GREYHOUND RACE DOGS DIE IN VEHICLE FIRE

Apr 13, 2003 - Three Dogs Perish, Others Injured When Dog Trailer Catches on Fire

Sunday, April 13, 2003 - Manatee County, Florida - Three greyhound racing dogs died Saturday afternoon, when a greyhound hauling vehicle caught fire as it traveled southbound along SR 93. The 30-dog trailer was being pulled behind a pick up truck when hot pieces of a flat tire flew up into the trailer, starting a fire in the built-in cages that confine the dogs. At least three greyhounds died at the scene, others are reported to have been taken to the local animal control facility. The status of the survivors is unknown at this time.

"These poor dogs died a horrible death," said Susan Netboy, President of the Greyhound Protection League (GPL), a national greyhound welfare organization. "Greyhound hauling vehicles are notoriously dangerous. Many are old dilapidated trailers that are virtual death traps on wheels, but old or new, the greyhounds don't have a chance when something goes wrong."

Netboy says that numerous greyhound lives have been lost in highway accidents and incidents of heat exhaustion resulting from overheating in the small cramped quarters where two to three muzzled greyhounds are crammed into small, confined spaces; however, no state or federal agency oversees the transportation of racing dogs.

Michigan REGAP, one of the country's largest greyhound adoption groups is offering to provide funding to rehabilitate the injured dogs and to place them into homes. "We want to do whatever is needed for the survivors," said REGAP President, Lenka Peron. "They deserve a loving home after all they've been through."

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