Texas Greyhound Commission under fire – Crispin trainer Craig Edwards escapes with small fine
Greyhound racing authorities are criticised for negligence of the Greyhound racing industry, abuse of animals, medical problems, and, sometimes even death.
The Texas Racing Commission is a body that regulates horse and Greyhound racing. It necessary that this commission upholds their rights, and when such a commission overlooks negligence of an animal’s health it is downright criminal.
Born in 2009, Crispin was a great racer. He won the Hollywoodian stakes race in South Florida in 2009. He excelled as a fast distance racer and was nominated for the Sir Flashy Award by the National Greyhound Association.
However, things changed when on 14th February 2011, Crispin suffered a leg injury at the Gulf Greyhound Park. Trainer, Craig Edwards, failed to get medical help for the hound until two days later when the condition had worsened tremendously.
When this severe neglect was reported to the Texas Racing Commission instead of cancelling his license and placing a heavy fine, they let Craig Edwards off the hook after a meagre fine of $500.
Upon coming across this story, a group of activists wrote to the Texas Greyhound Commission asking them to reopen the case. Although the commission has not yet replied to the letter, its reaction and degree of severity with which they deal with Edwards shall
determine how serious the commission is about protecting animal rights.
There have been other cases of Greyhound abuse and neglect in the past too, such as the disposal of retired Greyhounds. In the past 25 years more than 10,000 Greyhounds have been euthanized although it is illegal in most countries especially on animals since
their consent cannot be ensured.
There have been cases of greyhounds being illegally buried and then their bodies discovered, and sometimes stories of Greyhounds just left to starve. Few of these cases, if any receive attention from the bodies that are in fact present to ensure such incidents
do not take place.
It is eminent for the survival of the Greyhound racing industry that regulatory bodies such as the Texas Racing Commission take strong measures to protect animal rights. After all no matter how big the industry is, or, how entertaining the sport is, an animal’s
life is still worth more.
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