GANNON “SOUNDNESS EXAM” VIDEO ADDED TO AGC WEBSITE

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The late Dr. Jim Gannon spent most of his professional life conducting research and teaching others, with one over-arching purpose: to improve the quality of life of racing greyhounds.

Now a classic "soundness examination" training video produced by the internationally recognized Australian vet several years ago is available on this website. The video demonstrates proper procedures for checking a greyhound’s musculoskeletal health to prevent injuries.

Dr. Gannon, who died in 2010, was widely considered to be the father of modern greyhound veterinary medicine, greyhound rehabilitation and physical therapy. His work in the area of greyhound injury prevention and treatment was the subject of countless research papers and symposium presentations. 

The video, about 50 minutes in total length, is presented in three segments. One is a general introduction to the topic, the second is aimed at trainers, and the third designed for veterinarians.
Dr. Linda Blythe, a highly respected veterinary doctor and colleague of Dr. Gannon’s, paid tribute to him at the 28th Annual International Canine Sports Medicine Symposium in Florida on January 14.
The two vets co-authored the first edition of the internationally acclaimed textbook, "Care of the Racing Greyhound," along with Dr. Morrie Craig.

 

 

THEIL BLOG SIGNALS FRUSTRATION AT ADOPTION SUCCESS

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Judging by his Valentine’s Day blog post, Grey2K co-founder Carey Theil isn’t feeling the love when it comes to the remarkable success of the mainstream greyhound adoption movement. His hostility is not surprising, considering that Grey2K can’t take any of the credit for that success. 

In his blog, Theil attacks greyhound community members for preferring to work with moderate adoption organizations that take a cooperative, constructive approach. He calls this a “wrongheaded attempt to stop people from adopting greyhounds.”

Stop people from adopting greyhounds?? Between funding track-based adoption programs and donating to independent adoption organizations, greyhound racing spends more than $1 million a year to facilitate and promote greyhound adoption.
 
Contrast that with Grey2K, which spends its time and money launching political attacks, lobbying politicians and organizing pointless media stunts like the recent “boycott” of Skechers, the athletic shoe company, because its Super Bowl ad showed racing greyhounds.
 
Ironically, the Grey2K “Boycott Skechers” campaign may have done the organization more harm than good. The Grey2K message was rejected at every level—the Mr. Quiggly ad wasn’t pulled from the Super Bowl schedule, as Grey2K demanded. People didn’t stop buying Skechers shoes, as Grey2K had hoped. In many designated “protest” locations, not a single Grey2K supporter showed up. But a few TV cameras showed up here and there, and that’s what matters to Carey and his wife, Christine Dorchak.
 
And what did all that hype accomplish for greyhounds? Absolutely nothing. While Grey2K was hamming it up for the cameras, hundreds of greyhound industry members and adoption volunteers were doing what they do every day—finding great homes for retired racers. And doing a darn good job of it.
 
Is there still room for improvement? You bet. We won’t rest until we achieve our goal of 100 percent placement of all retired greyhounds suitable for adoption. And we’ll reach that goal in spite of Grey2K. No wonder Carey is so frustrated.
 

Commentary by Gary Guccione, AGC Communications Coordinator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SKECHERS AD GETS “A” GRADE FROM NORTHWESTERN STUDENTS

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The Skechers Super Bowl ad featuring the speedy French bulldog, Mr. Quiggly, was one of only four mega-game commercials to win an "A" grade from the Eighth Annual Kellogg School Super Bowl Advertising Review at Northwestern University. The review panel included 44 students enrolled in the University’s MBA program.

Clinical Professor of Marketing Tim Calkins, who leads the event, said the panel "evaluates the ads based on strategic execution and the potential to build brands."

Commenting on the Skechers spot, the reviewers said, "The spot clearly communicated a benefit: speed. And it did so in a playful manner, with a tone that fit the Super Bowl environment."

Other top-ranked advertisers for 2012 included M&Ms, Dannon and Honda. The panelists use an academic framework to grade the ads based on several specific marketing criteria.

SKECHERS AD PROVING POPULAR; AD METER VOTING CONTINUES TIL TUESDAY PM

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UPDATE: IN FINAL VOTING, THE SKECHERS MR. QUIGGLY AD PLACED 8TH ON THE AD METER. CONGRATS, SKECHERS!!

In the highly publicized Skechers Super Bowl ad, feisty little Mr. Quiggly races right past his fleet-footed greyhound competitors to win the big race. Now comes word that Mr. Quiggly is running strong in the Super Bowl ad popularity contest as well.

The USATODAY/Facebook Super Bowl Ad Meter shows the Mr. Quiggly ad currently ranking 5th in viewer popularity among the 54 commercials that aired during the mega-game.

