Three More Arrested in Connection with Greyhound Killings in Alabama

From www.hsus.org

Authorities in Baldwin County, Alabama arrested three more people on felony animal cruelty charges on November 7 in connection with nearly 2,000 greyhounds found shot to death in May on an 18-acre property in Lillian, Alabama. The town is just across the state line from Florida, where more than a third of the greyhound race tracks in the United States are located.

All three people arrested were based in Florida. They are Ursula O'Donnell, who was arrested at Melbourne Greyhound Park in Melbourne, Florida; Paul Discolo, Jr., who was arrested at Ebro Greyhound Park in Chipley, Florida; and John W. Smith, who was arrested in Marathon, Florida.

The total number of arrests now stands at four. Back in May, authorities also charged Robert Rhodes, 68, with three separate felonies. Rhodes admitted he was paid $10 a dog to kill thousands of greyhounds since the 1960s, using a .22-caliber pistol to shoot the animals in the head. At the time, Rhodes claimed ignorance about any laws concerning humane euthanasia of animals.

The method used to kill the dogs in Lillian has animal-protection advocates and investigators alike wondering how much the animals suffered before death. Investigators said that some dogs may not have died instantly and could have been struggling for survival in a corpse-laden pit where they were thrown after being shot. According to an Associated Press story dated November 8, investigators believe the dogs were shipped from greyhound tracks across Florida to Pensacola, located across the state line from Lillian, where Rhodes would pick them up.

"We commend the prosecutors and investigators for following up on their initial arrest, and pursuing this matter across state lines. This situation appears to be a conspiracy, originating from Florida and ending in Alabama, and we look forward to an aggressive prosecution of these charges and a meaningful sentence, including prison time, for all who are found guilty," said Brian Sodergren, an issues specialist with The Humane Society of the United States.

"For years, the greyhound racing industry has vehemently denied its involvement in the disposal of unwanted animals, but this case would appear to blow the lid off their claims," Sodergren added. "The only way to put an end to the killing of greyhounds is to put an end to greyhound racing.

" The greyhound industry breeds tens of thousands of dogs every year. While some race for several years, many more aren't fast enough to compete. A small percentage of greyhounds are adopted, but many more are killed, sold for research, or sent to overseas tracks where conditions are far worse than in the United States. In 2000, an estimated 19,000 greyhounds were killed.

Of 46 greyhound race tracks operating in 15 states, Florida is home to more than a third of them. Seven states have bans on live greyhound racing; yet in the states where greyhound racing exists, a strong lobby ensures its survival despite dwindling attendance and revenue. In the past decade, 16 tracks have either closed or stopped hosting live racing. "The public knows this so-called 'sport' is nothing more than exploitation and cruelty to man's best friend, which is why the tracks keep losing customers and continue to ask for government handouts," says Sodergren. "It's time lawmakers stop the tax break, stop the handouts, and listen to the will of the people. Greyhound racing must end."