Mass. voters approve dog racing ban

Hooray for the bleeding hearts!!! Let me ask this : Why is horse racing not banned Nobody sits on a dogs back and kicks or whips it.

In a time of economic hardship the people of this state just told 1,000 people that they no longer have a job and thats tough luck! Are you kidding me????? I wonder what everyone who voted yes on this does for a living, maybe we should put there professions on a ballot and let other people decide if they should be unemployed!

Horse racing should be the next to go

Horse racing is next, its time to realize animal cruelty as a malody of the 20th century that has no place in a civilized society

HOORAY FOR THE DOGS!!
LET THE RACETRACK WORKERS FIND ANOTHER JOB THAT IMPROVES SOCIETY, NOT ABUSES ANIMALS!

Finally ! Having a home with 3 rescued greyhounds residing, makes the whole house chant Woof !.
Hopefully the rest of the states will follow suit.
Congratulations to a job well done by Grey2K USA, the Humane Society, and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell Medical Center, and most importantly the voters. I guess your votes really do count.

Why does having compassion for the suffering of animals meet with such derision ("bleeding hearts")? Great idea, chris: we should ban horse racing too, and will, next. One cruelty at a time. "The time will come when public opinion will no longer tolerate amusements based on the mistreatment and killing of animals." Albert Schweitzer

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. OPEN CASINOS and give them jobs there.

THE PEOPLE VOTED TO STOP ANIMAL CRUELTY

Yea!!!!! Go greyhounds!!!!! Thank you to everyone who voted for the dogs!

As someone who voted on behalf of the dogs, I also support eliminating horse racing. Maybe that can be done in the next election?????

What I kept in mind while voting on this question was not the dogs, but the possibility of replacing the two greyhound track locations with successful enterprises that would be more popular and support more employees.

This is wonderful news! I understand that there are people who will lose their jobs here, but there are other industries in which you can work, and the the two year timeline gives you ample time to make other arrangements for employment. I hope you all find jobs where you can walk into work and hold your heads high, knowing you are no longer working in a field that is injuring and killing helpless, innocent animals for sport. And God bless the Greyhound rescue organizations for all the good work they already do, and will continue to do, to find safe homes for these dogs who will no longer be racing.

Congratulations everybody, you just killed 800 dogs. They will not be adopted here in MA, they will be shipped to other states to 'race', and never be seen again. Sleep well tonight folks, a greyhound genocide is on your hands. And forget banning horse racing. The Mob will take out anyone behind such an attempt. But you have guaranteed casino's in this state, probably approved by the end of the year. More gambling, more gambling revenue, more gambling issues than greyhound racing ever could have created. Congrats to Carey Theil for bringing the casino's here! Hey, wait a minute, isn't Carey on the board of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling? Well, he "was" on the board...

Let's here it for the dog days of the 21st century!! This bill absolutely gives workers plenty of time to find new jobs and possibly better jobs.

You all voted dogs over people? I'm a liberal and am disgusted!

Hooray!!!! Goodriddance to the dogtracks!!!! Nowwe'll have all that space to open up casinos!!!! Yeah.

Yay! We WON!

in such a bad economy we vote to push even more people out of work.. unless you are saving the whales what kind of work are you doing to better our society

Greyhounds=Good Eatin'.

Maybe Dimasi and his cronies on the Hill will allow casinos to help the people who are going to lose their jobs. Maybe the casino backers will figure which friend of his to pay off to make it happen.

Finally we are giving some voice to animals!! Eliminating horse racing should definitely be the next priority. Organizations such as the MSPCA have been working hard on these issues and it's very easy to get involved through their website! Yay for the dogs and thank you everyone for voting for them!

Hooray for the dogs!!! Anyone who was against passing this ballot should be made to spend their life in a cage 23 hours a day and suffer daily abuse like the dogs have to.....maybe then they would see it differently. The dogs can't defend themselves and don't get a choice, thank God the smarter voices of society spoke for them!!!!! Track workers can suck it up and go find a respectable job!

Hooray for the dogs!!! Anyone who was against passing this ballot should be made to spend their life in a cage 23 hours a day and suffer daily abuse like the dogs have to.....maybe then they would see it differently. The dogs can't defend themselves and don't get a choice, thank God the smarter voices of society spoke for them!!!!! Track workers can suck it up and go find a respectable job!

It's a shame the dogs are just going to be shipped off to a state where racing is still legal and oversight is worse than in MA.

On a related story ...
More than 20 dogs were removed from their cages and sent to the kennel where they will be put to sleep on thursday.

I feel very badly for the people working at the tracks

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO VOTED TO STOP THE ANIMAL CRUELTY!!!!
YOU ALL ROCK :) HOORAY FOR THE DOGS :) I AM SO HAPPY!!!!!!!

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO VOTED TO STOP THE ANIMAL CRUELTY!!!!
YOU ALL ROCK :) HOORAY FOR THE DOGS :) I AM SO HAPPY!!!!!!!

You idiots. Half the greyhounds are going to be put to sleep. Dog Kennel's are already overcrowded and if they aren't adopted in a certain amount of time they are put to sleep.

What do you think about that?

If they really cared about animals, horse racing would be included. It is a total farce....Why not admit that horse racing has deep pockets and would fight back. The poor dog racing industry does not have the money . Many, many, many more horses are killed and maimed in racing than dogs. Simply pathetic !!!!!!!

All you liberals who voted to save the dogs just ensured 1 of 2 options.. the dogs goto another state or they goto the mspca and go through the bone test.. which is basically they put the dog in a room put a bone in front of the dog.. then try and take it away to see if it nips at them.. if it does.. byy bye immediate termination.. so congrats you just killed 1000 jobs and the dogs you supposedly love.. you better hurry up and go try and adopt one becasue if they sit there for 10 days then bye bye terminated.. congrats again.. IDIOTS>>>>>>>>>

Apparently dogs are more important than people to Massachusetts.

What's going to happen to those poor dogs? There aren't enough people who can or are willing to adopt them.

Nice, you just put a bunch of people out of work.

If you voted yes on question three I have one question. If tomorrow morning you showed up to work and found out you only had a certain amount of days to work, how good would you feel? I have been working for the same employer since 1982 & I am 49. My first recaction would be WTF?

Good job voters; save the dogs and screw the over 1000 people who will lose their jobs.

you people are so ignorant.....I love dogs but you call this cruelty?
walk around the city sometime and see the dogs tied to everything and not cared for?? AND YOU VOTED FOR SOCIALISM IN AMERICA as well !!! good job!!! just wait and see where this goes!!! these poor dogs are going to die
and our nation may as well......thanks a lot!!!

next is to ban hunting and animal abuse in circuses

Ugggg ,

Pure stupidity... where will all the money go..

sorry for the towns that will lose the revenue.. well since I cant go local and bet on a few races. I will spend my money in Foxwoods.
good job everyone next up make sure the birds dont fly into the windmills..
ban windmills ban windmills....

o ya and congrats you just killed hundreds of dogs that will never get homes and will just be put to sleep or shipped off to other states who have less stricter laws about animal cruelty and then they'll really be abused

I do feel bad for the people who are going to lose their jobs because of this. Mostly I rejoice that this ban passed. I grew up with a greyhound and know what sweet gentle animals they are. I shudder to think about the lives racers lead. My grey never raced (a rarity) and sadly racing had become so ingrained in the breed that she actually ran in the same direction they do (or did now!!!) on the tracks. My heart goes out to the workers, but I care for the greys more.

You're very welcome Mike and Brian!
Ha ha.

YAY FOR THE DOGS!!!! All you dog track workers should find a job that does NOT include caging animals 20 hours a day!!!!!

WAHOOOOOOOO!

next is to ban hunting and animal abuse in circuses

who said some socialism is bad?
People in sweden and denmark are happier than ones in amerika

I do hope that all of you that voted for the "dogs" enjoy paying for all the workers whos jobs you just took away from them. Now they will apply and get welfare, food stamps, mass health...and the works that you as tax payers will pay for.

Hooray for the dogs! They're going to be put down now or shipped off elsewhere. Who do you think owns these dogs? The tracks? Individual breeders own, feed, shelter and train these dogs. They are investments and cost money to maintain. They will not be "adopted" as much as these bleeding hearts think they'll be. They will be sent elsewhere, sold, or killed because feeding them costs money, nitwits.

Awesome news! Money should NEVER rise above the welfare of animals! Shame on you all who are putting MONEY OVER ANIMAL WELFARE!!!

Way to go Massachusetts! We're so proud of you!!!

pj from Texas ---

Yay for greyhound owners.Maybe they can give those people jobs who re gonna lose them now.Once again mass drops the ball on more jobs.Waaa dogs are racing for money.They stink as pets.There only good for racing. Give me a trifecta anyday.Save the dogs take jobs away from human beings.Give me a break.Greyhound advocacy group.We care about dogs and not people.Stupid!

Mike, On January 1 2010, we can go to Twin River and bet on dogs.
Then MA will lose that money we spend on gambling on a 1 dollar tri box.
I am sure Gov. Patrick will be happy seeing cars and cash going over the border.

Yay for greyhound owners.Maybe they can give those people jobs who re gonna lose them now.Once again mass drops the ball on more jobs.Waaa dogs are racing for money.They stink as pets.There only good for racing. Give me a trifecta anyday.Save the dogs take jobs away from human beings.Give me a break.Greyhound advocacy group.We care about dogs and not people.Stupid!

From California, on behalf of all proud owners of rescued greyhounds on the west coast, thank you.

Thank you all so, so much for voting to give Greys a chance at love, at life and at happiness.

Here's to the hounds!

This is horrible now at time like this the economy is now going to get worse and worse because of thouusands of more people out of jobs.. and dog racing which is a lot of fun to watch and enjoy.. now gone at great track like wonderland and even raynham-taunton.. this is horrible hinsdale only races part year and twin river is a hard track now these 2 close whats next?.. why couldn't we ban horse racing instead they get whipped by jockeys on their back

For everyone who voted yes...what do you think will happen to the dogs? They will either be sent to other states that dog racing is legal or be put to sleep. What you people are saying is that it is cruel to race dogs but killing them isn't. It is funny that a lot of people can't think of the causes and effects in making certain decisions.

