December 6, 2009 – Kenosha, WI (Cable Muse Network) – Dairyland Greyhound Park in Kenosha, Wisconsin
was the victim of a viral email that caused outrage among greyhound supporters. The greyhound track reached out to the media
to blitz the truth, so have animal protection advocates. This is an exclusive look into the Greyhound Racing industry from
different angles.
The bogus email hoax below traveled at warp speed through the internet. Facebook Post:
"Dairyland Greyhound Racetrack in Kenosha, Wisconsin will be closing
on December 31, 2009. 900 Greyhounds need to be adopted or
they will be euthanized. Please help me get the word out; there is only 6 weeks to get this task done. Contact Joanne Kehoe
Operations Director Phone…” (Editor’s Note: Joanne
Kehoe’scontact phone, advertisement, and Facebook information withheld because of misrepresentation
of her name, position and facts).
Bill
Apgar, General Manager and Vice President of Operations at Dairyland, responded immediately to Cable Muse Network’s
inquires regarding greyhounds at their track. “The last two weeks have been crucial in trying to put this viral email
to rest. The good news is, now people are aware of a great need and we have more adoption applications than usual; and supportive
greyhound shelters have contacted us to say the interest and applications are up for them as well”.
Apgar
was quick to clarify that Ms. Kehoe is not and never has been in a position at the track. The phone number to reach Ms. Kehoe’s
telephone number went directly to voicemail. No return call was made back to inquiries from Cable Muse Network.
William
Apgar pointed out, “We don’t even have 900 greyhounds at the track. Usually 600-750. We won’t even know
the number of greyhounds available for adoption until December 31, after the last race. The only thing that was true in the
entire email was that we are closing ‘our season’ December, 31”.
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Dairyland
Greyhound Park maintains an ‘in house’ adoption center for greyhounds from the track, and has staff assigned to
place them through applications. This has been a long-standing practice and the adoption program has received positive recognition
in various publications including ‘Dog Fancy’. Christine A. Dorchak, Esq. President of GREY2K USA encourages prospective
adopters to contact independent greyhound adoption groups as well, and provides a state-by-state listing on her organizational
web site. “Hundreds of anti-racing rescue groups have formed that not only place dogs, but also to speak the truth
about this cruel industry. We all look forward to the day when Greyhounds are just like other dogs, living in happy
homes and no longer forced to run for their lives”.
Desiree Acholla, Animals in Entertainment Specialist
for PETA, told Cable Muse Network, “Dogs who have been raised for racing are unsocialized and tend to be skittish. These
traumatized dogs have never shared the company of a family or engaged in typical social interactions. Greyhounds are "retired"
from racing because of illness, injury, or disease.” Greyhounds are also retired
when they do not win and are slow or become disengaged from their racing. They are often young and healthy and excellent candidates
for adoption.
Desiree said, “When there are already 6-8 million animals each year in shelters in need of loving guardians, to put
it simply, it's impossible to find homes for them all”.
Story of Love: This Weekend on CableMuse.com
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Sue
Hamma, Co-Chairman of Adoptions representing the Quad City Greyhound Adoptions in Iowa made note of the following: The goal
of Greyhound shelters and adoption groups is to screen and test retired racers before adoption and identify social challenges.
They are designated “small animal friendly (or not) and more sedentary homes are sought for “senior” greyhounds.
Every opportunity is taken to allow them to interact with children and families to assess their comfort level. While no “greyhound
lovers” who adopt want the greyhounds to be subjected to the isolative life of the crate, we appreciate a reciprocal
relationship with area tracks who loan us their greyhound transports to facilitate our relocation efforts. We also developrelationships with breeders so they will choose donation of unwanted greyhounds to our adoption center. Greyhounds
are exceptional family and home animals.
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In
a Friday afternoon email debate with Cable Muse, Desiree Acholla of PETA, and Christine A. Dorchak, Esq. of GREY2K USA discussed
greyhound adoptions and the industry machines behind it. Christine clarified, “We do not find the task of adopting ex-racers
insurmountable. In fact, a track's closure is the best possible thing that can happen to a greyhound and this is the
kind of year we advocates have been working towards! Three tracks will close in one day, a record event!” In response
Desiree agreed and added, “PETA doesn’t buy any excuse for breeding racing dogs when there are so many dogs who
need homes. There are tireless people working day and night to find good families for these sweet dogs when tracks refuse
to pay a dime for much needed treatment and housing. Overall, there is no reason to breed more dogs and recent track closures
mean that even fewer dogs are being bred to pound the tracks and subsequently suffer cruel fates”.
When Mr. Apgar of
Dairyland Park was asked by CableMuse.com if he had spoken with the person whose name is on the viral email as the sender
he responded, “I personally have not spoken to her, but I heard she denies it was her email. She believes someone copied
and pasted her name and phone number onto the message”.
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The viral email did bring the attention of
greyhound lovers to check states’ laws concerning the “disposal and/or euthanasia” and practices for greyhound
race tracks. Not all states have laws to protect the dogs. The tracks cannot always control what happens after race dogs leave
and are returned to their owners. Some dogs are euthanized by the owners and they often choose alternative methods rather
than paying a veterinarian fee. Desiree of PETA was blunt in her response, “Those who breeders believe will be too slow
to win races are killed. Dogs have been shot, bludgeoned, or simply dumped to fend for themselves. Dogs who survive the initial
cull are on borrowed time: Their very lives are secure only as long as their stamina holds. When too old, injured, or tired
to continue to race, these dogs are often discarded like garbage”.
Dairyland’s
in-house adoption procedure includes being spayed or neutered before being placed. The animals are brought up to date with
vaccines and shots as needed and undergo an examination by a licensed veterinarian.
One fact is undeniable as a result of the
viral email, track owners everywhere are under scrutiny. Lawmakers who see opening more race tracks as a way to cure their
“economic blues” are being watched to see strict protections are in place. If you don’t believe it, just
ask Bill Apgar of the Dairyland Greyhound Park. Bill will tell you about his bad month and all the calls from concerned greyhound
fanciers and the media. If only dogs could talk.
Article Continues Below
Christine A. Dorchak, Esq. said, “I am working directly
with Raynham Park and like all tracks that have closed these past years, and there is a concerted effort by management to
do the right thing for the dogs. This may motivated by adversity to (more) bad publicity, or it may be because there
is recognition that at least some dogs deserve to be helped after years of exploitation by this industry -- but in any case,
the result is the same. Hundreds of dogs find Forever Homes, and that is what we are focused on at Phoenix, Raynham
and Dairyland Parks”. The Phoenix, Raynham and Dairyland racetracks are all closing at the end of this month.
Meanwhile, the campaign to end dog racing nationwide continues.
“When GREY2K USA was formed in 2001, there were 46 tracks in 15 states. We have cut that number virtually in half,
to 23 tracks in 8 states. New legislation has been drafted for filing in three more states in 2010. We will not
rest until dog racing ends everywhere, the farms are closed down and the kennels locked up for good,” said Christine.
Ben Cable, Cable Muse Network Editor
in Phoenix, AZ contributed to this article.
Related Stories:
Greyhounds traveled miles to find their forever
homes: The Phoenix Seven
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animals waiting for you to contact them:
