The 2$ Suckers............

 

As a few mourn the end of greyhound racing in Florida, one needs to address the reason and forgo blaming others for the demise that the industry brought upon itself.

I will share some thoughts on couple of items that brought us to modern day, a day when pari-mutuel wagering on greyhound racing is on the verge of extinction in the United States.

1)    Failure to pass the Interstate Greyhound Racing Act:

The industry, through its own actions, was unable to drive the legislation that would have provided it a source of revenue from its own product. In the mid-1970's the industry was exposed on a national level as using live lure aka jacking by the news program 20/20 resulting in passage of the Interstate Greyhound Racing Act being impossible.

The industry was left without income from its own product, but a bone was tossed to them in the form of subsidies from card rooms and casinos.  The tracks are a business and as such are in business to make a profit and needed to find other sources of revenue to maintain a profitable business. Greyhound racing was no longer a must see/must attend form of entertainment for many. The entertainment dollars the tracks relied on suddenly had competition from newer forms of entertainment and chance.

2)   Lottery – Bigtime gamblers:

The lottery also played its part as the small-time gamblers shifted away from the fun, low risk $2 bet to purchasing a fun, low risk $2 lottery ticket that could be had far closer to their homes.  Big money gamblers need a pool of suckers who will blow 2 bucks to prop up the pool and make it a worthwhile to bet big. Each year the big money gamblers have shifted away from greyhound racing or died and with no new people filling their shoes, the track is not making as much on live racing as they once did. The numbers regarding the decline of big money gamblers is eye opening. 

(Note:  big money gambler for the purpose of this blog is defined as someone who bets $100,000 or more a year)

3) Did the subsidies from casinos and card rooms prop up existence?

Without the subsidies from casinos and card rooms, would the tracks even been able to offer more than $15-$30 a point? Even if the Interstate Greyhound Racing Act had passed, would today’s gambling and entertainment environment allow for the tracks to offer decent money for each point solely based on the live racing product? Just a few things to think about.

A Long Time Ago?

 

I realize 2020 has been a unique year and at times just seems to be dragging on, but July 2020 was not “years” ago!

https://apnews.com/article/kansas-animals-oklahoma-legislation-steve-cohen-d181d8696dd6b80305827dc0656e7489

What is the answer?

 

I sit in amazement at the lack of desire to show the public that greyhound racing wants to repair any negative public perception issue as soon as it crops up. While we hear claims "lies" or "fake videos" or "corruption and payoffs", greyhound racing is silent when there is a serious issue. That said, can there be any surprise that 100% of the Arizona legislature passed a bill to ban pari-mutuel wagering on live greyhound racing in Arizona a few years back or that recently almost 70% of the citizens of Florida voted to ban pari-mutuel wagering on live greyhound racing in Florida.

One would think that would be a 5-alarm call to action to rectify any issue that reflects negatively on greyhound racing. Sadly, burying the collective greyhound racing heads in the sand seems to be the reaction to confronting the issues of negative public perception.

This month a track in Florida held a $100k race. In attendance were numerous individuals from the pro-racing adoption arena as well as photographers from the greyhound adoption world and even those on the front line of the lawsuit to overturn Florida Amendment 13.  All the reports via social media gave the impression the race went off without hitch and lauded the winning dog, kennel, and trainer but not a peep regarding any incidents during the race. Except...a post by a lobby organization which included a video not of the glory but of a disturbing accident in which a greyhound in this $100k race appears to bump another greyhound, then appears to blow its hock and then clearly gets tossed into the railing then tossed back into the track and overrun by another greyhound. 

If history should have taught greyhound racing anything it is that such an incident, especially one that has taken place during a race will be found and publicized, and what makes this newest incident, so glaring is that with so many pro-racing members in attendance and/or posting to social media about this $100k race there is no mention of this greyhound or the accident or the current condition of the greyhound. Sadly, however are many discussions by greyhound supporters on the need to purchase a track and magically reopen a live greyhound racing facility in states that no longer allow pari-mutuel wagering on live greyhound racing. 

