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"ISOLATED INCIDENTS" AND DOCUMENTED DEATHS OF SOME OF THE HALF MILLION RACING GREYHOUNDS WHO HAVE DIED
IN THE LAST TWO DECADES (Greyhound Protection League)
DISCOVERY OF 36 ABUSED GREYHOUNDS by the Iowa
Department of Agriculture forces license forfeitures of greyhound breeder, Kenneth Sherrets. Upon
a routine inspection of Sherret's Independence, Iowa dog farm in September,
inspectors found greyhounds in very poor condition. The Dept of AG made
several subsequent visits and issued repeated warnings; finally filing a
complaint on October 25th. The report stated that the greyhounds
were subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment and caused to suffer unnecessary
pain due to inadequate food, water shelter, bedding and medical treatment.
Sherrets subsequently lost his Dubuque booking and his racing privileges in
both Iowa and Wisconsin. Sherrets, a long-time NGA member, allowed the NGA to
remove the dogs from his farm. NGA officials refuse to disclose the
whereabouts of the neglected greyhounds to the local press.
Source: Iowa Racing Commission Ruling,
October 27, 2004; KWWL TV, November 1, 2004; WCF Courier, November 9, 2004
THE FIRST AND LAST RACE FOR DOOMED GREYHOUND
PUPPY "Mr.
Junior Mint," an 18-month-old puppy, was entered into his first-ever schooling
race on July 30th at the Flagler dog track. He fell and was bumped
into the rail during a collision with "Our Baby Ruth," another 18-month-old
pup. Two of his legs were severed when he was hit by the lure motor; he died
from massive blood loss. "Our Baby Ruth," who was also injured, disappeared
from the record on August 27th after performing poorly in subsequent
schooling races.
Source: Greyhound Protection League
complaint filed August 2, 2004; DBPR Report. September 30, 2004
KENNEL COUGH STRIKES AGAIN The virus, once
again, started in South Florida and spread throughout the state. It then made
its way to Alabama, Arkansas, Texas and to tracks in New England in spite of
quarantines. Reporting of race dog deaths is not mandatory. The acknowledged
death toll of 22 is contradicted by insider reports which put the number closer
to 50. Researchers are attempting to determine why this highly contagious, but
relatively benign virus turns deadly in racing dogs. The effects
from the stress of racing are being explored.
Source: Multiple media sources June -
July 2004; University of Florida Veterinary School
UPDATE - RHODES CASE: CLARENCE PATTERSON, A KEY
FIGURE IN GREYHOUND KILLINGS, IN CUSTODY Patterson, who had eluded authorities
for nearly two years was located in the Alabama jail system. His discovery
greatly improves the prosecution's case against other defendants who have been
trying to get the case dismissed after the death of Rhodes and disappearance of
Patterson. Patterson, who held a booking at the Pensacola dog track, has
been described as the go-between for other Florida trainers who sent dogs to
Rhodes to be killed.
Source: Mobile Register, June 30, 2004;
July 7, 2004
UPDATE - RHODES CASE: NEW ALABAMA LAW REDUCES
THE INHUMANE KILLING OF GREYHOUNDS FROM A FELONY TO A MISDEMEANOR David Whetstone,
the Baldwin County District Attorney, who is prosecuting the Rhodes'
greyhound-killing case, weighed in on the effect of a new law that passed
through the Alabama legislature. Whetstone said his interpretation of the
statute, a misdemeanor imposing escalating fines beginning at $500, is that it
exempts racing greyhounds from a 3-year-old law that makes the torture of
animals a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. "It's dog-specific.
There's no doubt that it would exclude the "Gucci Law", or the Alabama animal
cruelty law, as it applies to greyhound dogs," he said. "It effectively
reduces the greyhound dog to a beast of burden... A junkyard dog has more
protection than a greyhound dog under this statute."
Source: Mobile Register, June 26, 2004
BRUTAL LURE DEATH AT DAIRYLAND "WJS Larkana" and
"Glo's K Peabody" were involved in a collision around the first turn; "Peabody"
suffered a broken leg from the collision. Larkana became disoriented and fell
into the lure pit where she suffered electric shock from the live rail and was
then hit by the lure motor, severing two of her legs. The
Greyhound Protection League filed a
complaint with the Wisconsin State Gaming Association based on Dairyland's long
standing high injury rate and the track's apparent unwillingness to stop the
lure to avoid such catastrophes. Dairyland management stated that they are
proud of their safety record.
Source: Associated Press, June 11, 2004;
Kenosha News, June 12, 2004; GPL Complaint and injury statistics
POSITIVE DRUG TESTS GO PUBLIC AND TAINT INTEGRITY
OF FLORIDA GREYHOUND RACES State records from June 1, 2002, to May 30, 2003,
reveal that 44 greyhounds tested positive for trace amounts of cocaine. 37
cocaine positives were recorded between 2001 and 2002 and 38 between 2000 and
2001 during the respective time frame. State regulators neither investigated
nor contacted local law enforcement. A request from animal rights groups for
an investigation by the state attorney general was denied.
Source: Tampa Tribune, May 3, 2004; Naples
Daily News, May 20, 2004
UPDATE - RHODES CASE: TESTIMONY LINKS GREYHOUND
KILLING TO FLORIDA DOG TRACKS During an April, 22 Baldwin County hearing related
to the Rhodes case, investigators for the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel
Wagering testified that Robert Rhodes was known from one end of Florida to the
other among people in the dog-racing industry. Kennel owners and trainers from
as far away as South Florida sent greyhounds to Rhodes's farm to be killed.
Dog-men found the service attractive because the $10-per animal cost was about
half what a veterinarian would charge for euthanasia. Thursday's testimony was
the first time Baldwin County officials have detailed publicly how widespread
they believe the practice is in the Sunshine State. District Attorney David
Whetstone commented to the Mobile Register: "This case shows
what was going on in the greyhound racing industry in Florida. It opens up the
eyes to how sinister it was." Florida authorities are waiting for the outcome
of the Alabama case before pursuing charges against the Florida defendants for
transporting greyhounds over state lines for the purpose of killing them.
Source: Mobile Register, April 23, 2004
RESEARCHERS CONCLUDE THAT THE EIGHT JACKSONVILLE
RACE DOGS THAT DIED IN JANUARY SUCCUMBED TO EQUINE INFLUENZA A University of
Florida research team has no idea why the virus jumped the species barrier from
horses to race dogs. They are investigating links to other disease outbreaks
in race dogs.
Source: Associated Press, April 22, 2004
15 MALNOURISHED GREYHOUNDS SEIZED BY MUSKOGEE,
OKLAHOMA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE The dogs were found penned in a field
without adequate food and shelter. The bodies of four dead greyhounds were
found under a tarp, along with dead puppies that had been tossed into a plastic
tub. The ex-racing dogs had been acquired from local breeders for use as rabbit
dogs. The live dogs were taken to a veterinary clinic where they were picked
up by a local adoption group. The property owner, Delroy Reed who turned
himself in on April 15th, has been charged with 15 counts of animal
cruelty.
Source: Greyhound Network News, Spring 2004; Muskogee
Phoenix, April 13, 2004
"DOG FIGHT" ERUPTS WHEN NAPLES-FORT MYERS DOG
TRACK INVITES CITY COUNCIL TO HOLD 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS AT TRACK Greyhound
advocates eventually won a two month battle against the proposal which was
labeled an act of gross negligence and irresponsibility by the Greyhound
Protection League.
