NGA PLEDGES COOPERATION WITH ARKANSAS AUTHORITIES, BLASTS THEIL’S LATEST ATTACK

The National Greyhound Association (NGA) has reaffirmed its pledge of cooperation to Arkansas law enforcement authorities if they choose to prosecute expelled breeder Shane Vonderstrasse.

On June 4, Vonderstrasse was expelled from greyhound racing for life by the NGA after 141 neglected greyhounds were evacuated from his facility by NGA officials and an officer of the Izard County Sheriff’s Department in May. Under NGA bylaws, lifetime expulsion is the most severe penalty for serious animal welfare violations.

Responding to Grey2K spokesman Carey Theil’s June 18 blog, which attacked the NGA for not pressing charges against Vonderstrasse, NGA Executive Director Gary Guccione accused the animal rights activist of ignoring the facts in an effort to score political points.

“The fact is that it’s the county prosecutor’s office who must file charges in cases like this,” said Guccione. “NGA isn’t a law enforcement agency, and we don’t have police powers. We are not the owners of the greyhounds that were harmed. We have no legal standing to press charges.”

Guccione continued, “Grey2K claims to care about saving greyhounds, but by attacking NGA for doing exactly that, Carey Theil has revealed the hypocrisy behind his organization’s shiny public image.”

Most of the evacuated greyhounds have been returned to their rightful owners or given to adoption groups. The remaining greyhounds will be offered for sale to NGA members at auction, in compliance with Kansas state law for transferring property subject to lien from the previous owners of record. Theil claimed in his June 18 blog that the auction was “a profit-making grab” by NGA.

“That’s something else Carey got wrong,” Guccione said. “Not only is the auction required under state law, but there won’t be any profits. By the time this is all over, our organizations will have spent at least $14,000 to move these dogs to safety, provide care to get them healthy again, and then transport them to their ultimate destinations.”

“I think that’s about $13,999 more than Grey2K has ever spent to actually feed or care for a greyhound,” the NGA exec concluded.