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Post by CampWhippet on Jul 10, 2006 14:36:15 GMT -5
Greyhounds rate better protection Debbie Hirst July 10 2006 I am not surprised that Florida dog track owners are still fighting a proposal to keep records of greyhound injuries ("Activists want racetracks to report injuries to animals," Thursday). It is a cruel industry, replete with injuries. Perhaps it is true that only a small number are fatal, but those of us working in greyhound protection know that many of the injuries that are suffered could be treated by a veterinarian, but are not. Instead it is cheaper to euthanize the dog and put the next one on the track than to treat the injured one. Companies that are involved in potentially dangerous activities are required to keep records of worker injuries, even for the simplest things such as someone cutting a finger. Why should it be different for the greyhound industry and their "workers" who, by the way, are neither paid nor participating of their own free will? For more information about greyhound racing, go to www.grey2kusa.org. |
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Post by CampWhippet on Jul 10, 2006 14:36:51 GMT -5
Remember, no debating :P
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Post by CampWhippet on Jul 10, 2006 14:42:34 GMT -5
From the Sun-Sentinal Editorial Board
Racing Industry
Posted July 10 2006
ISSUE: Should dog tracks report injuries?
What do the dog tracks have to hide? That's the question screaming above the noise over whether greyhound race tracks should have to report to the state every time one of their animals is injured or dies.
The proposal includes Florida's four horse tracks, too, but the real target is greyhound racing, with tens of thousands of dogs racing at 15 tracks each year.
That's a lot of paws pounding the dirt at breakneck speeds, and lots of potential for accidents. But Florida is one of just five of the 14 states with dog tracks that don't require reporting. That means a state that makes plenty of gambling tax money off the business of racing doesn't know whether it comes at too great a cost to the animals pressed into service.
You don't have to be an animal lover, or an animal rights activist, to find that troubling.
When fending off the push for reporting, industry lobbyists cite a contradictory argument, saying the measure is unnecessary because injuries are few but also a costly "waste of time."
How, exactly, would it be cost-prohibitive to fill out a one-page report if injuries are so rare?
The same arguments surfaced in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, which mandated reporting anyway and found no cost problems since.
You'd think that, even without a mandate, dog tracks would keep close records as to how many accidents take place for safety and product protection. And at least six tracks do, but more don't. Not exactly the kind of sound business model that engenders an abundance of confidence.
State Sen. Steve Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, a big booster of the pari-mutuels, wants a reporting requirement, because he believes it would deflate critics and give the industry more credibility. But he couldn't even get his measure heard last session.
If injuries aren't a problem, then reporting them shouldn't be either. If they are, the state needs to improve its oversight of the racing business. And that may be just what the industry fears.
BOTTOM LINE: The reports should be required, to boost credibility, or oversight.
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Post by wickedwinner on Jul 10, 2006 14:44:18 GMT -5
"For more information about greyhound racing, go to www.grey2kusa.org" Or you might actually visit a farm or racing kennel or track. No debate, just a suggestion. |
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Post by cheryl2 on Jul 10, 2006 15:18:05 GMT -5
Our injuries are reported to the state. No reason in the world to release those stats to parties who have no real interest in safety. No reason racing should supply those determined to destroy the sport with numbers that will be manipulated to support their stance. Those who are truly interested in making the sport safer get the reports.
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Post by dad2paisley on Jul 10, 2006 15:23:47 GMT -5
This would be a good topic to discuss on the Great Debate board. We already had this topic talked at length already.
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Post by CampWhippet on Jul 10, 2006 16:31:58 GMT -5
Reporting encourages prevention.
No debate but just a suggestion: If racing is so safe why not report the figures and let them speak for themselves. Seems the Florida tracks in particular have a lot to hide.
