[Tallahassee, FL] Greyhound-racing opponents renewed efforts Tuesday to eliminate a requirement that tracks offer live dog racing, a potentially major change in an industry that has operated in Florida since the 1930s.
State Sen. Maria Sachs (D-30/Delray Beach) and State Rep. Dana Young (R-57/Tampa) held a news conference to build support for SB 382 and HB 641. They said the House and Senate approved similar proposals last year but could not reach agreement on a final bill.
Under the bills, tracks could continue to offer other types of gambling, such as cardrooms, without a requirement that they run a minimum amount of greyhound races.
“We need to remove these mandates,” Young said. “We need to stop propping up the greyhound-racing industry.”
But Jack Cory, a lobbyist for the Florida Greyhound Association, which represents greyhound breeders and owners, said the proposal would kill jobs in the industry.
“It’s a jobs issue,” Cory said. “It’s got nothing to do with anything else.”
By: The News Service of Florida
Image: Swiss James
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This is the classic win – win – win situation. Track owners get out from under the money losing proposition that is greyhound racing, the state quits subsidizing a red ink industry, and the greyhounds get a chance to live longer than they can make money for those exploiting them. Let’s do it!
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“The Greyhounds get a chance to live longer”
Sorry, buddy, that’s incorrect. Without greyhound racing, those greyhounds aren’t going to have a life at all. The only reason they were born was because of greyhound racing.
That’s such an arrogant sentiment, Larry. And the pro-racing faction has already said they would continue to breed the NGA greyhound even if there wasn’t racing. If breeders want to keep the bloodlines going, then they can.
Greyhounds have been bred for thousands of years, long before the 20th century invention of greyhound racing. I think their chances of sticking around after racing is gone are pretty darn high.
Terrific to see these 2 bills introduced! They are so logical. In today’s world, subsidies like these are a dirty word. Good luck!!
Since 1990, the amount of taxes and fees the State of Florida receives from live greyhound races has decreased by 96.5%. This reflects public opinion. Yet, living, breathing, loving, gentle greyhounds are captive pawns in a scenario which exists under an antiquated mandate that requires live dog racing.
SB382 and HB641 will change that requirement by “decoupling” mandatory live greyhound race dates while permitting the tracks to continue offering other forms of gambling.
These humane and business-conscious bills are in sync with mainstream values. Thank you Senator Sachs and House Representative Young.
Caryn Wood posts the same garbage under every article on the internet about greyhound racing. As does Eric from New Mexico who has also commented here.
They both work for Grey2K, a group which collects donations and puts a large majority of that money in their pockets.
These people have never been inside a greyhound racing kennel.
And what’s your point, Larry? Here’s footage from inside a greyhound kennel in Arizona: http://www.grey2kusa.org/azVideo.html
If you want to dispute any of the evidence put forth by GREY2K USA, then do so. The money collected by GREY2K USA goes toward ending greyhound racing.
Cory, it’s not a “jobs issue” at all, it’s an animal cruelty and humanitarian issue. And don’t forget, the bill doesn’t end greyhound racing anywhere, it just makes the industry stand or fall on its own, according to the market forces that drive all other businesses. It’s time for Florida to end the subsidizing of this nasty industry.
Eric is absolutely correct…this is a free & fair market issue. And market forces are killing off greyhound racing, which from a humane standpoint, can’t come soon enough.
Greyhound racing is cruel and inhumane. Greyhounds endure lives of nearly constant confinement, kept in cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around. While racing, many dogs suffer and die from injuries including broken legs, paralysis, and cardiac arrest. And many greyhounds are euthanized every year, as the number retired from racing exceeds the number of adoptive homes.
At racetracks across the country, greyhounds endure lives of confinement. According to industry statements, greyhounds are generally confined in their cages for approximately 20 hours per day. They live inside warehouse-style kennels in stacked cages that are barely large enough to stand up or turn around. Generally, shredded paper or carpet remnants are used as bedding.
An undercover video recently released by GREY2K USA shows the conditions in which these gentle dogs are forced to live: http://www.grey2kusa.org/azVideo.html
For more information on injuries these dogs suffer, please view:
http://www.grey2kusa.org/azInjuries.html
http://www.grey2kusa.org/eNEWS/G2K-022811Email.html
Dogs play an important role in our lives and deserve to be protected from industries and individuals that do them harm.
