TEN GREYHOUND RACE DOGS DIE IN VEHICLE FIRE ON I-4

Sept 14, 2005 - Orlando, Florida – Ten greyhound racing dogs perished in the early morning hours of Wednesday, September, 14th when a greyhound-hauling vehicle caught fire. Eight greyhounds died at the scene. Two later died at a Castleberry Emergency Clinic. Six of the 16 greyhounds on board survived. The dogs were confined - two to a cage - in a greyhound-hauling trailer that was headed for the Sanford- Orlando dog track where the dogs were scheduled to race.

“These greyhounds died a horrible death,” said Susan Netboy, President of the Greyhound Protection League, a national greyhound welfare organization. “Greyhound hauling vehicles are notoriously dangerous for a variety of reasons, but the dogs don’t have a chance when something goes wrong.” Netboy points out that this is the second known hauling fire to kill Florida race dogs in recent years. A 2003 vehicle fire killed several greyhounds near Bradenton, Florida.

Safety regulations and inspection of greyhound hauling rigs are non-existent. “Greyhounds are constantly on the road in all types of unregulated vehicles,” said Netboy. “These are strictly ‘load and go’ operations that anyone can get into in order to make a few bucks.” The Greyhound Protection League has been pressing for stringent regulation of greyhound hauling vehicles for some time.

The Greyhound Protection League is also critical of the fact that greyhounds were being hauled to Florida dog tracks during a highly contagious epidemic of kennel cough. “The Sanford-Orlando track is in the throws of a virulent outbreak of kennel cough,” said Florida Greyhound Protection League representative Bryan Wilson. “We want to know why the dog track was intent on taking in greyhounds during a nationwide disease out-break. This is an example of why and how these diseases spread. Had it not been for this terrible tragedy, the outside world would never have known what they were up to.”

“The Florida racing industry is afforded the luxury of self-regulation with regard to disease quarantines and transportation of race dogs,” said Netboy. “It is clear to us that the industry can’t be trusted to make the right judgments with regard to greyhound welfare issues.”

Addendum: Another greyhound died at the University of Florida the following day, bringing the total number that perished to eleven. Three survivors are with GPA/Orlando. Two are with their owner.

< back