Jun 27 2008
Why I Rescued A Greyhound, And What You Can Do To Help The Rest
I’ve already mentioned why I rescued Greta, but here’s yet another reason: the Tucson Dog Protection Act, a ballot measure designed to improve the lives of dogs in South Tucson and, especially, the 540 greyhounds at Tucson Greyhound Park.
The measure establishes that dogs deserve wholesome food and regular exercise, and shouldn’t be given anabolic steroids.
It’s common knowledge that track dogs are fed uncooked byproducts that are unfit for human consumption. The U.S. Department of Agriculture declares as unfit for human consumption the meat of diseased, dying, disabled or animals already dead upon arrival at slaughter plants, and the Food and Drug Administration recommends this meat not be fed raw to any animal. FDA studies show high levels of bacteria in this meat, including E. coli and salmonella.
The Tucson Dog Protection Act would require that either the meat be cooked or that better quality food be served.
In addition, currently, track dogs are kept in small cages 22 to 23 hours a day for their entire racing careers. The Tucson Dog Protection Act would require that dogs spend no more than 18 hours in a cage.
Regarding steroid use, female greyhounds are routinely given anabolic steroids to prevent heat cycles, which can result in serious physical problems, including urinary tract infections, permanent malformation of dogs’ genitalia and liver problems.
This Act is just one small way to help greyhounds at this track in Tucson. Until greyhound racing is abolished, every little step helps. For more information, click here.
Also, as the economy is in the toilet, tracks from Oregon to Florida to Connecticut are closing, and dog racing proponents now admit that their “game” has become “less and significant and appealing” and is on the verge of collapse.
Over 2,000 volunteers have successfully collected enough signatures to qualify the Greyhound Protection Actfor the November election. The Greyhound Protection Act will phase out greyhound racing at Wonderland and Raynham Parks by 2010.
Buy a Campaign T-Shirt to Support an End to Dog Racing!
Dogster, in partnership with the American Red Cross, recently launched an innovative pet ID and recovery service called Together Tag as a stand-alone solution or as a complement to your pet’s existing microchip.
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A one-time fee of $24.95 covers your dog for life. Simply add profile information to activate your account. Special discount for families [...]
The American Mutt-i-grees Club, founded by Pet Savers Foundation, wants to spread the word that mutts are people dogs too!
The American Mutt-i-grees Club is all about change and choice:
Changing how mixed-breed dogs are regarded, by celebrating the unique
characteristics of each one of them, and helping people make the right
choice - the choice to adopt mixed-breed puppies and [...]
The pills you pop may make you feel better, but they could be fatal to your pet. Just last year, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) handled 89,000 cases of pets exposed to human medications.
Here’s what to watch out for:
NSAIDs
According to the APCC, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen or naproxen are the most [...]
My distaste for puppy mills notwithstanding, I’m pleased to report that, stepping away from its reputation as “The Puppy Mill Capital of the East,” the Pennsylvania Legislature passed HB 2525 on October 8, a bill that will improve the lives of tens of thousands of dogs living in Pennsylvania’s puppy mills.
HB 2525 doubles the cage [...]
[...] adoption. Although I don’t live anywhere near Mass., I took a personal interest in this, as I adopted a retired greyhound two years [...]