SHOW PUBLIC ‘THE GOOD STUFF,’ NOTED ANIMAL BEHAVIORIST SAYS

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AGC spokesman Gary Guccione believes greyhound racing could take a tip from one of the nation’s most respected animal behaviorists.
 
Colorado State University Professor Temple Grandin, who overcame her personal struggle with autism to become a highly respected expert on animal welfare and humane animal management, told a group of Canadian farmers recently that they need to begin thinking in a different way to offset negative messages posted by animal rights groups online.
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grandin spoke in late August before several hundred farmers at a gathering hosted by the Abbotsford Veterinary Clinic in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Her appearance was described in an August 30 article in The Province, the local newspaper, by reporter Glenda Luymes.
 
“Ask yourself, would I want to show my farm to that out of town guest from Vancouver?” Grandin said.  She encouraged her audience to “be transparent” about how they treat their animals, and start “thinking in a different way.”
 
Grandin has devoted her career to encouraging animal industries to adopt more humane methods of animal management. According to the Luymes article, Grandin describes herself as someone in the “mucky middle” of the debate over animal rights.
 
She does not oppose the use of animals for food, but advocates for better conditions and more humane slaughter practices at farms and animal processing facilities. She believes farmers need to understand what their animals are feeling in order to give them the best quality of life.
 
“The internet allows animal rights groups to broadcast images of horrific conditions, which make the public think everybody is doing things like that,” Grandin reportedly told her Abbotsford audience. “But most people aren’t. We need to be showing the good stuff.”
 
Grandin’s advice resonated with Guccione. “The vast majority of people in greyhound racing do a great job of greyhound care,” Guccione noted. “Getting that message out is the responsibility of every member of the racing community. The more people know about how we actually do things, the less credibility groups like Grey2K will have.”
 
Guccione said the AGC is ready and willing to assist industry members with public education and outreach. “Grass roots public education is one of the most effective tools we have for getting our story out there,” he said. “The people who care the most about our sport can be our most powerful advocates.” 

THEIL ATTACKS REPORT CITING PROBLEMS IN GREYHOUND RACING..SAY WHAT??

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Grey2K USA is an organization that rakes in hundreds of thousands of dollars each year by attacking greyhound racing. So when the New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association released a report that highlighted several problems in the sport in that country, you’d have thought Grey2K founder Carey Theil would have been thrilled.

You’d have thought wrong. In his July 30 blog, Theil called the report “two-faced” and “bizarre.” The reason? The review also acknowledged that most people in New Zealand greyhound racing are strongly committed to providing proper care for their racers, and do a good job at it.

Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that Carey rejects any hint of objectivity or fairness when it comes to greyhound racing. In Carey’s world, everyone in greyhound racing does everything wrong all the time.
 
Contrast that with the real world, where greyhound racing organizations and the individuals in the sport work hard every day to provide the best possible care for their greyhounds from birth to retirement. When racing community members fail to meet their animal welfare obligations, they are banned from the sport for life. This policy leaves no room for doubt about the importance of proper animal care.
 
Every business is comprised of many people who do things right, and a few who do things wrong. We should praise any organization that makes an honest effort to shed light on both groups within its ranks; it takes a special kind of institutional courage to do so.
 
Perhaps that is what upset Carey Theil, who likes to position himself as the one true “authority” on greyhound racing worldwide. Carey has no time for objectivity,  fairness or truth. He paints everybody in greyhound racing with one color: black. And if he’s not the one doing the painting, he has no use for the picture.
 
 

 

NY TIMES BLASTS PETA’S KILLING RECORD

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The killing of thousands of “rescued” dogs and cats by PeTA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has been a source of outrage to responsible animal welfare groups for years. Now, thanks to an article in the July 6 edition of the New York Times, even PeTA supporters are shocked at the news that their favorite “humane” group kills as many as 2,000 dogs and cats each year. Between 2006 and 2011, PeTA killed over 90 percent of the animals in its Norfolk, VA “shelter.”

“This is an organization that on Thanksgiving urges Americans not to eat turkey,” writes reporter Michael Winerip.
 
