GREYHOUND ADVOCATES ISSUE PLEA TO SPARE DOGS

Mar 14, 2007 -
Greyhound Protection League Fears Fate Of Dogs Caught Up In Race Scandal

Charleston – In an urgent fax message sent to Racing Commissioner George Sidiropolis, the Greyhound Protection League outlined concerns about the fate of dozens of greyhounds whose racing careers may be abruptly ended as a result of their entanglement in alleged falsification of health certificates at West Virginia dog tracks. The League fears that punitive actions that may be taken against the perpetrators will inadvertently put the lives of greyhounds at risk.

“As racing commodities, the value of these greyhounds will drop to zero,” said Greyhound Protection League President Susan Netboy. “The harsh reality for race dogs is that their very lives depend on the dollar amount they can bring in for their owners.” Netboy points out that if the greyhounds are banned from racing in West Virginia, other racing states could follow suit leaving no option for them to bring in money anywhere in the country.

“If the dogs are then sent back to the farms, profit margins may force the owners to destroy them,” said Netboy.

The League is urging the Commission to consider allowing transfer of the dogs to adoption organizations so that they can have a life beyond racing. “The greyhounds are innocent victims of this situation,” said Netboy. “We are hopeful that Mr. Sidiropolis will find it in his heart to pursue a humane resolution to this dilemma. There is no need for these greyhounds to pay the ultimate price for the misdeeds of their owners.”

The Greyhound Protection League is a national non-profit greyhound advocacy organization based in California. The League estimates that over 10,000 healthy, young greyhounds are destroyed every year once their value as race dogs comes to an end.

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