If the greyhound racing industry wants the public to believe they care, the pr machine should have been fired up immediately and provided information regarding the condition and location of this greyhound that was possibly injured in such a highly promoted and publicized race. Without such announcements, the public will question what happened to this greyhound and will most likely think the worst. 

 

Without being proactive and honest, the public forms its own conclusions especially when the only mentions come from the anti-racing camp. Any lack of transparency will, in my opinion, make action for the bill in Washington DC to eliminate greyhound racing nationwide easier to pass. Senators and Representatives have previously voted to eliminate greyhound racing at state levels and now that such a bill is in DC, their views on greyhound racing will most likely stay the same.

 

I have been involved with greyhounds on many levels for almost 30 years. I have seen racing accidents where the greyhound was no worse for the experience, where the greyhound suffered a career ending injury and sadly where a greyhound lost its life. So, can anyone provide the answer to the question the public would like to know - what happened to and where is Thrill U?

Interstate Greyhound Racing Act...........

 

I would like to reflect on not just recent years but many years of asking how we got to the point where greyhound racing is on the verge of ending its long history of providing a live racing product in the United States. There are those who think Florida Amendment 13 will be overturned or that a magic wand will be waved and racing in states that long ago ended live greyhound racing will return. Do they fully understand the history with regards to protecting the live greyhound racing product?

Many years ago, a shiny new toy appeared in the pari-mutuel world called off-track betting (OTB). This product scared many - participants and tracks alike - thinking that it might end live racing. The horsemen saw this and in 1978 worked to pass the Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA). Without going into details here (so feel free to research this and expand your mind) this legislation gave protections to the horseman and the live horse racing product.

Greyhound men and women would have been wise to ride the coat tails of the IHA. Why didn't they? Perhaps their attention was elsewhere. Also, in 1978, a segment on the show '20/20' made the nation aware of an activity that many found gruesome and disgusting - the training of greyhounds with live bait also known as jacking.

In the late 80s/early 90’s, an attempt was made to pass a bill called the Interstate Greyhound Racing Act. the bill's language was much like that in the IHA and would have given the greyhound men and women ownership and a say regarding the import and export of the simulcasting signals as well as more of the revenue generated from said signals. At the time it was estimated that little over half those involved in greyhound racing made enough from racing to pay their bills. Greyhound racing was on verge of a financial collapse.

Shortly thereafter came the next revenue generator racinos (casino style gambling facilities at the tracks), with the hope to prop up those struggling. Unfortunately for the greyhound racing industry, many became greedy with the amount of money that would be paid out in the points system. With the desire to be the top kennel, which would be a natural reaction, so came the need for the fastest, most aggressive, most driven greyhounds possible to win. There are many who feel one of the only ways to do this is live bait training and as we recently found out this year, the greyhound industry has never given up its use of live bait training of greyhounds, regardless of what guidelines are stated by the National Greyhound Association.

 

Could greed be the reason be that aggressive greyhounds were/are needed to compete for the big points systems offered by the racinos? Greed can run rampant. Greed can replace all logical thinking.  Tired of funding that greed, the tracks felt paying out money generated by the casinos did not make practical business sense. It is next to impossible to believe that no one, especially on the track side knew about the practices of live bait training greyhounds and likely wanted to start looking for ways to maintain a business all the while distancing themselves from direct involvement in the live racing model. Enter decoupling. Without the Interstate Greyhound Racing Act, the decoupling movement was easy.

Who killed the live greyhound racing product? The industry itself did by not cleaning up its act, thus preventing the ability to find enough support legislatively to pass live greyhound racing product protection bills.