I hope everyone who voted for this is prepared to adopt a greyhound....I think you animal lovers may have screwed yourselves, a lot of these dogs will end up being put down, not shipped to other states to race where they already have enough dogs already.....and if they are treated so poorly how come so many retired greyhounds couldn't find adoptive homes?? Congratulations on not helping animals and putting people out of work.

All dogs are sweet and gentle animals, ALL dogs. How many of you are going to move to the increasingly empty city of Revere now that the dog track is going to be knocked down and turned into a casino? I live right up the street from the dog track, and have neighbors who work there.

But Revere is a blue collar city, not part of the 'new' stoned Massachusetts. I bet a lot of people who voted against the bill have no clue what it's like to have a job where they have to sweat for their pay.

I hope Mass will resally feel the effect of the loss they're gonig to get here when i go to the bradley teletheater or twin river(pretty hard dog track) and realize they made huge huge mistake

i dont understand greyhounds are made 2 race now if i take them out of what there made 4 are they still ganna be happy i dont tell runners 2 stop running so why tell greyhounds 2 stop racing

Maybe we should ban meat from grocery stores next. I mean, those poor helpless animals! Babe 2012!!

Seriously, this is a deranged state we live in when the well-being of dogs (that are soon to be euthanized) are placed before the well-being of humans and their families. And no, it's not "easy to find a new job"...hence our current national unemployment rates? Morons.

I hope Mass will resally feel the effect of the loss they're gonig to get here when i go to the bradley teletheater or twin river(pretty hard dog track) and realize they made huge huge mistake

Yes we saved a few dogs,
We just UN-Employed a thousand track employees, Food and beverage vendors, and thier delivery people and restaraunt workers. We eliminated tax revenue,off track revenue, and just made the people at Lincoln, Foxwoods, and Mohegan VERY HAPPY ie. lost gaming $$$ thatwould have remained within the Commonwealth. Congrats Greyhound 2K, maybe your next pet project should be named Jobs 2K10

You people just took away the one thing that kept me going to those kennels the DOGS. I have worked in the kennels and still to this day show up and without asking for money work in the kennels. I loved the dogs, I had 75 pets aka racing greyhounds that when I got there were howling, smiling, and couldn't wait to see me and vice versa. Thanks for taking that away from me.

pets are abused!! lets ban people from having pets!!! wahooo... way to go all you morons who voted to ban dog tracks.... just cuz a VERY small percentage is abused doesnt mean you should ban it. there are more pet owners who abuse their animals but i dont see any of you idiots jumping up and down to free all the pets!!! ya its sad SOME are abused but you get that with ANTHING. actually i heard some kids were getting bullied in school so i thought we should rally together to ban school! great idea right?

excellent news! the unemployment argument holds so little water. 14 month advance notice, i wish all who have lost their jobs had the luxury of such a long notice.... they make it sound like the employees will arrive to locked doors tomorrow morning, and never work again....lololol good riddance to the greyhound racing industry.

Well, Obama may have triumphed but the "stupid" vote is alive and well in Massachusetts, where people have their priorities in order. Who are we to interfere with animals' freedom and self-determination, even at the cost of putting people out of work and causing them to lose their houses and have to surrender their pets to shelters. . . For our next trick, let's put an end to the whole concept of seeing-eye dogs. Those dogs didn't have a choice either, and they are being abused having to wear those harnesses . . . .

Thanks to you sorry tree hugging liberals, you just put thousands of people out of work! For what? A bunch of dogs that are bred to race? These dogs are cared for much better than you probably take care of your own pets? You have nothing better to do? What's next? Ban fishing? How cruel to stab a sharp hook into it's mouth and gills!!!! And what about the roads where ducks cross? Will you want us to close the roads so no mean dirty cars and trucks frighten them or potenially hit them? After all, you probably feel that they were here first and the road is mean to the eco-system! Fooey! Bad road! Bad, bad road!

You people are complete morons. Greyhound owners / trainers LOVE THEIR DOGS. If trainers didn't treat their dogs well and keep their dogs happy, the dogs wouldn't be able to win a race! As someone said before, these dogs are an investment and their handlers have every reason to keep them happy and health and to give them a good life!

Banning greyhound racing puts over 1,000 people out of work and SIGNIFICANTLY increases the possibility that these dogs will be put to sleep soon.

oh yeah lets ban hunting now.. thats animal abuse isnt it.. time to ban that time ot ban horse racing.. leave the people with on activities left... whoever voted yes on this question I hope you're happy that you just killed our economy more

I am someone who's Uncle races Greyhounds, thats how he makes his living. I have actually helped him at his kennel and helped him truck dogs cross-country. All out of naivety. But it did give me first hand knowledge of the absolutly, horrific conditions these dogs have to suffer through. Now from what I saw of my Uncle, he was very good with his dogs. That is not to be said about every dog owner at the track, in fact it can only be said of a very few. It is absolutly true that the dogs spend at least 18 hours of every day locked i cages just large enough to stand up in and turn around. Brought out in the morning for 60 mins, in the afternoon for 60 and at night for about the same time, thats it.

so there's a really small percentage of kids getting abused by parents so i think we need to all band together and vote to ban anyone from having kids and ruin it for all the good people just so we can weed out the VERY VERY small percentage of abused children!!!

Yay! I am so happy this ballot measure finally passed. This was a dying industry. Unless gambling becomes legal, these two tracks would have died a slow death anyway. We won!

As of 11:52 PM, 1,270,623 voted Yes.
For those 1,270,623 individuals, it it OK to mail resumes to your home addresses from return addresses of Revere MA & Taunton MA?
And then you may forward those to your employer and say:
Any way we my help this individual?
I voted yes on question 3.
He or she is out of work.

Get educated and find a job that does not include the use/abuse of animals for our recreational entertainment. This is Massachusetts, there are as many colleges/universities as there are Dunkin Donuts. While you are at it, catch up on your grammar/spelling so the rest of us don't have to read comments where you need a secret decoder ring to make sense of it....i.e. "Yay for greyhound owners.Maybe they can give those people jobs who re gonna lose them now.Once again mass drops the ball on more jobs.Waaa dogs are racing for money.They stink as pets.There only good for racing. Give me a trifecta anyday.Save the dogs take jobs away from human beings.Give me a break.Greyhound advocacy group.We care about dogs and not people.Stupid!"

Hey I am one of those 1000. Thanks to the morons who voted Yes,they should have listened to the facts.At least we care for our dogs.Now they are off to another state with NO LAWS to protect them. Good Job

Hey Wait I get FREE TRAINING now from the state right? I should go on welfare to since I had a job that paid more than most of the morons who voted yes and the fat dumper housewifes who should worry about reality and people with FAMILIES who pay taxes...But Thanx I will go on the system now and vacation for a while on YOUR MONEY

Get educated and find a job that does not include the use/abuse of animals for our recreational entertainment. This is Massachusetts, there are as many colleges/universities as there are Dunkin Donuts. While you are at it, catch up on your grammar/spelling so the rest of us don't have to read comments where you need a secret decoder ring to make sense of it....i.e. "Yay for greyhound owners.Maybe they can give those people jobs who re gonna lose them now.Once again mass drops the ball on more jobs.Waaa dogs are racing for money.They stink as pets.There only good for racing. Give me a trifecta anyday.Save the dogs take jobs away from human beings.Give me a break.Greyhound advocacy group.We care about dogs and not people.Stupid!"

You say you love your greyhounds? You can thank the breeders and those who race them for the canine you now enjoy. Greyhounds live to RUN and are WORKING DOGS! Keep your pets and let the working dog enthusiasts continue to keep the breed clean and strong.

People are more important than animals. The MSPCA, PETA and all the rest won't be happy until your right to own ANY animal is GONE! The stupidity, weakness and ignorance of the masses never ceases to amaze me. I can't wait to see how you react when your right to own your pets is also taken from you in our socialist society. Nice job!

I know what you people mean about loss of jobs. Slave traders were put out of business by the emancipation proclamation at a time when they really needed those jobs. And then the slaves just got shipped off elsewhere. Cruel to the slaves, unfair to the slave traders I say!

Anyone who voted for this simply has had nothing to do with greyhounds and or racing.

As someone who owns 4 'retired' pets (I'm in Australia but still the point is relevent) I think I'm fairly qualified to comment unlike some of the rabid dribble posted above.

Earth to all the 'do gooders' ever seen a greyhound when he's happiest? It's when he running!!! They enjoy it but hey the truth does suit the 'do gooders' does it.

Even if they are sold to other states, Its a step closer to stoping dog racing all together. I guess those who were against the ban also feel that Slavey was a good thign and put alot of people out of business...

If the people who "are losing their jobs" in the next 1-2 years while it's phased out, need jobs LET THEM RACE and earn a living chasing a robot around a track.

As the founder of a greyhound adoption group, I hope Grey2k usa spends as much money and puts as much effort in to finding homes for all the greyhounds that will be displaced.
Maybe they should now take up the cause of shutting down all the puppy mills, those are the dogs that are really abused and suffer.

It is about time. Horse racing is next to go.

Good grief. The ignorant vote. Does a dog trainer not practice the profession to encourage and enable a dog to win? How does a poorly treated animal win?

Unfortunately, this will result in yet more gambling as our commonwealth starts to think creatively how to make up for lost revenue.

FOR ALL THE DISGRUNTLED PEOPLE CLAIMING DOGS WILL DIE , TALK TO THE PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT SHELTERS THIS IS A RUMOR STARTED BY PEOPLE TO DETER PEOPLE FROM VOTING YES, WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE THINK JUST BECAUSE WE CARE FOR ANIMALS WE DON'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE MY HUSBAND LOST HIS JOB AFTER ALMOST 30 YEARS HE STARTED OVER PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE TRACKS CAN'T BE MAKING MUCH MONEY CONSIDERING THE TRACKS ARE LOSING MONEY. IF THE TRACK OWNERS GET OFFERED MONEY TO SELL THE TRACKS DO YOU THINK THEY'LL CARE ABOUT THEIR EMPLOYEES?

