GREYHOUND ADOPTION GROUPS ALARMED AT NUMBER OF RACING GREYHOUND INJURIES

Jan 24, 2003 - One group hopes new Governor will appoint Gaming Division Administer with Greyhound welfare in mind

Madison, WI - In 2002, the greyhound adoption group Michigan Retired Greyhounds As Pets (REGAP) took in 8 racing greyhounds that had broken their legs while racing at one of two Wisconsin dog tracks. Based on statistics maintained by the Wisconsin Gaming Commission, there were 294 reported injuries that occurred to greyhounds during official races at the Dairlyland dog track from January through August, 2002. These injuries, many of which are considered career or life ending, included broken legs, sprained hocks and other musculoskeletal injuries. This is compared to 184 injuries for this same period in 2001, an increased injury rate of 60%.

"This certainly alarms us", said Lenka Perron, co-founder of Michigan REGAP. "Racing greyhounds already have it rough just by being born into a system where they are considered a disposable commodity," said Perron. "However, the dangerous condition in which the dogs appear to be raced is unacceptable".

According to Perron, injury rates could be increasing due to a number of factors, including possibly poor track surface conditions, running dogs that recently suffered a minor injury but were not given adequate time to recuperate, or a combination of factors.

In addition, Perron says that financial responsibility typically falls square on the shoulders of non-profit adoption groups. "Rarely will you find a racing greyhound owner or trainer take responsibility for their race dogs once the dogs become unprofitable, financial or otherwise", said Perron. Independent adoption groups must spend anywhere from $400 to upwards of $2000 to repair these injuries. Most adoptions groups will do all that they can to save these dogs because they feel the dogs deserve at least as much.

The lack of proper care of recently injured greyhounds also concerns Perron. "We picked up one female with a broken hock whose track records showed that she had actually been injured 5 weeks earlier, with no apparent treatment", said Perron. "As a result of this delay in treatment, her injury only worsened and resulted in major surgery and the possibility that she may never bear weight on this leg".

Perron hopes that the newly elected Governor Doyle will appoint as Racing Administrator someone who will make the welfare of greyhounds a top priority, because according to Perron, there seems to be little evidence that anyone in racing is trying to do something about this situation. Perron said a formal complaint to the gaming division will be made when a new appointee is named.

According to GPL more than 19,000 racing greyhounds are killed every year. The Greyhound Protection League is a national greyhound advocacy organization based in California. GPL has uncovered and investigated dozens of industry related abuses since the organization started monitoring the racing industry in 1991. For more information, visit www.greyhounds.org

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