Greyhound Pets of America (GPA), a nationwide greyhound adoption program, had many founding members involved with greyhound racing. In preparations for this blog, I spoke with many old timers from the industry and each has stated that everyone knew the practice of jacking was ongoing even after being exposed by Geraldo Rivera in the premier episode of 20/20, thus prompting me to wonder if that is why the founders set GPA up as a neutral organization, so that GPA and its chapters would not get caught up in any future racing related scandals? I wonder if Greyhound Pets of America membership needs to ask themselves if it is worth GPA's integrity and ability to do what is best for the greyhounds in adoption or is it more important to support greyhound racing at any cost, even the risk of an eventual scandal that will ruin the reputation of the largest nationwide greyhound adoption program? The time has come for those in greyhound adoption to agree to a greyhound adoption integrity act and to maintain or move back to the neutral position regarding greyhound racing and focus not on protecting racing but instead focus on the integrity of greyhound adoptions.

 

Authors Note:

No such bill or movement called the "greyhound adoption integrity act" currently exists. It is simply a concept I personally believe the greyhound adoption community should move back towards. 

In preparation for the writing of this blog, I have watched all the videos (hours’ worth) that I am aware of regarding the recent live bait jacking scandal and find much of it is so disturbing and gruesome that I feel it is best not to share the slaughter as it will no doubt make many sick and even worse, change the views of some regarding the greyhound.

 

Greyhound Racing – Still jackin' it in KS & OK?

 

During the summer, stories about live lure baiting of racing greyhounds broke throughout the United States.  I have personally seen video footage that captured several National Greyhound Association members participating in what many deem to be nothing but brutality and animal abuse. I know some people have no issues with hunting or letting dogs chase prey, but when jackrabbits are not even given an opportunity to outrun and escape, pure brutality is all I can think of when I watch the videos. Who decides which animals can get ripped apart and which animals cannot?

I wanted to learn more. I was not about to just take one organization's word or truncated news stories as gospel. I wanted a thorough and unbiased education about live lure baiting in the greyhound racing industry.

I contacted several retired greyhound breeders, trainers, and owners and set out to discuss with them about this thing that is termed as “jacking”. I asked if “jacking” was indeed a widespread practice years ago, I heard an overwhelming yes. I was told  "we all did it and when that Geraldo Rivera story broke, we all started sending our greyhounds to Kansas and Oklahoma where they would be “jacked” cause after all, it's only a misdemeanor. We did not speak of it; you know plausible deniability. Folks jacking would just tell us if the greyhound would chase or not." 

Personally, I always thought the term "would not chase" meant the greyhound would not chase the lure, but now I understand that it came to mean that a greyhound would not chase a jackrabbit. Lastly was told - "We (greyhound industry) brought the end upon ourselves. We knew what we needed to do to clean up our act, but we all got addicted to the money especially with what the casinos had to offer and just kept doing inhumane activities behind their back and kept getting caught. If we had cleaned up our act, those organizations would have never had anything to nail our coffin with."

Sadly, as of this writing, even though the National Greyhound Association (NGA) has had plenty of time to take a stand, take the lead and permanently divest itself of any and all membership that participates in this tradition of training, it continues to be reactive rather than proactive.

 It is difficult not to wonder who knew the secrets or why this practice continues.  Could “it's against the rules” and "we will kick anyone out caught doing so" just be pat responses to keep the public at bay? Do not greyhound owners always know what is going on with their dogs?

Perhaps the NGA has buried its head in sand. 

I have not.

What Matters Most?

I still remember my first home visit 27 years ago with regards to possibly adopting a greyhound. One of the reasons I got involved with greyhound adoption was my impression of how the home visit was conducted. Not once was my religion asked about, not once was my view regarding greyhound racing questioned. The adoption volunteer conducting the home visit was concerned with the environment that a potential greyhound would be living, if there were other pets, and most important if those living in the home would genuinely care for the greyhound and truly offer it a forever home.

Over the years I have traveled to attend greyhound events literally from sea-to-sea and have met thousands of greyhound adopters. I have met pro-racing adopters. I have met adopters who were against racing. I have met greyhound adopters with no opinion on racing and simply loved their greyhound.

