In Secret Essay, Dog Race Supporters Admit Tracks are "Antiquated" and Dangerous

Bella Kingnarmer lost her leg to an injury at Tucson Greyhound Park

Dog race promoters often deny the sad reality of greyhound injuries. In public, they minimize the injuries that dogs suffer and claim that greyhound racing is an "extremely safe sport." We now know, though, that in private they are telling each other a very different story.

According to an e-mail we recently received from the state of Arizona, in March 2012 Racing Commissioner Rory Goree sent an essay to dog track regulator Bill Walsh titled "The Checkmate Move." This essay was never publicly released by greyhound race supporters, and its name may be a reference to the fact that I am a National Master in chess.

The Checkmate Move begins with an assortment of personal attacks and conspiracy theories about GREY2K USA, the same tired nonsense that greyhound breeders have been circulating for years. However, in an strange turn of events this section also includes a bizarre attack on documentary filmmaker Bill Buchanan, who is currently making Greyhound: Racing Into the Light.

The essay claims that Buchanan is biased, and compares his work to a filmmaker who made propaganda about the Nazi regime:

"The trailer is about as 'unbiased' as anything Leni Riefenstahl ever produced for the Third Reich. It remains to be seen as to whether or not the final cut of the movie will be equally 'unbiased.' I'm guessing 'yes.'"

After these attacks the essay turns to an important issue: dog track safety. Incredibly, The Checkmate Move argues that dog track supporters should be deeply concerned about this issue, because greyhound advocates are right:

"It could be argued, and it seems to be the case, that today's racing greyhounds have outgrown and 'out-evolved' basic racetrack design ... This argument is precisely the 'checkmate move' that Grey2k will now attempt to make, knowing full well that even at racetracks where management would not prefer to suspend racing in favor of casino style gambling, nowhere is racetrack ownership about to undertake a complete re-design of their antiquated racetracks."

The Checkmate Move essay then directly addresses track safety:

"The public will be told that despite their arguments to the contrary, those who participate in racing are deliberately exposing their greyhounds to inevitable catastrophic injury by conducting competitions on venues that are grievously flawed in their basic design ... The track itself will be cast as the new villain, one which extracts a deadly cost from greyhounds, in the form of injuries which it is designed to produce."

Finally, the essay states that greyhound breeders will have difficulty defeating this argument, because it is true:

"The problem facing greyhound racing with that particular argument and defeating it, is that it will not be perceived as 'extreme' by the public. And that's because it's not extreme, as any keen student of the breed knows in their heart and mind ... it has become critical that those in racing engage in some real introspection and then some radical paradigm change ... there are real, tangible ways to reduce the incidence of injury. Racing has not maximized or even undertaken some of these methods, and Grey2k knows it."

After reading this secret essay, it's clear why it was never published by dog race promoters. This is one of the greyhound racing industry's dirty little secrets: they know full well that today's dog tracks are "antiquated" and dangerous.

This is yet another reason why we must continue fighting for the greyhounds. The racing industry can try to hide its cruelty, but in the end its denial will change nothing. Greyhound racing is cruel and inhumane, and on its way out.

Dog Race Revenue at Macau Track Drops by a Staggering 31%

In Macau, the Canidrome racetrack is losing the debate over greyhound racing.

According to new statistics from the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordinator Bureau (DICJ), in 2012 dog race revenues at the Canidrome declined by a staggering 31%. This revenue drop shows that public opinion is turning against the track, and it is starting to pay a heavy price for its stubbornness.

Over the past year, GREY2K USA has fought for changes in Macau, working with Animals Asia, Animals Australia and ANIMA. The Canidrome has no adoption program, and every greyhound that competes at the facility is eventually killed. More recently, we have reached out to the global animal welfare community to ask for its help, and the response has been overwhelming. Today, there is a global chorus of voices speaking up for the Macau greyhounds.

