| Greyhound Protection League
home LETTER TO DIVISION OF GAMING - KENNEL NOTICE FOR DEAD DOGSOct 24, 2005 - To: Wisconsin Division of Gaming I am writing to inform you of a very disturbing memo that was placed in Dairyland kennel operators’ mailboxes by Dairyland Greyhound Park management. The memo is a price list for animal cremations offered by Midwest Cremation Service of Wisconsin. It is my understanding that greyhound racetracks were initially allowed into the State of Wisconsin largely because of assertions that uncompetitive dogs would not be killed, at least not within state borders. To this day, public and legislative support for dog racing rests on this assumption in spite of certain “missteps” such as the Dan Shonka scandal. Given that the track pays for the disposal of greyhounds that are euthanized or killed outright as a result of racing accidents, there is no explanation for kennel operators needing the services of a crematory company, unless the document was intended as a veiled suggestion by track management that it was time to relieve the compound of the huge number of graded-off dogs that are currently taking up cage space in the Dairyland kennels. We are seeking your assurance that carcass bags and mass cremation services will not be utilized at Dairyland Greyhound Park or any other Wisconsin dog track either covertly or openly. As to other Wisconsin dog tracks, accountability continues to elude us. It has been nearly two months since we requested a complete list of active and inactive greyhounds at the Geneva Lakes track as of September 2005. Perhaps track management has not complied with the request. If this is the case, would you be so kind as to contact them again for this information? The situation at Geneva Lakes is very grave. Even though many greyhounds have already been moved to adoption groups, some 600 dogs are still in the compound. In order to cut down on the cost of caring for the dogs, the track is now pressuring kennel owners to send greyhounds “back to the farm.” We are urging that your agency step in to prevent needless destruction of life. Thank you for your help, Susan Netboy, President cc: Governor James Doyle Fax attachment: copy of Midwest Cremation Service of Wisconsin price list |