“Information about dog racing in the city of Miami and other parts of the state of Florida. Approximately thirty percent of the greyhound racing track in the United States are located in the state of Florida.”
The above quote prefaces the list of dog racing events and activities in the Miami area: racing tracks and associations, etc. Included in the list is a link to a website for the Florida Greyhound Association which represents breeders, owners, kennel operators, etc. and they are represented by a lobbying group in Tallahassee.
This is what happens when things go right.
In fairness, there are some tracks that do show they care about the dogs.
This is what happens when things go wrong.
On the other side of the coin, is a coalition of animal advocates, which just recently announced that it’s forming a political action committee called, “Committee to Protect Dogs,” which has as its purpose, to place on the ballot, reforms and a phasing out of greyhound racing in Florida.
There is also an advocacy group called, “Grey2K USA.”
“Greyhound racing in [Florida] is regulated by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. In May 2013, GREY2K USA lobbied successfully for an animal welfare rule that contained several greyhound provisions and required that all greyhound deaths that occur at track facilities be reported. Florida remains one of two states, along with Alabama, where greyhound injury reporting is not mandated.”
In today’s Sun-Sentinel, reporter Dan Sweeney posted his article, “Tougher Rules Sought For Racing Industry.” The advocacy groups are slowly, surely, lobbying for better racing conditions and better holdings areas, and for the reporting of not only deaths, but also for injuries that befall these mistreated dogs. Treating injuries means expenditures; killing the injured dogs is a viable option with some owners and trainers.
The best fulfillment of the advocacy would be for the dog racing to end; however, given the ingrained mentality of gambling and racing in general, here in Florida, this is not likely for the time being. The gambling and racing enthusiasts and the tourism trade probably would not make it doable at this time. The only possibility, as I see it right now, is for better and humane treatment, until there is a turnaround, and the dog racing institution will be closed down.
[Dog racing images are from bingdotcom]
[ Header image from http://www.freewebheaders.com ]
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Sunshinebright 