All the greyhounds with regards to the three categories mentioned above had one thing in common – a loving home & family.

Today there is an obvious shift in greyhound adoption & racing industry to only send greyhounds to groups who publicly declare themselves as “pro-racing" (with extra bonus points to those that politically and financially back the movement to save greyhound racing) flooding the chosen groups with available dogs or holding greyhounds for a period of time while many greyhound adoption groups who have loving forever homes lined up and waiting are not sent any dogs nor are those families given the chance to adopt the, in my opinion, most wonderful dog in the world.

I sometimes wonder if (as the saying goes) "it's all about the dogs" or has it now become "it's all about the beliefs". A family is only worthy of the chance of adopting a greyhound if they are of the approved mindset?

I hope as Florida winds down the remaining tracks will put an enormous effort into quality of home vs. the group and homes racing views, and help those that believe in the importance of placing the greyhounds into loving forever homes takes precedence over the stance. Personally, I fear that the stance has become the priority and believe that will put a risk on the quality of homes available to the ex-racing greyhounds. Will adoption groups be forced to hold on to their adoptable greyhounds in fear that unless they adopt out as "instructed" they will forfeit access to any adoptable greyhounds going forward?

Is not a forever loving home for the ex-racing greyhounds the reason many of us got into this in the first place?

Play by your rules…

A few years ago when advising one of my clients with regards to dealing with their annual SOX audit, I advised the client never say they would do something when the facts showed they did not have the manpower to accomplish or the desire to actually follow through with the tasks. Auditors love to nail business units on items they say they will do but fail to.

For years we heard that the use of live lure training was a practice of days gone by and that in today’s greyhound racing community, anyone caught doing such would be "kicked out". Many believed that this was fact.  

During the Arizona Racing Commission meeting held August 18, 2020, the Chairman of the Arizona Racing Commission (me) made the following public statement:

“Those of you who may have been in attendance over 8 years ago when I was introduced as the new racing commissioner representing the greyhounds may remember I mentioned that I can be a quite person, but have the capability to speak up and maybe get long winded as I am the son of a Baptist minister.

At the end of July, a news story with videos circulated across the nation regarding live lure training of greyhounds. 

Most if not all of you with us today know that adopting ex-racing greyhounds as pets is something, I have done for 27 years. Not only do I love the greyhounds, I have supported the sport and have been an active voice for the adoption effort as well as a national leader for the mission of assisting ex-racing greyhounds being placed in loving homes. While those basics have not changed, many of you in the electronic conference room today have known that over the last 8 years as part of this commission, I’m a supporter of ensuring the safety of all participants in the sport of horse and greyhound racing. I am a firm believer and enforcer of playing by the rules.

While I do not personally believe greyhound racing will be able to overcome the accusations of the past few weeks, as I personally see this as a huge ethical problem for greyhound racing, I do believe those of you in horse racing can learn a lesson, I would like to take a few moments to share my thoughts.

While my fellow commissioners and I, as well as others here today,  have taken an oath to uphold the laws and ensure the protections of the public and all participants, each and every one of us in the sports has a duty to abide by the laws, statues, and house rules. Each one of us has a duty to uphold the sports with the greatest of loyalty and care, each one of us has a duty to treat each other with respect and treat the animals involved with the greatest of care. Doing such shows the public that while each of us is human and capable of sin, our duty of care and loyalty creates an environment that our actions and conduct are pure, professional and law abiding and as such, the public perception of our sport is greatly increased.

Personally, I am appalled at the evidence that has shown a number of greyhound racing participants actively involved in live lure bating with jackrabbits in what is also termed as “jacking”.  Many have asked me to speak up over the past couple of weeks however I have remained silent as I struggled to come up with words to express my feelings.  

