Bid to ban dog racing succeeds on 2d try (Massachusetts)

[catgirl]

Source: The Boston Globe

Massachusetts voters yesterday embraced a ballot question to end greyhound racing in the state, rejecting track owners' arguments that the ban would cost jobs at a time of economic hardship in favor of protecting dogs from harm.


The contentious ballot question passed amid emotional ad campaigns by both sides. Proponents used images of sad-eyed greyhounds that they say are caged inhumanely and raced to injury, while opponents put the spotlight on the employees who would be out of work if the ballot passed. A similar ballot question was narrowly defeated in 2000.

The ban, which takes effect in 2010, passed by a vote of about 56 percent to 44 percent, with more than two-thirds of the precincts reporting.

"We did it. We did it for the dogs," a victorious Carey Thiel, executive director of Grey2K SA, said at a postelection party of some 60 supporters at Jillian's Billiards Club.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/11/05/bid_to_ban_dog_racing_succeeds_on_2d_try/

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Thank you Massachusetts!!

[meegbear]

1. I voted for the ban too ...

it should end. QED

[frickaline]

2. I can't tell you how happy I am that this finally passed

I voted for the ban both times and was horrified when this effort failed the first time. The ban won't undo the years of cruelty that these animals have suffered but it will at least prevent further harm.

Many have argued that these dog tracks will simply find a safe haven in other states. If that is the will of some states, so be it, but the blood will be on their hands now.

These monsters can stay the hell out of my state.

[catgirl]

4. I hope this will encourage other states to follow this action

This should encourage other animal groups/individuals to start movements in offending states.

[frickaline]

5. I hope so too.

I know there is a lot of money in this kind of thing but I hope they will decide that other types of gambling are less hassle and more profitable.

[Coventina]

3. Woo-hoo!

k&r

:woohoo:

[BobTheSubgenius]

6. "the ban would cost jobs"

It's never good to see working people lose their jobs, but I can't think of a better way to redistribute money than a race track - and all of it UPWARD. The track never, EVER loses.

Maybe the millions wasted at this track and others could be better spent elsewhere. Ya think?

[KamaAina]

13. If jobs are the concern, why not convert Wonderland to transit-oriented development?

This is the main dog track in Revere just outside Boston. It just happens to have a station on the Blue Line of the T right across the street. Building it out as a decent-sized mixed-use community would provide jobs, not to mention housing, for years to come. Good union jobs, too, not shoveling dog doo!

edit: spacing

[nxylas]

25. Looks like they're already working on it

http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/t_projects/default.asp?id=1074

(The links didn't seem to work when I clicked on them, but maybe others will have more success).

[KamaAina]

26. That's a separate project, across the street from the dog track and right next to the T

can you say "synergy"?

http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/t_projects/projects_tod/?id=1082

Fronting on Ocean Avenue and footsteps from Revere Beach, the property consists of three separate publicly owned parcels totaling approximately nine 9 acres and one additional privately owned parcel usage, all located immediately adjacent to the Wonderland Station. The site is currently used for surface parking, patronized mostly by commuters and summer beachgoers.

The site offers sweeping vistas of the Atlantic Ocean and Boston Harbor islands - all less than a ten 10 minute drive from Logan International Airport and less than fifteen 15 minutes from downtown Boston. The Blue Line itself also provides fast, direct access to Logan and to downtown Boston. The MBTA is presently studying several options for extending the Blue Line northward or making a "people mover" connection from Wonderland Station to a new station on the existing commuter rail tracks immediately west.

Did I mention the area is a block or two from the beach? (drool)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

23. When the only argument a business can come up with to justify its existence is "we create jobs"

you know it's indefensible.

[LibertyLover]

7. What is going to happen to all the greyhounds?

While I'm glad of the ban, what is going to happen to the dogs? I'm afaid that with the economy the way it is, most of them will be killed. Has there been any determination as to what will happen to them?