So far, the Canidrome's owners have tried to simply ignore this wave of criticism. They have pretended as if nothing has happened, and are continuing to kill dogs. This callousness goes against our global humane values, and as a result the track is now in great danger of a total loss. The Canidrome's land lease expires in 2015, and it is quickly running out of second chances.

The Canidrome's owners must now make a choice: they can stop killing greyhounds or be prepared to face future losses and eventually see the track close. Either way, change is on the way for the greyhounds in Macau.

Macau Government: Brooklyn is Still Alive

According to the Macau government, Brooklyn the greyhound is still alive.

Brooklyn is a four-year-old red, white and fawn greyhound who was born in Australia. He has spent the last several years at the Canidrome dog track in Macau, a deeply troubled facility where all greyhounds eventually die.

GREY2K USA Board member Charmaine Settle took Brooklyn's photograph when she inspected the Canidrome in October 2011. Since then his story has been reported by newspapers across the world, and he has become the face of a global campaign to help all of the Macau greyhounds.

More than eight months have passed since Brooklyn last raced, and with each passing day we have become increasingly concerned. On May 5, 2012 he apparently fell during a race, was injured and finished sixth. According to a translation of the tracks' website, his "hind leg" was "cut wounded on web." Six days later, an update was posted which stated that his injury had been "cured."

Last month we sent a letter to the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, and asked them to determine Brooklyn's fate. In part, we wrote:

"Seven months have now passed since Brooklyn was reportedly 'cured' of his injury, yet he has never raced again.  Sadly, we fear he may no longer be alive."

Today, we received an official response from the Macau government which claims that Brooklyn is in fact still alive. According to the government:

"Please be notified that Brooklyn, which is now under the ownership of Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome Co. Ltd., is still in recess after his injury had been cured."

The government's response also addressed the effort to create an adoption program at the track, a program that has still not been implemented:

"During the past few months, we found that the IACM has already been discussing and co-operating with Macau Canidrome and Macau's Society for the Protection of Animals (ANIMA). Also, they are now still in the process studying and arranging the adoption program for the dogs retired."

Finally, the government said that they will continue to monitor the situation and Brooklyn in particular:

"As being compliance with our competences and obligations, and respecting the willingness of the owner of Brooklyn, we should continue to pay close attention on the development of this issue."

We are relieved to hear that Brooklyn is apparently still alive. At the same time, there is much more work that needs to be done to help the Canidrome dogs. Please visit RescueBrooklyn.org today, and lend your voice to this important fight. I know that together, we can bring about change at this terrible track.

Dog Racing Declines for Nineteen Years in a Row

Voters outlawed greyhound racing at Raynham Park in 2008

It's a well established fact that greyhound racing is a dying industry. It's worth noting, however, just how long and steep the decline has been. According to new data we have received, gambling on dog racing has now declined for nineteen consecutive years.

The last year that betting on dog races increased was 1991. That is the same year that the number of computers on the internet hit one million for the first time, the average price of gasoline was only $1.12, Nirvana released their landmark album Nevermind, and moviegoers went to see Thelma and Louise. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union broke up and world leaders included George H.W. Bush and Boris Yeltsin. Since 1991, the amount gambled on greyhound races has declined by a staggering 80%.

Commercial dog racing is an anachronism, an industry that the world has passed by. Similarly, industry participants hold views on animal welfare that are outdated. For example, greyhound breeders see nothing wrong with standard practices like the system of confined housing that is used at commercial tracks. Dog race proponents simply don't understand that these cruel practices are throwbacks to a previous time, and go against our mainstream values about the humane treatment of animals.

Change is never easy, but greyhounds deserve better. With each passing year, commercial dog racing is becoming less relevant as an economic and cultural activity. If greyhound advocates continue to work hard and keep the faith, I know that eventually we can end commercial dog racing completely.