My feelings do not matter. I can say I do not struggle with the enforcement of the rules, laws, statues, and house rules. While this body does not have any jurisdiction in the current situation, I do believe we have a right to question the signals imported into our state and demand that the greyhounds and racing participants abide by the rules so that those signals are fair. If we fail to address this issue are, we protecting the Arizona public as best we can regarding this situation?

As a commissioner, as someone who has been a leader in greyhound adoption, as a person who has supported responsible racing and as one who has had many adopted ex-racing greyhounds at home, I personally encourage the National Greyhound Association to stop sidestepping this infraction. I encourage them to take bold and rightful actions. I encourage those with authority to investigate and bring the facts to light.

Each of us of can be tempted by the serpent to cheat. Do not let yourselves be tempted. Uphold our sports with the upmost respect for not only yourselves but for your fellow owners, trainers, jockeys, other participants of the sports and perhaps most of all the horses and greyhounds who look to us for care, protection and love.

I hope you all know I respect you and I will support you. If you violate the rules, the respect and love for all living beings, the foundations that my father Reverend Goree taught me as a child will not cease, but as my mother often had to say to my young self - you have broken the rules of this house and you know the consequences.

 

Violating the rules leads to consequences. Cheating harms not just the cheater, it brings great harm to the collective sport, participants and animals involved and it harms the future. Cheating, violation of the rules, beating the system, call it what you like...in the end all it will do is bring about the demise of the sports you love.

 

Call it what you want, willfully violating the rules is not responsible racing.”

 

As I have yet to hear that the National Greyhound Association has taken a hard-liner stance on live lure training, publicly condemned any members caught doing so and permanently removing those members, today while I know it will not make a bit of difference, I returned my ballot for NGA board elections.

 

Be not afraid to abide by the rules, be not afraid to take a stand.

The New Savior Complex

In October of 2019 the track management of Daytona Beach Racing & Card Club contacted me to discuss the movement of the soon to be retired greyhounds at the Daytona facility. Delaware North wanted to do the right thing and start moving greyhounds out as soon as possible once they were no longer racing. I saw this as they did not want hundreds of greyhounds sitting at the track during the last few weeks of racing. When it came to adoption, Delaware North has always done what’s right for the greyhounds, in my opinion.

Since October 2019, track management kept in contact with me and planned to move greyhounds off the facility as they were graded off as there was no need to keep hundreds of greyhounds sitting around when they could be quickly moved to adoption groups.

Sadly, the efficient effort by the Daytona track to professionally transport 80 Grade D retired racing greyhounds was destroyed and the greyhounds waited at the track longer than necessary as two individuals stonewalled the effort. I can only surmise the outrage and stonewalling by these two individuals was not about the retired greyhounds but more about themselves. Was it a financial perk? Was it an issue of some type of salary? Was its personal glory? Will the truth ever come to light? Keeping greyhounds at a track that is closing just so individuals can in some way benefit is not sound. If you are about what is best for the greyhounds then each retired greyhound that is ready for adoption should at that time be sent to adoption in the safest, most effective manner possible.

(And for those who claim to be "in the know" as to my movements, I can state that I have not made any trips - secret, private, public and/or personal - to Florida in recent memory. For those who claim otherwise, feel free to produce copies of flight, hotel, rental car, photos or other documentation as fact that I was in Florida during the time you claim.)

I know many in the greyhound racing industry who do right and always have. Unfortunately, there are many from the adoption side that are now so entrenched under the pro-racing banner they no longer put their mission of adoption first and instead direct their focus on how to be more pro-racing than the next guy. Can greyhound racing in the United States survive to continue as is? My observation is that if the racing enthusiast greyhound adopters keep wearing blinders, acting as if they are the sport's salvation and continue to attack anyone who can see the facts rather than buy into the "what if", then the greyhounds and the sport will suffer due to a few who fail to put both the truth and greyhounds first.

Will I be attacked on social media because of this blog? Of course, I will, because those who prefer the lynch mob mentality will never contact me to discuss

What’s Important?

