1930, using "greyhound racing on a makeshift track" to fund the construction.

• 200 former racing greyhounds were found starving at a greyhound farm in Summerfield, Florida, in 1991. The dogs were awaiting shipment to race in Venezuela.

• In 1992, 28 greyhounds were sold to a businessman in an effort to introduce greyhound racing to Brazil. The dogs, some of which had obvious injuries, were running exhibition races outside shopping malls in several cities.

• In 1993, more than 400 former American racing greyhounds were found abandoned and starving in their cages at a bankrupt dog track on Margarita Island, Venezuela. Officials discovered sixty-one dogs already dead and later euthanized fifteen others.

• In 1996, seven greyhounds were sold by a New Hampshire greyhound trainer to a Canadian who intended to crossbreed them with huskies and create faster sled dogs. The dogs were later rescued from an unheated shed in freezing temperatures.
  

All of these cases occurred years, sometimes decades, before GREY2K USA formed as a non-profit organization. The sad truth is, some greyhound breeders will apparently do just about anything to profit from these beautiful animals, including selling them to countries with even worse standards of care. Of course, the responsibility for this poor decision rests solely with the greyhound breeder who makes the decision, not with anyone else.

This lack of responsibility is yet another reason why greyhound racing must end. Prohibiting greyhound racing in the United States will help fight the international trafficking in greyhounds by making it harder for American breeders to profit from their cruel businesses. In fact, between 2002 and 2010 the breeding of greyhounds for racing in the United States dropped by a staggering 53%.

GREY2K USA opposes the transfer of greyhounds to any country in the world, and will keep working until the cruelty of dog racing ends everywhere. As a country we should demonstrate leadership in this regard, and urge the global community to follow our lead.

Instead, Wootten would have us adopt a policy that amounts to acquiescence to the lowest common denominator. Using her logic, no injustice should ever be abolished in our community if it happens to also take place somewhere else.

This is not leadership. Instead, it is twisted logic used in an effort to perpetuate cruelty.

Dog Racing Supporter Poses as Journalist, Publishes Biased "Article" on Adoption

A few weeks ago, GREY2K USA was contacted by a woman named Leslie Wootten, who claimed to be an "independent" journalist working on a news story. We became concerned, however, when this "reporter" refused to identify who she was reporting for. Also, her "interview" was nothing more than a series of biased questions.

After doing subsequent research, we discovered that Ms. Wootten was not a reporter at all, but is in fact a long-time supporter of greyhound racing and the daughter of a former dog track executive. We were also deeply troubled by a statement she made about GREY2K USA Vice President Jennifer Krebs on an internet bulletin board in December 2009:

Jen Krebs' words appear everywhere (in seems) on behalf of Grey2K. She treats this duty like a full-time job (which it may be), so I certainly agree that articulate replies from credible sources should be ready to lob back each and every time she's on the loose.

Setting aside the fact that she is completely wrong about Jennifer, who is a volunteer board member, this message exposes Wootten's real agenda: protecting the greyhound racing industry.

In light of this obvious agenda, we were not surprised this morning when her "article" was published by adoption advocate Rory Goree. Goree claims to be neutral on greyhound racing, but in actuality has been a longtime apologist for greyhound breeders. He acknowledged as much in a press release he issued only a few days before citizens in Massachusetts voted to end greyhound racing:

It isn't just people employed by the racing industry who oppose their ballot question to ban racing. A lot of greyhound adoption people believe that racing is a great life for these dogs, who are bred to run.

The "article" published this morning by Wootten and Goree falsely claims that GREY2K USA does not support greyhound adoption, and does not care about ending greyhound racing in other countries. This is completely false.

Although we are not an adoption group, GREY2k USA strongly supports adoption efforts. Over the years, we have made donations to dozens of non-profit adoption groups across the country. We give adoption referrals on an ongoing basis, promote adoption through links on our website, and regularly encourage all of our supporters to consider adopting a greyhound. I have also personally adopted a beautiful greyhound named Zoe, and am honored to share my life with her.

Regarding greyhound racing in other countries, we are deeply committed to helping prevent the spread of greyhound racing, and ending it in the countries where it does exist. In recent years, we have fought for the greyhounds in countries across the world, including Guam, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, Jamaica, the Philippines, and other countries. For example, in Guam we helped write legislation that prohibited greyhound racing, and the law was based on the ballot initiative voters previously had approved in Massachusetts.

If Wootten and Goree had truly been interested in reporting the facts, they would have included these efforts in their "article." In the end, however, I'm not really surprised that the truth about our work ended up on the cutting room floor. From the beginning, their apparent goal was to raise false issues about GREY2K USA and greyhound adoption, and in doing so perpetuate the cruelty of greyhound racing.

Charleston Daily Mail Editorializes in Favor of the Greyhounds

This morning, the Charleston Daily Mail Editorial Board weighed in on the future of greyhound racing in West Virginia.

In a concise and cogent editorial, they reflected on the recent disclosure that more than 3,000 greyhound injuries have been reported at Tri-State Racetrack since 2005:

It's repugnant that injuries are the part of the nature of the sport. Greyhounds are fast but fragile, and races involve much bumping ... Why does the state continue to allow such a gruesome sport?