His article describes the growth of the no-kill movement at shelters across the nation, noting that as the no-kill movement has gained momentum, PeTA has been “left behind.”  Winerip reports that one no-kill activist recently criticized PeTA on his blog for “its long and sordid tradition of undermining the movement to end shelter killing.”
 
Responsible animal welfare organizations have moved quickly to distance themselves from PeTA’s disgrace, according to the story. Maddie’s Fund, a San Francisco-based foundation supporting no-kill shelters, provides funding for shelter veterinary programs and adoption initiatives to reduce the number of pets languishing in shelters. Foundation Director Richard Avanzino reportedly called PeTA’s killing policy “outdated” and “absolute idiocy.”
 
In the article, Winerip describes his own visit to PeTA headquarters, where he was “led…to a cinder block building in the back and then to a windowless room where the dogs and cats are killed.” He described the room as clean and well-maintained. His PeTA tour guide told him, “It’s a humane exit from a world that’s treated them like garbage. It’s very sad, but in these cases, it’s the best we can hope for.”
 
“A world that’s treated them like garbage.” PeTA should know. In 2005, two PeTA employees were charged with cruelty to animals when they were caught dumping garbage bags containing euthanized pets into a trash dumpster. That incident led to the first public exposure of PeTA’s merciless killing policy. 

HUMANE CARE IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY, SAYS NGA

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A recent incident at Wheeling Island in which a trainer was punished for declining to provide proper care for an injured greyhound underscores the importance of our animal welfare obligation, according to National Greyhound Association (NGA) Executive Director Gary Guccione. The incident was reported in the Charleston Daily Mail.
 

Trainer James Grace’s license was revoked by the West Virginia Racing Commission in June for refusing to obtain veterinary care for a greyhound with an injured leg.
 
“Although this individual is not an NGA member, this incident reminds us that failing to meet our obligation for humane care is a serious matter, and subjects any party to harsh punitive action by those racing authorities with primary jurisdiction,” Guccione said. “It can also result in lifetime banishment from greyhound racing.”
 
NGA rules authorize lifetime expulsion from greyhound racing for members found guilty of serious violations of the organization’s greyhound care standards. Non-NGA members are subject to disciplinary action by state and local racing regulators. NGA rules also allow the organization to disqualify for future membership any individual whose license has been revoked by state regulators.
 

“Ensuring that greyhounds get proper veterinary care when they need it is part of our humane care responsibility,” Guccione said. “That’s why we often work closely with adoption organizations to provide veterinary care for retiring greyhounds entering the adoption system. It’s just the right thing to do.” 

PALM BEACH KENNEL CLUB NAMED “BUSINESS OF YEAR” BY LOCAL CHAMBER

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The American Greyhound Council (AGC) is pleased to congratulate Palm Beach Kennel Club (PBKC), which has been named 2013 Business of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. The award is designed to recognize Palm Beach County companies that “lead with confidence, demonstrating a solid commitment to their business goals, their employees and their local community,” according to the Chamber news release.

Responding to the honor, PBKC ran an ad in the Palm Beach Post, thanking every one of its 565 employees, whose names were listed below the graphic shown here, for "helping win this prestigious award."
 

HOUSE FARM BILL PROHIBITS STATE INTERFERENCE IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE

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The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture has passed a new five-year farm bill, HR 1947, that includes language prohibiting states from limiting the import of agricultural products from another state based on that product’s means of production. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) strongly opposed the language, which was contained in an amendment offered by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) and passed on a voice vote. 

It was just such legislation that the greyhound racing community defeated earlier this year in New Hampshire, where an initiative driven by Grey2KUSA and the HSUS would have forbidden the import of racing simulcast signals from states that do not require public reporting of greyhound injuries at racetracks.

According to AgriPulse, a weekly newsletter on agriculture issues, King’s amendment was aimed directly at efforts by HSUS to make interstate commerce of meat and poultry products more difficult based on livestock production standards.

Head HSUS “spin doctor” Wayne Pacelle reacted immediately to the committee’s action. A May 26 news release posted on the HSUS website claims the King amendment will “threaten farm animal protection laws” and “allow the overturning of every voter-approved animal welfare ballot measure relating to agriculture.”