To those who are saying that the dogs will now be shipped to tracks in other states with less oversight - well, that is already what happens. As the dogs get slower they are downgraded to lesser tracks where there may or may not be as much oversight. It is still a step forward to end this cruel - and really unecessary - practice. Go bet on slots, or Keno, leave the dogs and horses alone.

To all you idiots who are crying about losing your jobs, go cry me a river. If you were such an animal lover, you would not work for a place that keeps dogs locked up in a small prison with barely enough room to stand up not to mention the inability to sit for 20 hours a day with little to no social interaction with humans. These poor animals who are lucky enough to be rescued to loving homes can't even sit like normal dogs do. They either have to stand or lay down, but you will never ever see one who knows how to sit thanks to their hell hole..

I hope everyone who says "Hooray for the dogs" is ready to adopt a greyhound. Just uneducated decisions being used to govern this state. These dogs simply will be sent somewhere else to run or killed. That's great, not only are people losing jobs but most of the dogs who love to run will suffer in the end. You should feel good about yourselves.

We have time to phase out the racing and adopt the dogs. And all u folks who care so much about the dogs that work with them will be the first to step forward and take one home I'm sure!!

So.....go find another job doing something honorable like taking care of sick poeple in nursing homes or hospitals!!

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORAAAAAY for the DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am sooo glad this passed, the dogs deserve a voice. Most will be adopted, but "real" animal lovers have to think about the future and the thousands of greyhounds that will NEVER have to endure the cruelty of being placed in a kennel for more than 20 hours a day. Next ballot question should do the same for the horses.

Think about it, less tracks means less dogs bred. So yeah, the dogs that are there now will need homes by 2010, but in the long run, there will be less dogs bred to participate in this cruel industry. As a union organizer, I care about jobs, and job loss. That stinks. But there will be other jobs, and hopefully better ones. Listen, people can speak up for themselves, dogs can't. The state of Massachusetts did the right thing.

My father has worked at the Raynham-Taunton dog tracks for over three decades. He is almost 60 years old and will now have to find gainful employment in a failing economy. I myself am a vegan, and a firm supporter of animal rights, and can say that this is no real victory "for the animals." Massachusetts dogtracks have an amazing greyhound adoption program, and I know first-hand that the owners and trainers love and care for these dogs.
While the tortures of factory farming go unchecked in America, here is a false victory for animal rights which will only prove to hurt 1,000 Americans struggling to provide for their families..

Im noth sure this was well thought threw on all fronts. While I think dogs should not in anyway be abused or put to harm, I think it's more important to think about and factor in the human aspect, Persons with jobs most of us whould never consider. Janitors,Cooks,Cashiers,Waitress... Thease pepole hundreds of them are now without jobs like so many others in our state. It's Something that Everyone should have factored in... It's not as easy as just "get another job" It goes deeper then that...

I was as anxious watching the election returns for this ballot question as I was the Presidential race. This is a wonderful night!!!

All of you worried about the racetrack employees can do exactly what tens of thousands of volunteers have devoted their time to do for the dogs for the last two decades.
1. Stand outside of stores, go to fairs and public events, anyplace where there might be a sympathetic ear to let people know about the poor families who will not be able to feed and shelter themselves because they are no longer wanted by those who use to employ them.
2. Solicit donations from businesses and other organization who might supply goods and services necessary for these poor people cast out from the racing industry.
3. Meet with others and plan endlessly to find new ways to help just one more.
4. Found a 501c3 organization to help homeless racing employees.
5. Of course, take as many as you can in to your own homes. Pick up a spare couch or two, so you have extra sleeping room.
6. Two words: Bake sale
7. Talk to everyone you know and to strangers on the street if the topic comes up, take out advertisements, make posters, publish newsletters, hound the media and work the Internet to get out the word of how great racing employees really are, not stupid or only good for racing and nothing else, not mean, not dangerous. Let everyone know how happy they are for a chance to prove themselves, to show what they can really do.
8. Magnets and stickers on your car can help too.
If you really apply yourselves, and I mean live, breathe, eat and sleep this mission, for a couple of decades, you may find that some people will come up to you and say, "Oh, I've heard about racing employees. It's too bad what happens to them, isn't it." And then, maybe they'll slip you a five to help out.

You would think michael vick had his hands on these dogs the way these people talk.

You would think michael vick had his hands on these dogs the way these people talk.

Let's start with the way we treat each other! Don't you think we should make the "sport" (?) of human beings brutally fighting each other in cages illegal? We prohibit the fighting of animals for fun or gambling but we tolerate and encourage this base practice? I hate even passing that channel where the two bloodied people are inside a cage (so they cannot escape, even if they wanted to?) pounding each other to a pulp. Despicable. Worse are the crowds that pay to watch it and gamble on the outcome. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
talks.

I am happy for the dogs but wish no ill will on the workers. Nor should anyone else. Please, be kind to the workers, even if you voted YES, like I did. I adopted two rescued greyhounds, and I'm glad that racing is being phased out in Massachusetts, but at the same time, the folks who work at the tracks are just innocent bystanders.

This is so exciting! I work at an animal hospital that is a center for greyhound orthopedic surgeries and I used to foster Thoroughbreds rescued from Suffolk Downs.

Horse racing will never be banned. It is more productive to work on rules/regulations. Horses shouldn't be pushed that hard before their bones & joints are done growing. Pushing the racing age up a year or two would be a good next step potentially. They've already regulated how the jockeys can use their whips - it is "illegal" to raise the whip above the rider's shoulder, ensuring the hit delivered is not as forceful.

We should also fine trainers/owners who simply up and leave Suffolk Downs without their horses. CANTER NE has to go in and save them! Alternatively, they'll be shipped to slaughter.

Well since the tracks have a 100% adoption rate (yeah right) why don't you work your magic and help find loving homes for these dogs. AND if you cared for these dogs like you say you do...then adopt one instead of sending it out to another state. Have some balls and care for the animals you supposedly watch over and care for - why would any of that change now? Do you best until the tracks close. All the shelters and adoption agencies are prepared to get more dogs. Oh and good luck with the new job!

Well since the tracks have a 100% adoption rate (yeah right) why don't you work your magic and help find loving homes for these dogs. AND if you cared for these dogs like you say you do...then adopt one instead of sending it out to another state. Have some balls and care for the animals you supposedly watch over and care for - why would any of that change now? Do you best until the tracks close. All the shelters and adoption agencies are prepared to get more dogs. Oh and good luck with the new job!

EVERYONE who is saying "The dogs will be shipped off and or put to sleep" GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT! DON'T BELIEVE them people! THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE TREATING THE ANIMALS INHUMANELY! THINK ABOUT IT!
They will have a year to find a job. AND to the people who said that the supporters of banning dog racing in MA made "uneducated decisions" that's a laugh! The enablers(the workers at these hell hole tracks) will suffer now.....Why??? Not because the people of MA make "uneducated decisions" but because of KARMA. What goes around comes around. Feel good people of MA YOU HELPED END THIS!
You w

Well what's next, how about we stop using doctors in the state too because they have to give people shot.... Or how about we get rid of dentist because they make peoples gums bleed.... How about we just get rid of all sports in Massachusetts because there's a chance someone might get hurt?

This was not a vote for dogs over people; we voted to be civilized and not let people earn a living by exploiting animals. Two years is more than enough time to find new homes for these dogs and new jobs for the people working at these places.

"these poor dogs are going to die and our nation may as well..."
really? our nation is going to die because people can't bet on dogs? who's ignorant?

I have been waiting 8 years for this !!!!!!! YEA for the the greyhounds. Thank you to all of the intelligent, caring and compassionate people who voted for this ban!! And to those who are lashing out about how all of the MA greyhounds will now be shipped out of the state to race or be killed, you must not be aware of the vast national greyhound adoption network that places these dogs in loving homes throughout the country. The only reason these dogs would be "shipped out" or "killed" is because their so called loving and caring owners would refuse to give them to these agencies for adoption, which just further proves how despicable and uncaring the greyhound racing industry truly is (or should I say was). Way to go Massachusetts!!!

Not all people who work at the race tracks are scum, but most of them are and working in an industry that exploits animals is looked down upon. Such a business breeds future negativity, abuse and neglect towards other animals and towards people as well. Many of my interactions with race track people (gamblers or track employees) have been rough and aggressive - I think that is to be expected when you have to deal with these people who like to be mean toward animals. It must be some power thing on their end - they are like bullies. Grow up and start being a productive member of society and stop contributing to the abuse - towards animals and humans.

"who said some socialism is bad?
People in sweden and denmark are happier than ones in amerika"

How WRONG you are. As someone who visits Sweden regularly I can very well tell you that the people there are burdened with a 25% tax on everything and the gov't is overwhelmed with the influx of middle easterner's flooding their country/socialistic systems. Crime is way up and people are losing jobs left & right PLUS they have a work-force age-ism that would never fly here. Denmark is another story. The young are fleeing because of an even higher tax burden - of course after getting a free college education.

Just remember that the shelters are flooded with animals from the foreclosed. Greyhounds, like horses, are an investment and any trainer/owner would take very good care of such property to get a return.

A shame that these animals-before-people types got to propagate their nefarious agenda. No doubt they will next go after horse racing and after athat, legitimate medical experiments using animals. ould they then ban meat for human consumption? "It can't happen here?" It just did. I really feel for those who lost their livelihood because of this insanity.

Years ago, my family adopted a greyhound that had raced for two years. She was a fantastic, beautiful, well mannered dog that was adored by all. Something happened, however, whenever we left the room or turned off the lights for the night. She went crazy and howled pathetically until someone went to comfort her. Now, imagine you've adopted a child from a foster home. Imagine that whenever you so much as leave the room, he/she loses control and/or starts to scream and cry. Reason would suggest that the child has been through a considerable amount of trauma or hardship. Why is it any different with a dog? Just because they can't voice their anguish doesn't mean it isn't there. Last question, how does racing dogs improve the human experience at all? It doesn't.

