Animal Person in Florida Sun-Sentinel

"Greyhound Track Needs Openness" is the title that Florida’s Sun-Sentinel gave my letter, which looks a lot like yesterday’s post. No wait, it’s almost verbatim.

Mary Martin
Jupiter
Posted July 8 2006

Re Thursday’s article, "Activists want racetracks to report injuries to animals," by Linda Kleindienst: First, I must disclose that I have adopted two retired racers, one of whom was a champion (at the Hollywood track) and the offspring of a Hall-of-Famer.

Anyone who adopts a greyhound is aware of the trauma caused by training and racing, and I’m not referring to career-ending injuries.

Regardless of how anyone feels about cruelty to animals or whether forcing dogs to race can even be called a "sport," there is a fundamental issue of business ethics here.

Transparency and accountability are part of every ethical business.

If the industry has nothing to hide, it shouldn’t be worried about disclosing injuries.

The industry has a responsibility to the people who keep it alive with their dollars to reveal the consequences of that investment.