As usual, Pacelle’s rhetoric is hypberolic but inaccurate. There’s nothing in the amended bill that will prevent states from passing animal “protection” laws or imposing livestock production standards enforceable within their own borders. The amendment simply prevents states from limiting interstate trade in agricultural products based on production standards in other states.
 
Pacelle has said HSUS will work to strip the King amendment from the bill when it reaches the House floor. There is no similar language in the Senate version of the bill.
 
Whether the King amendment survives or not, it’s significant that some members of Congress are concerned about back-door efforts by animal rights groups like HSUS to limit interstate commerce in animal products and dictate how states regulate the animal businesses within their own jurisdictions. We share their concerns.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

THERE YOU GO AGAIN, CAREY THEIL!

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Misinformation pours from Grey2KUSA like water from a broken fire hydrant, so it’s not unusual for us to shake our heads at the fanciful scribblings of the organization’s co-founder, Carey Theil. But Carey’s May 9 blog, “Saving Greys,” contains so many completely false statements that it sets a new record, even for him.


Theil apparently was responding to a May 2 story on the American Greyhound Council’s (AGC) website—a story that simply reported on a New Hampshire bill now under consideration that would require any persons who record instances of animal abuse to turn the video over to law enforcement authorities within 24 hours after the recording is done. The blog cites a “statement” by the National Greyhound Association (NGA).

The only problem? NGA has never issued any such statement. According to Theil, the NGA has “come out in favor of” the so-called “ag-gag” bill introduced in several states, including New Hampshire.
 
The truth? Neither the NGA nor any other greyhound industry organization has taken an official position on the New Hampshire bill or similar bills in other states. Our May 2 story merely described the bill and the opposition of animal rights groups to it. In the story, we wondered why any responsible “animal welfare” group would allow animal cruelty to continue just so they could get more dramatic video.
 
Theil claims our story advised people to inform greyhound industry organizations about greyhound abuse “rather than contacting law enforcement authorities.” That’s another whopper. This is what we actually said (and it’s the only mention of NGA in our entire story):
 
“Greyhound racing organizations have encouraged anyone who has witnessed abuse or neglect of greyhounds to report it to the National Greyhound Association (NGA), the American Greyhound Council (AGC), or the American Greyhound Track Operators Association (AGTOA). Responsible animal welfare advocates know that these organizations respond quickly and efficiently when action is needed to ensure the welfare of racing greyhounds.”
 
But Carey’s claim raises an interesting question. If Grey2K is so keen on contacting law enforcement authorities about alleged animal abuse, then why is the organization actively OPPOSING a bill that would REQUIRE providing animal abuse video to law enforcement authorities within 24 hours after it is recorded?
 
Theil’s alternate-reality blog goes on to say that the NGA “launched a bizarre attack” on greyhound advocates. In fact, the eight-paragraph story contains only two brief references to Grey2K. The headline and most of the story focused on the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which has taken a lead role in opposing the New Hampshire bill.
 
Theil’s fact-free, knee-jerk response to our routine coverage of the New Hampshire bill tells us three important things. First, Grey2KUSA is even more closely tied to HSUS than we realized. Think about it; we slammed HSUS, and Grey2K went ballistic.
 
Second, Grey2K has now confirmed that, like HSUS, it would rather videotape animal abuse for months than let law enforcement authorities stop it within 24 hours.
 
Third, Grey2K’s affection for fiction is as strong as ever, and Carey’s May 9 blog proves it. There you go again, Carey Theil!

 

HSUS HYPOCRISY: STOP ANIMAL ABUSE, EXCEPT WHEN WE’RE FILMING IT

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The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other animal rights groups are up in arms over a bill introduced in the New Hampshire legislature that would require any persons recording cruelty to livestock to report the animal abuse and submit the recordings to law enforcement authorities within 24 hours of the video’s creation. The HSUS claims that New Hampshire House Bill (HB) 110 would impose a “gag” on whistleblowers trying to expose animal cruelty. In fact, there is nothing in the bill that prohibits the shooting of undercover video, or imposes penalties for doing so. 

For years, extreme animal rights organizations have used “undercover videos” to hype animal cruelty allegations against targeted animal enterprises, including greyhound racing. Often, these groups shoot video over a period of days, weeks or even months before reporting the abuse to authorities, if they report it at all.

