Der Guam Greyhound Park schließt wegen finanzieller Verluste

Von Steve Limtiaco • Pacific Daily News • 6. November 2008 (aus www.guampdn.com – Pacific Daily News – Hagatna, GU, USA)

6.10 Uhr – Der Guam Greyhound Park öffnete gestern zum allerletzten Mal seine Pforten. Laut Geschäftsführer EJ Calvo kostet die Schließung mindestens zehn Teilzeit-Mitarbeitern ihren Arbeitsplatz. Calvo spricht im Namen der Firma Bridge Capital LLC, in deren Besitz sich die Hunderennbahn und weitere Gebäude des Guam Greyhound Park befinden.

250 bis 300 Touristen kamen Abend für Abend, um die Greyhound-Rennen zu sehen. Zu wenig, meint Calvo, denn die Anlage schreibt seit Langem Verluste. Das Rennen gestern Abend war somit das letzte in der 32-jährigen Geschichte des Unternehmens.

Guam Greyhound hoffte darauf, die Anlage in ein Casino umzugestalten, sagte Calvo, aber die Niederlage der Casino-Initiative während der General Election am Dienstag zwingt Bridge Capital dazu, die Pforten endgültig zu schließen und nach anderen Optionen Ausschau zu halten.

From www.guampdn.com
Pacific Daily News - Hagåtña,GU,USA

Guam Greyhound Park shuts down due to financial losses

By Steve Limtiaco • Pacific Daily News • November 6, 2008

6:10 p.m. — Guam Greyhound Park closed its doors for the last time
yesterday, which will cost at least 10 part-time employees their jobs,
according to E.J. Calvo, Guam managing director for Bridge Capital LLC,
which owns the dog track and other Guam property.

The facility, which has been receiving between 250 and 300 tourists a night,
has been failing financially, according to Calvo, who said last night's dog
races would be the last for the 32-year old business.

Guam Greyhound hoped to redevelop into a casino facility, Calvo said, but
the defeat of the casino gaming initiative during Tuesday's General Election
means Bridge Capital must close the facility's doors and look at other
options.

Jamaika 07.06.2008

„Greyhound-Rennen bergen großes Potential“, sagt ein Mitglied des jamaikanischen Parlamentes
(Siehe: www.caribbeannetnews.com)

Veröffentlicht am Sonntag, den 7. Juni 2008

KINGSTON, Jamaika (JIS): Ein Mitglied des jamaikanischen Parlamentes, Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett, sagte, dass Greyhound-Rennen in Bezug auf die Schaffung neuer Arbeitsplätze in Jamaika ein größeres Potential hätten als die kommerziellen Pferderennen.

Bartlett, der auch als Tierarzt der kommerziellen Rennen nahe steht, brachte seinen Beitrag am Mittwoch während der Haushaltsdebatte 2008/2009 im Repräsentantenhaus.

Er hob hervor, dass die Greyhound-Rennen Abend- und Nachtveranstaltung seien, während derer mehr als 24 Rennen pro Tag abgehalten werden könnten.

„Dies ist eine Attraktion, die der Tourismusbranche die nötigen Abendveranstaltungen bringen könnte,“ sagte Bartlett.

Er informierte das Parlament ferner darüber, dass sich potentielle Investoren und Stakeholder in den Startlöchern befänden und nur darauf warten, endlich loslegen zu können.

„Zurzeit gibt es in Jamaika keine Greyhounds, was bedeutet, dass zunächst durch den Import einer Zucht, den Aufbau von Zwingern und die Einrichtung von Trainingsstätten und Stadien eine neue Branche etabliert werden muss,“ sagte Bartlett.

Er fügte hinzu, dass er sich bereits sowohl mit nationalen als auch mit internationalen Investoren getroffen habe.

„Ich habe den zuständigen Minister für kommerziellen Tiersport um ein Treffen mit den potentiellen Investoren gebeten. Dies ist eine hervorragende Investitionsgelegenheit, und Jamaika kann es sich nicht leisten, diese zu verpassen“, betonte Bartlett.

