Dated – July 21 – 10:51 a.m.
Sent to info@agcouncil.com
To Whom It May Concern:

Are there any weather guidelines for dog racing during the heat wave?

With the excessively high temperatures across the country right now, how hot is too hot?

Does your organization have any recommendations?

Do the individual tracks have guidelines or follow a specific policy?

Thank you
Karyn Zoldan

According to the American Greyhound Council website:
“The American Greyhound Council (AGC) was established in 1987 to fund and manage greyhound welfare, research and adoption programs for the racing community. It is a joint effort of the National Greyhound Association, the official greyhound registry and breeding organization; and the American Greyhound Track Operators Association. The AGC works with breeders, tracks, adoption groups, regulators, elected officials and others to ensure the health and safety of greyhounds at every stage of their lives.”

——————

…Record-Breaking Heat Wave Continues…
Published: Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:11:29 EDT
Excessive heat warnings and heat advisories are in effect for much of the central U.S. and Ohio Valley, as well as areas from the eastern Carolinas northward into the New York City area. Hot temperatures, combined with the oppressive humidity levels, will create heat index values between 105 to 120 degrees during the afternoon hours. All-time record high temperatures were set on Friday in Newark, N.J. (108°F) and Dulles, Va. (105°F) and tied in Bridgeport, Conn. (103°F). High temperatures near 100 degrees will be possible Saturday across much of the Mid-Atlantic States and into southeast U.S.

———————–

On Saturday – July 23 – every which way on the Web talked about the sweeping heat wave. That got me thinking about the greyhounds who have “careers” and race for their lives. There are still seven states which have live dog racing – Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia, Florida, Iowa, Texas, and Arizona…South Tucson to be exact.

On recent previous occasions when the weather locally was well past the 100-degree mark, I called Tucson Greyhound Park to inquire whether or not dogs were racing and the answer was always yes, yes, and yes. According to Arizona Department of Racing, the state regulating agency for dog racing, a representative revealed there were no guidelines as to how hot was too hot. Can we call that state mandated greyhound welfare?

According to the National Weather Service: (zip code 85713)
Mon – 6/27 – temp at post time (7 pm) 107; races cancelled after 4th race
Tues – 6/28 – temp at post time (7 pm) 104; 13 races, no races cancelled
Wed – 6/29 – temp at post time (7 pm) 102; 13 races, no races cancelled
Thur – 6/30 – temp at post time (7 pm) 100; 13 races, no races cancelled
Fri – 7/1 – temp at post time (7:30 pm) 104; 15 races, no races cancelled
Sat – 7/2 – temp at post time (7:30 pm) 103; 15 races, no races cancelled

On June 27, races were cancelled not because of outdoor temperatures but because the inside holding area was said to be too hot.

At the South Tucson dog track, the two veterinarians on duty – the state vet paid for from your tax dollars – and the track vet paid by the track — are responsible for calling the races due to weather. They must also confer with the state steward – again paid for with your tax dollars – and the track steward.

I’m sure if I called my vet and asked her if my dog can run 550 yards when it’s 100-plus degrees, she would report me to Pima Animal Care Center.

——————————-

On Saturday, July 23, I started thinking about the greyhounds racing in other parts of the country.

I called Bluffs Run Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It was 4 p.m. in Tucson which meant it was 6 p.m. in Iowa. According to their website – dogs race year round.

Facility Address:
2701 23rd Ave
Council Bluffs, IA 51502
Phone: 712-323-2500

Here’s my conversation the Cheerful Operator at Bluffs Run Casino:

KZ: Are the dogs racing tonight?

CO: Yes, they are.

KZ: Are there any guidelines for weather conditions being too hot?

CO: No. The dogs race all the time.

KZ: Are you aware that the heat index is 106?

CO: (pause) (she’s probably sitting in an air conditioned office) – The dogs race all the time.

KZ: Okay, well do the dogs race when it’s pouring rain outside? According to the national weather service there is flooding in your area.

CO: It’s not raining here.

KZ: Well, what happens when it does rain or flood?

CO: We wait for it to dry up and then the dogs race. We have never cancelled a race because of weather.

KZ: It snows in Iowa.

CO: Well, maybe one time when it snowed (pauses to think). Maybe…

———————————
According to weather.com – here’s the report for zip code 51502
Updated: Jul 23, 2011, 6:05pm CDT
Mostly Cloudy Dangerous heat index. Outdoor exposure should be limited. Scattered T-Storms Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy
89°F 76° 86° 69°
Feels Like: 106°

Late Afternoon: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Heat index values as high as 106. South wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Heat Advisory
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
320 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2011

IAZ043-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-052-053-066>068-
088>093-240100-
/O.CON.KOAX.HT.Y.0004.000000T0000Z-110724T0100Z/
MONONA-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE-KNOX-CEDAR-
THURSTON-ANTELOPE-PIERCE-WAYNE-DOUGLAS-SARPY-LANCASTER-CASS-OTOE-
JEFFERSON-GAGE-JOHNSON-NEMAHA-PAWNEE-RICHARDSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…ONAWA…COUNCIL BLUFFS…GLENWOOD…
RED OAK…SIDNEY…CLARINDA…BLOOMFIELD…HARTINGTON…PENDER…
NELIGH…PIERCE…WAYNE…OMAHA…BELLEVUE…LINCOLN…
PLATTSMOUTH…NEBRASKA CITY…FAIRBURY…BEATRICE…TECUMSEH…
AUBURN…PAWNEE CITY…FALLS CITY
320 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2011

…HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING…

* TEMPERATURE…HIGHS WILL REMAIN HOT THROUGH EARLY EVENING IN THE
UPPER 80S TO NEAR 100.