Undercover video has been a favorite tool of Grey2K USA, the radical group seeking to end greyhound racing nationwide. Grey2K has taken a page from the HSUS book, building a file of video over time, while the alleged abuse continues.
 
Greyhound racing organizations have encouraged anyone who has witnessed abuse or neglect of greyhounds to report it to the National Greyhound Association (NGA), the American Greyhound Council (AGC), or the American Greyhound Track Operators Association (AGTOA). Responsible animal welfare advocates know that these organizations respond quickly and efficiently when action is needed to ensure the welfare of racing greyhounds.
 
Yet to our knowledge, no one from Grey2KUSA has ever directly contacted any of these groups to report verifiable instances of poor animal treatment. Instead of picking up the phone, they pick up the video camera.
 
Why would anyone witnessing animal cruelty allow it to continue for the camera? To maximize its propaganda value, of course, according to HumaneWatch. The online animal rights watchdog explains that “sitting around and splicing footage over a few months” can make isolated incidents look like constant practice.
 
New Hampshire’s HB110 wouldn’t prevent anyone from shooting undercover video or using it for media and fundraising purposes. The bill’s only intent is to ensure that law enforcement authorities have an opportunity to stop animal abuse if it is actually occurring.
 
It’s very telling that HSUS, ASPCA and so many other animal rights groups are lining up against this legislation. They don’t want to stop animal abuse at all; they simply want to exploit it to grab headlines and raise money. 

 

 

GREY2K’S “ADOPTION PROGRAM FOR KIDS”: COLOR US SKEPTICAL

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Grey2KUSA has rolled out a new fundraising pitch for greyhound adoption. But don’t get too excited. They’re not actually raising money for adoption programs. They’re raising money to "teach young people about the cruelty of dog racing."

It’s the same old "bait and switch" from Grey2K. After catching flack from AGC and others for its constant attacks on mainstream greyhound adoption groups, Grey2K launched its own "adoption program"–a new website providing links to dozens of organizations that actually do the work of placing retired racers in adoptive homes.

 But has Grey2K itself placed any greyhounds in  adoptive homes? Not that we know of. This latest fundraising campaign asks donors to cough up $5,000 for coloring books, posters, magnets and wristbands. The "dynamic free presentation" for grades 5-12 also contains propaganda about "the realities of racing life" and "the joys of adopting a greyhound."

AGC spokesperson Gary Guccione said it’s hard to imagine how coloring books and propaganda aimed at school kids will produce new homes for greyhound pets. "Placing pets in the right adoptive homes takes a lot of time and effort," said Guccione. "But that’s something Grey2K wouldn’t know much about, since they’re not in the adoption business."

The bottom line? When it comes to Grey2KUSA and its "adoption programs for kids," color us skeptical.

AGC ADOPTION GRANTS PASS $1.1 MILLION MARK

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When the American Greyhound Council (AGC) Board of Directors approved a budget of $70,000 for 2013-14 adoption grants at its annual meeting in February, board members didn’t immediately realize that they had reached a milestone. With the new allocation, the total amount of grants funded by AGC for adoption since 1997 passed the $1.1 million mark.

The grants are used for food, medicines, bedding, collars, leashes, transport or other costs associated with preparing and placing greyhounds in adoptive homes. Grants also are available for capital improvement projects by special request. Prior to 1997, the AGC relied on outside organizations to screen and select grant recipients. Since the direct grant program began in 1997, the AGC has made more than 700 grants directly to adoption groups from coast to coast. 

“In fiscal year 2012 alone, more than fifty different groups received AGC grants,” said AGC spokesman Gary Guccione. “We’re proud to help these hard-working organizations, and we’re very grateful for the terrific work they do to ensure that every eligible greyhound finds a loving adoptive home.”

An additional $7,500 was earmarked for Greyhound Pets of America, the largest national greyhound adoption organization, which operates a toll-free adoption hotline and has 39 affiliated chapters across the nation.

As a result of the extraordinary work of these and other adoption organizations, Guccione said, more than 95 percent of all registered greyhounds are placed in adoptive homes or returned to the farm as pets or breeders when they retire.