| Interview With Christine Dorchak/GREY2K |
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Charlene Arsenault of Pet Rock Fest interviews Christine Dorchak of GREY2K USA two days after the historic election, one which included a ban on greyhound racing in Massachusetts. How does it feel to finally pull a victory here in Massachusetts? It had to be so discouraging in 2000 to lose by such a slim margin. Almost discouraging enough where it felt like it might never pass. Did you ever give up hope? We are delighted that the voters of Massachusetts chose compassion over cruelty. Question 3 passed in twelve of fourteen counties all across the state, and was approved by voters in more than 280 cities and towns from Berkshire to Cape Cod, North Shore to MetroWest, and Boston to Springfield. By supporting an end to the cruelty of dog racing, Massachusetts citizens voted for progress and change, which follows the spirit of 2008 elections nationwide. A lot of people asked me to detail more about how the "phasing out" will work, especially in terms of these racing dogs. Can you explain how this will unfold? Will the dogs slowly be adopted out? First of all, we are committed to phasing out greyhound racing in a responsible way. The protection of greyhounds is our number one mission. Historically speaking, when a dog track closes, countless volunteers are mobilized to find homes for any and all displaced dogs. Drivers from hundreds of miles away converge on the track and pick up dogs to be taken to adoption groups and foster homes. For example, when Plainfield Greyhound Park in Connecticut closed in 2005 volunteers from as far away as the Midwest and Canada sent rescuers. The closure of Multnomah Greyhound Park in Oregon in 2004 and Geneva Lakes Greyhound Park in Wisconsin in 2006 sparked a similar response. While some dogs were sent on to race elsewhere, many others were made available for adoption. More recently, with the closure of Mile High Park in Colorado (Winter 2008) and The Woodlands in Kansas (Fall 2008), all the dogs were safely moved out, when greyhound advocates, including board members of GREY2K USA, joined hands with track adoption groups to help the dogs. The track owners have a right to offer live dog racing until January 1, 2010 and at least one track, Raynham Park, may choose to do so. Wonderland closed for the season last September and mat simply not reopen. As dogs become available, we will join hands with track management to place them into their loving, Forever Homes with Massachusetts families. So now that GREY2K USA has fulfilled its mission, what's next? GREY2K USA is a national greyhound protection group whose mission is to pass laws to protect greyhounds, with the ultimate goal of ending dog racing nationwide. Thirteen tracks (soon to be fifteen) have closed or ended live racing since Christmas Eve 2004, so the trend is definitely with the greyhounds! For more information, please go to http://www.grey2kusa.org/action/state.html |
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