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Massachusetts Law Ends State Greyhound Gambling
RAYNHAM, MASSACHUSETTS --
The last legal race of greyhounds in Massachusetts was run yesterday, as a 2008 law prohibits gambling on dog racing, effective January 1st. Animal activists celebrated their Pyrrhic victory, which track operators say will lead to dogs being moved to states with less regulation on the animals' safety.
Further, the 600 employees at Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park are facing either unemployment or drastically reduced working hours. Over 100 employees are already in line to be laid off, including dog handlers.
Gambling on greyhounds led to the dogs' facing what activists described as inhumane conditions. Over 900 documented injuries to racing dogs speak of the peril of chasing the robot rabbit around the track.
But Doug Pizzi, a spokesman for the protection of working animals, says that a deeper look reveals flaws in the attempt to provide for greyhound safety. He told the Taunton Gazette that animal advocates had not done the dogs any favors.
“They can pat themselves on the back but they’ve done nothing to keep animals safe,” said Pizzi. He noted that the adoption rate for retired greyhounds in the state is 100 percent. Figures show that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had 6 adoptions last year, among thousands of animals collected and eventually killed by the organization.
Pizzi said Massachusetts guarded its greyhounds with the toughest regulation in the US, including unscheduled inspections by the state SPCA.
“These dogs will be moved to states with far less regulation,” Pizzi said.
Meanwhile, the state loses gambling revenue, sees unemployment costs rise, and loses a venue which may have successfully hosted a casino when slot gaming is legalized.
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