Did you know that @WVUFLU supports the state of West Virginia subsidizing the #dogracing industry with YOUR TAX DOLLARS?
$17 million dollars of our state budget is going to the cruel practice of #Greyhound Racing.
@WVUFLU you have the opportunity to grow and change. #wvpol
“Without the purse subsidies from the racetrack’s gaming operations, purses would decline to such a level as to make it uneconomic for kennel owners to continue to race greyhounds in West Virginia.” And most of the winnings don't even stay in state. #wvpol #GreyhoundDerby2023
Female #greyhounds are routinely given methyltestosterone, an anabolic steroid, to prevent a loss of race days. This performance enhancing drug is prohibited in other dog racing jurisdictions, but continues in #WestVirginia. But @WVUFLU says this isn't abusive.
State regulations require just a minimum cage size of 44 inches long, 32 inches wide, and 34 inches high, and do not limit the amount of time #greyhounds can be left confined. During February 2021, a total of 665 dogs raced at Mardi Gras & 1,028 at Wheeling. #wvpol #AnimalAbuse
And it's weird that @WVUFLU and @JimJusticeWV are in agreement to continue the abusive nature of #greyhound racing in #WestVirginia. In 2017, Jim Justice vetoed a bill to defund the greyhound breeding fund. Only 63 entities receive those $17 million tax payer dollars.
Even Mitch Carmichael (former Republican Senate President) agrees that dog racing in West Virginia is not good for us.
“We cannot take that type of job hit and additionally our municipal #pensions are tied largely to our tracks.” said Erikka Storch (R-Ohio) so my question stands why are municipal pensions tied to the success of a sport that is rife with #animalabuse? #wvpol #greyhounds
A company called @delawarenorth, another out of state business entity located in #buffalony is taking YOUR TAX DOLLARS for this inhumane form of entertainment. As we discussed much of the winnings leave the state too. Is it too much to ask for decoupling #greyhounds from casinos?
The company @delawarenorth also says it's not even really profitable. They have stated if we decouple #dogracing from #casino operation they would support an end to the Breeding Fund. Money bet is also decreasing.
Heck even Chris Pritt (R-Kanawah) agrees that #dogracing is not a good look for #westvirginia.
Of course Pritt isn't concerned with any law being about "humane" conditions, but this is a barrier to conscience minded #tourism.
#wvpol
It's also noteworthy that @RyanWeld owns a #rescuegreyhound but thinks nothing is wrong with the sport. THERE IS A REASON WE HAVE TO RESCUE #GREYHOUNDS FROM TRACKS. And now Ryan is running for Attorney General. #wvpol
And none of this is profitable for #WestVirginia. #dogracing #animalabuse #greyhound #casino #wvpol
Our elected officials are financially supported by an industry rife with #animalabuse and inhumane conditions, including the death of dogs from fractures and cardiac arrest. But they swear it's not inhumane. We beg to differ. #wvpol #campaignfinance
It is never too late for our elected officials to learn, grow, and do what is right. For a legislature that claims to protect the lives of all of God's creatures, we are failing #WestVirginia's #greyhounds.
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