Grey2K USA - December 6, 2002

Grey2K USA Board Member Files Complaint After Greyhound Dies in New Hampshire

Dr. Jill Hopfenbeck has filed a complaint against Hinsdale Greyhound Park veterinarian Dr. Carl Nelson for permitting a dog to race with collapsed lungs and massive internal bleeding. Sav's Wilson Lee or "Willie" was unable to finish his last race and collapsed before reaching the finish line.

As the Manchester Union Leader reported, Dr. Nelson is officially employed by the New Hampshire Pari-Mutuel Commission. It is his responsibility to examine greyhounds before each race and ensure their welfare at the track.

Dr. Hopfenbeck was informed of Willie's plight and rushed to the New Hampshire track, but was unable to save the young dog. A subsequent autopsy revealed that while Willie had good muscle tone, he was clearly anemic, had multiple fibrous growths, two collapsed lungs and a total of two liters of blood floating on either side of his chest cavity.

According to Dr. Hopfenbeck, Nelson should have noticed signs of trouble that accompanied Willie's condition, and Willie should not have been allowed to race.

"It disturbs me greatly that this dog was deemed fit for racing by Dr. Nelson less than 24 hours before he died,” Hopfenbeck told the Union Leader. “It is my opinion that the dog must have been suffering from acute bleeding for at least seven weeks.”

Dr. Hopfenbeck, who serves on the GREY2K USA Board of Directors, has been treating greyhounds for over a decade. She previously served on the board of Greyhound Friends and won a 1997 Award of Merit from the Massachusetts Veterinary Medicine Association for her work in greyhound rescue.