PLAINFIELD DOG TRACK CONTINUES TO EVADE ACCOUNTABILITY

May 05, 2005 - Greyhound Protection Group Asking Governor Rell To Intervene

Plainfield, Connecticut : On April 28th, within 24 hours of learning that Plainfield Greyhound Park was closing it's doors on May 14th, the Greyhound Protection League (GPL) had a letter on the desk of the Department of Special Revenue (DOSR) requesting a complete accounting of the greyhounds held in the Plainfield kennel compound. "We know from past experience with track closings that the only way to get a safety net around the dogs is to start out with a complete list of every greyhound in the compound," said Connecticut GPL representative, Melani Nardone. GPL has been assured that the DOSR followed up with a formal request to the track in a timely manner. A week has gone by and no records have been received by the DOSR. Records related to the dogs actively racing at the track are held in the track's computer database and are readily accessible within minutes. "There is no excuse for not immediately handing this information over to the state regulatory division," said Nardone. "They are behaving as if they are accountable to no one and the more time that goes by the more likely it is that greyhounds are going out the back door."

In addition to faxing a second request to the DOSR Thursday morning, GPL has made a formal request for the intervention of Governor Jodi Rell, who had already expressed concern over the fate of the Plainfield greyhounds in her May 3rd press release.

GPL is equally disappointed by the lack of action by the Department of Agriculture, the only state agency that has control over welfare issues at the state's dog track. GPL specifically requested an on-site head count of the dogs in the Plainfield compound. Although an animal control officer who is vested with the full authority of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture visited the compound on Tuesday, she came away empty handed. "The number of greyhounds that need to be accounted for continues to elude us," said Nardone. "We have to assume at this point that they have a vested interest in keeping this vital information out of the hands of state authorities and the animal welfare community."

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