BALLOT QUESTION #3: THE GREYHOUND PROTECTION ACT

"It 's a David vs. Goliath campaign, and we're David," explained Christine A. Dorchak, Esq., President of Grey2K USA, an advocacy organization for greyhounds nationwide, "but David has lots of friends."

With fewer than 60 days remaining until we vote on November 4, Dorchak emphasizes that ballot Question #3, The Greyhound Protection Act, which eliminates greyhound racing in our state by the year 2010, has been consistently supported by a grassroots effort. Petition initiatives requiring hundreds of thousands of signatures put the question on the ballot. Currently, more than 3,000 volunteers statewide are standing up for the greyhounds by distributing informative materials and sponsoring events.

However, a mass media campaign is needed to speak for the dogs, who can't speak for themselves.

Dorchak said, "In our campaign, we are using only that information that is recent, relevant and documented."

"I am going to spend a lot of money and I am going to beat it (Question #3)," stated Raynham-Taunton track owner George Carney in a July 16 interview for the Boston Herald.

He also indicated he is prepared to exceed the $2.5 million track owners spent in 2000 to beat back the last referendum. In that contest, in the closest election in state history, the ballot question to phase out greyhound racing in this state, resoundingly supported by Nantucket voters, was defeated by less than a 2% margin statewide.

Taking advantage of the tight economy, Carney plans to play up the role of the track in providing jobs and tax revenues to the state.

Dorchak countered, "Our economy should not be based on cruelty to animals."

She offered a thought-provoking analogy.

"Suppose you had a political candidate running for office on a platform of dog racing. Do you think our voters would support someone who advocates putting dogs in cages for 20 hours a day, in spaces so small they can barely stand up and turn around, letting them out to run around in a circle for people's gambling and amusement, then disposing of them when they become injured or cannot perform? I think not."

In the 1920s, when greyhound racing became a commercial enterprise in this country, people had completely different ideas about their relationships with animals and what constituted sport. Today, we think differently. We do not support cruelty to animals. Since 2002, at the two tracks in Massachusetts, more than 800 dogs have been injured. Eighty percent of those injuries are broken legs.

According to Robin Norton, who operated GreysLand Greyhound Adoptions for seven years, "Some tracks claim they don't euthanize, and they may not. But if a dog doesn't perform, it gets bumped down the line from the better tracks to ones with worse and worse conditions, and unless the dog is rescued at some point, it just disappears."

"This ballot question is not a light switch that immediately turns off," explained Dorchak. "Greyhound racing will not be prohibited in this state until January 1, 2010. In the interim, there will be plenty of time to wind down businesses and allow workers to transfer to other jobs. There will also be plenty of time to establish funds needed to support expenses that will be involved in this effort."

There are two tracks operating in Massachusetts, Wonderland Greyhound Park in Revere and Raynham Park in Raynham-Taunton. A minimum of 1,000 dogs is required to support the operation of each track. In 2005, Wonderland became a seasonal facility because they were losing so much money. According to figures supplied by the Massachusetts Racing Commission, total dollars gambled have declined 65 percent at Wonderland and 37 percent at Raynham.

Unbelievably, in 2001, track owners and managers asked for, and received, a $5 million tax break from Bay State legislators by stating their industry was in trouble. Fact is, Americans just prefer less controversial and more humane forms of gambling. Nationwide, commercial dog racing represents less than one percent of all wagers made annually. Further, common sense says that a business should be able to pay the normal cost of running their business, rather than relying on sympathetic legislators to provide subsidies.

"The economic facts alone argue that it is time to end greyhound racing," said Dorchak.

The Greyhound Protection Act is supported by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Humane Society of the United States, Animal Rescue League of Boston, Grey2K USA, every major shelter in the state, numerous lawmakers, veterinarians and community leaders.

These beautiful, innocent greyhounds need your help. Media coverage is expensive. Support the positive message we need to send to our voters by making a contribution to: The Committee to Protect Dogs, Susan F. Schwab, Treasurer, PO Box 442176, Somerville MA 02144, or donate online through the Web site www.ProtectDogs.org.

Vote on November 4 and vote YES on #3!

Jan Jaeger is owner of Geronimo's, Ltd., Nantucket's pet supply and gift shop, and is a member of DWAA and CWA (Dog and Cat Writer's Associations of America). Her pets at home are Junior, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and Miz Edna. At the shop are cats Messrs. Fish and Chips, Flower bunny and three budgies. Send e-mail to jan@geronimos.com. I