"The ad was obviously a big hit with fans, and it’s been mentioned as one of the best in many of the local and national news and entertainment programs we’ve seen," said AGC spokesman Gary Guccione.

Voting continues until 6 pm EST Tuesday on the Ad Meter website, and Guccione is urging greyhound supporters to cast their vote for Mr. Quiggly before the deadline.

Guccione said the Grey2K protests against Skechers actually may have contributed to the commercial’s extraordinary success.

"The advance publicity really boosted interest in the Skechers spot," said Guccione. "Once people saw the ad, they saw how ridiculous the Grey2K protests were. I think that probably worked to the benefit of Skechers."  

GREYHOUND LOVERS EXPECT BIG WIN FOR MR. QUIGGLY ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

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Hundreds of greyhound racing supporters and friends across the country will be rooting for Mr. Quiggly, the feisty little Skechers-wearing French bulldog, in this Sunday’s highly anticipated Super Bowl advertising wars–and they’ll be able to make their support official using this USA Today/Facebook "Super Bowl Ad Meter."

Skechers has been under attack from Grey2K USA for using greyhounds in an ad promoting its athletic shoes. Despite Grey2K pressure, Skechers has remained firm in its intent to run the ad, which features a Skechers-clad bulldog running a race against several fleet-footed greyhounds.

"Skechers has earned our respect and appreciation, but Mr. Quiggly has captured our hearts," said AGC Communications Coordinator Gary Guccione. "We can’t wait to register our support officially on the Super Bowl Ad Meter."

Beginning at 6:30 pm EST on Sunday (Super Bowl kick-off time), the Ad Meter will allow viewers to watch each ad, "like" and share the ones they enjoy most, and rate their favorites. Voting will continue until 6 pm EST Tuesday, February 7, and the winner will be announced at 10 pm Tuesday on the website.

"We’ll be watching, and we’ll be voting," concluded Guccione. "Voting for Mr. Quiggly is a great way to say thanks to a gutsy company that refused to back down to animal rights bullying."

GREY2K PROTESTS FIZZLE; AGC URGES CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR SKECHERS

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Grey2K’s "national day of protest" against the popular athletic shoe company Skechers fizzled on Saturday, while Skechers reaffirmed its plan to air the Super Bowl ad that sparked the Grey2K boycott. Meanwhile, greyhound racing organizations are urging their members to continue visiting Skechers stores between now and the Super Bowl to buy shoes in appreciation for the company’s courageous stand. 

Florida resident James Campbell shops for shoes at Skechers in Estero FL, with his greyhound, Henry, in tow. James is the fiance of Michelle Edgar, president of the Greyhound Pets of America (GPA)–Naples-Ft. Myers Chapter. GPA is a leading national greyhound adoption group.

Despite considerable advance publicity, the Grey2K protests scheduled for nine cities around the country produced little media coverage, and in some locations not a single protester. 

Greyhound racing supporters made a point of appearing at several of the locations, including Boston, Tucson, Estero FL and Loveland CO. The Loveland event drew no protesters and no media. Boston and Tucson had a dozen or so protesters each, and nearly as many greyhound racing supportr. Only two or three appeared at the Estero FL Skechers outlet before being shooed away by mall security.

Vera Rasnake, director of public relations for Derby Lane Greyhound Park in St. Petersburg FL, said several greyhound community members brought their dogs along on their shoe-shopping excursions. 

"You can’t see one of these beautiful dogs and not realize that they have been well cared for," said Rasnake. "And of course, greyhounds are so friendly that they immediately charm everybody in sight."

AGC Communications Coordinator Gary Guccione emphasized that there’s still plenty of time before the February 5 Super Bowl to hit the local shopping center and buy a pair of Skechers. 

"When companies stand up to animal rights extremism, it’s important to show them that they did the right thing," Guccione said. "And come on, who can’t use a new pair of sneakers?"

 

GREYHOUND COMMUNITY RALLIES IN SUPPORT OF SKECHERS

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Greyhound racing leaders are urging industry members, greyhound owners and friends to continue expressing their support for Skechers, the athletic shoe company, as it battles Grey2K over an upcoming Skechers TV spot that features racing greyhounds. Despite an animal rights-orchestrated online attack and several scheduled protests at selected retail outlets, Skechers is standing firm and has no plans to pull the spot from its Super Bowl ad line-up, according to company officials.

"It’s important that we step up for Skechers," said Gary Guccione, Communications Coordinator for the American Greyhound Council (AGC). 

Guccione said there are three steps that greyhound community members can take to show their support for Skechers.

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO 

  • "Like" and post a positive comment on Skechers’ Facebook page;
  • Respond to Grey2K propaganda and attacks being posted on the Skechers YouTube page where the ad teaser can be viewed.
  • Visit the Skechers outlet near you this Saturday, January 28, between 11 am and 3 pm local time, to express your support–and maybe buy a new pair of sneakers!