With over a year to find another job, I can't say I'm too concerned about those that'll lose their jobs. I wish them the best...but perhaps they shoudn't have been working for the industry in the first place.

Why not have people run races. At least they have the ability to give informed consent for being put through the trials of training and racing. This would actually add jobs and the racing people could keep theirs.

Good for the dogs. Hate to see jobs go away but your right to hold a job ends where that job tortures animals. Comment number 109 confirms that it's "animals before people" in the lament. It is an admission that yes, there is not a great life ahead for dogs that race, but whatever sacrifice they make is wortth it in the name of jobs. WRONG. Oh, and by the way, horse racing SHOULD be next up, as we continue to join the civilized world that rejects cockfighting and bullfighting as well. Get used to it.

Good for the dogs. Hate to see jobs go away but your right to hold a job ends where that job tortures animals. Comment number 109 confirms that it's "animals before people" in the lament. It is an admission that yes, there is not a great life ahead for dogs that race, but whatever sacrifice they make is wortth it in the name of jobs. WRONG. Oh, and by the way, horse racing SHOULD be next up, as we continue to join the civilized world that rejects cockfighting and bullfighting as well. Get used to it.

It is not 1,000 people!!! Go to the state records where they have a count of only around 700 people working at ALL racing venues. That includes dogs, horse,cars...any kind of racing venue! Only a few hundred at most will lose their jobs and they have a 14 month notice to find respectable work! Also the tracks have been losing money for years and haven't been paying their back taxes. The towns and the state aren't getting revenue from these tracks and the state has paid money in to the tracks! Get your facts straight and stop believing the lies this horrible industry has been telling!

There is no need for name calling, on either side.
Here are a few thoughts:
1) Keep the dog racing tracks, keep people who work at the racetracks employed. By banning betting on dog races, we lessen dramatically the likelihood that people would let greed (for money, or for the thrill of winning) quiet their consciences. Dogs would be allowed to race for more years, even if they are "past their prime."
2) Spend some money on advertisements that would encourage people to attend dog races. Charge a modest admission fee. How about class field trips?
3) This may be harder to do, but not impossible --- convert the existing track grounds into a shelter, that would not only house the unemployed greyhounds, but also serve as overflow for other MA shelters. The SPCA and Humane Society could help raise money to buy that land. Any wealthy animal lovers out there willing to lend a hand??
4) To everyone who voted YES, let's keep in mind that the work is not over.

Hooray for this change. Everyone looking out for the health of these dogs should be thrilled to know tht most of these dogs wil be put to sleep thanks to this decision. at least future dogs will be ok, even though we just voted to destroy all these dogs

Did you see the picture of the Grey2k organization, just a bunch of Older broads with too much time on their hands! Go scrub the kitchen floor and shut up now that you won!!

Thank you co residents of Massachusetts for ending this cruelty to animals and electing a president who will not discriminate against anyone in the constitution.
GOBAMA!

It has to end somewhere...sorry about the jobs, but seriously it was a long time coming. It is better to end now, as with everything we are doing to make the world better, it will take a few years to be beneficial, but it will get better. Don't underestimate the bounce back, change is good, and if we do not make sacrifices, nothing will ever get better.

Not only did the people vote to eliminate jobs but they voted to kill many of the dogs that are currently racing.

I used to work in dog racing.

No way there are 1000 Ma employees. Greyhound racing is mostly transients from other states, and most of them don't pay their taxes any way. Lots of ways to hide money.The abuse of these dogs is worse than people believe.

My conscience made me leave.

THANK YOU to everyone who voted to ban racing, we did it!!! For all of those who are feeling sorry for the people who have over a year to find a job, think about why they would have a problem. I don't think they will, most of the people working in these facilities are NOT college educated people-they can just as easy get another job working in a store or doing some other type of blue collar position-those jobs are a dime a dozen because the majority of people don't want them. It's not my fault if these people limited their options by not going to college, that's no reason for animals to suffer. As far as these dogs being put down, some of them probably will be, but you know what? In the future, that won't ever happen again because there won't be any racing...I don't understand why people are getting so angry over animals having rights-that's sad.

anybody who works in this kind of inhumane environment is completely uneducated and should have made something of their lives instead of entering into the business of profitting off of cruelty to those who don't have a voice. they have ample time to deal with their predicament and congrats to all of those voiceless, innocent beings who haven't even seen this blog and thank you to everybody in massachusetts who has come to their senses after eight more unnecessary years of enduring this. this is a victory for all, as our nation continually progresses. between this and a victory for a minority-raced canditate, i can only imagine where our nation will be in 50 years. sweet sorry 20 greyhounds will die tomorrow but in the long run, we can all appreciate the gain.

I want to say THANK YOU to all of you who voted yes on three. We have worked so hard to stop this abuse. We could not have done this without ALL of YOU. We showed you the evidence and told you the facts, the truth and you listened. It was your voices that were heard and we can now start the process to stop the abuse. For all your hard work, we thank you. Best wishes to everyone and YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. WE DID IT......

Shame on us, why can't we manage to regulate it and protect the animals without shuting down over 1,000 jobs and plenty of tax revenue!!!

These people must feel really good about themselves for eliminating dog racing in New England. Another example of people trying to save the world with little or no effort. Pushing that lever must have been a real chore. If these people wanted to feel good about themselves without actually doing any work couldn't these people just pop another frozen organic meal in the microwave rather than eliminating another part of our culture and the livelihood of thousands? Not everyone is cut out to work in a office and push a pencil.

By the way the rest of the civilized world loves and cherishes horse racing. Even places that some of these people brag about going to for cultural experiences like Europe. It is one of the most popular sports in the UK, France, Italy, Germany Hong Kong, Australia , Dubai and many other places. The horses are well taken of by the many hard working trainers, grooms and exercise riders. Not that these people would know about hard work as they dictate what we can and can not do from the comfort of their climate controlled offices.

I can't believe people!!! We care more about animals than people? I'm loving these people who are telling the racetrack workers to go find a job to improve society have you been awake for the last 6 months, the economy is failing there are no jobs and these people are in danger of loosing everything but the dogs are saved lets rejoice. Get a clue people and I hope none of you ever are put in the situation the workers are faced with. I'd also love for everyone who voted yes on that question to look the workers in the eye and say I voted yes and put you out of a job and I'm proud of it.

God I've read some dribble and rubbish above. Words like 'Torture' & 'despicable' hell I've even read that it's 'karma' that this is passed.

I'm amazed at the brain washing & propaganda that must have been spewed to get this passed, I doubt the majority of you would even know a greyhound if you fell over it.

Sad, sad day when the vocal minority can have this kind of effect. Thank god this type of action will never happen in a sane country like Australia

I Wounder How Many People Are Going To Lose There Jobs Now.You People Are Idiots

Have you people EVER looked up how much money Grey2k spends on greyhound adoption? ZERO!! They spend all of their money trying to ban greyhound racing and they do NOTHING to help get the dogs into adoption groups. So, now you have voted to ban greyhound racing, are you going to step up to the plate and help find these dogs homes??!!! I can tell you Grey2k will be nowhere in sight.

Maybe we could convert the tracks to an orphaned greyhound eutopia were they could finally enjoy independence from their brutal oppressers. This could be funded by the deep pockets of our state govt. IN THESE HORRIBLE ECONOMIC TIMES WHAT WERE ALL WHO VOTED FOR THE BAN THINKING??? Whats next? Equal education for animals? Save the cows, save the chickens?

Human compassion and perhaps real Americanism prevails. Change is here, change in coming. The world is in dire need of a complete shift from its backwards and backwoods way of pursuing happiness at the misuse and expense of another living creature

who's kidding who here!! 97% of the jobs lost are of the lowest level.....give me a brake all the poor souls that are going to lose there jobs have two years to learn how to say "paper or plastic" in order to find a comparable job.

***Ode to Kate D. Greyhound***

She was the last of the four retired racing greyhounds who had seen me through my lowest days.

She was there when I got sick, lost my career, my husband, my health. She was "his" dog originally, loving him much more than she did me while he was here. I would stand amazed as I watched her, the largest female greyhound I had ever seen, leap into his arms upon his arrival home. That is, when he CAME home.

And when he didn't, when my illness became too much for him to cope with, along with the burden of having a disabled wife no longer earning a once-sizable income, I would finally resign myself to the fact that this was another one of those nights when he was "working late". Heartbroken, we would go to bed, devastated by all of the losses. And slowly over a period of time, Kate changed her allegiance. It was as if she knew that it was me who got up early to let her out, to get her breakfast. It was as if she knew my heart was broken, as was hers. He was never coming home and we were alone to fend for ourselves.

Every night as I climbed and she lept up onto our huge Victorian bed, she would push closer to me, ever closer, until one night, I realized his greyhound---MY greyhound---was wrapping her arms around my neck and burying her face against my cheek. And this is how we comforted each other, back in those early difficult days of loss.

The years went by and we were inseparable. My Katie Greyhound was always at my side, on the couch, in the yard, in the car. The years eventually began to take their toll on her just as I was begining to heal.

When I found out she was in the early stages of renal failure which would ultimately prove terminal, I sobbed. "Isn't there ANYTHING I can do?" I asked my vet. He told me that if I were truly prepared to go to great lengths to give her more time, I might learn to give her fluids sub-Q every other day. I became a willing student and Kate was a patient patient.

I would slide the needle under her skin and watch as the fluid slowly filled a large bubble. She immediately perked up and we rejoiced that we had this hiatus in her illness within which to honor her life and give her all the love I could possibly give to the one who had saved my life so many years before.

There were steaks, which unless they were cooked on the grill, were unsatisfactory to my girl. She became fussier in her food choices because of her illness. I would boil her chicken breasts, broil swordfish, prepare her only the finest of dog foods.

I spent nearly ever waking hour with Kate, knowing that she now needed the fluids every day rather than every other. She was getting weaker and now in her photographs, I see that she was in fact a very old greyhound of over sixteen years, living longer than any of my other dogs.

When the time finally came when the IVs no longer kept at bay that which I had feared for over six months, I called my vet.

"If she needs to come in now,"he said, "come in. If you need the night to say goodbye, I can meet you in the morning at the office, first thing."
"We need to come now", I told him. It was time. It was 2 a.m.

