It’s time to support proposed amendment to end dog racing

Right now, Floridians have a chance to finally put a stop to one of the cruelest “sports” left in America — greyhound racing.

Two past Florida Senate presidents, Tom Lee and Don Gaetz, have introduced to the Florida Constitutional Revision Commission an amendment that would phase out greyhound racing in the Sunshine State. The proposal would go into full effect on July 1, 2021, and would phase out greyhound racing operations over a three-year period.

With 12 of the 18 dog tracks nationwide in our state, Florida has the most dog-racing operations in the U.S., thanks to our government’s actions to prop up the industry. Greyhound racing is illegal in 40 states, and now is the time to add Florida to the list.

On average, a racing greyhound dies in Florida every three days. Many more are injured. Even if dogs don’t end up injured or dead, their lives are ones of abject misery.

Just this year, two more cases of dog “doping” have been added to the long list of violations. In one case, two trainers at a Jacksonville-area track were cited when dozens of greyhound blood tests came up positive for cocaine.

The total amount gambled on live racing at Florida dog tracks declined by 56 percent between 2006 and 2016. State tax revenue from dog racing continues to drop, declining by 81 percent from 2006 to 2016.

The Constitutional Revision Commission must first approve Lee and Gaetz’s proposal to place it on the November 2018 ballot — and it’s time for Floridians to let the commission know they support phasing out greyhound racing and ending this cruelty for good.

The dogs racing in Florida pay the price for a longago political deal that makes no sense in today’s economy. The government forces businesses to conduct one activity so they can offer another. Because of this mandate, tracks keep money-losing greyhound racing around so they can offer slots and poker. While patrons crowd inside playing slots or cards, the dogs run in front of largely empty stands. Legislative attempts to separate dog racing from other forms of gambling have been unsuccessful.

This proposal before the Constitutional Revision Commission is a chance to do the right thing and make history.

KATE MACFALL, TALLAHASSEE Editor’s note: Kate MacFall is Florida state director for the Humane Society of the United States.