Source: Naples Daily News, April 10, 2004
UPDATE: VIOLATION OF VETERINARY RULES PUTS
NAPLES-FORT MYERS TRACK MANAGER'S LICENSE IN JEOPARDY Acting on a
complaint filed by the Greyhound Protection League, the Florida Division of
Parimutuel Wagering finally took action against the repeated violations of
State rules that require veterinary presence at dog tracks before and during
official races. Concerns about veterinary issues at the track first surfaced
in 2000 with the death of Tune Me In and came to a head with the November 2003
injuries to Plinko Drive and Solitary Hattie which occurred when no
veterinarian was available. The Division filed an administrative complaint in
February 2003 against the track's general manager stating that he violated
state law on 15 different occasions between June 2002 and October 2003 by not
having a veterinarian present for the races.
Source: GPL complaint filed with
Pari-Mutuel Division November 1, 2003; Naples Daily News, November 4,
2003 and February 6, 2004
TWO RACING GREYHOUNDS DIE OF HEAT EXHAUSTION IN
HAULER Kennel operator Marshall Rae admitted to hauling 40 greyhounds from
Oregon to Oklahoma in mid-summer without stopping to check on the dogs. The
two greyhounds that lost their lives during the 36 hour ordeal were disposed of
in a shallow grave. Rae was suspended from racing for 90 days and ordered to
pay $250 in fines by the Oregon Racing Commission.
Source: The Oregonian, February 3,
2004
TUCSON KENNEL OWNER FAILS TO PROVIDE TREATMENT
FOR INJURED GREYHOUND Acting on a complaint filed by the track adoption director,
the Arizona Department of Racing made an unannounced inspection of the Dunsford
Kennel and found a two-year old female with multiple infected wounds up to five
inches in length, elevated temperature and painful, swollen rear legs.* The adoption group took the dog and paid for her
veterinary care. Dunsford was fined $500 and his license was summarily
suspended for 60 days.
Source: Greyhound Network News, Spring 2004;
ADOR investigative report December 2003
NOTE: *Contrary to popular
belief, track vets intervene only for on-the-scene emergencies on the track.
Beyond that, it is up to the kennel operator's discretion to seek off-site
private veterinary care and incur any expenses.
UPDATE: WEST VIRGINIA APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS
VERDICT ON GREYHOUND DEATHS Kansas greyhound breeders, Michael and Terry Kraft,
filed suit after losing 14 dogs to heat exhaustion when an air conditioning
unit failed in the make-shift trailer/kennel that housed race dogs boarded at a
Girty's Point dog farm. An Ohio County jury had rendered a verdict that the
ZEZ Kennel and the Wheeling West Virginia race track were at fault in the death
of more than 60 greyhounds that perished and awarded the Krafts nearly $1
million in compensation. The Krafts, who were the only dog owners to file suit
have been shunned by others in the industry for taking legal action.
Source: The Intelligencer Wheeling
News-Register, September 26, 2003, News 9-Wheeling, October 2, 2003
GREYHOUND DIET COMES UNDER SCRUTINY DURING MAD
COW DISEASE SCARE In addition to the flesh of sick animals, raw 4-D meat is
likely to contain brain and spinal matter that has been identified as harboring
the bovine spongiform organism that causes mad cow disease. According to
former track veterinarian, Arthur Strohbehn, food handlers at tracks and farms
are at high risk of infection from the noxious organisms contained in the meat
during feed preparation.
Source: Greyhound Protection League,
December 29, 2003; Strohbehn document February 9, 1990
RACING AT NAPLES-FORT MYERS DOG TRACK TURNS
DEADLY A three-year old female, Plinko Drive, hit the rail in the 6th
race on November 1st after a collision with another dog. Her front
leg was severed and she lay in pain for over an hour before she was euthanized
because no vet was present for the day's races. The 7th race
yielded another tragedy when Solitary Hattie broke her leg with no immediate
veterinary intervention. She was also euthanized upon orders from her owner
who told the Naples Daily News that "he wouldn't be upset if no veterinarian
was there....the greyhound industry is under unfair scrutiny."
Source: Naples Daily News, November 4,
2003; The News-Press, November 5, 2003; Greyhound Protection League
complaint filed November 1, 2003, with the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering
GREYHOUND DIES OF BLOOD LOSS AND ELECTROCUTION
DURING RACE AT MOBILE A three-year old greyhound was killed September 26th
at the Mobile, Alabama, dog track after she was bumped into the inside rail,
electrocuted and then had her leg ripped off. The Greyhound Protection League
(GPL) requested a racing commission investigation after spectators witnessed
the dog stagger and scream before she finally died. GPL suggested that the
track update its facility to prevent further tragedies. The commission denied
that any hazards exist and never opened an inquiry into the circumstances of
the death. A request by GPL for injury and euthanasia records has been
ignored.
Source: Mobile Register, October 25,
2003; Greyhound Protection League files
JURY RETURNS VERDICT AGAINST BLUFFS RUN FOR
FAILING TO PROVIDE SAFE RACING CONDITIONS The Iowa verdict sets a precedent that
dog tracks can be sued for failures in the animal welfare arena. State Gaming
Commission records revealed 60 injuries, including at least 9 deaths, from
January through September 2003.
Source: Omaha World-Herald, October 17,
2003
LETA'S PRINCESS HIT BY LURE MOTOR AFTER FALLING
INTO ELECTRONIC LURE PIT AT PALM BEACH KENNEL CLUB On July 13th,
three-year-old Leta was pinned under the lure rail and her jacket was entangled
in the motor when the vet arrived at the scene to euthanize her. Patrons were
in tears at the sound of her screams as she unsuccessfully tried to escape the
jolts of electricity. GPL determined that 166 collisions had occurred at the
Palm Beach track the prior week.
Source: Eye-witness accounts; Greyhound
Protection League complaint to Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering; DPMW
investigative report; Palm Beach Post, July 18, 2003
NOTE: Investigative report
includes comments indicating that the State investigator took an unwarranted
interest in the identity and affiliation of citizens who peacefully exercised
their constitutional right to protest Leta's death. A video tape of the gathering
is in his file.
UPDATE - RHODES CASE: INFAMOUS DOG KILLER DIES Robert Rhodes,
who admitted to a 40-year career killing failed racing greyhounds died in his
Lillian, Alabama, home in late June 2003. Rhodes' testimony was essential to
Baldwin County Prosecutor, David Whetstone's case against four Florida
para-mutuel licensees who delivered and/or participated in the killings.
Whetstone vows to continue his pursuit of the case by challenging the state's
hearsay rules. Clarence Patterson, who fingered others involved, is still
missing.
Source: Mobile Register, July 1, 2003
EMACIATED RACING GREYHOUNDS CONFISCATED FROM
DEFUNCT ARKANSAS BREEDING FARM Acting on a tip after three greyhounds were found
running loose in desperate need of food and water, animal rescuers found mass
starvation and neglect on a Paragould, Arkansas, breeding farm. A search of
the dilapidated, semi-abandoned property yielded three emaciated, live
greyhounds and a Labrador with five pups confined to the house and a dead
greyhound in a racing cage. The bodies of 15 more dead greyhounds were
discovered in a huge freezer with no electrical hook-up.
Source: Greyhound Protection League,
June 2003; Greyhound Network News, Summer 2003
CODE OF SILENCE HINDERS INVESTIGATION INTO
DAYTONA GREYHOUND DEATHS The
Florida Pari-Mutuel Division was unable to assess responsibility in the
death of three racing dogs who died of heat exhaustion in early May
because of severe memory lapses on the
part of numerous witnesses. Two dogs died after schooling races and a third
died on the sprint path. No
veterinarian was present during either event.
