Report on Greyhound Racing in Arizona (February ... - Grey2K USA

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SECTION 5.Other IssuesAttempts to address humane issues with stronger regulatory efforts have failedAccording to Geoffrey Gonsher, former Director of the Arizona Department of Racing, the department has nothad the funds necessary to effectively regulate the racing industry. 80 This assessment was included in a 2007review of the agency by the state Auditor General, and cited extensive tax breaks Arizona racetracks received inthe 1990’s as a cause for the problem. 81 In the review, Gonsher outlined his concern:“The department does not have sufficient funding to regulate theparimutuel industry in a safe manner.” 82Additionally, Tucson Greyhound Park has ignored attempts to improve the lives of dogs living at their facilitythrough stronger animal welfare regulations. For example, when voters in South Tucson passed an ordinancemandating stronger welfare regulations in 2008, Tucson Greyhound Park simply refused to follow the law. 83Only ten weeks after the law was approved by voters, veterinarian Joe Robinson wrote to the Arizona StateVeterinary Medical Examining Board to tell them that he intended to violate a provision of the ordinance thatprohibited the use of anabolic steroids in racing greyhounds:“This letter is to inform you that I will be providing testosterone shots at TucsonGreyhound Park.” 84There is evidence that the track never intended to follow the law. Even before the measure was approved, trackofficials stated publicly that they would seek to be “grandfathered” to ensure the ordinance did not apply tothem. 85Greyhounds suffer from various illnesses while racing in ArizonaAccording to records obtained from the Arizona Department of Racing, many greyhounds have sufferedfrom health issues while competing at racetracks in the state. For example, in 2008, 49 dogs were placed onsuspension lists because they were too “sick” to race while 87 dogs were determined “lame” and unable torace. 86Also, in January of 2005 Tucson Greyhound Park was quarantined after at least 65 greyhounds fell ill withkennel cough. 87 During the quarantine, no dogs were allowed to be imported to or exported from the track. 8880 Howard Fischer, Track tax breaks could hurt bets, Capitol Media Services, June 2, 2007.81 Ibid.82 Ibid.83 GREY2K USA Investigation, July through August 2010 (documenting the use of 4-D meat and greyhounds being confined formore than 18 hours per day), online at http://www.youtube.com/user/GREY2KUSA (last visited onFebruary 17, 2011).84 Tim Vanderpool, Southside showdown, Tucson Weekly, November 25, 2010.85 Brodesky.86 Arizona Department of Racing.87 John Stearns, Quarantine sidelines Tucson greyhounds, Arizona Republic, January 20, 2005.88 Ibid.Greyhound Racing in Arizona | February 2011 14
SECTION 5.Other IssuesGreyhounds from Tucson Greyhound Park disappear, are presumed deadIn 2006 a greyhound hauler was banned for life and ordered to pay $140,000 after he refused to account formore than 100 dogs. 89 In total, he removed more than 140 greyhounds from Tucson Greyhound Park betweenNovember 2005 and July 2006, claiming that the dogs would be hauled to his farm in Colorado and distributedto adoption organizations. 90 For this service, track managers paid him $150 per dog. 91 After investigatingthe incident, the Arizona Department of Racing ruled that “the animals may have been killed for profit.” 92 Theagency ruling also criticized Tucson Greyhound Park for failing to meet its responsibilities to the dogs and notkeeping “complete and accurate records.” 93Cases of greyhound neglect have occurred in ArizonaIn 2010 a greyhound breeder and owner was fined $1,000 and had his license revoked by the ArizonaDepartment of Racing after an inspection of his farm documented severe neglect. 94 When investigators arrivedat the farm, they found “one dead greyhound lying on the ground,” and observed several greyhounds that“were in poor physical condition and all appeared to weigh between fifteen (15) and twenty (20) pounds.” 95Other greyhounds showed signs of neglect, including “one greyhound observed with a large laceration to theleft front leg and a second greyhound that appeared to be physically weak and immobile.” 96 Both greyhoundswere subsequently euthanized. 97In July 2005 Pima County Animal Care officers confiscated nearly 90 greyhounds from a kennel in Tucson aftercitizens complained that the dogs were suffering from severe neglect. 98 Of the approximately 100 greyhoundsfound at the kennel, only a dozen were in good health. 99 The rest were suffering from severe hair loss, flea andtick infestations, possible internal parasites, and mange. 100 The flea infestation was so severe that officers worefull body biohazard suits when entering the kennel buildings. 101 A greyhound trainer who was leasing many ofthe dogs told investigators that some of the greyhounds were current racers while others were waiting to beadopted. 102Greyhound adoption advocates have also claimed to have received neglected racing dogs. For example, in a2005 guest column a volunteer for the Greyhound Adoption League of Tucson recounted having received agreyhound from a greyhound trainer that was infested with “hundreds of ticks, in her ears, between the pads ofher paws, around her genitals, everywhere.” 10389 Josh Brodesky, Greyhounds feared dead, Arizona Daily Star, December 20, 2006.90 Ibid.91 Ibid.92 Ibid.93 Ibid.94 Arizona Department of Racing, Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and Order, Case Number 10A-021-DOR.95 Ibid.96 Ibid.97 Ibid.98 Kimberly Matas, Greyhounds are seized, Arizona Daily Star, July 12, 2005.99 Ibid.100 Ibid.101 Ibid.102 Ibid.103 Catherine O’Sullivan, It’s time to end greyhound racing, Tucson Weekly, August 4, 2005.Greyhound Racing in Arizona | February 2011 15
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