Somehow I carried my girl, my sweet, sweet girl, to our little Subaru and took the final ride. As our loving vet carried her into his office, I sobbed quietly so as not to upset her. While my tears soaked her precious fur, he prepared the syringe which would end one of the most important relationships in my life.

And so my Katie went to the Rainbow Bridge that warm summer night, leaving me truly alone for the first time in 15 years. My girl had given me the best years of her life, of MY life. Because in loving her and being loved by her, I learned what true love was. It was all the things we value in our pets: honesty, devotion, compassion, loyalty, and more.

I slept alone for quite awhile after she died. I missed her warm presence beside me, her greyhound hugs, her wonderful sweet doggie smell. And after a respectable period of mourning suitable for a dog of her stature, I found love again. It is with my little girl whippet that I sleep these days, she tucked deep under the covers of that same huge Victorian bed where Kate had slept. And as I stroke the soft fur of this new teeny little greyhound, I am grateful to Kate for teaching me how to love deeply, fully, totally, like a dog loves.

Amen.

--Mary-Ann Ellison

When the tracks close, the dogs will be taken by various Greyhound Rescue and Adoption Groups where they will stay until they are adopted. They will not be killed and they will not be sent to local animal shelters (MSPA). When the tracks closed in Connecticut a few years ago, all of the dogs went to various Greyhound Rescue and Adoption Groups. None of them were killed. Most if not all were adopted immediately. The rest went to loving foster homes until they were adopted. The elimination of these tracks is definitely something that the greyhound advocates will be celebrating!

In the next three years, a record number of greyhounds will be euthanized. Only then will our hands be clean.

Great news for the greyhounds no one ever talks about........the greyhounds at the FARM. Has the general public EVER seen a puppy greyhound?????? You never have because they are destroyed by the thousands at the dog farms where they are born. The GREYHOUND RACING ASSOIATION admits to Mass-producing greyhound dogs each year. In 2003 or 2004 the Industry admitted to mass producing over 60,000 thousand greyhounds in the USA. The "Greyhound Racing Association", made up of owners, trainors and others; admitted to killing over 23,000 of these 60,000 plus greyhounds. Why would they do this??? Because these 23,000 greyhounds will not be PROFITABLE. Way to go Mass. Voters in standing up to big, unethical buisnesses.

Oh yea, sorry millionaire track owners Sarkis and Carney, ... you won't be enjoying those tax breaks through that little known "Promotional Trust Fund" that we the tax payers foot the bill for. We the tax payers paid to pave their parking lot, renovate their bathrooms and paid $40,000 dollars to hire an interior design consultant. All on the tax payers dime. What other millionair owned buisnesses in Massachusettts gets away with this??

Oh yes, thanks Mr. Sarkis for fdinaly paying your $4000,000 tax bill that was due last year. All your $10.00 dollar an hour part timers, which the opponets include in the 1,0000 jobs, have no health insurance, no 401 pension or have the oppurtunity to work overtime. The overwhelming number of track jobs, 600 plus, are low skilled jobs which for the majority are second jobs for people. Please tell me that a year plus notice to find another job is a crisis or hardship?? People are given two weeks and in some cases less when a business go out or closes.

Please......lets look at the facts. These millionairs have been sitting on "fat city" for many many years. Now all of a sudden they care about the employees. Ask the employees that have filed suit against the track owners for not paying them properly under the Fair labor stands act ?? Or how about when the employees whnt on strike? These millionair owners didn't seem too concerned with their employees then?

Way to go Mass Voters!! You should be proud once again in joining the other 37 States that have banned greyhound racing.

What do you people think will happen to all these dogs once the tracks close? You think you are saving them, but you are actually writing their death sentences. If you want to save them, adopt the greyhounds that will otherwise be euphanized. Besides, these dogs are bred for the sport and MA needs the income & jobs right now. Engage your brains!!!

George Carney will get the last laugh when he moves his Raynham Dogs to Seabrook as he owns both tracks!!!!!

For all those idjits that are yelling that the dogs are going to die now, it's no different than a seasonal track closing. Except it wouldn't be happening every single year. Tracks open, tracks close, dogs die. Tracks open, tracks close, more dogs die. At least the tracks are not opening up again.
As far as income from the tracks, they were state subsidized. So your tax dollars went to pay the tracks, not vice versa.

Greyhounds are being abused, and it is admirable that the people of MA recognized and voted to end it. Besides the disgusting abuse, using another living thing for sport and profit is despicable. Taking pleasure in it is even worse. Contrary to what you may think, everything on this Earth does not exist for us to use, buy, sell and throw out when we're done.

To those who have lost their jobs- I wish that there had been another way, but sometimes doing the right thing requires sacrifice. Thank you for your sacrifice. Your communities will hopefully be there to support you.

These greyhounds will be adopted by loving families that care about them and treat them with the respect that they deserve. MA shelters will be there to protect them as they search for new homes. Horses and lab animals will soon follow…

Cheers to those evolved humans who realize that it was only our arrogance, and not our God-given right, that has allowed us to abuse other living things in the past! Cheers for Yes on Three!!
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the twenty dogs i had slotted to go to ma. this week just got a bullet. saved me the transport fee.

to all those who are so negative about this ban i must say I'm shocked at the response and wonder what would your opinion be if had a muzzle over your mouth and forced to run to your grave at a speed not meant for your body? all while suffering horrible pain of a bad diet and a cage no more than 3 feet large? i consider it extremely shallow that you people see dollar signs in cages where bleeding dogs lie in pain.you may think its a stupid ban for the simple fact that its not you in that cage .and to be honest i wish none of you a horrible sentence such as that.they don't understand why they are forced to suffer.and if you could explain it to them what would you say? I'm proud i voted against the cruelty the torture and the gambling of a life that doesn't belong to anyone.

For all of you who think this is some liberal or atheist issue, take note. I am a born again Christian and a conservative and I am over the moon about the ban on Greyhound racing! --- I'm also a preacher's kid, so you don't need to go there. The Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities are all uniting for the animals now days. Catch up with the program! Faith based animal activists are on the rise! :)

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who volunteered for the dogs and those who voted YES!!! And congratulations to dogs!!!!!

Screw the people, they can look out for themselves. The dogs can't, and we need to be their voice. Think of how many fewer gorgeous greys will be tortured and killed in the future because we spoke up now. Roo-roo for the hounds!!!

In Massachusetts dogs are more important than people. So what, they have 'til 2010 to find a job has been the reply. I wonder if the folks who voted yes would be so cavalier if their own livelihood was at stake. Shameful!!!

One more thing from the preacher's kid. Proverbs 12:10 writes, 'The righteous man regards the life of his beast, but the compassion of the wicked is cruel.'

All you who are on myspace come join me! www.myspace.com/pjsmail26

Let's unite!

Lets ban horse racing, dog racing, dog shows, rodeos, 4H shows, dairy farms, butcher shops, pet stores, bird cages, fish tanks, little dog sweaters, dog collars, litter boxes, horse shoes, fishing, whale watching, aquariums, handsome cabs, hunting, bird watching and just for the sake of it lets ban the swan boats. fake swans have rights too.

Well now ban horse racing of any kind. You must equally protect all animals not just one species. A jockey or a driver has a whip for only one reason, thats to make the horse run. Also riding a horse. Most people in the U.S. are overweight, so making a horse carry or pull a person is abuse. Now while your at it maybe we can ban keeping birds or any small animal in a cage in your home the poor things. You can always smoke some pot , and get them high now though...Fools

Time to put the dogs to sleep. No one left to take care of them. Let's vote to ban football, hockey and boxing next. Just in Massachusetts please. I still need a reason to spend my money in NH and RI. Thank MA. You are bunch of wack jobs anyway.

I consider myself an animal lover, but I do realize that animals are different than humans. They have different emotions, instincts, needs, intellect and social relationships than humans (and other animals). What may be cruel to a human is not always cruel to an animal, as what maybe cruel to one species may not be cruel to another. On the other side what may not be cruel to a human can be cruel to an animal. (i.e. teating dogs as an "equal family member", dog social orders are very rigid, if a dog does no have a clear understanding of his place in the hierachy he will not be "happy" and could result in unusual behavior). We do know that animals who are "unhappy" and mistreated will not perform the way we want them to. (That is why you don't see cat racing or service cats, even though cats are smart enough to learn all kinds of tasks.). Therefore, using animal cruelity to ban dog (or horse) racing is misguided if you truly understan animals.

Hope everyone enjoys the higher property taxes. I will because i love buying tax liens.

Hooray. As for the people who will lose their jobs... do what those who
worked in concentration camps in World War II did when the camps were
closed down.... get a decent, cruelty-free job.

Legislating morality never works. Thousands of dogs will be slaughtered due to this. They were bred for one purpose, take that away and they will not be bred any longer. You have sentenced the breed to extinction and cost Massachusetts 1000 more jobs.

All you people who think you are "saving the dogs" are absolutely out of your mind. The dogs that are racing now will be sent to tracks where the standards aren't as high as Mass, and/or they will be euthanized. Greyhounds have been born and bred to race since Ancient Egypt. You really think you are "saving" them. Now they just be bred in Massachusetts anymore. You aren't saving anything.

And you want to ban horse racing? Are you out of your mind? What's next? Eating chicken sandwiches? Painting easter eggs? You are all out of your mind. And this is coming from a die hard liberal.

Not to mention you put 1,000 hard working people out of work. Shame on you. Absolutel shame on you.Shame on you.

"What may be cruel to a human is not always cruel to an animal, as what maybe cruel to one species may not be cruel to another." Are you kidding me???
I wish I could have introduced you to my parent's beloved greyhound, Jersey. Jersey died several years ago but before being adopted by them back in the early 90's, he was found in a crate, in a Florida track kennel, with a compound fracture which was left open and unhealed. Along with this, he had a cigar burn on his other leg. Jersey never smoked a day in his life. I'm sure that it was just an accident though by human hands.

