Activists push greyhound protection measure in Arizona

Those who are following the saga of Riley the greyhound on L.A. Unleashed may be interested to learn that officials at the Tuscon Greyhound Park are unhappy about a grassroots ballot measure.

The measure, called the Tucson Dog Protection Act, was drafted by a group called Tucson Dog Protection and is spearheaded by retired Assistant U.S. Atty. Susan Via. To reach the ballot, the measure needs 70 signatures.

The measure would amend the existing animal cruelty section of the South Tucson City Code. (South Tucson is a 1-square-mile community surrounded by Tucson.) The proposed measure contains three provisions that address steroids, confinement and feeding dogs tainted raw meat.

Tucson Greyhound Park would be affected enough by the measure that it could eventually be pushed out of business, said Tom Taylor, the park's chief executive.

-- Alice Short

Photo: Kevin P. Casey / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[susan via]

Please go to www.tucsondogprotection.com to learn why over 70 Tucson area veterinarians are supporting this ballot initiative. Dogs deserve better than to be crated 23 hours a day, fed contaminated meat and be injected with anabolic steroids to suppress heat in females. We are asking for simple changes to make treatment of these gentel dogs humane.

[Michelle Young Cuenant]

What a lesson in animal abuse, first-hand. ...to be a Greyhound adopter....I searched websites, visited "rescues"...my first three picks were already damaged with broken bones, blood diseases and emaciation....they were all "winners" of course...but that was at least 2 months ago...they were merely dumped for the adopter to "fix-up"...enough of this barbaric "sport"...there is no morality in hurting dogs, intentionally...and that is what is done every day at the tracks....what kind of civilization puts up with that?
Michelle Young Cuenant