DON'T EVER LET THEM TELL YOU THAT THEY CARE ABOUT THE DOGS!

In another inexplicably cruel move, Dog Track Officials would rather see Innocent Greyhounds Killed than allow Greyhound Adoption Groups to put them up for adoption! Read the following press release for more information...

250 Greyhounds Face Uncertain Future as Major Wisconsin Dog Track Closes

HUDSON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 8, 2001--With the closing of the St. Croix Meadows Greyhound Park in Hudson, Wis., Thursday, greyhound protection groups nationwide are scrambling to place as many dogs in homes as possible before a "blacklist'' takes effect that may condemn many ex-racing dogs to death.

According to the Wisconsin Division of Gaming, the St. Croix track had 475 dogs on site as of its last visit. 225 will be sent to race at other tracks, and 50 have already been rescued by adoption groups. That leaves 250 dogs who will need to be placed in homes after Thursday.

But some in the greyhound racing industry say dogs should not be released to those adoption groups who oppose greyhound racing. Since most greyhound and animal-protection groups nationwide do indeed speak out about the immense suffering involved with greyhound racing, "the effect of this 'blacklist' would be to cut off most avenues for the adoption of ex-racing greyhounds,'' said Susan Netboy of the Greyhound Protection League.

An e-mail message forwarded by a top racing official to management at tracks nationwide, including Wisconsin, states:
"This is a list of adoption groups that are anti-racing. We feel that all tracks should be concerned that adopting dogs to such organizations is only hurting the industry. Giving dogs to groups that want to abolish racing must be quelched. ... Please forward this to as many track people as possible. Let your owners/trainers be aware of these groups.''

The e-mail lists 37 greyhound-adoption groups nationwide that should not be given dogs. These 37 groups are responsible for the majority of greyhound adoptions nationwide.

At one greyhound track, this message was forwarded from a management Internet account to the trainers. One conscientious trainer shared this information with greyhound-protection groups, who are upset at the possibility that dogs will be killed rather than placed with "blacklisted'' adoption groups.
According to David Wolf of the National Greyhound Adoption Program, "There are already far fewer available homes than are needed, and not nearly enough adoption groups nationwide to handle the greyhound industry's cast-offs.'' Therefore, the greyhound and animal-protection groups listed below call on the media, and the Wisconsin Division of Gaming, to closely monitor the disposition of the 250 St. Croix dogs:

Animal Protection Institute
ASPCA
Greyhound Network News
Grey2K USA
USA Defenders of Greyhounds, Inc.
The Ark Trust, Inc.
Greyhound Friends, Inc.
Greyhound Protection League
National Greyhound Adoption Program
Wings for Greyhounds

Contact:
The Ark Trust, Inc.
Mike Winikoff, 818/501-2275

Wednesday August 8, 7:09 pm Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: The Ark Trust, Inc.