WV Senate Advances Bill to Stop State Funding of Greyhound Breeding - National Humane Education Society

Paws Up!

To The West Virginia Senate for Advancing SB 437, to discontinue the West Virginia Greyhound Breeding Development Fund.

 In the greyhound racing industry, puppies are bred for one purpose: to run a track and help casino-goers win bets. Puppies who do not show promise as racing dogs are quickly discarded, as are adult dogs who are no longer able to compete as racing animals. Those who become racers do not reside in home environments that  provide the quality of life all dogs need and deserve. Put simply, dogs and gambling do not mix. For these reasons and more, greyhound racing is illegal in 40 states. In West Virginia, track attendance has been in sharp decline over the past decade.

For years, the state of West Virginia has provided $15 million per year in state subsidies to prop up the West Virginia’s Greyhound Breeders Fund. According to a recent news article, SB 437 would end this subsidy and create a $1 million dollar fund for the rescue and adoption of the state’s racing greyhounds.  While the legislation would not outlaw greyhound racing, it is unlikely that the industry would survive on its own, without financial support from the state government. West Virginia’s only other greyhound track is in Wheeling, West Virginia. To become law, this bill must be passed by the West Virginia House of Delegates.

Take action. Follow the link to contact the members of the West Virginia House of Delegates and urge them to support legislation that would end subsidies to the greyhound racing industry: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/house/roster.cfm?sortby=district&sortorder=asc

Update 4/10/17: West Virginia Governor Jim Justice vetoed SB 437.