More Than 700 Greyhounds Injured at Wheeling Dog Track, 62 Dogs Die

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Jan 28, 2010, 04:36 ET

More Than 1,000 Dogs Prevented From Racing Because of Illness, Lameness

WHEELING, W.Va., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to recently released state records, more than seven hundred greyhounds were reported injured at Wheeling Island Racetrack and Casino since 2008, and more than one thousand dogs were prevented from racing because they were lame, injured, or because of illness.

"These terrible greyhound injuries are occurring every day at Wheeling Island," said GREY2K USA Executive Director Carey Theil. "Dogs are suffering broken legs and other serious injuries on a daily basis."

In total, at least 707 greyhounds were reported injured at Wheeling between January 2008 and September 2009, according to state records provided by the West Virginia Racing Commission. More than one hundred of these injuries involved broken legs, and other reported injuries included dislocations, broken ankles, lacerations, fractured skulls and spinal injuries. Additionally, 62 dogs died or were euthanized during this period.

These reports also document individual dogs that suffered fatal injuries. For example:

On July 1, 2009 a greyhound died after being hit by the mechanical lure and suffering head trauma and seizures.
On September 2, 2009 a dog was euthanized after suffering a spinal cord injury.
On September 4, 2009 a greyhound was euthanized after suffering a broken leg. On the same day, another dog collapsed after a race and died.

In addition, state records indicate that 561 greyhounds were prevented from racing because of lameness or injury, and 576 greyhounds were prevented from racing because of illness.

"Greyhound racing is cruel and inhumane and should end," said Theil. "Dogs play an important role in our lives, and deserve to be protected from individuals and industries that would do them harm."

GREY2K USA is a national, non-profit greyhound protection organization with more than 25,000 supporters in all fifty states. For more information, contact Carey Theil at 866-247-3925.

SOURCE GREY2K USA