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Killing dogs for profit
HEART TO HEART
With Betty Ann Blaine
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Dear Reader,
It is obvious that in the absence of the ability to engender any new, creative or uplifting initiatives and programmes for the country, there are those within the ruling party who will stop at nothing and sink to any depth necessary to foist whatever backward and immoral ideas they have on the people of Jamaica.
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| Betty Ann Blaine |
Over the past two weeks it has come to light that member of Parliament for East St Andrew, Dr St Aubyn Bartlett, has decided that he, along with a group of invisible and unknown investors, have decided to bring dog racing to Jamaica. Speaking on Nationwide Radio, Dr Bartlett was asked specifically, "Is dog racing coming to Jamaica?" His response was, "Yes, if I have my way it will".
Aside from the arrogance and the audacity of one man speaking and deciding for an entire country, there are some very serious concerns and implications surrounding the matter of gambling in general, and the practice of dog racing in particular.
Dog racing, which involves the use of greyhounds, is increasingly being rejected as an extremely cruel and inhumane sport, and efforts are being made to stamp it out in countries all over the world. In the United States, several jurisdictions have already banned the activity. Maine banned dog racing in 1993, followed by Virginia and Vermont in 1995, Idaho and Washington in 1996, Nevada in 1997 and North Carolina 1998. In Massachusetts dog racing was placed on the election ballot, and the citizens voted decisively to ban it.
And there is good reason why more and more states are outlawing the industry. The cruelty to greyhounds is unspeakable, and it starts from the point of breeding. In order to produce "winnable" dogs, the general practice is to "overbreed". Every year the industry breeds tens of thousands of greyhounds, more than it can place on racetracks. Puppies and young dogs deemed unsuitable for racing, and older dogs "graded-off" from the racetrack when they can no longer "run for money", are disposed of by various means, including euthanasia, gunshot, starvation, bludgeoning, electrocution and abandonment. On racetracks dogs suffer from broken bones, cardiac arrest, spinal cord paralysis and broken necks.
Dog racing is exclusively and vulgarly about making profits at the expense of defenseless animals. A racing greyhound's welfare at each stage of life is largely dependent on the dog's ability to generate money. Greyhounds typically begin racing at the age of 18 months. To qualify at an official track, the dogs must finish in the top four in two "schooling" races. If successful, the dogs enter maiden races. As they win, the dogs advance up through grades D, C, B, and finally grade A, as they finish in first, second, or third place in three consecutive races. Alternatively, as they begin losing, they decline in grades using the same criteria in reverse. By failing in grade D, the lowest grade, a dog is considered "graded-off", and may be sent to a less competitive track. Once a dog has graded-off at an end-of-the-line track, he (she) is either killed, kept for breeding, or turned over for adoption.
Despite industry claims that allegations of abuse are outdated and are therefore no longer valid, horrific stories continue to surface at an alarming rate. It is reported that in Massachusetts, 87 greyhounds burned to death on Valentine's Day, 1992. Nearly 100 greyhounds nationwide died of complications from kennel cough (dogs are confined to kennels barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around for long hours each day), and a condition called canine streptococcal toxic syndrome killed 24 dogs in Florida, Kansas, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. The afflicted dogs developed fevers of 107 degrees, haemorrhaged nasally, rectally and from their urinary tracts, and died within 24 hours. In 2000, an estimated 19,000 greyhounds were killed. The figure includes 7,600 greyhound puppies which were farm culls, and another 11,400 "retirees" who were not rescued. Even the pro-racing National Greyhound Association reported that an estimated 5,000 dogs were killed in 2003.
And what about the financial viability of the industry? It is now a known fact that dog racing is a dying industry. With attendance at racetracks dwindling in countries like the United States, greyhound racing is generally on the decline. Gaming industry statistics paint a bleak picture. Of the entire $61.6 billion gaming market in the US, greyhound racing held a 0.7 per cent share in 2000. That's a decline of 6.65 per cent or 32.6 million, from 1999 figures. State revenue from dog racing also dropped significantly. Even Florida, widely believed to be the last bastion of dog racing, has been experiencing diminishing returns. As a result, many tracks have lost enthusiasm for dog racing, and instead, are concentrating on gaming. Currently, five tracks in three US states are introducing slot machines to buttress declining revenues from dog racing, a development now described as "Racinos".
Member of Parliament Dr St Aubyn Bartlett needs to explain why he and the collection of unseen and unknown investors are seeking to bring a business to Jamaica that is declining and is being discarded by other countries. He needs to tell the country why a sport associated with such abominable cruelty and abuse to animals should be brought to Jamaica. Furthermore, I understand that to facilitate this deplorable form of gambling, the Jamaican laws would have to be amended. Who has given Dr Bartlett the right to change our laws so that defenceless animals can be killed and maimed for pleasure and for profit?
With love.
bab2609@yahoo.com
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