THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 31, 1995 TAG: 9505270028
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
I read your Feb. 16 editorial about greyhound racing and felt it necessary to respond to some of the issues you raise.
In 1994, approximately 13,000 greyhounds were humanely euthanized, which represents a 19 percent reduction from 1993s figures (takes into account all greyhounds, including pups that never see a race track). Granted, this is still far too many, but I do not think it demonstrates the efforts the greyhound industry and related organizations have made to place greyhounds as pets. The greyhound industry does not tolerate these animals being sold for medical research. Our goal is that every adoptable greyhound will find a new home.
We have undertaken a number of initiatives to aggressively promote greyhound adoptions.
We fund a national 800 number (1-800-366-1472) to facilitate greyhound adoption. Callers from all parts of the country are automatically routed to the greyhound adoption organization nearest them.
We provide an annual grant to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), so they can assist agencies involved in greyhound adoption.
Most tracks have their own greyhound adoption programs or are affiliated with a nonprofit adoption agency which they support.
We provide annual grants to adoption groups.
While these initiatives haven't solved the problem, they have had an impact.
The American Greyhound Council is opposed to the use of live lures to train racing greyhounds, and the contract between the track and kennel states that anyone found to have trained a greyhound using the live lures will be banned from racing at the track.
GARY GUCCIONE
Florida, April 28, 1995 by CNB