KENNEL COUGH EPIDEMIC TURNS DEADLY

Mar 29, 2003 - Two Greyhounds Die at Derby Lane

Saturday, March 29, 2003 - St. Petersburg, FL - The toll of the kennel cough epidemic that forced Derby Lane to cancel live racing has escalated: 800 sick dogs and two dead. When the track publicly admitted to a problem a week ago, l00 of the 1400 greyhounds at the compound had come down with the sickness, that number skyrocketed in just a few days' time. Live racing is now cancelled indefinitely. Two of the sick dogs died suddenly Thursday, leading greyhound advocates to wonder if the fatal streptococcal toxic shock syndrome that killed 6 Derby Lane race dogs and 20 nationwide in 1999 has returned to Florida.

Five of the ten Florida tracks with live racing have admitted to the presence of kennel cough in the compound. The Greyhound Protection League (GPL) called for a mandatory statewide quarantine and cancellation of racing when it first learned of the outbreak nearly two weeks ago. "Once the press started asking questions some of the tracks yielded to public scrutiny," said GPL spokesperson, Susan Netboy. "The rest of the tracks continue racing even in the face of this crisis; sadly, it is likely that more dogs will pay with their lives for the greed of their care takers."

Palm Beach Kennel Club cancelled live racing a week ago; Sarasota Greyhound Park fell in line Friday. But Naples Fort Meyers and Hollywood have continued racing in spite of dozens of scratches and public acknowledgement that they have the sickness. While inside sources report even a larger number of deaths and sickness at other tracks, reporting is not mandatory.

GPL charges that implementing a quarantine after the disease has spread throughout the state is merely a cheap public relations ploy. "The industry is by and large self regulated; they have clearly chosen to put profits before greyhound welfare," said Netboy. GPL intends to file a negligence complaint with state authorities regarding both welfare betting integrity issues.

< back