Praise God! One more down....twelve more states to go! Keep up the greyt work Grey2k!

why don't we outlaw pet ownership too!! I mean if Animals have rights then keeping them locked up in a house or behind a fence is SLAVERY!!! Also we should outlaw meat production, I mean everyone can be a vegetarian and be healthy that way, right!!!

ANYONE WHO VOTED FOR THE BAN ON GREYHOUND RACING SHOULD BE FIRED FROM THEIR JOBS FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON AS WELL.

Jersey's Voice-the key word is may. Denying a creature medical attention is cruel. Burning, beating, kicking an animal is cruel. But that is not the norm at dog tracks today-especially the ones in MA. Dog racing in itself is not cruel, chasing the lure is what comes natural to a sight hound. If you wish to prevent what happen to your dog (and I do) pass laws with stiffer penalties for animal cruelty. Get law enforcement to put more effort and resources in fighting animal cruelty. Dog racing did not do those things to your dog, a cruel evil person did those things, and a ban on dog racing does not punish him/her.

I'm hoping Grey2 k can help finance my greyhound adoption group in taking 20 greyhounds from a track and transport them to my adoption group for adoption. Flush off this win, I hope they see fit to use their funds to really help greyhounds.

Thank Goodness there are organizations llike Grey2KUSA out there to speak up for the dogs!!! This is beautiful news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tear down the dog tracks and put in Casino's ? Wouldn't this be inhumane to human's too? Doesn't quite make sense here. Cut 1,000 jobs, free the animals yes, and let people gamble their money and houses away at potential local casinos.. very smart :-\

Great.
Now thousands of dogs will be put to sleep as well as people out of jobs.
I highly doubt any animal rights advocates will be adopting a greyhound because they are born to run.
I hope your happy.

Wonderful news! I wish the entire United States would ban greyhound racing.

What a lovely slice of the population we have representing the dog racing industry, so eloquent, so thoughtful (so ridiculous) ...obviously the mspca and various other orgnizations had enough foresight to plan for these greyhounds when they are finally released from the tracks, they will go to shelters and foster homes until they can be adopted.

They also had the foresight to know that it wouldn't be right to throw people out of jobs from one day to the next, and so the ban allows AMPLE time for these people to find other means of employment. Let's be realistic, a year is plenty of time to find another job -they're not exactly performing rocket science.

Congratulations Greyhound People! You've all worked so hard. Greyhounds on the racetrack are miserable, they just can't talk about it. They suffer in silence. There are so many people who love these animal,that I don't even worry about having them all adopted out. There's two years to do so. I wish the track employee's luck with finding other jobs. They are out there, and that casino plan sounds good. I'm sure there'd be more money in it. I do wish the track people leaving comments on here would stop downing the dogs, saying they are being put to sleep and shipped off to other tracks. Maybe so. But you people created this horrific mess, and we're left to clean it up. And we will.

banning racing in ma. does nothing to help greyhounds, the owner will just race there dogs in other states that racing is legal in. there are dog tracks all over the country. the people of ma. just sent a lot of money to other state. just like the all the casino money we give to RI and CT.

banning racing in ma. does nothing to help greyhounds, the owner will just race there dogs in other states that racing is legal in. there are dog tracks all over the country. the people of ma. just sent a lot of money to other state. just like the all the casino money we give to RI and CT.

Best news I have heard all week. Way to go Mass. These dogs make wonderful pets. Let one race into your heart.

To Posted by Friend to Animals-
Dog racing did in fact do those things to him.
And I have never seen a "lure" in the wild. Do you have a picture of such?
I know what naturally comes to a sight hound is chasing an animal, but I never heard of chasing a lure in the wild. And they were meant to run, not race-big difference.
Ever see a greyound get electrocuted by the lure? Yes-it happens (but I'm sure it never did in MA). Do you know the yearly figures on greyhounds (from farms, tracks, and unregistered) killed each year because they are not adopted? Staggering-but I'm sure it never happens in MA. To the purists like me, I'm willing to extinct the breed if it means never racing again.

give the tracks slot machines. no one goes to the tracks becuase they love dogs, they go because they like to gamble. i can hire one of the fired workers to walk my adopted greyhound. the rest can get jobs at the slot machines.

My family adopted a former racing greyhound through a rescue agency a number of years ago, and that dog was the sweetest, gentlest pet we ever had. We gave him a loving, safe, home and he gave us unconditional love in return until he finally passed of old age. I encourage anyone who can afford to adopt one of these animals to do so. You will never regret it.

A testament to the power of propaganda. Got the most part the racing greyhounds are treated well. Most of Grey2k's ads were pure lies. Way to go. You put a lot of people out of work and put the lives of the dogs here in jeopardy. Bravo morons!

Jersey's Voice-
"Do you know the yearly figures on greyhounds (from farms, tracks, and unregistered) killed each year because they are not adopted? Staggering" Staggering is not actual number. Your agrument would be better served if you used an actual number. I am opposed to overbreeding and killing dogs as well. But banning a sport in MA that has existed world wide for thousands of years is not going to stop overbreeding and killing of unwanted animals or their mistreatment. As I stated earlier, better laws and enforcement is and will be much more effective.
So chasing a lure is cruel because it is not an animal, so what should be on the next year's ballot- banning playing fetch with tennis balls and sticks.
Electrocuted by a lure? Not a very common occurence, and that is cause by poor electrical work, not an inherit risk to the sport. Freak accidents will happen, but they happen in every endeavour, so lets not ban activities because of them.
" I'm willing to extinct the breed if it means never racing again. " If that is the case, pass laws banning the breed not the sport.

Everyone whining about the loss of jobs is a sore loser

No one makes their whole living working at the tracks, they're not even open during the winter

Now go out there and get a REAL JOB you lazy uneducated slobs, instead of a sleazy one that involves cruelty to animals

Jersey's Voice-

Your comments are right on target. I've followed dog racing for over 20 years. There are some sleazeballs in it but most of the people involved are stand up citizens. The sport is dying a slow death. Why not just let it go away by itself.

From Sussex County New Jersey, on behalf of all proud owners of rescued greyhounds we thank you!!!!

Me & my hounds are "rooing". Way to go Mass.; we save one dog at a time and close one track at a time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Forall you idiots that think it is sporting to race greyhounds, put yourselves in a crate for 23 hours a day and then go race each other. I am sure we can find enough degenerate gamblers to bet on you.
As far as the lost jobs in Massachussetts, you left wing radicals voted for "Obama the Messiah", I am sure he will take care of you with all his tax credits for the people who spunge off this country and pay no taxes.

WOO HOO!!! more importantly yesonprop2.org passed!!! Factory farming is the worst cruelty. Pregnant pigs and baby calves yanked from their moms and stuffed in a crate barely bigger than their body, with a chain around their neck!! All you animal lovers check out hsus.org (stories about the mass greyhound vote and california farm animals vote) farm sanctuary.org is great too :) I LOVE ANIMALS SO MUCH BETTER THAN PEOPLE THEY ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO SEE YOU AND NEVER HAVE A BAD DAY (unless humans are abusing them) :)

Cruelty? Greyhounds have been bred for a specific purpose... Running? What is truely inhumane is to take these animals and try to coupe them up in a house as a strictly companion animal where they can not run. I have never seen a "healthy" greyhound who did not enjoy running. News Flash: Americans and their companion animals are generally overweight!!! I think people concerned with this should maybe try running themselves? A little exercise never hurt anyone.

To the naysayers of the ban, get an education. Your argument is that the industry will simply move to other states and that the dogs here will be unadoptable and therefore killed. So solve the problem by breaking the cycle. If more states ban greyhound racing, then there will be fewer and fewer safe havens for the industry, and gradually less abuse to these animals. The industry kills and maims these animals anyway, so how is keeping the industry afloat any less of a "greyhound genocide?" You guys can't answer that because your arguments don't revolve around ending animal cruelty. They revolve around keeping 1000 unskilled workers employed at their expense.

Gee there is some misguided comments on here, the majority from people who I assume would have had ZERO to do with the greyhound breed.

Any of you ever stopped to think when a greyhound is happiest?? IT'S WHEN HE'S RUNNING!!!

The comments about 'inhumane' 'bad diets' ' forced to run' are simply propaganda and laughable, any sane person who has dealt with this breed knows this.

Shame MA shame!!

WOO HOO!! HOORAY FOR GREYHOUNDS!!!! yeah, if you were locked in a cage for 20 hours a day you'd be happy to finally get out and run too. And you ignorant morons think they're happy racing? Well of course they like to run, they're dogs! But do they like to be confined only to be let out to race? NO. How can you not see the abuse in this industry!? Dogs have been tested and they've found the use of cocaine as a stimulant in these poor animals. Don't be stupid. Get over yourselves. Massachusetts voted. The voice was heard. No more Greyhound racing. So get your sorry ass a job you can actually be proud of. I'd vote for greyhounds over the sorry people who run this business any day. So stop your whining its not going to change anything.

Yesss!! Hurayy!!! I'm So Happy For Greyhounds Have To Go Freedrom. Hurray!! Dogs Deserve To Be Happy. Thankz You For Everyone Support Greyhounds Desserve To Be Protect. I Did Vote, Too, And Everyone, Too. Thankz You Vote For Greyhounds.

One down, and more to go! Congrats! It's ensuring to know that compassion still exists out there!! rooooooooo!

I am an animal lover but the passing of the bill raised some questions for me

Will the MA kennels just move to another state meaning all this bill did was lose money for the state the the dogs are just being abused elsewhere?

If the kennels do not move to another state what happens to these excess greyhounds, they will be put down like many others before them?

As you can tell I have very mixed emotions on this

Tuesday was a bad day for bolth sides 1, people are going to lose there jobs 2, These greyhounds will still be racing and some of them will be racing in states where the laws are allot more lax than they are here. This state is the most highly regulated state in the country when it comes to greyhounds and horses, when it came to the whole campaign allot of it was based on misinformation and lies, they gave the public what they wanted them to see and thats what help win them votes. Come 2010 all the greyhounds will be still racing, and they will be racing with less regulation than they are today.

