Greyhound Racing on the Chopping Block as Per New Federal Bill

Greyhound racing is ruffling feathers and appalling younger generations, with the sport nearly out the door. Yet, it keeps operating in West Virginia, where the Wheeling Island Hotel Casino and Racetrack, as well as the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort, continue to host races, but possibly not for long.

Last Greyhound Racing Bastion Set to Fall

Safety concerns have been raised time and again, with animal welfare groups highlighting the suffering of the dogs bred to race, and their deaths due to injuries, ill-treatment, and other inhumane practices.

A bipartisan federal bill in the United States is now looking to finally abolish the sport, with the Greyhound Protection Act likely to garner sufficient backing, as the issue resonates strongly with electoral bases and the politicians themselves.

The industry has tried to push back and accused welfare groups of spreading rumors and firmly rebuffing claims about ongoing abuse. Yet, public records show deaths and injuries suffered by greyhounds, as well as poor post-race-day treatment.

However, Representative Salud Carbajal, one of the people behind the bill, isn’t buying this narrative and firmly believes that intentional or accidental cruelty persists in the vertical.

Naturally, a bill like that would impact specific people. The industry in West Virginia is said to have generated thousands of jobs, and should it pass, those jobs would be wiped out, making the political cost a consideration.

Public Money Can Be Spent Better, Elsewhere

Industry insiders have pointed out that it should be down to the states to take care of, and not the federal government, and this argument is cogent, as the majority of US states have banned the activity outright. Yet, West Virginia has a vested economic interest that could leave the issues raised by the bill’s sponsors unaddressed for years to come.

However, this argument too should be considered up close. The greyhound industry is currently sponsored by the West Virginia Lottery Commission, with the money allocated for it being better spent on other public initiatives and goals.