Massachusetts 2008 Ballot Questions

Massachusetts 2008 Ballot Questions

Ballot Question 3

"AN INITIATIVE FOR AN ACT TO PROTECT GREYHOUNDS"

Summary:

This proposed law would prohibit any dog racing or racing meeting in Massachusetts where any form of betting or wagering on the speed or ability of dogs occurs. The State Racing Commission would be prohibited from accepting or approving any application or request for racing dates for dog racing. Any person violating the proposed law could be required to pay a civil penalty of not less than $20,000 to the Commission. The penalty would be used for the Commission’s administrative purposes, subject to appropriation by the state Legislature. All existing parts of the chapter of the state’s General Laws concerning dog and horse racing meetings would be interpreted as if they did not refer to dogs.

Reasons to Vote “Yes”:

Economic:

Between 2002 and 2006, the total amount gambled at Wonderland Greyhound Park and Raynham Park declined by 57% and 35%, respectively.
Over the past two decades, commercial dog racing has experienced an economic decline, and now represents less than 1% of all wagers made each year in the United States.
Dog track promoters lobby for the right to install slot machines and other electronic gambling devices at their racetracks. Proposals to legalize slot machines at dog tracks almost always tie dog racing to slot machines, requiring by law that dogs continue to race as a platform for expanded gambling. Dog track promoters can then argue for the legalization of slot machines as a way to save commercial dog racing.
Dog track promoters aggressively seek assistance from sympathetic politicians. This has led to some racetracks receiving direct subsidies. In other states, tracks have been given multiple tax breaks, special trust funds, and expanded gambling rights.

Ethical:

Since 2002, there have been 728 reported greyhound injuries in Massachusetts.
Nearly 80% of all reported injuries were broken bones.
Dogs live in small cages, barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around for 20 or more hours per day.
In 2005 nineteen dogs at Wonderland Greyhound Park died from a mysterious illness that was later proven to be a form of horse flu that had never before jumped species.
Dogs are fed meat that has been deemed unfit for human consumption. Because this meat is fed to dogs raw, it can cause dogs to be exposed to serious pathogens such as Salmonella.
In late 2003 and early 2004, a dog tested positive for cocaine twice at Wonderland Greyhound Park.
Thousands of dogs are killed when they are injured or are no longer fast enough to be profitable. According to the pro-racing National Greyhound Association, an estimated 5,000 dogs were killed in 2003.
Professional haulers transport large numbers of dogs from one racetrack to another. During this process, dogs are transported in cramped conditions, and in some cases undergo cross-country trips in unventilated, aluminum trailers or rental vans. According to Care of the Racing Greyhound, an industry handbook, transportation over long distances can cause dogs to suffer from dehydration, weight variation, and exhaustion.

Reasons to Vote “No”:

Economic

Among all the dog racing and gambling facilities in Massachusetts, the total number of employees is 707. They could potentially be affected.
Raynham Park is the largest taxpayer and largest employer in the town of 13,000
George Carney, owner of the Raynham Park is lobbying on Beacon Hill for slot machines. He also said he plans to submit a proposal for a casino, either in Raynham or Brockton, if Patrick's plan for three casinos wins legislative approval. If greyhound racing could continue, there wouldn’t be this push for casino gambling in Massachusetts.

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Resources:

·       http://www.grey2kusa.org/
·       http://www.protectdogs.org/
·       http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x875593895/Keeping-the-fight-vs-dog-racing-on-track
·       http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/01/13/race_to_the_ballot/?page=2

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