1. They falsely claim that we used photos from other states and countries to make a case in favor of Question 3. This is completely false. Our campaign in support of the Greyhound Protection Act was based exclusively on data that was recent, local and thoroughly documented. For example, all photos and video used in the campaign were taken by the Massachusetts racetracks themselves. According to our sources, greyhound breeders plan on offering as evidence three videos that include footage from elsewhere. However, the videos they intend to use were posted on YouTube by individuals with no relationship whatsoever to the Yes on 3 campaign. In other words, they are taking videos created by someone else, claiming they were created by us, and using these videos to accuse us of election fraud. Talk about dirty.
2. They falsely claim that we used inaccurate greyhound adoption rates. During the campaign, we asserted that in Massachusetts the greyhound adoption rate is 31%. This data was provided to us by the Massachusetts State Racing Commission. Yet the tracks claim this state statistic is erroneous, and instead claim that “the Massachusetts greyhound racing industry in fact achieves a one hundred percent adoption rate for its retired racers that are placed in the adoption program.” Can anyone say doublespeak?
3. They claim that during the campaign we erroneously stated that greyhounds live in small cages barely large enough to stand up or turn around. Above, you will find a photograph that was taken by Wonderland Greyhound Park itself and obtained from their website in 2006. Take a look at that photograph, and decide for yourself whether our statement was accurate.
4. In what might be the most laughable complaint of all, the tracks allege that the MSPCA improperly induced voters by offering computer desktop wallpaper to supporters of Question 3. You heard it here first – Inducement by Wallpaper!
The Greyhound Protection Act passed overwhelmingly in November. It was approved in 12 of 14 counties and in nearly 290 cities and towns from one end of the state to the other.
Thanks to this humane law, on January 1 greyhound racing will end. No more greyhounds will endure lives of terrible confinement or suffer serious injuries at commercial racetracks in our state.
But today’s filing shows that greyhound racing interests will not go away quietly. In the coming months, we will need your help to protect this humane law. Because it is now clear that the dog racing industry will sink to any low in their reckless attempt to overturn the will of the voters and perpetuate their cruel industry.
The statute in question (the linked statute and the statutes that follow) are not aimed at overturning the election, but at conducting a grand jury-style inquiry to determine if anyone should face criminal charges for violations of the election law. It’s hard to figure out what could be motivating this. Sheer petulance? In any case, it seems to me highly unlikely that anyone will be charged, even taking the allegations in the complaint at face value.
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p>TedF
The response to these erroneous claims should be swift and thorough.
Give it up. You/we lost. Thanks to our democratic/communistic legislature, we don’t have money to blow anyways. Look at RI.
Free wallpaper as an inducement?! All one has to do to get free wallpaper is go to the MSPCA’s “Free MSPCA Stuff” page and download it, unless the preference is animal ringtones, or an Angell toolbar…
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p>I saw Wonderland Park’s pictures (eerily sad seeing rows of eyes glowing in the darkness, cage after cage) on their own website before someone had the sense to take them down so they could continue to pursue this ridiculous argument claiming they’re pictures from somewhere else.
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p>But what else can one expect from people who make a living on the backs of dogs who are cruelly treated like commodities (at least the ones who live long enough to race)?
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p>I find it offensive that Linda Jensen & Fred Fulchino from CONNECTICUT, John Parker from GEORGIA, Karen Keelan from NEW HAMPSHIRE, and Richard Brindle of RHODE ISLAND ARE TRYING TO OVERTURN MY VOTE IN MY STATE.
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p>As a volunteer, this infuriates me to a point of action! I already spoke with my state senator who told me he will vote against anything that would alter or delay the Greyhound Protection Act as it was passed by voters (just in case they’ve got something else up their sleeves) and I’m waiting to hear back from my state representative to get confirmation of the same.
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p>If you don’t want out-of-state breeders continuing to try to overturn your vote I recommend you do the same and ask for a commitment to protect the Greyhound Protection Act from your state senator and representative.
The next presidential election in 2012. There will be be plenty of Massachusetts folks migrating there. From both parties. Feel free to bash them all.