AGC CHALLENGES GREY2K BOARD MEMBER’S CLAIMS
The AGC has responded to a letter published in the May 7 edition of the Topeka Capital-Journal from Grey2K board member Caryn Wood. The letter challenged Wood’s claims about greyhound welfare, and encouraged readers to visit the AGC website for accurate information about greyhound racing and adoption.
Here’s the full text of AGC Communication Coordinator Gary Guccione’s letter to the Kansas newspaper:
Dear Editor:
The May 6 letter from Grey2K activist Caryn Wood makes false claims about greyhound racing, and is misleading to your readers.
The majority of states where greyhound racing is prohibited didn’t even have live racing when the bans were imposed. Recent attempts by Grey2K to eliminate live racing in Florida have failed. Your readers deserve to know the actual facts about greyhound racing.
It should be obvious to anyone with an ounce of common sense that greyhounds would not be able to perform successfully on the track if they didn’t receive adequate food, water, exercise and veterinary care.
In fact, industry standards are in place to ensure the proper care of greyhounds. Those who violate these standards are banned from the sport for life, and others prohibited from doing business with them.
As racers, greyhounds learn to be comfortable around people and other dogs. Visitors to greyhound tracks always marvel at how friendly, gentle and laid back these canine athletes are—a sure sign that they are well cared for and contented.
It is especially ironic that Wood mentions greyhound adoption. Thanks to hard work and great cooperation between greyhound racing and hundreds of moderate adoption groups, more than 90 percent of all registered greyhounds are adopted or returned to the farm as pets or breeders when they retire.
Instead of contributing to these efforts, Grey2K has actively opposed, and publicly criticized, the adoption groups that work constructively with the greyhound racing community.
Grey2K’s goals are political, not humane. Its focus is political warfare, not greyhound welfare. If your readers are interested in more accurate information about greyhound racing and adoption, they may want to visit www.agcouncil.com.
Sincerely,
Gary Guccione, Communications Coordinator
American Greyhound Council, Abilene KS