From www.caribbeannetnews.com

Greyhound racing has great potential, says Jamaican MP

Published on Saturday, June 7, 2008

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): A Member of the Jamaican Parliament, Dr St Aubyn
Bartlett, has said that greyhound racing has great potential for creating
more jobs in Jamaica than the nation's horse racing industry.

Bartlett, who is also close to the racing industry as a veterinarian, was
making his contribution to the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House of
Representatives on Wednesday.

He noted that greyhound racing was an evening and night event, with two race
meets per day totalling 24 or more races in one day.

"This is an attraction which can provide the needed nightly industry
entertainment for our tourism industry," Bartlett said.

He also informed that several potential investors and stakeholders were at
the "starting gates rearing to chase the hare."

"Currently, there are no greyhounds in Jamaica, meaning a new industry will
be created starting with the importation of breeding stock, the
establishment of breeding kennels and training facilities and the building
of stadia," Bartlett said.

The Member of Parliament also informed that he has been meeting with
potential investors, both locally and overseas.

"I have asked the Minister in charge of animal sports industry for a meeting
with these stakeholders at a time convenient to him. This is an investment
opportunity that Jamaica cannot afford to miss," Bartlett emphasised

Bitte richten Sie Ihre Briefe an:

Jamaican High Commission

1-2 Prince Consort Road
London SW7 2BZ
England
Tel: 0044-20 7823 9911
Fax: 0044-20 7589 5154

Vielen Dank für Ihre Unterstützung!
Greyhound Crusaders/SWAP team UK
Alle zusammen können wir es schaffen!

(Hier ist der englische Brief, bitte kopieren Sie diesen, unterschreiben Sie ihn und versehen Sie ihn mit Ihrem vollständigen Namen und Ihrer Adresse:)

Dear Jamaican High Commission

I have recently heard that there are plans to bring greyhound racing to Jamaica. This has raised grave concerns for me as a greyhound lover and I felt it was most important to bring this matter to your attention. To introduce greyhound racing to Jamaica would be an absolute travesty due to the thousands of greyhounds that are destroyed worldwide every year once they are retired from racing, average age 3-4 years old. Additionally, thousands of greyhound pups are destroyed each year because they are considered 'unsuitable for racing'. The RSPCA in the UK (Royal Society for the Protection of Animals) believes: "At least 20 greyhounds a day – either puppies which do not make the track, or 'retired' dogs aged three or four - simply 'disappear', presumed killed". Also the fact that many greyhounds every year sustain serious, sometimes fatal injuries whilst racing.

(Please view the recent UK APGAW (Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare) report at this link:
http://www.apgaw.org/userimages/Report%20of%20APGAW%20Inquiry%20into%20the%20Welfare%20of%20Greyhounds.pdf)

Additionally, greyhounds have fallen victim to extreme abuse: Greyhounds have been found drowned, poisoned, shot, abandoned, some emaciated, some with their ears hacked off (or burnt off with acid) to remove identifying tattoos. Some greyhounds are subjected to 'drugging' as a way of 'fixing' certain races. Greyhounds taken on by rescues are often in a poor state of neglect i.e. flea-ridden, worm-ridden, rotten teeth. Greyhounds that are exported from Australia to Asia are often used for dog meat and some greyhounds have been found hung on trees and thrown down wells in Spain.

Greyhounds are sometimes found with cigarette burns on their bodies, greyhounds with missing toes due to past injuries, greyhounds who have had to have many of their teeth removed due to previous neglect. Untreated injuries that have poorly healed. The list is endless.

You may have read the horrific story of David Smith from Co. Durham in the UK exterminating in the region of 10,000 unwanted greyhounds in a fifteen year period by shooting them callously with a bolt gun and burying them in his back garden. The Sunday Times along with other national newspapers exposed this in 2006. Please tell me what the fate of racing greyhounds will be in Jamaica, if this type of carnage to greyhounds is happening worldwide then surely it is inevitable that this may happen in Jamaica. Wherever there are profits to be made, animal welfare is low on the agenda. What animal welfare laws are there in Jamaica and are they upheld?