Source: Daytona Beach News Journal, November 22,
2003; DBPR investigative report, June 13, 2003; GPL files, May 2003
THREE RACING GREYHOUNDS PERISH, OTHERS INJURED
WHEN HAULING TRAILER CATCHES ON FIRE
Three greyhounds were dead at the scene
when hot pieces of a flat tire from the truck pulling a 30-foot dog trailer
flew into their cages. "These dogs died a horrible death," said Greyhound
Protection League President, Susan Netboy. "Greyhound hauling vehicles are
notoriously dangerous. Many are old dilapidated trailers that are virtual death
traps on wheels, but old or new, the greyhounds don't have a chance when something
goes wrong."
Source: Highway Patrol Incident Report,
Ft. Myers District, April 12, 2003; Associated Press, April 13, 2003
2003 KENNEL COUGH OUTBREAK CUTS A DEVASTATING
PATH FROM STATE TO STATE An epidemic of kennel cough
that started at Florida dog tracks and moved into New England and as far West
as Arkansas wrecked havoc at dog tracks from March through July. Voluntary
quarantines which were either violated or imposed too late did little to stave
off spread of the disease. In spite of the obvious risks to the health of
their race dogs, few tracks were willing to sustain an economic loss by
shutting down racing for the length of time experts recommended for full
recovery and containment. Necropsies conducted on two Derby Lane greyhounds
indicate that they died of complications which led to toxic shock syndrome that
killed a large numbers of greyhounds in a 1999 epidemic.
Source: Multiple media
reports; Greyhound Protection League complaint filed with the Florida DPMW,
Spring 2003
GREYHOUND RACING INJURIES ON THE RISE AT
DAIRYLAND DOG TRACK Wisconsin state records obtained by the Greyhound
Protection League reveal an alarming 30% increase in track related injuries, up
from 318 in 2001 to 412 in 2002. The League is pressing state regulators to
remedy the Dairyland problem in an effort to save lives and alleviate
unnecessary suffering to Wisconsin greyhounds.
Source: The Journal Sentinel, March 14, 2003;
Wisconsin State Gaming Records
DISTEMPER IN FLORIDA RACING GREYHOUNDS A greyhound breeder
reported that a South Florida race dog transmitted the deadly distemper virus to his
Kansas farm in October 2002. In April 2003, Dr. Peter Fernandes stated that
he had recently seen several fatal cases of what he believed was distemper
among greyhounds at Florida Kennels, the South Florida compound that houses the
Hollywood and Flagler race dogs. During January and February 2003, six
greyhounds at the Sarasota dog track died from the distemper virus.
Source: NGA website December 28,
2002; Miami Herald, April 6, 2003; Florida DBPR report, March 13, 2003
DISTEMPER IDENTIFIED IN RACE DOGS AT
MASSACHUSETTS RACING COMPOUNDS Two Raynham racing
dogs died
of distemper in late December. Two kennels at the Wonderland track compound
were infected with distemper in late December. Officials did not report how
many greyhounds succumbed to the disease at the Lynn compound. The sickness
was not reported to State officials until a month later in response to a GPL
complaint.
Source: March 2003
Department of Agriculture response to letter of inquiry from the Greyhound
Protection League filed mid-January
UPDATE - SHONKA CASE: JUDGE RULES ON ILLEGAL
SALE OF GREYHOUNDS TO RESEARCH LAB Former Wisconsin kennel owner, Daniel
Shonka, was ordered to pay $110,000 in fines and restitution for sending
hundreds of retired racing dogs to their deaths at Guidant Corporation, a St.
Paul, Minnesota, research laboratory.
Source: Wisconsin State Journal, February 8,
2003
HINSDALE GREYHOUND KILLINGS EXPOSED Photographs of
dead race dogs in a front loader sparked an inquiry
into practices at New Hampshire's Hinsdale Greyhound Park. Fox News ran an
investigative expose into track practices and the effectiveness of the track
adoption program. The photos had been anonymously sent to GPL by an employee.
Source: Boston Affiliate Fox Television
News, February, 3, 2003; Greyhound Protection League investigative files
DISTEMPER VIRUS KILLS 18 ARIZONA RACING
GREYHOUNDS Eighteen race dogs at the Apache Junction kennel compound were overwhelmed by the
deadly distemper virus in January 2003. The dogs had recently been
transported from an Oregon dog farm operated by Ron Floyd. Floyd retains his
privileges to operate a greyhound farm in spite of repeated violations of
Oregon racing regulations.
Source: The Arizona Republic, January 10 and
14, 2003; The Oregonian, January 12, 2003; Arizona Department of Racing
VETERINARIAN LABELS 4-D MEAT A SERIOUS HEALTH
HAZARD Dr. Arthur Strohbehn, a former veterinarian
at the Bluffs Run dog track, recently reiterated his concern that raw meat from
dead, diseased, downed and dying animals does not meet the legal requirement
that race dogs be provided a wholesome diet. As a track veterinarian in the
late 1980's, Dr. Strohbehn's responsibilities included making recommendations
to the Iowa State Racing Commission that would assure compliance with State and
Federal animal welfare laws and public health concerns. In a 1990 letter of
complaint, Dr. Strohbehn refers to 4-D meat as a "pathogenic smorgasbord"
which constitutes a health hazard to both employees and canines. The
seven-page document also details a variety of violations related to steroid use,
cage size and sanitation. His repeated attempts to work within the system were
met with staunch resistance. The feeding of raw 4-D meat has been linked by
other researchers to a variety of illnesses in racing greyhounds. However, the
concerns of Dr. Strohbehn and others have fallen on deaf ears; raw 4-D meat
continues to be the standard industry feed provided to racing greyhounds
nation-wide.
Source: The Daily
Nonpareil, January 2, 2003; Strohbehn document, February 9, 1990
DISTEMPER OUTBREAK HITS KANSAS GREYHOUNDS IN
OCTOBER; DEATH TOLL EXCEEDS 100 A Kansas greyhound
breeder lost as many as 100 pups in October 2002 from a distemper outbreak on
his Abilene dog farm. The owner of the farm later reported that the infection
was brought to Kansas by an adult greyhound from the Hollywood/Flagler kennel
compound in South Florida. The infected dog exposed numerous other greyhounds
who were subsequently hauled out to five different race tracks. The highly
contagious, preventable disease spread to the Wichita dog track where adult
race dogs also came down with the fatal illness. Kansas officials imposed a
quarantine and claimed that the outbreak had been contained and would not
migrate beyond Kansas borders.
Source: Wichita Eagle,
December 28, 2002 / Abilene Reflector Chronicle,
December 20, 2002; NGA website, December 24, 2002
CHARGES THAT NO VETERINARIAN WAS AVAILABLE AT
COLLINS & COLLINS RACING AT SOKC INVESTIGATED BY STATE Florida
Pari-Mutuel Division investigators confirmed that numerous live racing
performances were held at the facility when no veterinarian was present from
October through December 2002. During this time three greyhounds were taken to
an outside vet clinic. Two were euthanized at the request of the trainer, one
for lameness, one for a broken leg. A third dog's leg was splinted. The
records reveal that three additional dogs were euthanized at the request of
their trainers. Two had fractured hocks; one was lame. Veterinary presence is
required from weigh-in to the end of the race card to ensure that the wagering
public is not betting on lame dogs and to render emergency care to injured
greyhounds.
Source: DBPR report, November 2002;
Greyhound Protection League complaint to DBPR
NOTE: No license could be
found by investigators for one of the vets the track claims to have employed.
In response to a request
contained in the GPL complaint for euthanasia records, the following statement
was entered into the file: "There is no practical way to determine how many
animals were killed by the various kennel owners."
