RAMPANT DRUG USE EXPOSED AT TUCSON GREYHOUND PARK

Jun 08, 2007 - Greyhound Protection League Calls on State to Shutdown Dog Track

Tucson, Arizona – Positive drug tests have Tucson Greyhound Park (TGP) scrambling in an effort to keep its live racing schedule in tact. A random drug test administered prior to Tuesday night’s racing forced suspension of three trainers associated with several of TGP’s most prominent kennels. As a result, nearly 30 greyhounds were prevented from racing Tuesday night. The next day brought even more trouble for the beleaguered dog track which had to cancel Wednesday racing altogether due to a lack of licensed trainers and qualified race dogs. Trainer substitutions allowed for a scaled back race schedule on Thursday evening, but it remains to be seen what will happen from this point forward.

Drug testing of kennel employees a few months ago also turned up positive drug tests and resulted in suspensions and fines for several trainers and kennel helpers. At least one repeat offender is on the current list.

“Drug use on the part of people who are in charge of caring for animals is a very serious offense,” said Greyhound Protection League (GPL) president, Susan Netboy. “No one who is functioning with impaired judgement should be making the critical decisions that are necessary when the lives of helpless animals are at stake. It’s tantamount to animal endangerment.”

Netboy says that rumors about widespread drug use at TGP have been a concern for years. Until recently, complaints have largely fallen on deaf ears.

In light of this and other numerous scandals, including violations that have resulted in the death of greyhounds on hauling rigs and kill operations, GPL is calling on the Department of Racing and/or the Governor to revoke TGP’s license to operate a racetrack in the state of Arizona. “TGP has proven itself to be incapable of running any kind of reasonable operation,” said Netboy. “They are constantly in the eye of the storm; yet, there is never any consequence for the track itself – no fines, nothing, just scapegoats and fall guys. It’s high time that the track be held accountable and that its reign as ‘America’s Teflon Dog Track’ come to an end.”

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