Keyboard warriors.

You know the type - those who think they know best, know everything, have mastered all things greyhound racing in 3 short years.  Those who have been on a tangent to rid the greyhound community of good homes for ex-racers based on the social media post of someone they have never met. The keyboard warriors feel being pro-racing makes them experts in all things greyhound racing and adoption since the dawn of time.

Not very long ago the racing industry and the adoption world respected each other's field and boundaries. Everyone focused on their expertise and met in the middle to work together - especially in the time of crisis - and knew the importance of a good home for each ex-racer.

Today's keyboard warriors pontificate that potential greyhound adopters should disclose their personal opinions regarding racing. Today's keyboard warrior’s witch-hunt any adopter who dares to use a word or phrase said warriors don't like. Today's keyboard warriors act as if they and only they are qualified to determine what adoption groups should receive dogs and what individuals should be allowed to adopt.

I for one firmly believe that if a group is placing ex-racing greyhounds into homes where the greyhound will be loved, respected and become a part of the family then guess what, that is WHAT’S IMPORTANT!

I for one firmly believe everyone has a right to their personal opinions on racing however a personal opinion on racing seldom has any bearing on the level of love, care and pride that an adopter gives their greyhound. Today's keyboard warriors often present themselves as never having had a misstep with any greyhound they have ever adopted nor are they able offer their brand of guidance without vilification to anyone who is of a different mindset.

I for one will not let a list dictate my goal of finding greyhounds loving homes, and in reality, the worst thing that happened to greyhound adoption was the creation of all these "approved" lists. When racing makes adoption lists and adoption makes racing stance their criteria for a good home while knowing some in racing have and will continue to send dogs to those that the keyboard warriors condemn, it is the ex-racing greyhound who will get lost in the equation.

That’s my opinion and that’s what is important to me…..the greyhounds.

Time to Retire?

When an active racing greyhound no longer has the speed or their skills have diminished, the greyhound is retired and placed in adoption.

From the beginning I’ve been very concerned that SWA (as well as its previous incarnation) would fail simply due to the skill set of the main players. When attempting to mount a successful politically oriented mission, the leadership team must be prepared to ask and answer the hard questions, ready to make the hard decisions and willing to be honest and fully transparent with contributors and supporters. Many ridiculed myself and others (and I know still do) for being blunt about SWA. Diehard supporters’ usual response was "well at least they are trying/doing something" and "f*** you".

Every year at the beginning of the sports season, regardless if it is NBA, MLB, NFL or NHL, we know that certain teams just won’t make it to the playoffs for the simple reason that they just don’t have the leadership and players with the proper skill set to win. Sorry to those who have been continually offended by the honesty over the last few months, but isn't it time to stop buying into the SWA impossible dream and allow them to retire because it is my honest opinion that as long as their leadership remains the same, they are doomed to fail.

I would also like to address a comment made on Facebook by a “humane advocate protector” - SWA was not operating as the greyhound racing industry. SWA was a very limited small group with a worthy but unrealistic goal. The attempt to overturn Florida Amendment 13 in Florida was not an expertly organized and well thought out plan by the greyhound industry working as a whole.

Is it time for SWA to retire? Is it time for all those supporting them to start not only asking questions about the continued failed attempts, but demand a shakeup of leadership and question exactly how much more will be asked for in donations to fulfill their dream? I have an idea...if SWA leadership is going for the goal, their leadership should wholly fund their next phase and allow donation dollars that are in short supply in the greyhound community to assist the greyhounds being retired in record numbers due to continuing track closures, to say nothing of those greyhounds still on the farms?

Foolish Behavior.....

On this April Fool’s Day, I wonder if 70% of the citizens of Florida got fooled...played...taken advantage of...snookered by some what could be described as shady individuals. By now many of you have heard the rumors about the individual who runs the Tampa-based Big Cat Rescue and the accusations about a previous husband.