Other serious violations
referenced in the report: Lock-out room (ginny pit) unlocked and unattended;
blankets prematurely removed from race dogs, no clerk of scales for a three
week period (clerk of scales weighs the dogs and confirms ear tattoo numbers to
ensure that the dog listed in the program is the dog entered in the race);
employee licensing violations. These violations occurred repeatedly; numerous
requests by the State that the track come into compliance were ignored.
UPDATE - RHODES CASE: GRAND JURY HANDS DOWN
INDICTMENTS ON FOUR ALLEGED CO-CONSPIRATORS IN KILLING OF FLORIDA RACE DOGS -
ARRESTS FOLLOW A Baldwin County Grand Jury determined that four individuals
associated with Florida dog tracks were complicit in the killing of Florida
racing greyhounds on the Rhodes' property in Lillian, Alabama. Clarence
Patterson, Ursula O'Donnell, Paul Discolo Jr. and John W. Smith were named in
the two-count indictments alleging animal cruelty and conspiracy. O'Donnell
was arrested at Melbourne Greyhound Park; Paul Discolo Jr. was arrested at Ebro
Greyhound Park; John W. Smith was arrested in Marathon. All are licensed by
the Florida Division of Para-Mutuel Wagering. The county grand jury claims
Discolo also shot a greyhound in agreement with Rhodes, O'Donnell, Smith and
others. Bonds were set at $7,500. Baldwin County sheriff's chief
investigator, Lt. Huey Mack Jr. said: "We believe it was an organized effort.
These people all knew each other and some of the dogs came from as far south as
Tampa." The fourth defendant, Clarence Patterson of Pensacola, could not be
located.
Source: Circuit Court documents issued
September 19, 2002; Associated Press; Mobile Register, November 8, 2002
LIVE-LURE TRAINING UNCOVERED ON ARIZONA TRAINING
FARM Acting
on a tip, the Arizona Department of Racing launched an investigation of a major
Arizona breeder which yielded evidence that he was using live rabbits to train
greyhounds. 180 of the 200 rabbits confiscated from the farm had to be
euthanized.
Source: Arizona Republic, October 16,
2002
THOUSANDS OF GREYHOUNDS KILLED AND BURIED ON THE
PROPERTY OF ROBERT RHODES IN LILLIAN, ALABAMA. RHODES, A RACING INDUSTRY
VETERAN, WAS RECENTLY EMPLOYED AS A GUARD AT THE PENSACOLA, FLORIDA DOG TRACK. Rhodes freely admitted that he shot the
greyhounds for $10 a head as a favor to Florida breeders and trainers. He
first took up his trade for a South Dakota dog track 40 years ago and has been
providing his "kill-for-hire" services to the dog racing
industry ever since. Baldwin County District Attorney, David Whetstone, likened the
conditions of the property and the mass grave to a concentration camp for dogs.
A veterinarian who autopsied four of the recently killed greyhounds determined
that most were shot through the neck, mouth and elsewhere, indicating they
suffered before dying.
Source: Pensacola News-Journal, Brett Norman /
CNN.Com/ Associated Press / Mobile Register: Brendan Kirby,
May 22, 2002
OREGON GREYHOUND TRAINER WHOSE TRACK LICENSE WAS
SUSPENDED after six dogs he was
transporting in a RENTED BOX-truck died has now had his farm license
suspended. When he reapplied for a current racing license and forgot
to enclose the application fee, inspectors (at taxpayer expense) visited his
farm to collect the fee and discovered a dead rabbit in the driveway of his
property. Inspectors suspended his license to run his greyhound farm after the
trainer refused to allow inspectors to search certain areas of the property.
The Oregon Racing Commission is reviewing the application to reinstate his
training and farming licenses.
Source: The Oregonian, May 2002
A COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA DOG TRAINER WAS FINED by the Iowa State Racing Commission after an
investigation into cruelty charges, but WAS allowed to return to work despite witness
testimony that the trainer repeatedly whipped and punched a dog in his care.
The trainer had his state license revoked only after further investigation
revealed that he had falsified his application by failing to disclose a felony
theft conviction from another state. The Iowa Racing Commission allows
convicted felons to re-apply for and obtain a license to race dogs in their
state as early as five years after their felony conviction date.
Source: Des Moines Register, May 2002
DEAD GREYHOUNDS BURIED ON FLORIDA KENNELS
PROPERTY IN HIALEAH Nearly a year after burying one greyhound found dead in its
crate and another 15 month-old pup that died of heat exhaustion during a haul
out of Oklahoma, a kennel worker came forward and reported to the Pari-Mutuel
Division that he had buried the dogs under instructions from his boss. In June
2002, the remains of the two greyhounds were dug up by state investigators.
Aside from the forensic evidence, other accusations made by this individual
remain unconfirmed due to denials and severe memory lapses on the part of
others in the compound - with the exception of euthanasia/disposal receipts
dated January 23, 2002, April 19, 2002, and May 3, 2002, for three other
greyhounds from the same kennel.
Source: DBPR report, June 2002
UPDATE - RITT/STEINMANN CASE: JURY FINDS TRAINERS
GUILTY ON 70 COUNTS EACH FOR ABUSING SEMINOLE GREYHOUND PARK RACE DOGS On August 24,
2001, in a 2-day jury trial held in the Seminole County Court House, Frank Ritt and
Bruno Steinmann were found guilty on 70 counts each for abandonment of animals
- a misdemeanor violation of Florida state animal cruelty statutes. Defendants
were sentenced to a 7-month jail term. Under court order they were ordered to
pay $7,000 each (a total of $14,000) to Greyhound Pets of America, the
organization that, contrary to documented racing records, made media claims
that they had adopted out all of the abused and neglected greyhounds (70 dogs
minus the one that died) from the Ritt/Steinmann kennel.
Source: Seminole County Court Records,
August 2001; State Attorney General's office, Press Release, August 27, 2001; Florida
Today, September 23, 2001; Orlando Sentinel, August 2001;
GPL investigative files
NOTE: Ritt and Steinmann
continued to hold valid licenses and work at Florida dog tracks for two years
after the discovery of the abused Seminole greyhounds. Steinmann's license was
revoked 10/9/01 for falsifications. Ritt voluntarily relinquished his license
9/27/01 after his second offense for using performance-enhancing drugs on a
dog.
AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATES DOG KILLING
AND LIVE-LURE TRAINING ON GEORGIA GREYHOUND FARM Based on a complaint, investigators visited a farm in Mauk,
Georgia on August 15, 2001. When they examined the back of the property they
found a dozen mounds of dirt and the skeletal remains of a greyhound. Farm
owner, Sherry Grimmard, said that she buries dogs that have died but denied
allegations that she was shooting greyhounds. Grimmard admitted to using jack
rabbits to train the greyhounds and showed investigators the jack-pen. Grimmard
was told that the greyhound cages were too small. Investigators suggested, but
did not require, that they be replaced. For the follow-up visit by the AG
department on August 20th, Grimmard was accompanied by her attorney
who is also a greyhound breeder and by NGA inspector, Craig Randle. Suggestions
were made during the inspection that the jack-pen include an escape hole for
the jack rabbits.
Source: Georgia Department of
Agriculture Animal Protection Inspection Report, August 15th and 20th,
2001
NOTE: As of 2003, Grimmard is
still a member, in good standing, of the National Greyhound Association.
DOG HAULING ACCIDENT LEAVES ONE DOG DEAD, ONE
MISSING, SEVERAL INJURED A greyhound
hauling rig that originated out of the Midwest with 21 greyhounds on board
crashed on I-64 near Nitro, West Virginia. The muzzled, missing greyhound has
never been found.