On Saturday, greyhound supporters wearing "I (Heart) Skechers" T-shirts will be visible at some locations, but not all, so please let the Skechers store staff know that you’re from the greyhound community and you’re there to show your support and appreciation for their company’s stance.

If you don’t have an "official" Skechers T-shirt, you can make one. Just use a plain white T-shirt or sweat shirt, and use a fabric marker to write "I (heart) Skechers–and greyhounds." Everyone will get the message!

A final suggestion: when you stop in at the Skecher store, get a photo of yourself and the store staff, and email it to us. We’ll create a photo album that we can send to Skechers execs.

"All too often, companies and celebrities take the easy way out and back down when confronted by Grey2K bullies," Guccione said. "Skechers has refused to do that, and we need them to know that they have done the right thing."

 

SKECHERS STANDS STRONG AS SUPER BOWL AD WAR MOVES TO FACEBOOK

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The war betwen athletic shoe giant Skechers and Grey2K USA has moved to Facebook. Greyhound racing organizations are urging fans and supporters to vist Skechers’ Facebook page and "like" the company for standing  firm in its plan to show greyhounds in an upcoming  Super Bowl ad. (Click on the graphic to see the ad teaser.)

 

Gary Guccione, Communications  for the American Greyhound Council (AGC), said the Grey2K  campaign against Skechers proves that the animal rights group is about political warfare, not greyhound welfare.

"You would think an organization that supposedly cares about greyhounds would love to see them featured in a high-profile national TV spot," said Guccione. "But Grey2K’s agenda is not about helping greyhounds, it’s about making war on anyone who presents greyhounds in a positive light."

According to Skechers officials, the TV commercial is a humorous take on a race between greyhounds and a little bulldog wearing Skechers. The greyhounds are there not to promote racetracks, but to symbolize the ultimate in speed and natural athletic ability.

Guccione said he hopes many greyhound industry members, fans and adoption leaders will visit the Skechers Facebook page and express their support.

"Not every company has the backbone to stand up to animal rights bullying," he concluded. "When it happens, we need to step up and say thanks."

SHOE COMPANY REFUSES TO BACK DOWN TO GREY2K USA

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Skechers, a leading producer of athletic shoes, has refused to back down to Grey2K USA demands that it cancel a promotion featuring a greyhound clad in the company’s signature sneakers. The TV spot was filmed at Tucson Greyhound Park late last year.

On its website, Grey2K reported that Gary Patrick, Sketchers vice president of media,responded to its demands with “a three-sentence letter from the American Humane Association (AHA) stating that no animal was harmed in production of the commercial.”
 
“This is good news,” says Grey2K, “but hardly excuses the company for promoting greyhound racing.”
 
AGC Communications Coordinator Gary Guccione said the comment confirms what the greyhound racing community has been saying for years—that Grey2K USA isn’t about greyhound welfare at all.
 
“By its own words, Grey2K has confirmed that its focus isn’t the welfare of greyhounds, but the very existence of greyhound racing. Their agenda is political, not humane. Skechers is right to stand firm against their radical demands.”
 
The Skechers greyhound ad will air during the Super Bowl on February 5, an announcement that infuriated Grey2K, which is now calling for a boycott of Skechers products.To counter that boycott,
 
AGC is urging greyhound racing community members to
contact Skechers and television network officials to express support for the company’sstand. Those executives may be emailed as follows: Michael Greenburg, Skechers President: michaelg@skechers.com; Gary Martin, Skechers Vice President of Media, gpmedia@aol.com; NBC, nbcuniversalviewerfeedback@nbcuni.com
 
“It’s not always easy to stand up to animal rights bullying,” said Guccione. “We want Skechers to know that we appreciate and respect their backbone.”

CONSUMER GROUP RUNS ADS ACCUSING HSUS OF DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING

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Humanewatch.org, a national consumer advocacy organization, has launched a TV ad campaign warning consumers that only one penny of every dollar donated to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) actually goes to local animal shelters. The ad accuses HSUS of deceptive advertising, and alerts donors to the "D" rating given HSUS by Charity Watch, a leading charity watchdog.

A news release posted on the Humanewatch.org website said, "A recent study by the Campaign Media Analysis Group found that 68 percent of Americans mistakenly believe that HSUS spends most of its money on local shelters. In fact, only about 1 percent of the $131 million HSUS raised last year actually went to animal shelters."

"More than 85 percent of the animals shown in HSUS ads were dogs and cats. Only 3 of the 28 ads that HSUS ran on television contained a disclaimer that HSUS is independent from local humane societies, and those ads that have a disclaimer didn’t air very often: Less than 100 airings, compared to more than 20,000 airings of ads with no disclaimer."

A 2-page summary of the advertising study is available for download at Humanewatch.org.