More recently, the Sunday Times in the UK have also exposed two disturbing cases where healthy greyhounds are being sold to veterinary colleges by those involved in the greyhound racing industry, to be exploited for scientific purposes. On Sunday 2nd March 2008, a Sunday Times article exposed the Royal Veterinary College (the oldest and largest veterinary college in Britain) as having an agreement with a greyhound clinic in Essex to buy body parts taken from healthy greyhounds that were being euthanased regularly by the clinic, the healthy greyhounds were being supplied to the clinic by greyhound trainers who no longer had a use for these dogs. The full article can be viewed here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3466712.ece

On Sunday 11th May 2008, a second article appeared in the Sunday Times, this time exposing Liverpool University's Small Animal Teaching Hospital as being supplied with healthy young greyhounds by the largest greyhound breeder in Britain, a Mr Charles Pickering. Mr Pickering admitted to selling young, perfectly healthy greyhounds who had failed to make the grade (i.e.chose not to chase the artificial hare or considered simply too slow for the tracks) to the university's animal teaching hospital to be euthanased and used for scientific research. The article also revealed how greyhound trainer 'Richard Fielding' who was also supplied greyhounds by Mr Pickering, gave his older (still healthy) greyhounds once they retired from racing to the university veterinary staff to be euthanased so their organs could be removed for teaching and research purposes. The full article can be viewed here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3908388.ece

I am sickened and outraged by the appalling atrocities inflicted upon the racing greyhound and this is why am writing to you today to endeavour to educate you about the disturbing reality of greyhound racing.

If you could spare a few moments to please view this short video
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1rAB-PY7XZQ (volume up), as this supports the many reasons why I am are so compelled to be a voice for the greyhounds.

I hope that my correspondence to you today will explain the reasons for my concerns upon hearing the news that there may be plans to introduce greyhound racing in Jamaica and I politely and respectfully ask that you support me in opposing any such plans. Ghandi once said "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals". Please do all you can to stop this vile trade of sentient beings.

Many thanks.

Very best wishes

(Ihr Name, Ihre vollständige Adresse, Unterschrift)

(Im Folgenden lesen Sie die deutsche Übersetzung des englischen Briefes. Bitte benutzen Sie für Ihr Protestschreiben aber die englische Version! Danke!)

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

neulich habe ich gehört, dass nun auch in Jamaika Greyhound-Rennen sattfinden sollen. Als Greyhound-Liebhaber bereitet mir diese Nachricht große Sorgen, und ich halte es für äußerst dringend, Ihnen meine Bedenken zu schildern.

Die Greyhound-Rennen auch in Jamaika einzuführen wäre eine große Tragödie angesichts der vielen tausend Greyhounds, die weltweit Jahr für Jahr getötet werden. Wenn diese Tiere für den Rennsport durch jahrelange Ausbeutung nicht mehr zu gebrauchen sind, werden sie im Alter von drei bis vier Jahren einfach umgebracht.

Zusätzlich werden jedes Jahr Welpen getötet, weil sie für den Rennsport ungeeignet sind. Die RSPCA in England (Royal Society for the Protection of Animals) vermutet: „Mindestens 20 Greyhounds pro Tag – entweder Welpen, die auf der Rennbahn nicht bestehen würden oder ausgemusterte Hunde im Alter von drei bis vier Jahren – ‚verschwinden einfach’; höchstwahrscheinlich werden sie getötet.“ Noch dazu gibt es zahllose schwerwiegende Verletzungen, die sich die Tiere bei den Rennen zuziehen.

(Wir verweisen auf den Link der UK APGAW – Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare):
http://www.apgaw.org/userimages/Report%20of%20APGAW%20Inquiry%20into%20the%20Welfare%20of%20Greyhounds.pdf)

Ferner werden Greyhounds Opfer schlimmster Gewalt: Windhunde werden ertränkt, vergiftet, erschossen, ausgesetzt – die meisten sind abgemagert, einigen hat man die Ohren abgehackt (oder mit Säure verbrannt), damit ihre Tätowierungen beseitigt sind und ihre Besitzer nicht mehr ermittelt werden können. Einige Windhunde werden unter Drogen gesetzt, womit sie in den Rennen zu Höchstleistungen getrieben werden. Greyhounds, die von Tierschützern aufgegriffen werden, sind oft in einem erbärmlichen Zustand: verfloht, von Würmern befallen oder mit vollkommen vergammelten Zähnen. Greyhounds, die von Australien nach Asien exportiert wurden, landen als Hundefleisch in den Delikatessenläden und viele Greyhounds werden in Spanien an Bäumen aufgehängt oder zum Sterben in Brunnen geworfen.

