MIAMI, Oct. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A bill on the
November 6, 2018 General Election
ballot is causing quite a commotion among a strong and connected
group of Miami business owners and
supporters of animal rights, who vehemently oppose dog racing. The
group is working to get the word out and gain support for Florida
Amendment 13, which if passed, will ban commercial greyhound racing
in the state by 2020. One of eight measures going before
Florida voters on November 6, the bill was placed on the ballot by
the state's Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), which meets
every 20 years to propose changes to the state's constitution. The
amendment received a 27-10 vote and was sponsored by CRC member,
Senator Tom Lee of Thonotosassa.
With the General Election right around the corner and 12 of the
18 dog-racing tracks in the U.S. being located right here in
Florida, the group of Miami business owners feels that there's still
very little knowledge among state voters on the issue.
"We need to educate the community about this important bill on
the ballot in November's election as the practice of dog-racing is
cruel, abusive and archaic; it is out of sync with society's values
toward animals," said Sonya
Hadrigan, chairwoman of Dog Lovers of Florida, www.dogloversofflorida.org, who is
heading the group. "As a Florida
native, dog lover and supporter of animal rights, I am shocked and
saddened that this "sport" continues in such a progressive
state."
Almost a century ago, in 1931, the Florida State Legislature
passed a law to allow wagering on horse racing and dog
racing. This was a time before civilization concerned itself
with the welfare of animals; however, the legislation remains in
effect today, to the detriment, maltreatment and negligence of the
dogs. Common injuries suffered by race dogs include broken
necks and backs, dislocations, torn muscles and paralysis.
Electrocutions have also occurred while greyhounds race, and make
contact with a track's high voltage lure. Some dogs die on the
racetrack while others are put down due to the severity of their
injuries, or often simply because of their diminished value as
racers.
"Greyhounds don't have a chance…" says Hadrigan. "From the time
they are born, these friendly and loving dogs are forced to spend
most of their time alone, locked up in warehouse-style kennels,"
she added, in reference to the kennels with rows of double–stacked
cages, where greyhounds are kept for 20-23 hours daily.
Although in 2013 the State of
Florida began to require the racing industry to report
deaths at the tracks or racing kennel, it does not require them to
report injuries. Thousands of greyhounds are bred annually—many
more than are needed to race—in an attempt to create the fastest
dogs.
Of the 12 dog-racing tracks in the state of Florida, there is one in Miami-Dade, one in Broward, one in West
Palm Beach, two in the Orlando area, and two in the Naples, Ft. Myers area. In Florida, approximately 8,000 dogs are being
used for the sport. Dog Lovers of Florida, as well as other organizations and
businesses in support of the measure, have committed to finding
homes for these animals.
A "YES" vote for Amendment 13 would mean that the voter is
supporting the prohibition of wagering on live dog races, including
greyhound races, and the ban of dog races, in the state of
Florida. The group is urging the
community that cares about dogs and greyhounds, to help them get
the word out, by using the hashtag: #voteYESon13 on Social Media,
with the link to the explanation on the Amendment:
https://ballotpedia.org/ Florida_Amendment_13,_Ban_on_
Wagering_on_Dog_Races_ Amendment_(2018)
Contact: Peyton Sadler,
305-631-2283
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SOURCE Dog Lovers of Florida