Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Greyhound Tragedy in Florida

Some of you may have read about the terrible, senseless, death of greyhounds at the Ebro race track in Florida. The man responsible has been arrested, as it happens on a drunk driving charge, and the whole thing is being investigated.

My personal position and the position of many of the other members of the rescue group I am involved with is this:

This is only to a degree a problem of greyhound racing. Certainly there ought to be better checks and balances in place. But, there was help all around him if he had only asked. There are many adoption organizations ready to take in hounds at the end of the season. So, it is much more a problem of a very sick man, possibly a hoarder, who is taking out some personal issue on this terrible way. There are people in all societies who mistreat animals. This man just did it on a very much grander scale. Greyhound lovers  around my area are hoping he is punished to the fullest extent of the law. Not only because of what he did personally, but to be an example to anyone else who might be thinking animals don't deserve respect. Often the punishment for animal cruelty is relativley mild.

It struck me that when he is in jail, he will be treated much more humanely in his "crate" than he treated the animals under his care. And, animal loving tax payers will have to support him for as long as he is behind bars. Doesn't seem right, does it.