Big Cat Rescue of Tampa

For those of us that have been in the real greyhound welfare movement for years, it doesn’t surprise us in the least to see that an individual who was swept up in some shady dealings in West Virginia a few years ago is linked up with Big Cat Rescue. We in the real welfare movement have come to know and realize that all these shady organizations calling themselves advocates or rescues, seem to have connections to each other.

Greyhound "humane advocate protector" enjoying company of fellow shady characters?

Dear 70% of Florida - you got fooled.

Florida Amendment 13 Disaster Relief Fund….

In a blog titled “Getting to know the humane advocate protector” posted Thursday, August 2, 2018 I wrote the following: 

“You see the legislative actions spearheaded by “” humane advocate protectors”” always lack provisions for the proper placement, funding and care of those greyhounds who will be needing homes when their racing careers are forcibly ended by “humane advocate protectors”.

It is now February 2020. Two months into the calendar year in which per Florida Amendment 13, the betting on live greyhound racing is to cease in the State of Florida by December 31, 2020.

What does this mean? 

It means that the remaining tracks currently open in Florida will start the process of ending live racing. 

What does this mean? 

It means that THOUSANDS of greyhounds will soon be in need of relocation and adoption in no small part due to the work of those who "claim" to love, care and always do what they do "for the greyhounds".

Sadly, the animal protection organizations who spent heavily to ensure passage of Amendment 13 in Florida have moved on to spending even more money in other states and other countries in hopes of ending live greyhound racing worldwide yet they have they have left those of us who truly care about the greyhounds high and dry. The charitable organizations who have for years made the adoption of retired racing greyhounds a labor of love, however the problematic situation we face now requires more than love. It requires funding.

Will PETA, HSUS, and Grey2K step up and pay for the damage they created? They spearheaded amendment 13 yet did not place any provisions into amendment 13 to ensure the safe transportation of every greyhound they fought to put out of a job. Will they donate to assist in the transport of the racing greyhounds that will be displaced by their actions?

Join me in insisting that these organizations that claim they did it "for the greyhounds" yet now that financial help is need, fail to actually help the dogs. They continue to bank millions of dollars of donations but offer zero funding to transport, care for and adopt out these wonderful greyhounds. 

PETA, HSUS, Grey2K, and all the Floridians who voted to pass Amendment 13 - Now is the time to step up and do as you claimed - care about the greyhounds. Put your money where you tell the world your heart is. Help the thousands of greyhound dogs that now need to get to adoption groups across the United States and Canada in order to be adopted into loving homes.

You can send your donations to:

Greyhound Pets of America – National

Attn: Amendment 13 Disaster Relief Fund

P.O. Box 40

Highlandville MO 65669

To those who supported Florida Amendment 13 and lobbied for its passage - are you aware that a transport haul of 40 greyhounds can cost $3000 to $5000. Do you care that the Daytona and Sanford Orlando tracks will be closing in the next few months? Do you even care that now others will have to somehow scrimp and beg for the funding to transport these greyhounds to adoption groups? Do you even care at just these 2 tracks it may require upwards of 30 hauls, costing the charitable greyhound adoption organizations $120,000.00?

You got what you wanted. You brought about the end of live racing in Florida. You claim you did it for the greyhounds. Time to pay for what you have done.

Again, I promise that all funds will be used for the transportation, housing and care of each greyhound that PETA, HSUS, and Grey2K lobbied to put into this predicament.

Do it now. Do it for the greyhounds.

Rory S. Goree’

President

Greyhound Pets of America-National

#RonDeSantis

#Floridasenate

#Floridahouseofrepresentatives

#Florida

#Greyhoundpetsofamerica

#Greyhoundnation

It's Time...

Over the last few weeks my nights are laden with sleeplessness, waking up in panic, wondering how it will and if it will come together. Sleep is usually a time when I know I’m able to get away from it all, for just a few hours, shut off my brain and recharge for the coming day. I'm not sure when I will have that ability again.

