THERE YOU GO AGAIN, CAREY THEIL!
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!