This is a letter written to a Florida based Greyhound Rescue from Yvonne M. Gurbada of the Florida Greyhound Association representing the racing industry. I found it enlightning on a couple points and discouraging on others. Make your own determination. At the bottom is my response. This is MY opinion and does not represent anyone else's.

There is a serious outbreak of "kennel cough" all over the State. Tampa Greyhound suspended racing because of it. You may be concerned about the welfare of the dogs - but believe me when I say you could never be more concerned than the kennel operators and owners of those dogs are. The new vaccine which the entire industry has finance - including a grant form the Florida Greyhound Association - is suppose to be license and approved this month by the Federal Government Drug Admin. The entire industry is anxiously awaiting the demise of this "kennel cough". I do not for the life of me as an animal lover understand why you animal welfare groups do not understand that dog people really do have the welfare of their animals as a top priority. Yes, they are bad apples in every barrel - and that is true in groups such as yours as well as mine - but 99.5% of kennel operators and greyhound owners put the health of their animals first. Every time a kennel operator scratches one of his dogs on a racing card - he receives a fine by the track and the State. But he will not risk running a sick dog for anyone. The investment today of owning a racing dog is no light item. Some of these animals have been purchased at the National auctions for literally thousands and thousands of dollars. And, to raise a dog to make it to the race track runs into more expense than most realize. A farmer or an owner who has a dog raised has a minimum of 5000 to 7500 invested before the dog ever runs the first race. So, when these dogs do go to the race track - no one takes their welfare lightly. The industry has cleaned itself out of most of the undesirables. I have personally watched the National Directors ban person after person for not living up to the code of ethics established by the greyhound industry. And, every waking moment we are all doing everything within our power to improve the Sport from fighting with the State and tracks to upgrade kennel facilities and racing surfaces. You think you sit and worry about the dogs racing. Should come spend a week in my shoes and see what policing all the greyhound people are constantly doing to protect and improve our Sport. Just go to Tallahassee sometime - or talk to a State Senator or Representative and ask them how personally we have gotten them involved to help us with legislative pressure to have conditions improved just at the tracks themselves. Took Tallahassee to force Tampa Greyhound Track to pay the back purse money of over $200,000 to the people racing their Meets in 2002/2003. Our purpose is not always a financial issue. Our purpose covers all aspects of the welfare of the sport and the animals. I would one day hope that adoptions groups would open their eyes and instead of always looking for a fight with us about the welfare of the dogs - to try and work with us to help all facets improve within. You have groups like Grey2k that has one purpose - so they day - to outlaw racing. Well, believe me when I tell you - they don't want to outlaw racing in racing states - because their money lines would stop. These people contribute not one red dime to help any animal anywhere - it is all spent on themselves. Tell me I am wrong - fine - but I have the facts and the research on this group to back up my statements. I detest the term "Rescue" as adoption groups do not rescue these dogs. The industry gives the pet adoption group dogs that have had thousands of dollars invested in their raising and training. Anyone who adopts a greyhound as a pet - is getting a very expensive and priceless dog. And, if anyone of these animals was not loved by the people making them available for adoption - then BY LAW - the dog could be legally euthanasia. But that is not the intention of the greyhound industry. So, please rest assured that everything possible is always being done to take care of these animals and to protect their welfare. The law that past in Tallahassee for Animal Welfare was originally a Bill that was drafted by myself and Michael Labun for Senator Skip Campbell. It took almost 6 years to get the Bill pass and it was finally done this year. Every year tracks tried to use it as train by attaching some garbage issue on it which immediately killed it. This year it was allowed to ride clean. Over the six years, David Wolf and every radical Animal Rights group in the country has tried to take credit for the Bill being there. But the Florida Senate and House of Representative and Senator Debbie Wasserman-Shultz - know where the Bill originated and for what purpose. It was originated by the Florida Greyhound Association. Now a Charity Day can be held at all the race tracks in Florida and the funds turned over to adoption groups - that is only one portion of the Bill which is now law. Personally, I think the credit of this Law should go to a lady who is now deceased who worked closely with me for years to improve relationships between adoption groups and the greyhound industry. It should be known as the Emily Griffith Bill. Emily headed Greyhound Pets of America's SE Chapter over on the east coast for years until her death. But as politics will have it Sen. Wasserman-Shultz gets the credit as she was the main Bill's sponsor. But the Bill was a dream of Emily's and I listened to her and what the needs of the groups were. We also tried to get a Greyhound Adoption License Plate a few years back for funding for legitimate groups - that got shot out of the water by the race tracks because they wanted to control the money themselves. I hope the time I have spent in this email will help to enlighten you on just a few items that you may not be aware of. But greyhound welfare is and will always be a #1 priority of our industry from the National Greyhound Assn in Abilene, Kansas to the halls of the Capitol in Tallahassee. Sincerely, Yvonne M. Gurbada Sec/treasure FGA

Yvonne, My name is Michael Chandler. My wife, Sher, and I operate Greyhound Rescue & Adoption Utah Chapter. I am replying to the email with the subject 'Re: Derby Lane & Tampa ' that was forwarded to me by Gotgreyhounds@cs.com. I am very sorry to hear about the kennel cough problem you have in the state. I have been invovled with Greyhounds for about 8 years. We formed our group three years ago. We are a NON-PROFIT group that consists of volunteers. We make NO money from placing Greyhounds into homes. We are a small group. We have only been invovled in placing 30 Greys since we formed our Adoption/Rescue group. I disagree with your statement about "I detest the term "Rescue" as adoption groups do not rescue these dogs. ". Every Grey we get has a problem from ticks to injuries to bad teeth. Out of all the Greys I've seen, only about 10% have had good teeth. I have seen only two that have very good teeth. Neither made it to actually race.I know that it is the food that is fed to the dogs to beef the muscle up. So far, just this year, our "RESCUE" has put out over $2,000 to improve the lives of Greys we get. That is twice our normal bank account buffer. That doesn't count the 'normal' maintenance of getting each one vetted [again] and minor problems fixed. I know this amount seems trivial to someone like you that deals with millions of dollars. If these Greys have had such good care, then why do we have such a large number that have so many problems? I understand that the industry is trying to 'clean itself up'. More power to you. I try to keep up on as much as I can. I know there are "Rescues" that shouldn't be called Rescues because they are profit businesses. I detest them. I wish the term "Rescue" and "Adoption" would be monitered more closely and be available for use only to the true Rescue/Adoption groups. I don't care for the racing side but I also know I can't do anything except try to find homes for as many Greys as possible. But you have to admit, breeders produce more than they should which results in an overflow of Greys. As long as humans and money are invovled in something.....it will never end. It makes me sad that humans have to "use" animals for their enjoyment. 'nuff said. Thank you.