Group wants investigation into live rabbits in greyhound training

LIBERTY, MO. — Two U.S. representatives introduced legislation Wednesday to ban greyhound racing nationwide, after an advocacy group released videos showing greyhounds being trained by chasing, mauling and killing live rabbits in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, a practice prohibited by the greyhound racing industry.

The nonprofit group GREY2K said an animal rights investigator shot the video on isolated training tracks this spring and summer in Abilene, Kansas; Keota, Oklahoma; and Elgin, Texas. Some footage shows trainers twirling the rabbits around or dragging them in front of the dogs, while others show the dogs trying to trap or kill them.

Kansas doesn’t have a law specifically banning live lure training. It is a felony in Texas and a misdemeanor in Oklahoma, according to GREY2K.

The legislation introduced by U.S. Reps. Tony Cardenas, D-California, and Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, would phase out live greyhound racing or parimutuel wagering on live racing across the country. The Greyhound Protection Act also would ban the use of live animals for greyhound training.

Christine Dorchak, president and general counsel of GREY2K, said the legislation would make it impossible for dog racing to continue because it prohibits the use electronic transmission for wagering. She said the bill has strong bipartisan support and proponents are hopeful that Congress will act on it despite having many other pressing priorities.

Cardenas said greyhound racing is cruel and subjects the dogs to brutal training.

“My bill allows for a sensible wind-down of an already-declining industry that will ultimately outlaw greyhound racing,” Cardenas said. “As a longtime animal welfare advocate, I am committed to always speaking up for the voiceless.”

Jim Gartland, executive director of the National Greyhound Association, based in Abilene, Kansas, disputed allegations that the industry treats its dogs badly or uses live bait, noting that humane treatment of all animals is written into the association’s bylaws. The group would revoke the membership of anyone who violates the bylaws, which essentially removes them from the greyhound industry.

“We take all the allegations seriously,” he said. “We’re a little skeptical (about the videos) but we’ll cooperate fully with any investigation. We’ll also investigate on our own and if any members are found to have violated our bylaws, they’ll be dealt with accordingly.”

The videos also were sent to racing and state officials in Iowa, Arkansas, Florida and West Virginia, where GREY2K says the dogs raced, were bred or where their owners were licensed.

Carey Theil, executive director of GREY2K, said his group believes more than 100 dogs were trained at the tracks where the videos were shot. The group contends criminal prosecution is allowed under federal and state animal cruelty laws.

Spokesmen for attorneys general in Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma said they could not comment on whether the states are investigating the allegations. Theil said racing regulators in Florida, Iowa and Arkansas have told the group they are investigating.

“The conduct in these cases is so egregious,” Theil said. “It’s the degree of torture, it really is torture. If this isn’t criminal conduct, if they aren’t held accountable for this, I don’t know what they would have to do to be held accountable. The evidence is crystal clear.”

Greyhound racing has been on the decline since the 1990s, when it became a target of animal rights activists and faced stiff competition from other forms of gambling, particularly casinos. The only active track in Texas closed recently, and greyhound racing will end in Florida this year and in Arkansas by the end of 2022. That will leave active tracks only in West Virginia and Iowa.

TELEGRAPH HERALD / AP An animal rights advocate took video at three U.S. greyhound racing facilities in which trainers used live rabbits as bait, which is prohibited, and allowing the dogs to maul and kill the rabbits.