Source: Greyhound Network News, Summer 2001
LURE DEATH AT PLAINFIELD GREYHOUND PARK An unnamed greyhound suffered the
effects of 480 volts of electricity after falling into the rail-pit that runs
along the inside of the track.
Source: Greyhound Protection League
files, Spring 2001; Division of Special Revenue Report, April 5, 2001
SEVENTEEN GREYHOUNDS ESCAPE FROM HINSDALE, NEW
HAMPSHIRE RACETRACK - TWO KILLED BY ON-COMING TRAFFIC The tragedy occurred when both the
turn-out pen gate and the front gate were left open during a February snow
storm.
Source: Greyhound Network News, Spring 2001
GREYHOUND LOOSES LEG, SUFFERS LIFE-THREATENING
INJURIES IN TRAINING ACCIDENT Zeke, a two-year-old brindle male, was seriously
injured in a training accident at a Tucson kennel on March 18. He reportedly
caught the lure and was thrown over the rail. Zeke suffered a severed artery,
broken upper jaw, shattered leg and multiple lacerations. The intervention of
a rescue group saved his life.
Source: Greyhound Network News, Spring 2001
LURE MALFUNCTION CAUSES GREYHOUND DEATH AT
NAPLES-FORT MYERS DOG TRACK An eight-dog pile-up occurred during the second
race at the Naples-Fort Myers dog track on February 10th when the
mechanical lure suddenly stopped running. An unidentified dog suffered a
severe break to his leg and was euthanized.
Source: Greyhound Network News, Spring 2001
HEAT STROKE KILLS OVER SIXTY RACING GREYHOUNDS IN
WEST VIRGINIA KENNEL after the
air-conditioning system allegedly malfunctioned. The dogs were housed in a
trailer that had been converted into a kennel. According to the county dog
warden, Donna DeJaro, the kennel owner could have cooled the dogs off if only
he had turned on a fan and opened the windows.
Source: Greyhound Network News, Fall 2000
THE ALARMING NUMBER OF DEATHS AND INJURIES AT
BLUFFS RUN DOG TRACK was exposed in a front- page article of the Des
Moines Register. State records reveal that 112 greyhounds were injured in just
the first nine
months of the 2000 racing
season. 18 of the dogs sustained life-ending racing injuries.
Source: Des Moines
Register, November 3, 2000
TRAINER BURIES THREE DEAD GREYHOUNDS AT THE PALM
BEACH RACETRACK after first cutting off their ears to avoid identification.
The dogs had allegedly died of dehydration after being left outside in 90
degree heat. A fourth dog later died. The trainer, Mitch Haber, said he
panicked and wanted to avoid detection. The owner of three of the dead dogs
said: "We all make mistakes... I'll send him some more of my dogs as soon as I
get some ready."
Source: Greyhound Network News, Fall 2000; Palm
Beach Post
FAILED AIR CONDITIONER
CAUSES DEATH OF 7 or more RACE DOGS AT fLORIDA kENNELS IN hIALEAH When kennel
workers arrived at the O'Donnell Kennel on September 5, 2000, they discovered 7
dead greyhounds and several others that were near death due to the failure of
the alarm system, the A/C unit and the back-up A/C unit. The alarm was set at
115 degrees F. The total death toll was not recorded in the report acquired by
the Greyhound Protection League. Florida regulations do not require that
greyhound deaths be reported to the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering. The
incident was referenced in the context of a separate investigation related to
the burying of dead greyhound at the kennel compound that houses dogs for the
Flagler and Hollywood dog tracks.
Source: DBPR report, June 2002
FRANK rITT'S WINNING
GREYHOUND TESTS POSITIVE FOR mETHAMPHETAMINE AT sEMINOLE DOG TRACK Frank Ritt,* head trainer and kennel
operator for the Frank Ritt Kennel, entered "PA's Hercules" in the 4th
race on July 26, 2000. A urine sample was taken and submitted to the
University of Florida when the dog finished in first place on a grade A win.
Florida regulators opened an investigation when they were notified on August 8th
that the dog tested positive for Methamphetamine. Ritt told investigators that
another trainer at Seminole had information on persons using and dealing MDMA
(Methamphetamine) at Seminole Greyhound Park. When that trainer was contacted
at the track compound, she was found to be intoxicated on alcohol. She said she
knew of two lead-outs who used or sold MDMA, but refused to give the names to
the State investigator.
Source: DBPR investigative report,
August 2000
NOTE: *Frank Ritt (aka, Gary
Ritter) is the same individual who ten months earlier had his entire kennel of
70 greyhounds confiscated because the dogs were suffering from extreme neglect
while under his care at the Seminole compound. After the "incident," Seminole
management gave Ritt a booking in his name and a head-trainer position.
Greyhound Trampled to
Death at Massachusetts DOG Track "Midget," a small female greyhound was
trampled and died instantly at Raynham Greyhound Park in late June. The young
dog was in her maiden (introductory) race, when she got caught between several
other dogs. Injury and death are two perils that often face racing greyhounds.
Small dogs like "Midget" are frequently placed in races with much larger dogs
of the same grade. Most track deaths go unreported by the media.
Source: Sunday Enterprise, Jason Crosby,
July 2, 2000
Greyhound Electrocuted
on Track hot-Rail in Alabama Randad, dog No. 3 in the 14th race on June 21 at the
Birmingham dog track, was electrocuted when he climbed onto the lure rail that
provides a function similar to a subway's hot rail. The dog was electrocuted by
230 volts running at 30 amps and shrieked for several seconds before he was
struck by the mechanical lure that had continued around the track, according to
witnesses.
Source: Birmingham News, Benjamin
Niolet, June 29, 2000
RD's RATTLER DIES OF BROKEN NECK AT TUCSON
GREYHOUND PARK Injury reports obtained by Greyhound Network News covering a
10-week period between March and May 2000 revealed the following: one death
from a broken neck, one death from unknown causes. 18 broken bones, 11 lacerations and/or
muscle injuries.
Source: Greyhound Network News, Fall 2000
NINE INJURED AND SEVERELY EMACIATED GREYHOUNDS
USED FOR BREEDING PURPOSES WERE FOUND HOUSED IN AN UNHEATED KENNEL NEAR
RAYNHAM-TAUNTON GREYHOUND PARK. The owner of the dogs, a former assistant greyhound trainer at the
Massachusettes dog track admitted to humane officers that 'he did not feed them
all the time.' Investigating officer Christopher Charbonneau said, "It's one
of the most serious cases of neglect I've seen on my twelve years on the job."
Source: Greyhound Network News, Spring 2000
A STATE-LICENSED WISCONSIN KENNEL OPERATOR, DAN
SHONKA SOLD MORE THAN 850 RACING GREYHOUNDS TO A CARDIAC RESEARCH LABORATORY without the permission of the dogs'
owners. The scandal, which was exposed through an investigation initiated by
the Greyhound Protection League, has brought great embarrassment to state
racing officials who have long marketed Wisconsin tracks as no-kill,
by-the-book facilities. The kennel operator, who held a USDA Class B dealers
license to sell animals to research facilities, used his Iowa based adoption
program as a front to acquire the dogs. Litigation pursued by the Greyhound
Protection League resulted in the release of the 100 live greyhounds who were
subsequently adopted into permanent homes.
Source: Wisconsin State Journal, Andy Hall and
Phil Brinkman, May 14, 2000; Greyhound Protection League investigative files
A TEXAS GREYHOUND FARM WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL
SHERIFF ON A CRUELTY TO ANIMALS CHARGE. One greyhound with an untreated broken leg and sores all
over its body was taken by a rescue group for medical attention and adoption.
