RACING GREYHOUND INJURIES STILL OCCUR AT WORRISOME RATES

Oct 18, 2003 - VERDICT AGAINST BLUFF'S RUN GREYHOUND PARK FOR FAILING TO PROVIDE SAFE RACING CONDITIONS

Bluffs Run, Iowa - A Pottawattamie County jury has returned a verdict against the Bluffs Run Greyhound Park and Casino for failing to provide a safe race track for racing greyhounds. The verdict sets a precedence in that tracks that often place greyhound welfare last can be sued after all other avenues have failed.

Greyhound Protection League received a tip in September that launched an investigation into the frequency of collisions, injuries and deaths at this track. State gaming commission records showed 60 injuries through September at Bluff's Run. Of these, 28 involved broken hocks, an injury that is commonly career-ending. GPL also randomly reviewed race cards and saw a very disturbing picture: collisions, falls, and bumps in almost every race around the first turn. During the month of June, 26 greyhounds fell. Another 12 "pulled up", indicating some other type of strain related injury. "These numbers appear to be typical for this track and should long ago have been a red flag for this track to prioritize the safety of the greyhounds", said Lenka Perron, Greyhound Protection League spokesperson.

State records also indicated that 6 dogs were euthanized at the track as a result of their injuries. The state made it clear however that these euthanasia records do not take into account dogs removed from track property and euthanized through private vets. According to Perron, "Our hope is that they were humanely euthanized, but unfortunately we continue to see cases where it is evident the dogs died a painful death because they were not longer useful regardless of what racing state we are talking about."

But according to GPL, the public has been the misinformed when they are told the that the industry as a whole is responsible and humane. "When greyhounds are no longer profitable, they are dumped onto independent greyhound adoption groups. And when a greyhound with a broken hock is lucky enough to make it into the adoption community, it becomes the responsibility of non-profit adoption groups to pay the often significant expenses to rehabilitate the dog", said Perron.

GPL is working with the Iowa Racing Commission to determine the final disposition of over 100 greyhounds that appeared to be injured at both Dubuque and Bluffs Run as well as to determine why several greyhounds apparently injured at Dubuque dog track do not appear on the state injury logs at all.

According to GPL, a national greyhound advocacy organization, almost 20,000 greyhounds are destroyed annually in the United States. For more information, visit www.greyhounds.org

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