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NATIONAL GREYHOUND ASSOCIATION June 27, 2005
ANIMAL WELFARE CONCERNS MUST BE ADDRESSED BEFORE Abilene, KS—Officials of the National Greyhound Association (NGA) said today that the organization is taking steps to discourage further shipments of greyhounds to Juarez, Mexico, in response to a recent incident in which eight greyhounds died of heat stroke while being driven from Tucson Greyhound Park to a track in Juarez at the request of racing officials there. “We’re strongly advising our members not to ship any more greyhounds to Juarez until some important animal welfare concerns have been addressed,” said NGA Executive Director Gary Guccione. Last week, Jesse Burgess, a greyhound trainer and the driver of the vehicle in which the greyhounds died, was suspended from racing for sixty days and fined $500 by the Arizona Department of Racing. Today, Tucson Greyhound Park confirmed that it has permanently terminated its contract with Burgess, effectively making it impossible for him to resume racing at the track after the state suspension has expired. Burgess reportedly transported 35 greyhounds in a trailer designed to hold only 20 dogs. Arizona state rules prohibit loading more than two dogs in each crate, and Burgess’ trailer contained ten crates. Although it was air-conditioned, the cooling apparently was insufficient for the number of dogs in the vehicle. Lengthy delays at the Mexican border may have contributed to the overheating problem. The greyhounds reportedly were being shipped from Tucson to Juarez because the Mexican track needed more dogs for its live racing program. The Juarez track, which operated for several decades until discontinuing its live racing program in 1995, re-opened late last year with a limited racing schedule. Guccione said the NGA board of directors may also hold a disciplinary hearing on the incident. Under NGA rules, the organization may impose its own penalties if a member has been found guilty of violating state laws or racing rules. “Any time a violation results in the death of a greyhound, our board takes the matter extremely seriously,” said Gary Guccione, executive director of the National Greyhound Association (NGA). He noted that members accused of rule violations are entitled to due process, and said the NGA board will review the results of the Arizona investigation before proceeding with any action of its own. NGA members found guilty of serious animal welfare violations may be banned from the sport for life. Before NGA will support further shipment of greyhounds to Juarez, Guccione said that the issue of border-crossing delays must be resolved, and the track must be able to document that it has established credible animal welfare and adoption programs to ensure the health and safety of the greyhounds during and after their racing careers.
June 27, 2005 Phoenix, Arizona.-- Greyhound Pets of America is pleased with the actions taken today by the National Greyhound Association (NGA) to discourage further shipments of greyhounds to race in Juarez, Mexico until greyhound welfare issues can be addressed. This action was in response to a recent incident in which eight greyhounds died of heat stroke while being driven from Tucson Greyhound Park to a track in Juarez at the request of racing official there. “Our number one concern is the welfare of greyhounds, whether racing or retired,” said Rory Goree, president of Greyhound Pets of America (GPA). “We support any action that protects these wonderful animals from abuse or cruelty.” Goree said that his organization is in the process of opening a chapter in Juarez to assist in finding homes for greyhounds that retire from the track and are eligible for adoption. The NGA said in its press release that it will not support further shipment of greyhounds to Juarez until the track has established credible animal welfare and adoption programs to ensure the health and safety of greyhound during and after their racing careers
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