Val Wolf Board Member, GREY2K USA
Another Grey2K employee. 3 of them under this one article.
This group is a scam America. Wake up. They are after your donations.
We’ll accept donations from anyone, that’s true, and we’ll use those donations to put greyhound racing in the history books. There’s no scam, Larry. Grow up and start paying attention.
“According to industry statements, greyhounds are generally confined in their cages for approximately 20 hours per day.”
If this statement is true, how many of those 20 hours is the dog sleeping? Please tell us Miss Grey2K scammer.
Here’s a fact. Val Wolf spends 20 hours a day posting lies about greyhound racing under articles on the internet.
Larry, you’re confusing facts with suppositions. Fact, greyhounds do sleep a lot. Fact, human prisoners sleep a lot, too, when they’re locked in a cell (it’s like a human size cage).
You said greyhounds sleep for 15 hours a day, so, by your own reckoning, there are at least five hours where they are awake and stuck in a cage.
Say what you wish, Larry, but the secret is out. The public is aware of the cruel realities of greyhound racing, and as a result, attendance at races is down, race revenues are down. The secret is out, and there’s no covering it up any more.
Did you know that the average dog sleeps close to 15 hours a day? Google it if you don’t believe me.
That’s a fact that Grey2K doesn’t want you to know because their claims of 24 hour a day abuse and being locked in the cages all day when they want to get out wouldn’t sound as good.
These people will say anything to get you to send them money. $140,000 of donations last year went directly in to their pockets. Information that is available on their website in their tax returns. Non for Profit my butt. There’s people making money off of this scam, the main two thieves being Christine Dorkchak and Carey Thiel.
Tell me something, is a dog being abused when it’s sleeping in a cage for 15 hours?
Adopt a greyhound and the dog is going to be sleeping in your living room for over half the day. Why do you think they call greyhounds 45 mph “couch potatoes”?
Again, Larry, you haven’t posted any FACTS. And you should be careful about what epithets you post on the web – those things can come back and bite you.
Here’s a link to the tax return moron.
http://www.grey2kusa.org/pdf/GREY2K%20USA%20Form%20990%202010.pdf
Line 15 – Salaries $138,230
And if anybody should worry about something coming back to haunt them its you lying idiots from Grey2K who have NEVER and I repeat NEVER been inside a greyhound racing kennel.
And I would also like to get a breakdown of that $199,000 that went for “Other Expenses”. I bet there’s some questionable spending in that balance too. But that’s just a quess.
And what’s your point, Larry? Do you even understand what “non-profit” means? Clearly you’re confused, because your comments are idiotic. Yes, GREY2K USA has a small staff, and they PAY THEM! Heaven forbid! Just as I said to your friend Bill, point to one thing that GREY2K USA has lied about.
That’s correct, Larry. Mr. and Mrs. Dorchak make a very nice living on their lies about Greyhound Racing. People are starting to wise up their dirty little game. Eric, for one, has never set foot in a Greyhound Kennel or on a breeding farm. He only regurgitates what is fed to him by his handlers.
And what’s your point, RG? The facts are the facts. The pictures taken by county and state animal inspectors speak for themselves. The state documents are unbiased. Greyhound racing is cruel and inhumane, and the more people that recognize that, the sooner this industry will collapse and cease to burn through thousands of dogs a year.
These comments are a total waste of time. It is the same nut jobs on both sides of the issues only trying to advance their own causes. If anyone cares greyhound racing is a sport that has declined over the years but the greyhounds are well cared for and happy to race for the pure joy they get from running. BTW it is only through creative accounting that the greyhound business is not showing a profit. And also if anyone also cares many hundreds of people will be out of jobs if this passes but again these nut jobs only care about collecting money. Notice all they want is the money not to do any good with it.
“Creative accounting,” Bill? How so? Yes, greyhound racing is declining everywhere, but the treatment of the greyhounds has not substantially changed. More of them are finding their way into adoption now, compared to even twenty years ago, but that’s been a push from outside the racing industry.
If you don’t like the work GREY2K USA does, then don’t send donations. But the money that is spent is doing a lot of good for greyhounds everywhere. The end of racing will mean a lot fewer greyhounds are bred for a life in captivity, racing for their lives so a handful of people can bet on them, and facing an uncertain end when they’re no longer profitable.