An adoption rep and deputies from the local sheriff's office found muzzled
caged dogs in questionable condition on the property, as well as live rabbits
and a feces dump pile which contained numerous dog skeletons, decaying dog
bodies and four fresh dead bodies. Located close by was a tree with a large
chain attached, a blood pool and a large pipe with dried blood on it. Various
Schedule III drugs were also confiscated from the property.
Source: Williamson County Sheriff's
Department Official Incident Report (35 pages), March 14, 2000
RACER, "TUNE ME IN" BLED TO DEATH WITH FATAL
INJURIES AFTER BEING HIT BY THE MECHANICAL LURE at the Naples-Ft. Myers track during an evening race
on February 23, 2000. Eyewitnesses told greyhound advocates that Tune Me In
appeared to be in great pain and distress as evidenced by her screams and cries
which went on for some time before track personnel responded. By the time
euthanasia was performed, the dog, who was in agony for over 30 minutes, was
almost dead. An investigation by the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering
determined that no violation of any rules or statutes had taken place. GPL
Florida representatives have formally questioned the gross omissions and
trivialization of the horrendous incident by state racing officials, including
failure to interview any of the eyewitnesses and failure to review the accident
on track videotape.
Source: Naples Daily News, March 16, 2000;
Greyhound Protection League Research Files
ABANDONED GREYHOUND AND HER FIVE PUPPIES WERE
DISCOVERED in Saugus, Massachusetts.
Source: Daily Evening Item, November 10,
1999
A TRUCK HAULING GREYHOUNDS OVERTURNED WHEN THE
19-YEAR OLD-DRIVER FELL ASLEEP after driving virtually non-stop from New Hampshire to Georgia. No
greyhounds were injured. The dogs were from the more than 500 greyhounds left
behind by owners at the Lakes Region Track in New Hampshire every year at the
end of the live racing season.
Source: WAGA-TV Atlanta, November 1,
1999, Gwinnett County Police Report, November 3, 1999
UPDATE - RITT/STEINMANN CASE: ABUSED GREYHOUNDS
LIVE TO RACE ANOTHER DAY - Greyhound
Protection League labels "rescue" A colossal hoax The Greyhound
Protection League has collected evidence that the majority of abused and
neglected greyhounds confiscated in the Ritt/Steinmann abuse case at Seminole
dog track were, in fact, not adopted out as pets. Within two weeks of their
transfer to the Melbourne Adoption Kennel, 44 of the abused greyhounds were
schooled in at the Melbourne track. 37 of those continued racing at various
Florida tracks including Seminole. Others disappeared from the record, but were
not on the pet list. The ultimate fate of most of the dogs is unknown. It
appears that the real reason for moving the dogs from Seminole to Melbourne was
to "get more race" out of them. The data contained in the race records is a
direct contradiction to statements made in the media by the adoption group and
industry officials involved with the case: "None of the greyhounds ever went
back to full-time racing status. Instead eager families have adopted every
dog."
Source: Florida Today; Court records;
DBPR report November 1999; GPL investigative files; Press Release, AG's Office
NOTE: An adoption group was
later awarded $14,000 ($200 per dog) by the court. The Attorney General's
Office was led to believe that all the dogs were adopted and that the dead dog
died of old age. (All of the dogs were under five.)
70 ABUSED AND NEGLECTED RACING GREYHOUNDS
ABANDONED BY TRAINERS AT SEMINOLE GREYHOUND PARK On September 9,
1999, trainer
Bruno
Steinmann left the Seminole facility to work at the Pensacola dog track,
leaving another trainer, Frank Ritt (aka, Gary Ritter who later also left town)
and a helper in charge of the kennel. More than three weeks later, after
complaints about conditions in the turn-out pens, track management entered the
kennel and found inadequate food and supplies for the dogs. Ritt returned
October 6th giving assurances that he would care for the dogs. On
October 8th, the kennel helper was arrested for intoxication while
he was driving the kennel truck. Truck was towed into compound; driver was put
in jail. Neglected greyhounds were left unattended. In subsequent days the
situation continued to deteriorate with Ritt in charge. Another week passed. On
October 12th, track management entered the kennel and found the
kennel and the dogs in deplorable condition: severe weight loss, dehydration,
anemia due to severe flea and tick infestations; open, oozing bedsores as big as
a silver dollar and untreated wounds. Two dogs with life-threatening injuries
were transported to a local veterinarian. Rob Christmas, General Manager for
both the Seminole and Melbourne dog tracks, had remaining 68 greyhounds
transferred to the Melbourne Greyhound Park Adoption Kennel. One greyhound
died. To date, no action has been taken by the Pari-Mutuel Division. Ritt and
Steinmann continue to work in the Florida Pari-Mutuel business caring for
racing greyhounds despite the incontrovertIble evidence documented by the state
investigator and stated violations of pari-mutuel rules.
Source: DBPR investigative report,
November 1999
SIX GREYHOUNDS DIED AFTER BEING TRANSPORTED FROM
OREGON TO FLORIDA IN 95 DEGREE HEAT IN AN OLD ALUMINUM DOG TRAILER TOWED BY A
RENTAL TRUCK WHICH ALSO CONTAINED GREYHOUNDS, a 3,000 mile journey. Rental truck
companies forbid the transport of live animals in their rental vehicles,
however both the Animal Control Division of Oregon and the Oregon Racing
Commission determined it was suitable transport for the dogs. Only after the
dogs suffered and died did the Oregon Racing Commission sanction the kennel
owner/trainer.
Source: Greyhound Protection League
Investigative Files September, 1999; Animal Control Report, October 13, 1999,
Fox 35 News
TUCSON KENNEL OPERATOR HAS 17 HEALTHY, YOUNG
RACING GREYHOUNDS KILLED AT PIMA COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL because
"adoption groups don't take the dogs off his hands fast enough, and he is stuck
feeding them for weeks when they are not bringing in any money."
Source: Greyhound Network News, Fall 1999; Arizona
Daily Star, September 1999
MULTIPLE GREYHOUND DEATHS OCCURRED AT AN
UNLICENSED KENNEL in Marana,
Arizona. Within a period of a few months three stud dogs died from
unidentified causes, as well as five puppies during birth when their "extremely
thin" mother apparently suffered a stroke while whelping. Arizona Department of
Racing cited the kennel for underweight dogs, whelping trailer dirty and full
of flies, insufficient shade, excess weed and debris, no lighting and no
vaccination records.
Source: Arizona Department of Racing
Investigation Report, August 4, 1999
EIGHT GREYHOUNDS DIED IN THE FOURTH FIRE IN 13
YEARS AT WONDERLAND'S KENNEL COMPOUND in Lynn, Massachusetts. This brings the death toll due to
fire at the compound to more than 120. Firefighters were delayed in their
efforts due to the tightly screwed caps on the private hydrant on the property.
Despite public outrage after a fire at the same compound in 1992 resulting in
the death of 87 greyhounds, no sprinklers were ever installed.
Source: Boston Herald, June 20, 1999; The
Boston Globe, June 20, 1999; Daily Evening Item, June 21, 1999
TWO GREYHOUNDS DIED FROM THE HEAT during a cross-country rescue haul. The
drivers were using a makeshift aluminum trailer to transport dogs from Florida
to a Philadelphia adoption program when they got lost and encountered gridlock
traffic near Washington, D.C. in a 97 degree heat wave.
