As of last week, Arizona became the 40th American state to ban Greyhound racing. This is wonderful news for animal lovers everywhere!Governor Doug Ducey signed two bills outlawing greyhound racing in the state as well as removing financing for the outdated practice, which will both come into effect in2017.
Source: @AmazingGreys
But there's even better news - Tuscon Greyhound Park, the only racing track left in Arizona, will put an end to dog racing in June this year.With this legislation, Arizona becomes yet another U.S. state totake a standagainst this cruel practice, which is thankfully in decline.
Source: @greyhoundsofinstagram
In a recent interview with The Dodo, anti-dog racing campaigner Carey Theil affirms:
Greyhound racing is out of sync with our modern values, the way we look at dogs today, and it's failing economically...There's no doubt in my mind that it will be phased out in the United States. The only question is how long that takes.
It is a sad truth that Greyhounds suffer horrifically during races, often ending up with broken bones and even paralysis on the tracks.
Source: @Grey2KUSA
Yet their suffering doesn't end there: these dogs are kept in frankly inhumane conditions in kennels for most of the day, starved of human affection and basic amenities.Once they are considered 'too old' to race, oftenat the tender age of just 18 months, these dogs are ruthlessly discarded or even killed.
Source: @TearaNZ
The ASPCA reports that at least 909 racing Greyhounds died between 2008 and 2014, and 758 of them died from injuries. They added:
In Florida alone—which takes advantage of having no law requiring tracks to report Greyhound injury statistics—a racing dog dies, on average, every three days.
But the fight isn't over. Theil's group, GREY2K USA, has been hugely influential in the campaign to end Greyhound racing and is still fighting to end the practice across the U.S.A.If you'd like to get involved, you can make your voice heard by signing the petition here.
Source: @greyhoundsofinstagram
Or you can givea retired racing greyhound a second chance by adopting one.
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