FLORIDA (Fox News, Feb. 16th, 2014)- Florida’s dog-racing tracks and racing kennels are now reporting the number of greyhounds that die on their grounds under a new state law that took effect last spring — the first time in the industry’s 80-plus years in the state that such numbers are being publicly revealed.
The Miami Herald reports 74 greyhounds died at Florida’s 13 dog-racing tracks in the final seven months of 2013, or one every three days, according to an analysis of the newly mandated statistics.
“According to the death notices reviewed by Grey2K, a Massachusetts-based advocacy group committed to ending greyhound racing, a total of 31 greyhounds died or were euthanized for racing-related reasons — from injuries, suspected heatstroke and unknown causes,” The Herald writes.
“Another 17 deaths appeared to be racing-related, based on the comments that the dogs fell, collided or were hit during the race.”
The Florida law mandating the industry to officially cite a greyhound’s death within 18 hours was reportedly passed in 2010, but still does not require tracks and kennels to notify the state of dog injuries, as is done, elsewhere.
