Letter to the Editor: Greyhounds and Amendment 13

As an owner of two racetrack greyhound athletes, I disagree with an earlier letter to the editor describing race tracks as torture chambers for greyhounds. The fact is, the hounds are treated as athletes. They are well-fed, well-taken care of medically and work a short time, often getting to sleep for the rest of the day.

One can tell when an animal has been abused or mistreated while going through the adoption process. We have an adopted lab who was mistreated, and it is evident at times. They are skittish, not sociable and afraid of strangers. Our two hounds are couch potatoes after a three-minute race in the backyard. We are also part of a group of greyhound owners in town that allow locals to interact with newly retired greyhound athletes. People can come up and pet the new hounds, much to the enjoyment of the hound; their willingness to interact with humans is not an indication of a mistreated dog. 

Proponents for Amendment 13 relay a story to demonstrate mistreatment of the hounds. A malfunctioning gas heater killed 15 hounds in Florida. In fact, there are many more stories when humans are killed by carbon monoxide from a bad gas heater or operating a generator in a garage during a storm. Tragic accidents happen in this world every minute. Are we going to ban generators or gas heaters from consumers? No. We train on the proper use of the device and require carbon monoxide alarms. 

Our greyhounds were trained by inmates at Hardee Correctional Institution in a vocational training program. A win for the hounds, the inmates and the future dog parent. 

Please vote no on Amendment 13 to save the jobs of 3,000 humans and 8,000 hound athletes. 

 Dee and Giada Yellen thank you in advance for saving jobs for their fellow active athletes and future fellow couch potatoes.

Victor Yellen is a Gainesville resident.