Annual Awareness Rally
Greyhound Protection League volunteers will hold the opening weekend
awareness rally at Tampa Greyhound Park July 5th, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
For more information, please contact Janet Skinner at 727-784-5529 or
janetanne@att.net.
In yet another effort to bail out their dying industry, Florida's
dog tracks are currently funding a petition campaign managed by Floridians
For a Level Playing Field to bring slot machines to the tracks. It
has been reported in the St. Petersburg Times
(November 28, 2000) that paid signature gatherers are misleading the public
about the intentions of the petition drive and promoting the proposed ballot
initiative as a tax on slots (which are illegal in Florida) or as an aid
to the elderly and education.
If you live in Florida and are asked to sign a petition sponsored by Floridians For a Level Playing Field, please refuse to do so and politely explain that you will not support any efforts to assist an industry that continues to kill thousands of racing greyhounds each year.
For more information, contact Janet Skinner at 727-784-5529 or jonanjanet@aol.com.
A satellite TV company, DISH Network, is going to be broadcasting greyhound racing to its customers. Please send a polite message to them at feedback@echostar.com telling them that you will not financially support a company that is helping to promote an industry as inhumane as greyhound racing. Feel free to include comments regarding the numbers of healthy dogs killed (up to 20,000 per year), the fact that 7 states have banned greyhound racing based on the inhumane nature of the sport, and the growing awareness by the general public of the cruel reality of the plight of the racing greyhound. Your letter is vital.
Show your outrage at the horrific treatment racing greyhounds receive in Spain by signing the online petition at http://animals.de.gs/. WARNING! This site contains graphic photographs of dead greyhounds - if you find this too disturbing, you can go directly to the petition page by clicking here. (Note that after submitting your name, use the back button on your browser to avoid landing at the http://animals.de.gs/ home page which contains the photos.)
The Florida Legislature passed a bill during the 2000 session that
will provide approximately $20 million in tax breaks annually for the state's
pari-mutuel industry - much of it benefiting the dog racing industry. Governor
Jeb Bush allowed the bill to become law without his signature on June 22,
2000.According to an article in the Daytona Beach News-Journal (Sunday, July 9, 2000), these tax breaks are seen by the industry as a "Band-Aid." In an effort to resuscitate their dying industry, it is expected that the pari-mutuels will once again seek approval to install video lottery terminals (VLT's) or slot machines at the state's dog and horse tracks and jai alai frontons.
Greyhound Protection League will continue to oppose VLT's/slots or any other bailouts for Florida's dog racing industry. As further information becomes available, it will be posted to this site.
Florida residents are urged to remain vigilant throughout the entire year regarding any legislative attempts to assist the state's dog racing industry. Polite letters from constituents to their state senators and representatives regarding the cruelty of dog racing and expressing opposition to the "sport" are encouraged at any time. Let your voice be heard!
If you do not know who your state reps are, please call your local League of Women Voters or visit the Florida Legislature’s Online Sunshine web site.
The country of Vietnam has approved plans for its first greyhound racing track. To stop the introduction of greyhound racing in Vietnam, please write polite letters or call the following contacts. Beyond animal welfare issues, tell them that this venture makes no business sense. If they want to allow gambling in their country, greyhound racing is one of the least promising ventures based on the experience in the United States where it is widely viewed as a dying industry.
UNITED STATES
Ambassador Le Van Bang
1233 20th Street,
N.W. Suite 501
Washington, D.C. 20036
303-862-0737
UNITED KINGDOM
12-14 Victoria Road
London W8RD
071-937-1912
UNITED STATES LIASON OFFICE IN VIETNAM
Mr. James Hall
7 Lang Ha Str., Hanoi, Vietnam
350445,431501
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Head Office:
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Secretary General: Mdm Pham Chi Lan
International Relation Department
33 Ba Trieu Str. Hanoi, VIETNAM
844-253023
Vung Tau City (where the proposed track facility will be located)
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Director: Mr. Vo Van Cao
36/6, Vo Thi Sau Str. Vungtau City, Vietnam
846-452710
