| Greyhound Protection League
home COLORADO DOG TRAINER FINED AND SUSPENDED IN DISAPPEARANCE OF MORE THAN 150 ARIZONA RACING GREYHOUNDSOct 23, 2006 - Welfare Advocates Launch Nationwide Search for the Missing Dogs with $10,000 Reward for Safe Recovery of the Greyhounds Phoenix, AZ – An October 18th hearing conducted by the Arizona Department of Racing (ADOR) yielded no additional information on the whereabouts of over 150 former racing greyhounds that went missing from Tucson Greyhound Park (TGP). The subject of the hearing, Calhan, Colorado greyhound breeder/trainer/hauler Richard Favreau, had contracted with the Tucson based dog track to haul former race dogs into Colorado for placement with adoption organizations. From November 2005 through July 2006 Favreau made multiple hauls out of TGP with greyhounds that were supposed to be destined for pet homes. However, Favreau is unable to provide evidence that the greyhounds are safe and properly cared for. The hearing concluded with a stewards’ ruling that Favreau was in violation of various record keeping and welfare regulations. He received a $1000 fine and a sixty-day suspension of his Arizona racing license. The six-month investigation that preceded the hearing was prompted by complaints filed earlier this year with Colorado and Arizona racing authorities by the Greyhound Protection League (GPL), a California based greyhound advocacy organization. Since the complaints were filed, Favreau has made a variety of claims about the dogs’ whereabouts – including statements that they are in Michigan, Montana, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and West Virginia. He has also stated that they are with coyote hunters, rabbit hunters, and sod farmers. With the exception of the eight greyhounds that went to an adoption group in 2005, a survey conducted by greyhound advocates provided no evidence that the dogs are with adoption groups. “The missing dogs could be anywhere,” said GPL President, Susan Netboy. “The one thing we know for sure is that the greyhounds are not were they are supposed to be – in loving, responsible homes.” GPL is putting out a national alert that greyhounds are missing and that there is reward money available for the safe recovery of the dogs and/or significant other information. The League, which offered an initial reward of $1000 for the missing greyhounds, has subsequently received additional pledge monies from greyhound advocates around the country. The current reward stands at $10,000. “All we can do is pray that someone will respond, so that these dogs don’t become casualties of the greyhound racing industry like the other 15,000 greyhounds that disappear every year,” said Netboy. For additional information on the missing greyhounds, please visit: www.greyhounds.org. Website: |