Manchmal werden Greyhounds mit Brandnarben aufgefunden, die von Zigaretten her stammen; bei vielen Hunden fehlen die Zehen, weil frühere Verletzungen nicht behandelt wurden, und die meisten haben so schlechte Zähne, dass sie entfernt werden müssen. Die Liste ist endlos ...

Vielleicht haben Sie von dem furchtbaren Bericht über David Smith aus Co. Durham in England gehört. Der Skandal wurde durch eine Reportage der Sunday Times über den „Windhund-Henker“ bekannt. Den Angaben zufolge hat der Mann in den vergangenen 15 Jahren gegen Bezahlung mehr als zehntausend Renn-Greyhounds mit Bolzenpistolen getötet und dann auf einem Acker hinter seinen Haus verscharrt. Die Sunday Times und andere Zeitungen brachten diese Nachricht im Jahr 2006. Bitte sagen Sie mir, welches Schicksal die Greyhounds in Jamaika erwartet! Wenn dieses Blutbad weltweit geschieht, dann ist es sicherlich unvermeidlich, dass dies auch in Jamaika passiert. Wo es Gewinne zu machen gibt, ist der Tierschutz wenig wert. Welche Tierschutzgesetzte gibt es in Jamaika, und werden diese auch eingehalten?

In jüngerer Zeit berichtete die Sunday Times ebenfalls von zwei beunruhigenden Fälle, in denen gesunde Windhunde von den Betreibern kommerzieller Windhundrennen an die tierärztlichen Hochschulen des Royal Veterinary College für wissenschaftliche Zwecke verkauft wurden.

Am Sonntag, den 2. März 2008 brachte die Sunday Times einen Artikel, der beschreibt, wie das Royal Veterinary College (das älteste und größte Veterinary College in England!), Deals mit einer Tierklinik in Essex unterhält und von dieser Tierklinik mit Körperteilen gesunder Windhunde, die eigens für diesen Zweck getötet wurden, beliefert wird. Den vollständigen Artikel können Sie hier einsehen:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3466712.ece

Am Sonntag, den 11. Mai 2008, erschien ein weiterer Artikel, der enthüllt wie Charles Pickering aus Dunholme in Lincolnshire gesunde, junge Hunde, die für den Rennsport ungeeignet sind, an das Lehrinstitut der Liverpool University verkauft. Pickering ist mit ca. 200 Greyhounds pro Jahr, die in seinem Zwinger „ZigZag“ zur Welt kommen, der größte Greyhound-Züchter in Großbritannien.

Der Artikel enthüllt ferner, dass der Greyhound-Trainer Richard Fielding, der von Pickering mit Hunden beliefert wird, gesunde, ältere Greyhounds, die ihre Rennkarriere bereits beendet haben, an das Personal der Tierklinik verscherbelt.

Den vollständigen Artikel können Sie hier einsehen:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3908388.ece

Diese entsetzlichen Grausamkeiten, die den Renn-Greyhounds angetan werden, machen mich krank und ich bin empört über diese Abscheulichkeiten. Ich bin um Aufklärung bemüht und dies ist der Grund, warum ich Ihnen heute schreibe.

Bitte nehmen Sie sich einen Moment Zeit und schauen Sie sich dieses kurze Video an. Aufgrund dieser Bilder erhebe ich meine Stimme für die Greyhounds:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1rAB-PY7XZQ

Ich hoffe, dass mein Brief Ihnen heute die Gründe für mein Anliegen dargelegt hat und Sie Verständnis dafür haben, dass die Plänezur Einführung von Windhundrennen in Jamaika mir große Sorgen bereiten. Ich möchte respektvoll darum bitten, dass Sie mich darin unterstützen, die Windhundrennen in Jamaika gar nicht erst beginnen zu lassen! Gandhi hat einmal gesagt: „Die Größe und den moralischen Fortschritt einer Nation kann man
daran messen, wie sie Tiere behandelt.” Bitte, tun Sie alles in Ihrer Macht stehende, damit dieser abscheuliche Handel mit fühlenden Wesen beendet wird.