Source: The (Howard County) Sun / Nancy Youssef,
June 9, 1999; Maryland State Police News Release, June 8, 1999
THIRTEEN MALNOURISHED AND ABUSED GREYHOUNDS WERE
RESCUED from a backyard
in Ft. Worth, Texas. Two dead greyhound puppies were also found on the scene
and three of the rescued greyhounds died shortly after being rescued. A
greyhound rescue group representative called them "walking skeletons with fur."
Source: Ft. Worth Star Telegram, June 6, 1999;
WFAA News Channel 8, Angela Davis, June 7, 1999
595 RACING GREYHOUNDS WERE DONATED TO IOWA STATE
UNIVERSITY between February
1994 and April 1999. 502 of the dogs were donated by members of the National
Greyhound Association.
Source: Iowa State University Canine
Acquisition Records
THOUSANDS OF GREYHOUNDS BECAME SICK, RESULTING IN
24 DEATHS in 1999. A
nation-wide quarantine of greyhound tracks was enacted. By mid-February, more
than 5,000 racing greyhounds had contracted kennel cough, a fairly common
disease in racing kennels that is easily preventable by an inexpensive, readily
available vaccine. A condition later identified as Streptococcal Toxic Shock
Syndrome was the cause of death of at least 24 greyhounds in Florida, Kansas,
New Hampshire and Wisconsin. Many of the afflicted dogs appeared relatively
healthy only hours before death. Symptoms of the virus were extremely high
temperatures and hemorrhaging nasally, rectally and from the urinary tract. A
GPL press release points out that the stress of racing the dogs when they are
ill makes this otherwise benign disease a killer.
Source: The St. Petersburg Times, The
Tampa Tribune, The Orlando Sentinel, Multiple news reports January 9, 1999
- August 4, 1999
111 GREYHOUNDS WERE DONATED TO KANSAS STATE
UNIVERSITY FOR RESEARCH
between
January 1996 and May 1998. 52 adults and 57 puppies were euthanized and two
adults were adopted out. In ten instances, females were donated with their
nursing puppies. A majority of the dogs were donated by members of the
National Greyhound Association ("NGA"). Kansas is home to the NGA and the
Greyhound Hall of Fame.
Source: Kansas State University Canine
Acquisition Records
200 ABANDONED GREYHOUNDS WERE RESCUED FROM
GREENETRACK in Alabama when
the management abruptly ended the live racing season. The rescue, estimated to
cost approximately $30,000, was accomplished through the cooperation and
financial assistance of a number of animal welfare and adoption organizations
and the track management. There was no financial support from the National
Greyhound Association, or the industry organization formed to promote greyhound
adoption and welfare, The American Greyhound Council.
Source: Indianapolis Star / John Mason,
Marcella Fleming, December 12, 1998; PR Newswire, December 11,
1998
DERBY LANE TRAINER BUSTED AFTER WINNING GREYHOUND
TESTS POSITIVE FOR MORPHINE The Florida Pari-Mutuel Division opened an
investigation at the St. Petersburg Kennel Club after a urine sample submitted
for a June 17th winner, "Feel The Buzz," tested positive for morphine.
A consent order settled the case with a 45-day suspension and a $350 fine
levied against the trainer.
Source: Florida DBPR report, September
1998
FOUR GREYHOUNDS WERE HIT BY A TRUCK AND KILLED
WHEN they escaped from
their kennel in Palm Beach, Florida. Theresa Hume, spokesperson for the Palm
Beach Kennel Club said "the safe barriers did not work today."
Source: WPTV Channel 5 News Transcript,
October 7, 1998
254 RACING DOGS FROM ALABAMA WERE DONATED FOR
MEDICAL RESEARCH BY KENNEL PERSONNEL BETWEEN JANUARY 1996 AND MARCH 1998, many without the consent of their
legal owners. Of the 254
greyhounds donated, seven were released,
20 remained at the school and the rest were euthanized. Larry Swango, DVM,
Executive Director of Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine Animal
Resources Program said it appeared that the school had been "duped" by kennel
personnel looking for a way to dispose of dogs.
Source: The Birmingham News / Michael
Sznajderman, July 29, 1998; Montgomery Advertiser / Alvin Benn,
July 30, 1998
MORE THAN 2,600 GREYHOUNDS WERE DONATED FOR
MEDICAL RESEARCH TO COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY BY COLORADO BREEDERS AND TRAINERS
FROM JANUARY 1995-MARCH 1998, according to public records obtained by Greyhound Network News. Approximately
one third of the dogs were used in terminal teaching labs where they were
killed after use; the remainder were "excess" and were euthanized within 24
hours of arrival at the facility. Approximately 80% of the donated greyhounds
were three years old or younger.
Source: Rocky Mountain News / Dan Luzadder,
June 7, 1998
35 GREYHOUNDS, INCLUDING 25 PUPPIES, WERE
CONFISCATED FROM A DILAPIDATED BREEDING FARM IN WEST VIRGINIA According to
Priscilla Oelschlanger, Director of Marshall County Animal Control, the dogs
were found covered with fleas and infested with parasites; seventeen of the
dogs had to be euthanized. The dogs were being fed roadkill by the owner, who
no longer had money to care for the animals. "They [breeders] get in over
their heads and things like this happen, and as long as people go to the
tracks, it's going to continue," she commented. The surviving dogs were sent
to an adoption group in Michigan.
Source: Detroit Free Press, 1998; shelter
report, 1998
FOUR GREYHOUNDS DIED AND ANOTHER 48 WERE RESCUED May 29, 1998, after a fire broke out at
the kennel compound for the Palm Beach Kennel Club in Palm Beach, Florida.
Welders were repairing the air-conditioning system when a spark ignited a duct
filled with dust and dog hair. One dog was dead at the scene; three others
were taken to vet clinic where they later died. Approximately 1,000 dogs are
housed at the facility.
Source: Sun Sentinel, Larry
Barsezewski, Sarah Lundy, May 29, 1998; The Palm Beach Post / Tim Pallesen,
May 30, 1998
A TWO YEAR OLD GREYHOUND OWNED BY A FORMER KENNEL
EMPLOYEE WORKING AT TUCSON GREYHOUND PARK DIED OF NEGLECT IN JANUARY, AFTER IT
WAS ABANDONED IN A TRAILER PARK. An animal control officer responding to a call discovered the male
greyhound lying on the ground in extremely emaciated condition. The dog had
died recently. The owner, Stephanie Seitsinger, had apparently left the dog
outside her mother's trailer and moved away. Seitsinger and her boyfriend,
both licensed to work as cool-outs at the Tucson track, were later found
responsible for the neglect and ultimate death of the dog.
Source: Greyhound Network News, Spring 1998
HOLLYWOOD RACE-FIXING SCHEME INVESTIGATED BY
FLORIDA REGULATORS The Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering opened an
investigation after receiving an anonymous complaint detailing a wide-spread
race-fixing scheme that would yield thousands of dollars to participants. The
scheme was premised on trainers causing dogs to lose trifecta races through
undetectable means and placing bets at a window with a cooperative teller. The
primary subject of the investigation had held a Florida pari-mutuel license for
10 years and had already cashed in on the scheme, but regulators were only able
to prove that he had wagered against his own dog and that he had falsified his
application for a pari-mutuel license by not disclosing a felony conviction for
racketeering, distribution and sale of cocaine. Four contract kennels were
suspended during the investigation.