Some of you people should be ashamed of yourselves with your comments, its almost like your not only happy to see an industry die but that your also happy to see people out of work, what if it was you? what if you had a mortgage, kids to feed, and bills to pay and now you find yourself in a jackpot. Maybe some of these people are not the most educated people out there, but they are hard working and allot of them are older people and it is going to very difficult for them to find jobs when they have been doing the same thing for 20 or 30 years. And to all you people out there that say they can just get another job, get real in this economy it is hard enough to get a job when you are younger and you do have an education. There is allot of compassion out there in this state, its just in the wrong place

I was just LOL while taking my precious greyhound girl for her long afternoon stroll - and I mean LOL. The fools SO who wagged their lying tongues throughout the campaign about how "its illegal to put a healthy greyhound down in this state" yet here the lowlifes are once again with threats of all of these dogs dying! So what's your vengeful plan? Ship them to a state where they can be? You boast 100% adoption rates - aren't you going to continue that trend? I'm sure you'll continue to be spiteful to any local adoption group that ever spoke up against you and with hold dogs from them. Those of you stuck in a bygone era get your lazy heads out of the sand and get filling out those applications! Really, lobby for those casinos - you go!!

I think in all honesty we should be more concerned with our service men and woman being killed than about the damn animals, noboby wants to see animals abused or hurt but give me a break, money would be so much better spent on making upgrades to our military's equipment to keep people in our armed forces safe rather than worrying about a stupid dog in a cage and putting hard working people out of work. This is a very screwed up soicety we live in, SHAME

Hoooray! Now time for us to work on the horse as well. Unfortunately, these dogs/animals doesn't speak our language. They need us human to speak up for them. That's what make this country great and a very HUMANE SOCIETY that we have the priviledge to live in.

This is so disgraceful its funny, there are allot of business out there that are speculative to whather they are ethical or not, do we really want people out there that can put other people out of work simply by getting some sigantures in order with some lies, let me ask you this, where does all this with the animals end? Do we have to resort to not milking cows, not eating steak or poultry, and not riding horses becuase someone says its wrong, this will only get worse with these animal nuts and thats what they are, today its greyhound racing, tomorrow they will be telling you that it is wrong to feed your animal certain foods or take your dog for a walk when the weather is bad. These people are fanatics!

For the person that wrote comment 188, yes the dogs will just go to some other states, this state has the most toughest regulations in the country so they will be going some where that is more lax where the laws are concerned, wheather they will be abused or not is hard to say, the people in this industry are generally good to these dog and they are not mean people, unfourtantly there are some bad people out there that makes them all look bad. For the people that say that they need to elimnate greyhound racing all over the country, you have got to be kidding me if you honestly think that sates such as Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, and Florida are going to ban greyhound racing in our lifetime, some of these states recently baned cock fighting and you think that they are going to think that its cruel for a greyhound to sit in a cage thats not the size of a house is laughable. Thats a good joke guys

1,000 jobs? Which? The man who takes my $2 for a ticket? The sharply dressed trainer who parades the greyhound and lets him pee? Are these full time jobs? A track is open 4 to 5 hours a night and on a limited number of days.

Ban horseracing? You know nothing of what you say. The sport of Kings that has been a staple of American And British society for 100's of year. One of greatest majestic animals to walk on this earth. Take a look at history, and try to know what you talk about. I know many that work on the backstrecth and train horses. They are part of the family.

I have had 2 rescue dogs, the most recent one from Seabrook, NH. Let's ban dog racing in NH next.

I am Italian and live in Italy with two marvellous greyhounds rescue coming from Ireland .I AM SO HAPPY about this news. God bless people who protect the animals...................Raffaella

Has anyone thought about how many dogs' lives could be saved with the $500k spent to ban dog racing, responsible for about 8 dog deaths a year in MA?

The dogs and the people involved are in for a shock, but banning dog racing was the right thing to do. I did my research before I voted, and I knew the embellishments of Grey2K. I voted YES to ban greyhound racing in Massachusetts because it's grossly exploitative. It was probably a tough decision for a lot of people. We're not mindless of the consequences.

As for the slippery slope arguments about hunting, fishing, meat eating and milk drinking, it won't happen in this state or this country. Maybe a ban on certain ag industry conditions, but that is all.

Reminder: do not give one penny to the Humane Society. It is a political outfit.

horse racing is the sport of kings ,any of you idiots who think horse racing should be banned knows nothing of the sport ,these animals are treated better than anyone reading this is, its a 10 billion dollar a year industry that employes at least 500,000 jobs nationwide. so good luck trying to ban horse racing if thats your wish , my wish is that while your walking your greyhound he bites you in the leg.

These are Democrats who cost the state a thousand +jobs.

These same Democrats are going after Horse racing.

Anyone involved with the Horse industry should think twice before you vote Democrat.

in response to mike at the top there,(comment #2) couldnt care less if your job was to go, you cant compare it to other peoples professions being on the line, most of us dont hurt animals everyday to pay our bills, you cant justify this as a profession just because its the way you pay your mortgage mate ,

the level of ignorance in MA never ceases to amaze me. it's really no surprise that an ignorant electorate supports ignorant propositions. clearly, these people don't understand the ANIMALS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME LEGALLY RECOGNIZABLE RIGHTS AS HUMANS. and they shouldn't. there are obvious distinctions between the 2 beings. it's sad that many people will be out of work and many others deprived of a passion. i only wish that the supporters of this ban would have as much compassion for people as they do dogs.

They should put casinos where the Dogtracks are. They ironic thing about that is there will be a room in the Casino where betting takes place on dog races; which are being done in Texas or something! Then the race season will be all year long, since winter wouldn't make a difference like it does in MA, which means more doggies would be affected in the end. Think it through next time people

this was a mistake. Grey2k should be ashamed of this. weed is legal, dogs are not.... so dumb.

MAMMA MIA!!!!! I did not know that so many people defending greyhound races KNOW NOTHING about the real conditions of these wonderful dogs.......

What makes you the experts?

Can you all talk to animals?
think about that when you find your self biting on a nice piece of meat. Or you put on make up. Or put on the nice pair of leather boots.
You should all concentrate on keeping your jobs not taking someone elses away.
think about that when you see a person begging for money, maybe you took away his job too.
You are certainly making the world a better place....NOT

A dog is just what it is A DOG!!! The dogs at the greyhound tracks are treated better than most private owners and breeders do. Just another Excited States reaction that makes absolutely no sense. Asking misinformed people to vote on something makes no sense and as usual the squeky wheel gets all the grease.

To Andy #110 - you are making the mistake of treating your greyhound as if it were human...sighthounds in general are very pack oriented, greyhounds, whippets, and Italian greyhounds all like to have other sighthounds. Your dog is not howling because it was abused. Your dog is howling because you are cutting it out of its pack, which is now your family. In a sense YOU are abusing your dog. By comforting him, you are just encouraging the dog to do the same behavior every time you turn off the lights and leave him alone. He'll do better if you let him sleep with you or a member of your family, or better yet, adopt another greyhound (I hear that a lot of them will soon be available).

Congrats, A solid victory for the dog and for animal cruelty?!?!
I do hope that all of you who voted yes are vegitarians.
Ever stop to think of what your, beef, hogs and fowl go through on the kill floor??..Probably not all that goes through your mind when it comes to those animals are, rare medium or well done!

So, I take my Whippets out lure coursing some weekends where we race other whippets chasing a lure around a course laid out in open space. Is this OK or am I guilty of animal abuse? I dunno, my dogs seem to really like it. Or is this OK because no gambling is involved? Also one of my dogs caught a rat and killed it. Is she also guilty of animal abuse? Or is that OK because nobody likes rats.

considering im from canada im just gonna say about ten years ago a dog track was in the works and the door was slammed shut on the idea.The owners and trainers and so on for these helpless animals care about NOTHING but the money their dogs bring in,and if any of them say they do theyre nothing but liars.Its all about the money and thats the bottom line.They suck every inch out of these animals and when theyre done making money Its either hoplfully get adopted or put to sleep.this sport is full of gangsters and inhumane people who care about nothing else other than what prize money the puppies bring in,way to go massachusetts

I have an idea. Let's see who can guess how many of the above posts were written by the same, disturbed person. I say 120 and growing.

I am sad for those people who will lose their jobs - it's a tough economy. Hopefully 14 months will be plenty of time for people to seek new employment. But, I did vote Yes on 3 because I believe we have have the responsibility to protect and respect those who do not have a voice - whether it be humans or animals. Intense confinement paired with a high rate of injuries was enough to convince me that we need to break this cycle. And the end is not perfect - dogs will be shipped to other states, as they are the legal property of their owners. In the long term, closing tracks will mean fewer dogs will be bred to meet the demand of the industry, and fewer will be exposed to intense confinement and the high risk of injury. This will eventually lead to fewer adoptions of retired racing dogs, and then maybe dogs who languish in shelters will have a better chance of being adopted.

God bless those who helped to accomplish this. I am the proud companion of a retired racing grey. She is the second grey who has shared it's life with me & I am grateful to both of them. These wonderful dogs have brought me love & joy. My day usually revolves around walking my grey as I live in a condo, have no fenced yard, must go out in all sorts of weather for our walks (sometimes brutal weather as I live near Chicago & once suffered a broken wrist as a result of an icy walk). The sacrafices are well worth it. I am 71 & will never be without a grey until I am unable to care for one.

i always hated dog racing, harness horse racing is the best.horses are meant to compete they are a great animal and horses get treated better then alot of people. ' thats one horse power'. nascar now thats the worst race in the world.

That's enough of THAT sh*t track !!!!!

Thank you Massachusetts! My partner and I have adopted 4 "retired" greyhonds two of which were retired after breaking a foot during a race. We are very active in our rescue group and we usually bring dogs to the Maryland region from Florida, New Hampshire and West Virginia.

To not recognize the terrible life these dogs lead is absurd. I heard about but when I saw it it with my own eyes I was shocked. I can't imagine having to be in a cage up to 22 hours a day, eating whatever leftovers your are given, fighting to gtet what you can, etc. One of the saddest things to see when you first adopt a grey is that when they get their food the gobble as much into their mouth and then run someone where they spit it out, cover it the best they can and eat it because they've had to protect what they get on the track.