Vielen Dank und alles Gute!

(Ihr Name, Ihre vollständige Adresse, Unterschrift)
Proposal for greyhound racing in Jamaica- STOP IT BEFORE IT STARTS!!!
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LETTERS NEEDED NOW.
Please read the appeal below from Greyhound Compassion and take inmmediate
action by writing to the Jamaican High Commisssion in London. Please refer
to the Greyhound Action website for the plight of the racing greyhound
www.greyhoundaction.org.uk and/or use the sample letter below from Greyhound
Crusaders/SWAP team UK, using your own words please. No email address has
been provided so please make sure you use the right postage stamp for the UK
if you are posting from abroad.
Letters to

Jamaican High Commission
1-2 Prince Consort Road,
London
SW7 2BZ
Tel: 020 7823 9911
Fax: 020 7589 5154
Many thanks for your support
Greyhound Crusaders/SWAP team UK

We all make the difference!!!

Dear Jamaican High Commission

I have recently heard that there are plans to bring greyhound racing to
Jamaica. This has raised grave concerns for me as a greyhound lover and I
felt it was most important to bring this matter to your attention.
To introduce greyhound racing to Jamaica would be an absolute travesty due
to the thousands of greyhounds that are destroyed worldwide every year once
they are retired from racing, average age 3-4 years old. Additionally,
thousands of greyhound pups are destroyed each year because they are
considered 'unsuitable for racing'. The RSPCA in the UK (Royal Society for
the Protection of Animals) believes: "at least 20 greyhounds a day - either
puppies which do not make the track, or 'retired' dogs aged three or four -
simply 'disappear', presumed killed". Also the fact that many greyhounds
every year sustain serious, sometimes fatal injuries whilst racing.

(Please view the recent UK APGAW (Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal
Welfare) report at this link:
http://www.apgaw.org/userimages/Report%20of%20APGAW%20Inquiry%20into%20the%20Welfare%20of%20Greyhounds.pdf

Additionally, greyhounds have fallen victim to extreme abuse: Greyhounds
have been found drowned, poisoned, shot, abandoned, some emaciated, some
with their ears hacked off (or burnt off with acid) to remove identifying
tattoos. Some greyhounds are subjected to 'drugging' as a way of 'fixing'
certain races. Greyhounds taken on by rescues are often in a poor state of
neglect i.e. flea-ridden, worm-ridden, rotten teeth. Greyhounds that are
exported from Australia to Asia are often used for dog meat and some
greyhounds have been found hung on trees and thrown down wells in Spain.

Greyhounds are sometimes found with cigarette burns on their bodies,
greyhounds with missing toes due to past injuries, greyhounds who have had
to have many of their teeth removed due to previous neglect. Untreated
injuries that have poorly healed. The list is endless.

You may have read the horrific story of David Smith from Co. Durham in the
UK exterminating in the region of 10,000 unwanted greyhounds in a fifteen
year period by shooting them callously with a bolt gun and burying them in
his back garden. The Sunday Times along with other national newspapers
exposed this in 2006.
Please tell me what the fate of racing greyhounds will be in Jamaica, if
this type of carnage to greyhounds is happening worldwide then surely it is
inevitable that this may happen in Jamaica. Wherever there are profits to be
made, animal welfare is low on the agenda. What animal welfare laws are
there in Jamaica and are they upheld?

