DOG-RACING BACKERS SEE NO REASON FOR ABUSE FEARS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 23, 1992                   TAG: 9201230250
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium
DOG-RACING BACKERS SEE NO REASON FOR ABUSE FEARS
Supporters of a bill to allow greyhounds to race in Virginia said Wednesday that animal protection groups' fears the dogs would be abused are groundless.
Meanwhile, Democratic senators tripped a bill that would have given Virginia Beach an elected school board, assigning the measure to a committee that has been hostile to similar legislation in the past.
Also, abortion rights supporters made speeches on the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion and a Senate panel endorsed a bill to make "stalking" another person a crime.
Sen. Clarence Holland, D-Virginia Beach, defended his dog-racing bill.
"I have no reason to put in a bill to add to the cruelty to animals," he said. "Just as the people in horse racing do the proper thing, the dog racing people would do the same."
He said he introduced the bill because dog racing would boost tourism in Virginia Beach. Any track would have to be approved by voters.
"We may need new industry, but we don't think an industry that's cruel to animals is the answer," Susan Wagner of the Virginia Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said at a news conference.
Animal protection supporters said at least 50,000 racing greyhounds are shot, euthanized or sold to research laboratories each year after their performance drops.
Holland said he would work with the Virginia Racing Commission to make sure such abuses did not occur here.
"This will not perpetuate any animal cruelty," said Del. Glenn Croshaw, D-Virginia Beach. "There are a number of statutes on the books on cruelty to animals that would apply."
Del. Leslie Byrne, D-Fairfax, warned on the House floor that abortions will continue even if the Supreme Court strikes down the 1973 Roe vs. Wade ruling.
"It's pure folly to believe that if Roe vs. Wade goes down, abortion stops," she said. Byrne said such a ruling would return the nation to the days when dangerous back-alley abortions were common.
The Senate Courts of Justice Committee unanimously approved a bill to make "stalking" a crime. Modeled after a California law, the bill is aimed at protecting women who are harassed by former boyfriends or husbands.
Under the bill sponsored by Sen. Charles Colgan, D-Prince William, stalking without malice would be a misdemeanor and stalking with malice or repeated offenses would be felonies.
The committee also voted 8-5 to support repeal of a law that allows judges to place first-time drug offenders on probation with no finding of guilt.
Sen. Virgil Goode, D-Rocky Mount, said he sought the repeal because the law "sends the wrong message" to drug users.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB