Massachusetts. Dog Racing. Question 3. November 2008.

Barack Obama wasn't the only big winner on November 4, 2008. The passing of Proposition 2 in California meant that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of farm animals will get some relief from the cruel confinement in which they live their lives. Relief could be as simple as pigs or cows being able to turn around in their cages, for hens to spread their wings. Proposition 2's provisions will be in full effect by 2015. On the eastern front, voters in Massachusetts were asked if dog racing constituted animal cruelty, and Question 3 went up for voting. Question 3 is known as the Greyhound Protection Act, and it would outlaw commercial dog racing by 2010. The people voted, and Question 3 passed.

This issue isn't a new one. Back in 2000, a similar act failed to pass by less than 2% of the vote. A special thanks for this year's successful campaign goes to The Committee to Protect Dogs . The committee collected 150,000 signatures with an all-volunteer effort to qualify Question 3 for the November ballot. They also have done wonderful work against dogfighting.

Dog racing is reputedly a multimillion-dollar enterprise, and so there are many people out there who have made a fortune on the backs of maltreated dogs. How are they maltreated? Well, when not racing, the dogs are kept in a cage that measures 32 X 42 X 34 inches for more than 15 hours a day. Keep in mind that a yard is only 36 inches, or three feet. This cage sounds more like a pigeon hole than a kennel where the dogs lie down most of the time and can hardly stand up straight. And when they are racing, it even gets worse. Karen from PETA reported that :

" In just one year, starting in May 2007, there were more than 800 injuries, including fractures, dislocations, lacerations, and amputations, on just two greyhound racing tracks in Revere, Massachusetts, Raynham Park and Wonderland Greyhound Park. Footage of more than 5,000 races was reviewed and more than 300 collisions were catalogued by GREY2K USA, a greyhound advocacy group. Seven of these were then compiled into a four-minute video to share with the public. And it’s sickening to watch, especially when you realize that all this carnage is so unnecessary. "

This is stuff for barbarians only. It has no place in our civilized society. As of November 2008, dog racing is practiced in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Contact Grey2K USA to get involved in getting dog racing out of your state.