Comments on: ‘Johnny’ and ‘Twiggy’ make the pitch to end greyhound racing

By: Luke Swanhart

Luke Swanhart — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:35:49 +0000

Please call Senator J. D. Alexander’s office,(850) 487-5044, who is chairman of the Budget Committee, to support SB 0488. It only has ONE MORE committee meeting before passing the Florida Senate. Please make that call!!

It costs Miami Dade over $10 million dollars a year to run their dog pound. It also costs Palm Beach County over $10 million a year. In fact when you collect the cost of animal control throughout the state it’s close to $94 million – a year – tax payers’ money – whose main designated function is to dispose of unwanted companion animals no different than trash – and most of them nothing wrong with them.

By: Matt Binder

Matt Binder — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:21:09 +0000

It’s incredibly simple: Greyhound race coupling costs the taxpayers money, costs the cardhouses money, and forces more greyhounds to live horrific lives right up until they’re killed.

There is every reason to pass the decoupling bill. I hope my congressman, and Florida as a whole, makes the fiscal and moral choice.

By: Cyndi R

Cyndi R — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:31:33 +0000

Greyhound racing is cruel and inhumane. Dogs are locked in small crates for approximately 20+ hours a day and are injured on the track all the time. Often there is little or no veterinary care for the dogs. This is 2012, not the dark ages. It is time for Florida to do the right thing and quit tolerating the abuse and death of greyhounds for the sake of entertainment.

Additionally, I am sick and tired of my tax dollars subsidizing and propping up this dying industry. The 15 million dollars that was given to the dog racing industy last year could be better spent on
teachers salaries and sending young people to college. Why is it the responsibility of tax payers to
subsidize an industry that the public is clearly no longer interested in? It is time to get rid of the antiquated regulation that require dogs to run to empty grandstands. It is time to pass this de-coupling legislation and save the greyhounds in Florida.

By: Kathy Pelton

Kathy Pelton — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:40:01 +0000

Financially this bill makes sense. The amount gambled on live dog racing and the taxes collected by the state from dog racing has significantly declined over the years. This alone should be a reason to pass the Greyhound Decoupling bill but their is another aspect that needs to be considered and that is the humane issue. Right now, thousands of greyhounds are racing at the 13 tracks throughout Florida. We have no idea how many injuries and deaths are occurring at these tracks since Florida does not have a Record Keeping requirement. Let’s pass this bill and get the dogs out.

By: Susi Pittman

Susi Pittman — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:24:32 +0000

A dying industry should be allowed to “pass on.” The taxpayers of this state do not need to continue to prop up this inhumane and antiquated sport. It truly is a moral issue in the responsible stewardship arena, one that behooves an end to suffering animals to entertain us for pleasure. Thank Senator Sachs and Rep. Young today for their efforts in working to get this bill passed!

By: Joyce C.

Joyce C. — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:48:35 +0000

Greyhound racing is just about costing FL as much to regulate it as it generates in state revenue, plus costing dogs’ health and all too often their lives. Enough…let’s get this Decoupling Bill passed. Everyone should call their state legislators and ask for their support!

By: Caryn Wood

Caryn Wood — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:36:32 +0000

Since 1990, taxes and fees the State of Florida receives from live greyhound races has decreased by 96.5%. This reflects public opinion. Yet, living, breathing, loving, gentle greyhounds are captive pawns in a scenario which exists under an antiquated mandate that requires live dog racing.

SB382 and HB641 will change that requirement by “decoupling” mandatory live greyhound race dates while permitting the tracks to continue offering other forms of gambling.

These humane and business-conscious bills are in sync with mainstream values. Thank you Senator Sachs and House Representative Young.

By: TGMOJO

TGMOJO — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:26:27 +0000

WAIT…lets line up the Political figures and let them run for the goal to see how it feels…..it would probably sound something like this……thats Obama out in front, Hillary fading to the outside….Newt following close to last place…wait..there goes a unidentified joker dry humping…another official…

By: Chuck

Chuck — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:44:28 +0000

Let’s get these two bills passed and put an end to this cruel and inhumane business. Using animals for entertainment is wrong. There are other outlets for gambling that don’t exploit animals. How many more have to suffer and die before the law will be changed and the animals set free? But whether you support the racing or you don’t – you can’t argue with the intent of these two bills. The state should not be able to dictate that a business conduct one activity in order that it be able to offer another. People who abuse animals lack empathy, compassion and any kind of social consciousness. I encourage our state legislators to support “decoupling” and save the lives of thousands of innocent greyhounds. These bills, if passed, could also create a blueprint for putting an end to Greyhound racing in the other six remaining states.

By: Greyhound Safe

Greyhound Safe — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:10:07 +0000

Support of the decoupling bills is vital.
The abuse greyhounds endure to sustain the racing industry must simply end.The industry is dying but not quick enough for the greyhounds dying for the industry, these bills will help further and hasten the end of the greyhounds plight.

By: Lisa Bottcher/Oliver's House

Lisa Bottcher/Oliver's House — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:04:19 +0000

Greyhound racing tracks are as BARBARIC as history’s Colosseum activities (why is FLORIDA one of the last 7 states in the USA to allow this practice?) ~ please, Florida, stop hurting animals!!!!!