The females are treated worse than the males. The are given drugs to force them to breed, then others to not breed. Other drugs are given to them to make them run faster. This same female's thyroid died from what our vet thinks was drug overdosing. Did they diagnose her problem at the track? No, why would they care she was only a tool for making money.

Some estimate that up to 40,000 greys are put down annually and tha is just adult greys becuase for the most part that needs to be reported. Puppies who are deemed not good enough at birth to race are just put down with no record. The most popularly known methodoloy? Drowning.

This is just a bit of why this barbaric "sport" needs to end, unless of course you like inhumaity which it seems many who have posted here do.

I am sometimes asked: 'Why spend so much of your time talking about kindness to animals when there is so much cruelty to men?' I answer: 'I am working at the roots.' George T. Angell Founder of the Mass SPCA.

To Davis comment 221,

I could not possibly agree with you more.

All of the negative bull in many of these comments are just from people who don't have any idea what kind of animal this is, and also what dogs need.

They are not dog lovers, or greyhound lovers, just people who need to write a dumb comment and then read their own stupid words and think they made a difference.

I am lucky enough to own one of these beautiful animals, and she means more to me than all the 1000 people who need to find a better way to make a living, and I am NOT sorry I voted YES and would do it over and over until this tragic form of entertainment ends.

I am also not a democrat, not a Grey2K "whackjob" as everyone thinks are the only people who voted yes, and also haven't been "brainwashed".

I actually researched the facts and have experienced my own dog in her "new" life after the track misery and made my own intelligent decision.

The people working at the Massachusetts tracks are not bad people. That has nothing to do with this issue.

Dog's living in cages is the issue, along with the injuries that happen on arace that takes place on an oval track.

Has anyone beside me seen the video of the race at Hollywood track in Florida where a greyhound had to be put down right on the track because she was just about decappitated by the mechanical lure after getting hurt badly on turn 1 which is the real problem with oval track dog racing? Watch it. It will make you sick.

My vet has told me about the condition of typical racing greyhoungs after 1 or 2 years of track life. That will make you sick as well.

No, I made my decision based on facts, and also "long term" thinking that yes, for the short term, Mass dogs will be shipped to other tracks, but the end has to start somewhere, and somewhere is here.

Greyhoungs are born to run, and they go back as far as Egypt.

The breed will survive, and they don't need to live in cages and run on dangerous oval tracks to live the life for which they are breed. They are beautiful social pets and I could not be happier that we as a state voted to stop this now.

HOORAY to Mass. I am from NH and have an adopted greyhound let's work on seeing NH follow Mass. and ban greyhound racing in NH

April,

If you are a new greyhound adopter, you are in for a treat. I've had dogs all my life and there is something very special about a greyhound.

Did anyone ever consider the consequences? No greyhound racing = no greyhound dogs. You've just initiated the demise of a beautiful bread. No greyhound racing = no homes for currently racing dogs. Where homes found for the misplaced dogs prior to passing this bill? No greyhound racing = 1000 fewer jobs, less state revenue, families in crisis. Were these realities addressed prior to passing the bill? Is everyone who voted for the end of greyhound racing willing to take in a dog, family or child affected by this? Is everyone willing to donate to the displaced dogs and families? Just asking.

Cindy,

The breed has been around since Ancient Egypt, so I doubt they figured we better keep this breed going so someday 200o years from now they can race in Massachusetts.

There are waiting lists for adopting these dogs in many states.

The more that the word spreads that these dogs are incredible pets, the more you will see people like me walking one every night through the neighborhood.

Yes it is sad that people will lose their jobs, but I'm just thinking and I know I'm not an idiot.
Wonderland runs dogs about 4 months per year and then the dogs move out to warmer states. Don't these workers have other jobs for the other 8 months they aren't taking care of these dogs in the Wonderland kennel?

Wouldn't Wonderland make a great casino spot along the beach area someday if Massachusetts ever woke up and realized people like to gamble and it's a nice form of revenue being pissed away?

That would employ a lot of people, I think. But then again, what do I know.

One last thing,

What about that poor beautiful greyhound that could have been someones loveable pet that took the lure in the neck down at Hollywood track? Go on the internet some time and listen to the anxiety in the voice of the race announcer.
"Get the 5 dog, someone get the 5 dog, oh no, ugh".

It's a beautiful video.

It made me throw up.

Instead of racing dogs the fat lazy people in the stands could bet on each other footracing. That might be amusing. Make it a steeplechase and you may have a hit like the show MXC. Lost jobs? Find new ones more respectable. Manufacture crying towels for whining, commie, bailout loving, oil guzzling, Republican wackos, for example.

That's quite the ignorant comment from Mike; would he vote yes if there were an item on the ballot which would create 1,000 new jobs that promoted animal cruelty?

California banned greyhound racing long time ago. If people wanna gamble, stick to slot machines or something and leave animals alone.

They further state that these horses suffer horribly at the hands of these owners. Really? You think it’s in an owners best interest to treat a horse badly that’s worth hundreds of thousands of dollars? Is that logical? I heard a horse racing analyst on ESPN state that in almost every situation the horses are treated better than the trainers. They are pampered and treated like royalty. Hmm, I guess maybe I’d like to sign up for this type of horrible suffering.

What many of the commenters don't seem to know is that each year, hundreds of dogs are bred for racing, only a few qualify, and all the other dogs are killed. Rescue organizations typically place dogs after they've raced, many of whom are scared or skittish, unable to engage with other dogs, and have a host of psychological problems from their treatment in the kennels. It is this ongoing cycle of abuse that greyhound advocacy organizations wish to end. I am sad reading all the comments about how these dogs will lose their lives, but at least the cycle of abuse for this racetrack will end.

This is nothing more than animal rights activists lying to the public about how
animals feel or think. Did you ever stop to think the greyhound you adopted
missed its former life? No, you just anthropomorphized your feelings onto the
animal. The thinking behind this movement is to give human emotions and
concepts to animals. This is how an enthusiastic but misguided person is used
to achieve a bad solution for the wrong reasons. There are parallels with the
way Islamist terrorist leaders indoctrinate and then use young people lives
to achieve their goals. If this approach was transposed fully into the human
environment then the solution to child abuse would be to work to
eliminate parenting and there are extremist religious groups than have
done that. One only has to consider what the short life of the little
girl whose remains have just been located to know that very robust
measures are needed to try to reduce the number of children exposed to
these conditions but legally eliminating parenting would be about the
silliest. To normal psychologically balanced people the answer is obvious but
psychological immaturity often leads to misguided thinking and bizarre
goals. One of the most bizarre goals is to equate humans emotions onto animals.
One thing you never think about is that these dogs can just refuse to run,
but they like running and since I own several I know how much they like to run.
This is stupid thinking and everyone who is so happy at this outcome probably
doesn't know that the future goal of animal rights activists is to eliminate all
domestic animals. Ingrid Newkirk of PETA says "... But as the surplus of cats and
dogs declined, eventually companion animals would be phased out, -- Ingrid Newkirk, PETA's President, quoted in The Harper's Forum Book, Jack Hitt, ed., 1989, p.223.
"We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock
produced through selective breeding. ...One generation and out. We have no
problems with the extinction of domestic animals. -- Wayne Pacelle - Director of
HSUS. PEOPLE WAKE UP YOU ARE HELPING TO DESTROY ALL DOMESTIC
ANIMALS AND AMERICAN FREEDOMS.

This is the right thing to do!Animal racing should be ban in every state and every country!

this the right thing to do!Animal racing should be ban in every country and state because these animals don't deserve this!

This is wrong you have so many coments saying it is yet you people still do it. What ever happended to mans best friend? I guess it dosent matter any more huh? Stank losers

To M. Hale:
I adopted an ex-racing Greyhound several years ago. He was given up because he could no longer race. He was starved, bone-thin. He was ill. He had a high fever, when I took him home. Ely, was 2 years old. He raced in New Jersey. He died in Massachusetts on a veterinary table from "Immune Mediated Thrombo-Cytopoenia". A blood disease obtained from ticks at tracks... I will wager you...M. Hale, that if you asked Ely if he wanted to live more than 2 years and 2 months..that he would have said "YES!!"

"He raced in New Jersey"? Really? There are no greyhound tracks in New Jersey. If you are going to lie, at least check the facts first.

No more racing in Mass and now Twin River track is bankrupt and has ceased dog racing. One by one, all of the dog tracks will close and not a moment too soon. All those people boasting they will bet somewhere else won't have an option. Maybe you can take up poker if gambling is so important to you.

Yes, it's terrible that irresponsible breeders might abandon hundreds of hounds at these tracks and overload the rescue groups, but it would be even worse to allow the unchecked exploitation of tens of thousands of greyhounds to continue for years on end.

Watch out Florida, you are next!

Ignorance is trully bliss! The entire campaign was propaganda. Instead of voters researching both sides of the story, they believed the "TV Comercials" and smear tactics!! MA voters should be ashamed of themselves! I am a Veterinary Technician and devote my entire life to caring for animals. Dogs, cats & horses! ! News flash: GREYHOUNDS LOVE TO RACE!!! THOROUGHBREDS ADORE RUNNING!!! These animals are well fed, bred and excercised! They couldn't race otherwise. These extremists are incapable of seeing the entire picture. They take a tiny piece of info and distort it to their benefit and MA voters just fell for it in November. Horse racing won't be going anywhere...and dog racing shouldn't be either. Please educate yourself MA voters...you have been duped!! What a horrific shame, where will this communist behavior go next? I see more abuse and neglect in household pets EVERYDAY in a vet hospital in MA . The pet owners infuriate me with their level of disreguard and neglet, why don't these groups spend the time & $$ educating pet owners. Leave the professionals to their business, even if it is animal related! PS, I have run a Thoroughbred farm in MA in the past, after working for "show horse/ pet horse" farms my entire life. The Race horses were cared for and treated entirely MUCH BETTER!! People who spend $$$ to breed them for racing...then care for them , they are a valuable investment!!! COMMON SENSE !!! As I said ignorance must be bliss for the MA voters!!