[frickaline]

8. The ban won't take effect until 2010

They have quite a while to solve this problem. There are a number of rescue groups that will be more than happy to get involved. My personal favorite: http://www.GreyhoundRacingSucks.com/. There is also the possibility they will sell many of these animals to tracks in other states.
:scared: :scared: :scared:

[LibertyLover]

15. I hope that they don't sell them.

I've got 2 former racing greyhounds and they are the best dogs ever.

[defendandprotect]

9. Those concerned in stopping the exploitation will ensure that there

is no further exploitation, I hope!

I'd be willing to contribute --

and stop handlers from moving the greyhounds into other areas --

[LibertyLover]

14. Good to hear -

I have two greyhounds, former racers, and love them very much.

[defendandprotect]

28. It used to be that...

"Animal Planet" was a unique. original program ...

they has terrific shows for a while.. llamas --

and greyhounds -- a breed I was totally unfamiliar with and very interesting to

see different personalities/spirits --

People with true knowledge of animals and caring gone now...

and even ASPCA shows are frequently distorted --

AP shows mainly now violence as all other YV seems to be--!!

Sad loss --

[LeftyMom]

32. There are a lot of rescue organizations that specialize in placing retired greyhounds

after their racing career is over.

[defendandprotect]

10. Wow -- marijuana and saving the greyhounds -- MASS was hot yesterday--!!! Love it-!!!

[TrogL]

11. I misread this as "man bites dog, succeeds on 2nd try"

I need sleep.

[catgirl]

12. Thanks for the good laugh!

It's been an emotional day.

[skygazer]

16. I worked at greyhound tracks for close to ten years

I started when I was 17 - frankly at that time, it didn't really occur to me to think about the impact of the industry. It was a job and I loved animals. That's all I saw at first.

I got out of racing because of the sheer waste involved. Dogs killed for no other reason than they weren't quite fast enough. Some of them less than 2 years old. Some of them after they had spent their entire lives making a lot of money for their owners. Disposable. Unimportant.

Me and my boss actually began an unofficial rescue organization trying to find homes for ex-racers because they are such wonderful pets. I took several home myself.

I have some wonderful memories of some fabulous dogs and some warm and compassionate people. Most of the people who actually work at the tracks are good people who love their dogs. Like me when I first started, they just don't look at the overall picture (although I'd be willing to bet many of them have reservations about what they do - but it's what they do).

Good memories or not, I'm glad to see this. This is a "sport" that has outlived its usefulness. I would argue that horse racing has as well. Good for Massachusetts.

[nashville_brook]

18. big greyhound hugs -- wish Florida would get on this too.

[defendandprotect]

29. Bless your conscience ...

quite a story!!

[nichomachus]

17. The fascists' national anthem: This WIll Cost Jobs n/t

[defendandprotect]

30. Rarely do we think about how much of capitalism/economy is based ...

on exploitation ...beginning with the worker--!!!

[nashville_brook]

19. so many reasons why this is wonderful...

http://greyhoundhomes.com/images/Greyhound%20Day!%20017.JPG

[catgirl]

20. OMG they are so beautiful!

Look at those smiles! And then the last picture :-(

Let's work on FL now.

[nashville_brook]

21. i'm in orlando right now and talked to the greyhound rescue people this weekend...

the kennel is full more dogs need homes/foster homes and help all the time. there's an agreement whereby a full kennel causes all sorts of problems... uhmmm, they start destroying dogs when there's nowhere for them to go. it's horrible. these guys are majestic.

[catgirl]

22. Let;s start something here

[roody]

24. Yippee! Love dogs, don't exploit them.

The chickens, calves, and pigs did well in Ca.

[Raine]

27. That's WONDERFUL!!

I love animals and it seems they made out good this election with the passage of prop 2 here in CA, this one in MA and the defeat of the murderous Sarah Palin. :bounce:

[flvegan]

31. A HUGE blow to an inherently cruel industry.

Took a long time, but all that matters is that it's done.