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Post by davej on Jul 10, 2006 20:09:43 GMT -5
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Post by rockingship on Jul 10, 2006 20:36:42 GMT -5
I think the answer is pretty simple. Grey 2K has used the injury reports, completely out of context, and with no comparative paradigm involving any other population of working/sporting animals, to condemn racing. Injuries are part of all athletics, among humans and animals. Injuries are part and parcel of the working/sporting life of any canine who is so engaged. Injuries are part and parcel of the life of any active, well exercised pet.
I am a proponent of injury reports. The only way we can better prevent injuries and treat injuries, is to learn as much as we can about them, the type and frequency of them, and where and when they occur. It is meaningless to say that something is dangerous, however. Dangerous compared to what? Open field coursing? Police or service work? Horseracing? If so, then prove it.
As to the suggestion that greyhounds don't choose to race...good grief. Greyhounds who don't want to race, simply sit in the box and "refuse", or they cavort around the track with their heads in the air, looking for a taxicab...they call them "nonnies" (short for non-chasers) in Australia. Now please excuse my brevity, but one of the cats has just made the choice to drive my car to Wal Mart to get some catnip.....gotta run...
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Post by houndsaplenty on Jul 10, 2006 22:41:46 GMT -5
Now please excuse my brevity, but one of the cats has just made the choice to drive my car to Wal Mart to get some catnip.....gotta run... :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :) |
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Post by twogreys on Jul 11, 2006 9:15:43 GMT -5
WOW!! My Heidi was a "nonnie"!! She would leave the box, run a little, then go back to the box!! I always knew she was "special"!!!
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Post by wickedwinner on Jul 11, 2006 9:59:56 GMT -5
Rock made some really good points. I know there are folks on here who course their greyhounds and other sighthounds. I had an experience that scared the "%^$#" out of me. We had our newly retired racer, Eli, at a Celtic Festival. Across the way they were doing coursing demo's. Eli was beside himself wanting to run. He lunged and yelped and couldn't contain himself. I decided to let him have a go at it. He took off like a shot and did great until the lure began to slow at the end, he was so strung up that he tried to catch the bags, he lunged for them and slid in the grass. The string for the lure wrapped around his right hind leg, he screamed and was thrashing around, all I could think of was broken hock and why had I let him do this. After getting his leg unwrapped and cooled down he was just fine, wanted to do it again. That was it for me, he could have been badly injured and not on the track but on a lure course. I swore then it wouldn't let him do it again. Give me the carefully tended to surface of a racetrack any day. The point of this is: He wanted to run, no one was forcing him. He could have been injured and it wasn't on the track.
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Post by dad2paisley on Jul 11, 2006 10:20:05 GMT -5
Glad Eli was  . We had 2 scares with Zeus and our Suzy. They were playing in our backyard and running with our pup Lincoln and Zeus back paw was dislocated. Another occasion our Suzy came to us with her leg bleeding while playing. Suzy and Zeus kept wanting to run and play and didn't care what they did to themselves. They weren't forced to run, they were playing and this happened. There tails were a waggin too. Both are fine now and still run and play in our backyard. I am just saying it can happen anywhere, the track, your backyard etc. |
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Post by wickedwinner on Jul 11, 2006 12:02:08 GMT -5
That's a good point Tom, sometimes I think these dogs are safer on the track. What was funny was Eli in his panic bit me in two or three times, I had blood running down my arm. I wound up at the first aid tent getting cleaned up and "vet wrapped" while my friends were cooling down Eli in their van. As soon as they finished with me I went to check on him and all day people were coming up asking me how Eli was, I was the one with the bandage. LOL
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Post by prefontaine on Jul 12, 2006 12:42:39 GMT -5
Accidents happen, and Wicked is right. I think I would rather racing take place in a controlled environment rather than an open field. Pre has hurt himself more times running lures or chasing a ball than he ever did on a track. I got into a debate on GT about this same subject about a week ago. I, too, am all for reporting all injuries. My point on GT was that if animals are used for anything, there are going to be injuries.
I was at Tri State mon. night. No injuries reported. I will be there again tonight, and I will take note.
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