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Philippines. Greyhound Racing. A Misguided Step. Greed vs. Kindness.

Could you believe that greyhound racing might have a start in the Philippines? That might very well be if a handful of uninformed and misguided congresspeople get their way. This issue has occupied my mind for over a week now, and I have even written an online PETITION to be submitted to members of the Philippine congress in hopes that the enlightened opinion of the world might sway their vote. I make my case there, and I pray that I have made a good one. Greyhound racing is presented to the people as an economic picker-upper, ignoring the horrendous mistreatment of animals and basically trading cruelty for profit. There are certainly other ways to stimulate the local economy including a nationally-funded spay and neutering program. That would also provide employment throughout the country.

I find it incredible that bills were even introduced to make greyhound racing legal in the Philippines. With all the bad publicity behind greyhound racing, some people thought it a good idea to make it a Filipino institution. The sponsors for Bill 5291 are :

Ben-hur L. Salimbangon
Representative
4th District of Cebu
2007-present

Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz
Representative
6th District of Cebu
1992-1998, 2001-present

Ferjenel Biron
Representative
4th District of Iloilo
2004-present

Someone is going to profit and that surely will not be the animals. Twenty-thousand dogs are killed a year in America, but already 36 states have prohibited greyhound racing. Race tracks continue to close not only in America but in countries like Australia and the United Kingdom. But the Philippines heads towards the wrong way, and the world is telling them so. Will the congress people listen? Will they have the wisdom to see the light?

I will not rehash my arguments against greyhound racing. They are all expressed on the petition site. PETA-Asia, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society, AnimalsAsia, and Grey2k, along with two print journalist, have been hacking away at this most insidious proposal. The Philippine congress is set to deliberate on the first of the two bills by the end of July 2009. This first bill was railroaded through the lower house before anyone say " sneaky. " It is now up to the senators to oppose and kill the bill. This is truly worrisome. If greyhound racing becomes legal in the country, it will be the beginning of a long, nightmarish period in the Filipino animal welfare movement. Please visit the petition site, read and sign it, and circulate it among your friends. You can also send your own emails to the senators ; their email addresses are listed there. And then, pray.

Comments

Valarie said…
Just signed your petition. Also wrote to the Philippine Senators telling them to please oppose voting for this horrid bill. Thank you for helping get the word out, and may we all hope for this terrifying bill to fail.
8:53 AM
Ted Teodoro said…
Thank you, Valarie. I just got word that the proponents of greyhound racing in the Philippines are at it again. They have passed a bill through the house of representatives, and the bill is now at the senate. The senate wasn't going to vote for the first two bills, and I hope that it is still against any bill for greyhound racing.
10:45 AM
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