Victory for the Dogs: Watch the Video Greyhound Breeders Don't Want You to See

A greyhound lives outside at an Oklahoma breeding facility

On Christmas morning, greyhound advocates won a major victory when the Secret Life of Greyhound Puppies was restored by YouTube. This video documents the greyhound breeding industry as never before, and includes photographs that were taken by local officials, greyhound breeders, and owners, at facilities in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and West Virginia.  This video is the first real glimpse into the secretive greyhound breeding industry, and shows puppies being tattooed at a few months of age, puppies kept outside with just small buildings for shelter, and breeding dogs enduring lives of confinement.

The video was temporarily removed from YouTube earlier this month after a greyhound breeder filed a false copyright claim. We immediately responded to this claim, and asserted our fair use and free speech rights. Yesterday, our response was accepted and the video was fully restored.

It shouldn't surprise anyone that greyhound breeders would go to extreme lengths to prevent the public from seeing how greyhounds live. However, GREY2K USA will not be deterred by these cynical tactics. I predicted that we would win this challenge when it was filed, and noted that we have won every such challenge we have faced.

Please watch The Secret Life of Greyhound Puppies today, then forward it to everyone you know. Let's send dog race promoters a message that they cannot silence us, and we will continue to be a strong voice for the greyhounds.

 

GREY2K USA Investigates Dog Racing Down Under

A greyhound waits to race in Auckland, New Zealand

Over the past few years GREY2K USA has researched dog racing abroad, looking for opportunities to collaborate with other animal protection groups in efforts to end this cruelty. In large part, this international effort has been led by board member Charmaine Settle. Charmaine supported our recent investigation of dog racing in the United Kingdom, and has also personally taken fact-finding trips to Macau and Vietnam. We learned a tremendous amount from these investigations.

Charmaine just returned home from her most recent investigative trip, this time to Australia and New Zealand. Today, there are more than eighty operational greyhound racetracks in Australia, along with seven dog tracks in New Zealand. Thousands of greyhounds are bred for the racing industry, and breeders regularly export racing dogs to tracks in other countries including China's Canidrome, where all the dogs are killed when they stop racing. Thankfully, there is now hope that greyhounds Down Under may soon see better days.

Tasmania and Australia

Charmaine started her trip in Tasmania with a visit to Anne Lloyd-Jones, Australian Director for the Animals Asia Foundation. She spoke with Anne about our continuing efforts to help greyhounds in both Australia and China, and our Rescue Brooklyn campaign. Anne has been an important ally in our effort to close the Canidrome racetrack in Macau.

After visiting Tasmania, Charmaine went to Sydney where she met with greyhound adoption advocates Peter and Janet Flann, founders of Greyhound Rescue Australia. These advocates told Charmaine about some of the challenges Australian rescue groups face, including near-impossible standards that greyhounds must meet in order to be given a chance to be adopted. Coupled with that, no official records are kept for the dogs that are not deemed adoptable. These advocates also shared assertions regarding humane issues in the Australian racing industry, including the claim that the vast majority of greyhounds are killed when they are no longer profitable, and the claim that some veterinarians will euthanize greyhounds for a reduced fee and then sell their blood for profit. Charmaine heard similar claims by other greyhound advocates during her trip.

Greyhounds prepare to race at Wentworth Park in Sydney

While in Sydney, Charmaine also met with Animals Australia Senior Campaigner Jeroen van Kernebeek. Jeroen has also been a key ally in our effort to stop the export of Australian greyhounds to the Canidrome in Macau. Together, Charmaine and Jeroen went to Wentworth Park to see races and speak to members of the Australian dog racing industry. Wentworth is considered a high grade track, and and sells itself as a social environment rather than as a gambling facility.

Charmaine and Jeroen were given a tour of Wentworth by the track's marketing director, who provided them with statistics about the track's total handle and supposed economic impact. The track official was unable, however, to provide any data regarding the number of greyhounds adopted or euthanized.

Charmaine noted that greyhound racing exists in Australia in large part due to the high volume of off-track betting facilities. Dog races are commonly broadcast at local restaurants, sports bars and pubs, and receive much more public exposure than they do in the United States.