Source: Florida DBPR investigative
report, July 1998; WSVN Miami, May 28, 1998
45 GREYHOUND BODIES, INCLUDING 30 PUPPIES WERE
DISCOVERED April 23 at a
utility sub-station in O'Fallon, Missouri, just outside of St. Louis. Police
investigating the case said the dogs were dumped in three areas of the property
on three separate occasions in the last five months. The carcasses were in
various stages of decomposition. The ears of nine adult dogs were crudely cut
off, apparently to hide identifying tattoo marks that allow a greyhound to be
traced back to its owner. The bodies of three rabbits and one cat were also
discovered at the site. Such animals are known to be used to entice greyhounds
to run faster in a practice called live lure training.
Source: St. Charles Post-Dispatch / Michelle Munz,
April 25, 1998; USA Today / Tamara Lush, May 5, 1998
42 ABUSED GREYHOUNDS WERE SEIZED IN EAST AUSTIN,
TEXAS. The dogs were
being kept in filthy, makeshift cages, all were flea and tick infested and some
had deep pressure sores. One of the dogs was so flea-bitten, its neck
resembled "raw hamburger."
Source: Austin-American Statesman / Mike Kelley,
Rebecca Thatcher, April 11, 1998
DILAPIDATED KENNEL CONDITIONS AT SANFORD-ORLANDO
KENNEL COMPOUND NOTED BY FLORIDA STATE INVESTIGATORS A Pari-Mutuel
report acquired by the Greyhound Protection League details the deplorable
accommodations provided for racing greyhounds at the track-owned facility;
collapsing ceiling, large holes in exterior walls, rodents nests, holes in
fencing and rotting wood to name a few. Although the investigators had been
aware of the situation since 1992, the report states that the Division has no
authority to force the track to make improvements. An inquiry by investigators
as who has jurisdiction yielded the following: Seminole County Animal Control
refused to cooperate; Seminole County Building
Dept. - no jurisdiction; City of Longwood Building Dept. - "has jurisdiction
but does not oversee dog kennels." Contact was made with every trainer in the
compound; none would complain to track management for fear of losing his or her
booking.
Source: Memo to Chief of Investigation,
Florida State Pari-Mutuel Division, March 3, 1998
TRAINER CHOKES GREYHOUND IN RETALIATION FOR
STARTING A DOG FIGHT AT JCKC DBPR records obtained by the Greyhound Protection
League contain the following: " On September 27, 1997, a fight erupted in a
holding kennel. One greyhound was injured in the fight and was euthanized.
Respondent, angered over the fight, grabbed the dog that started the fight by
the neck and attempted to strangle the dog." Case was dismissed without
prejudice. Trainer did not renew his license.
Source: Florida DBPR records, April
1998
POLICE FIND CRACK COCAINE IN DOG TRUCK OF
SEMINOLE GREYHOUND PARK TRAINER A Seminole greyhound trainer was stopped
on a second offense for not having a valid Florida drivers license. Crack
cocaine was discoved in the vehicle. The trainer was arrested, even though she
insisted that the crack did not belong to her.
Source: Police Report, Casselberry
Police Department, September 9, 1997
14 UNDERWEIGHT AND FLEA INFESTED GREYHOUNDS WERE
BROUGHT TO THE THOMASVILLE ANIMAL SHELTER in Georgia on September 3, by a kennel operator from the
Jefferson County Kennel Club, an end-of-the-line track in northwestern Florida.
The small shelter was unprepared for the sudden influx of so many dogs. The
same operator left another seven greyhounds with Tallahassee Animal Services
and another three dogs at the track. Through emergency response efforts by
Florida greyhound adoption groups, most of the dogs were saved. Two of the
three dogs left at the track had already been killed.
Source: Shelter report, September 1997
A WEAKENED GREYHOUND SUFFERING FROM EXTREME
MUSCLE ATROPHY WAS RESCUED AFTER BEING CONFINED IN A SMALL CRATE WHERE HE COULD
BARELY STAND OR TURN. The dog was kept
alive for breeding purposes, according to adoption coordinator Lenka Perron of
Michigan Retired Greyhounds As Pets. "He doesn't have much longer," said
Perron "but he deserves to have a better life for the little time he has left."
Source: Detroit Free Press, September 1997
A MALNOURISHED GREYHOUND AND HER PUPPIES WERE
FOUND AT A BREEDING FARM OUTSIDE PHOENIX, ARIZONA The dogs' owner, Ansel Styles was
employed as the announcer at Phoenix Greyhound Park. Styles' breeding license
was revoked after the Arizona Department of Racing found the puppies and other
dogs living without adequate water. The dogs were infested with parasites and
the property was extremely unkempt.
Source: ADOR investigative report,
August 1997
EIGHT GREYHOUNDS RACING AT APACHE GREYHOUND PARK
WERE DIAGNOSED WITH CANINE DISTEMPER AND WERE EUTHANIZED IN FEBRUARY The dogs had been leased to a
kennel with a booking at Apache by owner Robert Lee Wooten, who was later fined
for failure to vaccinate his greyhounds against common canine diseases. A
follow-up inspection of Wooten's facility by the Arizona Department of Racing
(ADOR) found that seven out of eight puppies from a recent litter had died and
that another ten dogs had been euthanized a week earlier.
Source: ADOR Investigative Reports,
1998, Greyhound Network News, Fall 1997
BODIES OF SEVEN GREYHOUNDS DUMPED IN DITCH AT
JEFFERSON COUNTY KENNEL CLUB The skeletal remains of up to seven greyhounds were
found by the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering investigators who visited
the scene after receiving an anonymous call. The remains of one dog lay on a
pile of dirt; the skull of a second was protruding from a plastic bag; fresh
piles of dirt indicated that four or five more corpses were present in the
ditch. The Division concluded that the only statute that had been violated was
a county regulation which cited improper burial of animals, but took no action
beyond writing a letter to the track owner. The June 9th letter,
which was signed by the Director of the Department of Business &
Professional Regulation, contains the following statement.
"In as much as it is not
illegal to properly dispose of these carcasses on your property, this situation
was not a proper disposal and certainly presented an undesirable image and
potential health hazard. As you well know, there are numerous animal activist
groups who will seize the opportunity to inflame public opinion against
greyhound racing, as with the incident cited herein. Please consider
initiating action to rectitfy this situation and educating your employees in
order to preclude future troublesome complaints. We need to work together to
preserve the future reputation of greyhound racing in Florida."
Source: June 7, 1997, Division of
Pari-Mutuel Wagering investigative report obtained by the Greyhound Protection
League
MORE THAN 40 GREYHOUNDS FROM THE GREENETRACK,
ALABAMA DOG TRACK WERE ILLEGALLY DONATED FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH BY A KENNEL
OPERATOR AND A TRACK EMPLOYEE. The dogs were provided to Mississippi State University without the
knowledge or permission of their legal owners. The Greyhound Protection League and In Defense of
Animals filed suit against the University for the release of the greyhounds.
Source: NE Mississippi Daily Journal
/ M.G.
Morris, February 8, 1997, Legal Records, Greyhound Protection League FOIA request
9 EMACIATED GREYHOUNDS APPARENTLY DEPRIVED OF
FOOD AND BEDDING WERE BROUGHT TO A LOCAL VETERINARY OFFICE by rescue workers. One of the animals
was almost unconscious and near death. The dogs had been in the care of a
trainer at Connecticut's Plainfield Greyhound Park. The greyhounds were
covered with sores, fleas and ticks and several were 20-25 pounds underweight.
"They were all basically starving," said Dr. John Robb, the vet caring for
them. Racing officials and track management at first insisted that the dogs
could not have come from the Plainfield facility, but later admitted that they
had. At least two of the dogs had raced recently.
Source: Associated Press, January 12,
1997; The Hartford Courant / Lyn Bixby, January 30, 1997
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