Globalpaw.com Dog Forum - View Single Post - Greyhound racing ban signatures certified

Crossfire Bulldogs · 12-21-2005, 03:58 PM

By Tim Grace, Enterprise Staff Writer

Backers of a ballot question that would ban greyhound racing in the commonwealth had reason to crow Tuesday when Secretary of State William Galvin Jr. announced they had gathered enough signatures to push the Dog Protection Act a step closer to voter review in 2006.

Galvin's office certified 83,431 of the 90,360 signatures gathered by the coalition of animal rights groups supporting the question. Only 65,825 signatures were required to move the question forward.

"This is a key victory for the supporters of this humane law," said Tom Adams, director of communications for the Animal Rescue League of Boston. "Voters recognize that dogs deserve to be protected from individuals and industries that would do them harm."

In addition to banning greyhound racing, the act would allow harsher sentences for people convicted of assaulting police canines or taking part in organized dog fighting.

The act was sponsored by greyhound protection group Grey2K USA, the Boston Animal Rights League, the Humane Society of the United States and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It will now be forwarded on to the state Legislature for consideration.

Should the act fail to win support in the Legislature, it could still win direct ballot access if its backers can present another 15,000 signatures asking for it to be put to voters.

A bill that would only have banned greyhound racing was put to voters in 2000, but failed on a whisker-thin margin. Backers are hoping that broadening the act's scope will tip the scales in their favor.

But George Carney, owner of Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park, one of the state's two dog racing tracks, has called the inclusion of the police K9 and dog fighting elements "a subterfuge" meant to hoodwink voters.

Attempts to reach Carney were not immediately successful Tuesday afternoon.

But in recent interviews, Carney said he would fight to keep the act off the ballot and, failing that, would launch a public relations campaign to see the question defeated.

12-21-2005, 03:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Crossfire Bulldogs Sourmug Mom Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Snuggled Between The Snorts & Snores. Posts: 7,844 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 287	Greyhound racing ban signatures certified - The Enterprise Boston By Tim Grace, Enterprise Staff Writer Backers of a ballot question that would ban greyhound racing in the commonwealth had reason to crow Tuesday when Secretary of State William Galvin Jr. announced they had gathered enough signatures to push the Dog Protection Act a step closer to voter review in 2006. Galvin's office certified 83,431 of the 90,360 signatures gathered by the coalition of animal rights groups supporting the question. Only 65,825 signatures were required to move the question forward. "This is a key victory for the supporters of this humane law," said Tom Adams, director of communications for the Animal Rescue League of Boston. "Voters recognize that dogs deserve to be protected from individuals and industries that would do them harm." In addition to banning greyhound racing, the act would allow harsher sentences for people convicted of assaulting police canines or taking part in organized dog fighting. The act was sponsored by greyhound protection group Grey2K USA, the Boston Animal Rights League, the Humane Society of the United States and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It will now be forwarded on to the state Legislature for consideration. Should the act fail to win support in the Legislature, it could still win direct ballot access if its backers can present another 15,000 signatures asking for it to be put to voters. A bill that would only have banned greyhound racing was put to voters in 2000, but failed on a whisker-thin margin. Backers are hoping that broadening the act's scope will tip the scales in their favor. But George Carney, owner of Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park, one of the state's two dog racing tracks, has called the inclusion of the police K9 and dog fighting elements "a subterfuge" meant to hoodwink voters. Attempts to reach Carney were not immediately successful Tuesday afternoon. But in recent interviews, Carney said he would fight to keep the act off the ballot and, failing that, would launch a public relations campaign to see the question defeated.
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