More recently, the Sunday Times in the UK have also exposed two disturbing
cases where healthy greyhounds are being sold to veterinary colleges by
those involved in the greyhound racing industry, to be exploited for
scientific purposes. On Sunday 2nd March 2008, a Sunday Times article
exposed the Royal Veterinary College (the oldest and largest veterinary
college in Britain) as having an agreement with a greyhound clinic in Essex
to buy body parts taken from healthy greyhounds that were being euthanased
regularly by the clinic, the healthy greyhounds were being supplied to the
clinic by greyhound trainers who no longer had a use for these dogs.
The full article can be viewed here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3466712.ece

On Sunday 11th May 2008, a second article appeared in the Sunday Times, this
time exposing Liverpool University's Small Animal Teaching Hospital as being
supplied with healthy young greyhounds by the largest greyhound breeder in
Britain, a Mr Charles Pickering. Mr Pickering admitted to selling young,
perfectly healthy greyhounds who had failed to make the grade (i.e.chose not
to chase the artificial hare or considered simply too slow for the tracks)
to the university's animal teaching hospital to be euthanased and used for
scientific research. The article also revealed how greyhound trainer
'Richard Fielding' who was also supplied greyhounds by Mr Pickering, gave
his older (still healthy) greyhounds once they retired from racing to the
university veterinary staff to be euthanased so their organs could be
removed for teaching and research purposes. The full article can be viewed
here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3908388.ece

I am sickened and outraged by the appalling atrocities inflicted upon the
racing greyhound and this is why am writing to you today to endeavour to
educate you about the disturbing reality of greyhound racing.

If you could spare a few moments to please view this short video
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1rAB-PY7XZQ (volume up), as this supports the
many reasons why I am are so compelled to be a voice for the greyhounds.

I hope that my correspondence to you today will explain the reasons for my
concerns upon hearing the news that there may be plans to introduce
greyhound racing in Jamaica and I politely and respectfully ask that you
support me in opposing any such plans.
Ghandi once said "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be
judged by the way it treats its animals".
Please do all you can to stop this vile trade of sentient beings.
Many thanks.
Very best wishes

Name and address to be supplied

Dear everyone,

We've recently heard about the proposal below to start greyhound racing in
Jamaica. Please feel free to write to the Jamaican High Commission to let
them know the reality of greyhound racing.

http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-8373--9-9--.html

Jamaican High Commission
1-2 Prince Consort Road,

London
SW7 2BZ
Tel: 020 7823 9911
Fax: 020 7589 5154

www.greyhoundcompassion.com

The RSPCA believes: "at least 20 greyhounds a day - either puppies which do
not make the track, or 'retired' dogs aged three or four - simply
'disappear', presumed killed"

Greyhound racing has great potential, says Jamaican MP
Published on Saturday, June 7, 2008Email To Friend Print Version
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): A Member of the Jamaican Parliament, Dr St Aubyn
Bartlett, has said that greyhound racing has great potential for creating
more jobs in Jamaica than the nation's horse racing industry.

Bartlett, who is also close to the racing industry as a veterinarian, was
making his contribution to the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House of
Representatives on Wednesday.

He noted that greyhound racing was an evening and night event, with two race
meets per day totalling 24 or more races in one day.

"This is an attraction which can provide the needed nightly industry
entertainment for our tourism industry," Bartlett said.
He also informed that several potential investors and stakeholders were at
the "starting gates rearing to chase the hare."

"Currently, there are no greyhounds in Jamaica, meaning a new industry will
be created starting with the importation of breeding stock, the
establishment of breeding kennels and training facilities and the building
of stadia," Bartlett said.

The Member of Parliament also informed that he has been meeting with
potential investors, both locally and overseas.

"I have asked the Minister in charge of animal sports industry for a meeting
with these stakeholders at a time convenient to him. This is an investment
opportunity that Jamaica cannot afford to miss," Bartlett emphasised.

There has already been one letter in protest from Arizona

Letters to the Editor
LETTERS

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Letter: Regarding the greyhound racing industry
Published on Monday, June 9, 2008Email To Friend Print Version

Dear Sir:

What will the fate be for these wonderful and gentle breed ("Greyhound
racing has great potential, says Jamaican MP")? Do they know that "You bet
they die"? Please do some research on the truth of racing then please try to
help stop it. Get all the facts and see how they die when they can not
longer win.

Janet Lopata
Prescott, Arizona