@Bill Jennings, because someone has a differing view does not make them a “nut job”. That is borderline judgmental and arrogant and could also be applied to you? People disagree. And they can agree that they do not agree on a topic. That does not make them a “nut job”.
I adopt the rescues the industry found unprofitable. Personally, those people just lost some of the best companions. Why? They weren’t winning $$$. Fools.
@Larry, the difference in the sleeping of a houndie is location. Whereas the track greyhound sleeps in cage that many hours with limited options for movement, the home greyhound moves from one dog bed to the next. From a dog bed to the floor and from the floor to the couch. They wake and stretch and move from the living room to the bedroom to the office and to the family room. Mine sleep far less. Because there is human interaction. Something track dogs don’t get.
Sleep is relative. Mine have been both. I believe they’ll opt for this one.
And yes, jobs will be lost if racing ends. Racing is an industry. I work in IT. I know what a layoff is. That is life. You learn to move on. And if you can’t, that is your fault and no one else’s.
There is no good work being done only money being raised for the profit of few people for their own good. Go to Grey2K website and you will find the talking points that are repeated over and over until the people posting it start to believe it. The grey2 disciples like the group on here have no idea of the facts they just follow in lock step as a propaganda machine and that is what scares me more than all.
Once again this whole so called movement has nothing to do with the treatment of greyhounds it is all about using appealing to a gullible public for money to save the family pet. Shame on you people for not actually finding out the truth and if you know the truth and continue to spout off these untruths than there will be a special place reserved for you in an afterlife if you know what I mean.
I have nothing more to say and don’t respond with your talking points because they are getting tired and old. The problem is not anyone other than you guys who do the dirty work of spreading lies of behalf of those running the money machine. Shame on all of you.
Oh, Bill, you make these claims, but you have absolutely nothing to support them. Point to one thing that GREY2K USA has lied about. You can’t, because it’s all truth backed up by evidence.
Did you actually read what you wrote, Bill? It doesn’t make sense. Then again, that’s hardly surprising since it’s nothing more than an angry rant by an uninformed person.
It’s incredibly simple: Greyhound race coupling costs the taxpayers money, costs the cardhouses money, and forces more greyhounds to live horrific lives right up until they’re killed.
There is every reason to pass the decoupling bill. I hope my congressman, and Florida as a whole, makes the fiscal and moral choice.
I see Matt and Eric and the other nut jobs on here have bought the party line hook line and sinker. Just wondering if you guys would like to pool your money and go in on a partnership on a bridge I have for sale in Brooklyn,NY.
Bill, again, you’re not contributing anything with your insults.
Just putting some light on the nonsense that you and your crew are spouting off as facts. What bothers me the most is that you can’t be dumb enough to believe the agenda that you are pushing so you actually know that your party line is based on lies. Shame on all of you. Just to make a buck.
You’re not shining light on anything, Bill, just making statements that amount to unsubstantiated accusations. There’s nothing about GREY2K USA or the reports we generate that is “based on lies.” Just in case you’ve forgotten, I am not paid for anything I do with greyhounds, either with GREY2K USA or the local adoption group I work with. So, your “Just to make a buck” comment is also inappropriate.
Eric from NM thanks for your usual copy/paste crap while sitting in NM. Stay out of this State’s affairs. You need to research what you support. Keep in mind the Nazi society had the most animal rights of any. You help me comprehend how sheeple were supporting this insane movement 70 years ago. Sig Theil!
Your entire post makes very little sense. I’ll be happy to stay out of Florida’s affairs as soon as you stop allowing greyhound racing. Where do you think the dogs go when they’re finished in Florida? That’s right, all over the country. I have researched what I support – that’s why I support it. Wouldn’t you?
What “insane movement” are you referring to? Nazi Germany or greyhound racing? Please try to be more clear.
I’ve read the article and do support decoupling. Matt Binder, well said.
I stumbled on the comments and thought I hit the wrong comments for the article. I expected comments on the merits/demerits of dog racing. I’m reading about Nazi Germany? And personal attacks on an advocay group supporting the bill?
So what if they support the bills? They (G2K) have been upfront in their reasons.
Personally, I would love to see racing end. It sucks the life out of FL economy and business owners. Worst of all, it is the risk to the greyhounds. I have 2 rescues.
Unless you’re trying to bring up reasons for racing to stay, give us all a break and stop being nasty.