They also drew the same conclusion that state legislators and editorial boards across the country are reaching: greyhound racing is no longer viable, and should be allowed to end. Commenting on a pending legislative proposal to help West Virginia's racetrack casinos, the editorial board wrote:

Maybe the best way to help the casinos is to allow them to drop racing and concentrate on being casinos.

We are grateful for the Daily Mail's support of the greyhounds. Today's editorial is yet another example of the fact that ending the cruelty of greyhound racing is not a liberal or conservative position. Rather, it is a mainstream value that is shared by citizens across the country, from all walks of life and political persuasions.

Greyhound Advocates Win First Victories of 2011

Seven weeks into the New Year, greyhound advocates have already won two major legislative victories.

The first win came yesterday, when the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill to prohibit greyhound simulcasting by a unanimous vote of 200 to 0. This vote sends a clear message to lawmakers across the country that no form of gambling on dog races should be allowed. The measure now goes to the State Senate, which overwhelmingly supported a prohibition on greyhound simulcasting just last year. Humane advocates from across the country owe a debt of gratitude to Citizens Against Greyhound Racing and its President Ann Bradley, who is leading this important effort.

Meanwhile, in Arizona the House Commerce Committee today voted to advance a bill to significantly reduce greyhound racing at Tucson Greyhound Park. HB 2536 immediately reduces the live racing requirement for Tucson Greyhound Park to 100 days, down from 50 weeks, and also contains a provision that could allow the number of greyhound races to be reduced even further. The passage of this bill would be a major step forward, and would result in fewer greyhound injuries and fewer dogs living in confinement. Board President Christine Dorchak and board members Caryn Wood and Karyn Zoldan will be at the capitol in Phoenix all day tomorrow lobbying for the greyhounds.

Greyhounds live a sad life at Tucson Greyhound Park. A recent GREY2K USA investigation proved that dogs are kept in warehouse-style kennels, in rows of stacked cages that are barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around.

The dogs our investigators observed lived in darkness, and most were muzzled perpetually. That is why we must keep fighting until greyhound racing ends permanently in Arizona.

Everyone who cares about dogs should celebrate these two important victories, and be ready to continue lending your voice to the greyhounds. If you are able, please also support our efforts financially as well. Donations are needed to fund our lobbying efforts and give the greyhounds a voice in every racing state. Just this week, we will have personally advocated for an end to dog racing by speaking in the legislatures of Iowa, Arizona and soon Florida.

I am optimistic that by joining together we can achieve even bigger wins for the greyhounds in the months ahead!

The Survey Says: Iowans Support Greyhound "Decoupling"

According to a landmark survey released today by GREY2K USA and reported first by the Des Moines Register, a solid majority of Iowa voters support allowing dog racing to end in their state. Specifically, 57% of Iowa voters support a bill to decouple greyhound racing from other forms of gambling, while only 28% oppose this humane law.The survey also includes other important data on greyhound racing in Iowa, and reflects broad and deep support for a humane change. Specifically:

• The more voters learn about this issue, they more they support allowing dog racing to end. After hearing arguments for both sides, Iowa voters supported allowing greyhound racing to end by a staggering 63% to 27% margin.
  
  
• 29% of Iowa voters indicated they have a "favorable" impression of the dog racing industry, while 54% indicated they have an "unfavorable" impression of greyhound racing.
  
  
• Only 16% of Iowa voters indicated that they view greyhound racing as an "important" industry, while 75% indicated it is "not important" as an industry.

To many people, it may seem surprising that greyhound racing is connected in the law to other forms of gambling like poker, slot machines and simulcast wagering on horse races. Certainly, there is no logical relationship between these different activities. The fact is, greyhound racing is only linked to these other gambling options because of political gamesmanship.

Decades ago, when greyhound racing started to decline, dog track owners fought for the legalization of other forms of gambling as a way to save themselves. When these efforts were successful, greyhound breeders lobbied for "coupling" laws, requirements that greyhound races continue in order for these other forms of gambling to take place. In some cases, they also successfully lobbied for dog racing subsidies, derived from slot machine and other gambling profits.

As a result of these wrongheaded policies, most dog tracks today are losing money on greyhound racing, but continue to hold dog races because they must do so in order to offer more profitable forms of gambling.

This year, several state legislatures will consider proposals to "decouple" greyhound racing. These are important bills that the humane community should support, and if these measures become law greyhound racing will be significantly reduced and end altogether in some states.

This should be an area where forces that don't often agree should be able to set aside their differences and work together. For the humane community, the passage of decoupling laws will mean that fewer greyhounds will endure lives of terrible confinement and suffer serious injuries, like broken legs and paralysis. For gambling opponents, this is an opportunity to reduce gambling and continue moving toward the day when one form of gambling -- pari-mutuel wagering on greyhound races -- disappears completely. For racetrack owners, it is a chance to eliminate a part of their business that is costly and goes against the mainstream values of the communities they are located in.

Finally, as greyhound advocates it is important to remember that our job will not be completely finished until dog racing is prohibited in all fifty states. In this context, greyhound decoupling is not the ultimate goal, but rather a very important stop along the way.

The movement to protect greyhounds has more momentum now than ever before, and 2011 could well be the Year of Greyhound Decoupling!