* IMPACTS…HEAT INDICES WILL RANGE FROM 102 TO 112 DEGREES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN
POSSIBLE…RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR
EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT
STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN
POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.

TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS
IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY
HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE
IS AN EMERGENCY…CALL 9 1 1.

Hazardous Weather Outlook
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
445 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2011

IAZ043-055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-
042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093-241100-
ANTELOPE-BOONE-BURT-BUTLER-CASS-CEDAR-COLFAX-CUMING-DODGE-DOUGLAS-
FREMONT IA-GAGE-HARRISON IA-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-KNOX-LANCASTER-MADISON-
MILLS IA-MONONA IA-MONTGOMERY IA-NEMAHA-OTOE-PAGE IA-PAWNEE-PIERCE-
PLATTE-POTTAWATTAMIEIA-RICHARDSON-SALINE-SARPY-SAUNDERS-SEWARD-
SHELBY IA-STANTON-THURSTON-WASHINGTON-WAYNE-
445 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MOST OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AND
PARTS OF SOUTHWEST IOWA.

(Council Bluffs is in southwest Iowa in Pottawattamie County)

.DAY ONE…TONIGHT AND SUNDAY

A HEAT ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR PARTS OF THE AREA INTO THE EARLY
EVENING.

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHEAST
NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA THROUGH THE EVENING. A FEW STORMS COULD
PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS…HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT AS WELL…AS A COLD FRONT
DROPS SOUTHWARD ACROSS INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS. A FEW STORMS COULD
APPROACH SEVERE LIMITS…WITH STRONG WINDS AND HAIL. LOCALLY HEAVY
RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE. THUNDERSTORMS MAY LINGER OVER PARTS OF
SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA ON SUNDAY…BUT AT THIS TIME
THE SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL SUNDAY SEEMS LOW.

WIDESPREAD MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE
MISSOURI RIVER.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR PARTS OF THE AREA
FROM SUNDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY…THEN AGAIN FROM WEDNESDAY INTO
SATURDAY.

MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT…

STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT.

$$

MILLER

Short Term Forecast
SHORT TERM FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
430 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2011

IAZ069-079-080-090-091-NEZ051>053-065>068-078-088>093-232230-
CASS-DOUGLAS-FREMONT IA-GAGE-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-LANCASTER-MILLS IA-
MONTGOMERY IA-NEMAHA-OTOE-PAGE IA-PAWNEE-POTTAWATTAMIE IA-RICHARDSON-
SALINE-SARPY-SAUNDERS-SEWARD-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…AUBURN…BEATRICE…BELLEVUE…CLARINDA…
COUNCIL BLUFFS…CRETE…FAIRBURY…FALLS CITY…GLENWOOD…
LINCOLN…NEBRASKA CITY…OMAHA…PAWNEE CITY…PLATTSMOUTH…
RED OAK…SEWARD…SIDNEY…TECUMSEH…WAHOO
430 PM CDT SAT JUL 23 2011

.NOW…
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH 530 PM GENERALLY
FROM NEAR BEATRICE NORTHEAST TOWARD NEBRASKA CITY. THIS ACTIVITY
WILL LIKELY MOVE INTO SOUTHWEST IOWA NEAR AND SOUTH THROUGH
SOUTHEAST OF GLENWOOD AFTER THAT TIME. THE STRONGER STORMS WILL
PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN…SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH WITH
SOME INTENSIFICATION POSSIBLE THROUGH EARLY EVENING.

$$

CHERMOK

——————————

The heat index (HI) is an index that combines air temperature and relative humidity in an attempt to determine the human-perceived equivalent temperature — how hot it feels, termed the felt air temperature. The human body normally cools itself by perspiration, or sweating, which evaporates and carries heat away from the body. However, when the relative humidity is high, the evaporation rate is reduced, so heat is removed from the body at a lower rate causing it to retain more heat than it would in dry air.

How do heat and humidity affect dogs?

According to this article, heat-related illnesses include heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps, and can occur after exposure to extremely high environmental temperatures. Those at risk are pets who overexert during work or exercise. As greyhounds race around the track, they are not pets at this point, they are vehicles for greed. One can only hope and pray that they make it to pet-hood.

If there’s a greyhound in your life, read this article with input by a former dog track vet. This information could save your dog’s life.

—————————–

But back to the American Greyhound Council, it’s been three full business days and I have not had a response as to guidelines regarding weather conditions.

This makes me think that:

1) There are no guidelines
2) There is very little to no greyhound welfare as to the heat index

I invite a response from AGC as to the guidelines…

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 27th, 2011 at 2:19 am and is filed under Greyhounds, Pet Health & Safety. Tags for this post: greyhound racing, greyhound welfare, greyhounds, heat index. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.