(Apple Valley) – Animal lovers are 1-1 in Super Bowl successes today. Skechers aired its Super Bowl ad featuring racing Greyhounds with the Tucson Greyhound Park as its backdrop; however, activists were able to use the event to raise awareness about abuse within the dog racing industry.
Skechers became the subject on an online protest and petition campaign through Change.org in November 2010, when Grey2K USA learned that the commercial had been filmed for airing during the Super Bowl. The petition garnered more than 120,000 signatures and resulted in protests at Skecher outlets throughout the country.
Skechers refused to pull the commercial despite the protests. According to the Grey2K USA website, “Skecher's Vice President of Media Gary Patrick e-mailed me a three-sentence letter from the American Humane Association (dated December 5) stating that no animal was harmed in production of the commercial. This is good news, but hardly excuses the company for promoting greyhound racing!”
Grey2k USA is a national non-profit formed in 2001 dedicated to ending the cruelty of dog racing. The organization advocates the end of dog racing by making its presence known in state legislatures, voter awareness at the ballot box, and litigation in the courts.
Among the atrocities racing Greyhounds face is spending 20 or more hours a day in small cages where they can barely stand. According to Grey2K, “The standard size for dog track cages is 34 inches high, by 30 inches wide, by 43 inches deep, with some slightly smaller.
Many racing Greyhounds are fed what is known as “4-D meat.” This is meat taken from the carcasses of downer and diseased animals salvaged for rendering.
The dogs are only valuable to their owners as long as they are making a profit. Racing is dangerous and results in numerous injuries. Injured Greyhounds are frequently killed rather than being given medical treatment and rehabilitated.
The good news is that racing Greyhounds enjoy a national network of dedicated volunteers who rescue, provide medical treatment, and place retired racers. They try to educted shelter workers throughout the country about how to spot a former racer and Greyhound rescues are known for their quick action in getting these dogs to safety.
There will be a follow-up article providing greater detail about the dog racing industry and Greyhound rescue in the near future. If you have a tip or suggestion about an animal welfare issue, feel free to email me at iepolitics2010@gmail.com, on Facebook, or anonymously at www.iepolitics.com. Follow us on Twitter @iepoliticscom. You can see all of my Animal Welfare articles at Animal Welfare Examiner.
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