Did anyone else hear about this? This is so sad. How could anyone do this? http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD03082507.htm
Sorry, I don't know how to make it a link. I just can't believe how anyone could do this. I can't even come up with a real comment on this.
DAYTONA BEACH -- Officials suspect three greyhound racing dogs died of heat exhaustion and are investigating whether the animals' trainer should face criminal charges.
State investigators found the dead dogs while they were at the Daytona Beach Kennel Club on Wednesday to suspend the license of trainer Nelson Ulrich after three other dogs under his care tested positive for trace amounts of cocaine, said Joe Friedman, a spokesman with the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering.
"It is so incredibly unlikely that this man will ever be licensed again, not only in Florida, but in the United States," Friedman said.
Ulrich could not be reached for comment. No one answered the door of a home on Margina Avenue that is listed as Ulrich's address on his state license. The door was equipped with a Realtor's lockbox.
County spokesman Dave Byron said Volusia County Animal Control is investigating how the three greyhounds died and, if the animals' death stemmed from abuse or neglect, then criminal charges are possible.
The deceased dogs are not the same animals that tested positive for cocaine, Friedman said.
The state analyzes the urine of greyhounds after racing, and the cocaine-positive dogs were tested after races July 8, 10 and 11, according to papers filed by the state. One of the dogs, RK's Cuerrogold, finished first that day. The other two dogs, WV's Kopperston and Witty Max, finished seventh and eighth, respectively.
The Daytona Beach Kennel Club operates the dog racing track at 2201 W. International Speedway Blvd. and the kennel on Bellevue Avenue where the dogs are housed when not racing, said Dan Francati, general manager of the pari-mutuel wagering business.
Ulrich, who operates under the name Bread Winner Kennel, was one of about 10 trainers who contract with the Daytona Beach Kennel Club.
Francati said Ulrich's contract has been canceled, and he arranged for another trainer to care for the other dogs that were under Ulrich's care.
"He is not allowed on the property once his license is suspended," Francati said.
Most trainers have from 50 to 80 dogs that they race, Francati said. The dogs are normally owned by others who contract with the trainer to take care of the greyhound and prepare it to race. The owners get 35 percent of the winnings earned by the dog, Francati said.
The bodies of the greyhounds have been transferred to the University of Florida for examination to determine the cause of death, Friedman said. After dogs run, it's standard practice that they are cooled off by hosing them down or giving the dog a pool of water to cool down in, Francati said.
On hot days, the dogs are kept in an air-conditioned area at the track before the race, and the kennel buildings are also air conditioned, Francati said. But the dogs are trucked two miles from the track to the kennel in trucks that are not equipped with air conditioning.
The Daytona Beach Kennel Club is one of the busiest tracks in Florida, running about 5,400 races a year, Francati said.
Thank you Wendy! It really is terrible. I hadn't heard anything about it and Bill called me and told me to quick turn to the news channel, but I was outside and didn't get to it in time. I found it the next day or later that night on the computer. After he called me and told me about it, I went up to Oreo, who was snoozing on my bed in the sun, and gave him a big hug.
Yes I heard about it it was in our local paper and I just cried and of course hugged the furkid closer to me that was beside me..
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Then God sent the Greyhound to live among man and remember. And when the Day comes, God will call the Greyhound to give Testament, and God will pass judgement on man. (Persian Proverb)