New Zealand

After departing Australia, Charmaine traveled to New Zealand where she met with greyhound advocate Lynn Charlton. Lynn told Charmaine about her experience working with investigative reporters at 60 Minutes to document problems at New Zealand dog tracks, including Manukau Stadium. In a groundbreaking report, 60 Minutes recently found that hundreds of dogs are being injured each year at New Zealand tracks, and many greyhounds are being killed.

Greyhound advocate Aaron Cross

A day after meeting Lynn, Charmaine went to Manukau Stadium to see the track for herself. Since Manukau had just been featured in the 60 Minutes report, she understood why there was tension in the air as she watched some of the races and walked around the track taking photographs. She sensed the facility was on high alert, and that officials were monitoring her closely. Upon leaving Manakau, she wrote:

"Why was there an air of extreme paranoia at the track? What are they trying to hide? What might I find out? These, I'm convinced, are questions the public will get answers to as more information is exposed on how greyhounds are exploited, suffer and die in New Zealand."

Finally, before returning home Charmaine visited with greyhound advocate Aaron Cross of the Greyhound Protection League of New Zealand. Aaron has raised important questions about the large number of greyhounds that go unaccounted for, and was extensively interviewed in the recent 60 Minutes investigation. He also recently launched a petition for an independent inquiry into the New Zealand dog racing industry, an important effort that we fully support.

Returning Home

Throughout her travels, Charmaine was encouraged by the greyhound advocacy community Down Under, which grows in strength with each passing day. Already, there are many committed people who are working hard to give the greyhounds a voice.

As we look at the global dog racing industry, time and again we see this trend. Whether it's in Macau, New Zealand or Massachusetts, the rise of commercial dog racing inevitably leads to local opposition, and a grassroots movement to protect greyhounds.

Animal Protection Groups From All Over the World Calling for Change at Macau Dog Track

More than a year has passed since we reached out to the Canidrome dog track in Macau, and asked them to make positive improvements for the greyhounds. Although there have been hopeful signs that change may soon occur, the track has so far used a delay strategy in hopes the greyhound debate would just go away. That is not going to happen.

Two weeks ago, we joined Animals Australia, Animals Asia, and ANIMA and together sent a letter to every major animal protection organization in the world. We urged these humane groups to join together as one unified voice, and intensify the pressure on the Canidrome. In part, we told these organizations:

"Although we feel optimistic that a humane solution may be found for the dogs at the Canidrome in time, this will only come about through sustained international pressure on the governments of Macau and Australia ... We are confident that if the global animal welfare community stands together and speaks up for the greyhounds in Macau, this is one cruelty that can end."

The response to this call to action has been overwhelming. So far, more than two dozen major humane groups have agreed to help, including Humane Society International, the International Fund for Animal Welfare Australia, SPCA Auckland, GreytExploitations, the League Against Cruel Sports, the National Greyhound Adoption Program, Greyhound Rescue Holland and World Animal Net. These compassionate organizations are directly contacting the governments of Macau and Australia, and asking them to close the Canidrome and end the export of greyhounds from Australia to Macau. Many of these groups are also asking their supporters to weigh in.

This incredible wave of support for the greyhounds in Macau is humbling. It also gives me great hope that we are on the verge of a major breakthrough. However, to win this effort we will need the help of everyone who cares about greyhounds. Please assist this effort today by doing two things:

• Send a polite e-mail to Macau Chief Executive Dr. Chui Sai On at gce@raem.gov.mo, and ask that the Canidrome be permanently closed.

• Send a polite e-mail to Australia's Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig at joe.ludwig@maff.gov.au, and ask him to immediately halt the export of greyhounds to Macau.

Finally, I sent a letter today to the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau and asked them to determine whether Brooklyn the greyhound is still alive. According to the Canidrome, Brooklyn was injured in his last race, and has not competed in seven months. I hope he is still alive, but fear that he may not be. Once we hear from the government, we will share any news we receive on his current status.

It has been a long road in our fight to help the greyhounds in Macau. But together, I know we can see it through to the end and make life better for these dogs.