Florida May Soon Ban Greyhound Racing For Good - National Humane Education Society
Paws Up!
December 8, 2017
To Florida Senator Tom Lee (R) for introducing a constitutional amendment that would phase out greyhound racing in Florida.
Greyhound racing is illegal in 40 states. In the few states where greyhound racing remains, consumer interest has declined, as people become more aware of the cruelty within the industry. Florida remains one of the last strongholds of the greyhound racing. Of the eighteen dog tracks in the entire United States, twelve are in Florida.
Every 20 years, the Florida Constitutional Revision Commission (CRC), meets to recommend changes to the Florida state constitution. Florida State Senator Tom Lee (R) has sent a proposal to the CRC, suggesting a constitutional amendment (Proposal 67) that would phase out greyhound racing in Florida by the end of 2019. Before Florida residents can vote on the matter, the CRC must first agree to put Proposal 67 on the November 2018 election ballot.
Senator Tom Lee with “Mira” after Proposal 67 passed the first meeting of the Florida CRC in November 2017.
Take action. Contact the Florida CRC and urge them to put Proposal 67 to phase out greyhound racing on the November 2018 election ballot. Please feel free to use our sample letter below.
Sample letter:
Re: Proposal 67, Ending Florida Greyhound Racing
Dear Commissioners,
My name is [Your Name] and I am writing to express my support of Senator Tom Lee’s Proposal 67, which would end greyhound racing in Florida. Racing greyhounds endure broken legs, heart attacks, and spinal cord injuries. Off the track, they have a low quality of life, spending most of their time in stacked stacked kennels or outdoor enclosures where they are exposed to the elements. Most enclosures are not heated or air-conditioned.
Some dogs are lucky enough to be sent to rescue groups after they are no longer competitive on the track. At the rescues, their care is not paid for by the breeders or casinos, but by charitable donors. Other dogs as young as five or six years of age are destroyed or put to use as breeding stock, continuing the cycle of suffering. Greyhound racing is illegal in 40 U.S. states for good reason. It is economically wasteful, inhumane, and not in-keeping with a civilized society. Please, give Floridians an opportunity to vote on this issue.
With deep appreciation,
[Your Name]
Please put Proposal 67 on the ballot which would end Grayhound racieing in Florida.
I am supporting Tom Lee’s proposal 67. It is high time the state of Florida ends this barbaric sport which has lost all popularity.
Anne Small
Board member of
National Humane Education Society
Dogs are human the same as we are they just can’t express themselves. They feel pain and compassion and should not be made to race then tossed aside like a rubber shoe.
Please ban greyhound racing and save these gentle dogs they deserve a good life…..It’s Illegal in 40 other US states.
If all Greyhound racing tracks are closed it will be miraculous. It is not a sport it is criminal.
This is a life of pain and confinement for the sake of mans greed.
Thank you for posting this way to contact those who can make this available for Floridians to vote on. I live in Florida and closeby to the Derby Lane dog track. I am so sad to know that these dogs are being treated so inhumanely in my community. I want very much to see the end of this abusive industry. Thank you for giving us a way to get involved and make it happen!