Some are holding out hope for a miracle that may overturn Amendment 13 in Florida but that will not undo what we face.

Now It’s time.

By the end of March 2020, there will be 850 greyhounds from Daytona in need of homes, followed up by 400-500 greyhounds from Sanford Orlando in June 2020. 

In approximately 5 months almost 1400 will be in need of homes.

I have been working with professional haulers to start arranging hauls and resting points for greyhounds on cross country transport. While I’ve had sleepless nights, one thing that brings comfort is the knowledge that our greyhound adoption volunteers have always stepped up. But additional help is needed.

These are some points in critical need of attention:

1. Step It Up:

Get out there and inform everyone you know and everyone you don't know on the availability of greyhounds and promote greyhound adoption. Be unique, be creative. Attend or organize meet & greets. Share posts and information on social media. We also need homes in order to move the number of greyhounds that will shortly become available, both in foster capacity and for forever home adoptions.

2. Funding. 

Hauling greyhounds from Florida to where ever there are adoption groups than need them and have applications waiting to adopt is not going to be cheap. While Greyhound Pets of America has funding to kick off this endeavor, we are in need of greater need of far more funding. I might be able to sleep if I knew we had in excess of $300,000.00 in GPA's transportation fund, but we don’t and as the days race closer to the end of the year, funding is going to be key in order to ensure the safe transportation of and placement of each retired racing greyhound.

3. Moral Support.

Cheer your local greyhound adoption volunteers on. We need them now more than ever as they will be working harder than ever with the number of greyhounds coming into their programs.

While adoption had nothing to do with this predicament, organizations such as PETA, HSUS, and Grey2K did. They pushed for the passage of Amendment 13 in Florida and to date haven’t contributed to the greyhounds they put into this position. They spent millions to do their damage yet how much financial contributions have they donated to assist the thousands of retired greyhounds that will need homes in a short period of time, thousands of greyhounds that PETA, HSUS and Grey2K have snowed the public into believing they "protect".

PETA, HSUS, and GREY2K all claim they do what they do for the greyhounds and are proud of the fact they spend hundreds of thousands of donation dollars to do it yet once their "deeds" are done, they flee the scene never actually helping or donating financial assistance for greyhounds as they transition to adoption. Well now time to pay up! You got what you wanted. Now are you going to run away as always or are you going to man up and realize it is now time to send donations to those of us who now have to clean up the mess you lobbied for? 

You can send $300,000.00 right now to Greyhound Pets of America and I promise that the money will be used strictly for transportation and housing of Florida greyhounds and any funds not used, I pledge to return.  PETA, HSUS, and GREY2K all said they "did it for the greyhounds".

It's time now for those entities to really do something "for the greyhounds" - PAY FOR THE TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING OF THE FLORIDA GREYHOUNDS THAT WILL NOW BE THRUST ON THE GREYHOUND ADOPTION NETWORK.

To all the Floridians who voted in favor of Amendment 13, and to the presidents and directors of PETA, HSUS and Grey2K - your donations to assist with the retiring Florida greyhounds can be sent as checks to: 

Greyhound Pets of America – National

P.O. Box 40

Highlandville MO 65669

As I know you will want to help these greyhounds as quickly as possible so you can also visit us at www.greyhoundpets.org and donate via the PayPal link.

In closing, to those of you reading this who have always done the right thing when it comes to the greyhounds and greyhound adoption, I humbly ask if you can find it in your hearts to once again step up for these majestic dogs as they transition from racing to adoption in the form of financial support.

This is not a pipe dream. This is not a what if.

Sadly, this is the end of racing greyhounds in Florida, and we need everyone's help to make sure each and every retired racing greyhound is transported safely and is given the chance to find a loving family to share the rest of its life with.

It's Time!

Rory

Rory S. Goree'
President
Greyhound Pets of America - National