There was a question on the ballot yesterday to ban dog racing in Massachusetts where there is any form of betting on the speed or ability of the dogs. I'm thrilled to let everyone know it passed!! There are several dog tracks in this state, one of which is near Boston. It has been there for many, many years & I'm sure, now that it will have to close, many grayhounds lives will be saved! 

This is how the question was worded:

"Declaration of purpose. The citizens of Massachusetts find that commercial dog racing is cruel and inhumane, and as recommended by the Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Rescue League of Boston, GREY2K USA, and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, declare that it should be prohibited in the commonwealth."

I'm just wondering how long it will take to shut down the dog racing parks that currently exist. I know some people will lose their jobs, however the largest of these dog racing facilities sits on a massive piece of land right near Boston that has dirrect access to all the highways. So large in fact that the state is trying to get casino gambling to come in and that is the prime site they want to use. Massachusetts is a short drive away from 2 major casino's in other states so it's a matter of just keeping money here, instead of it going to other states anyway.

I'm just so happy that those poor dogs will get bette lives & there will not be any future generations to have to suffer as racing dogs here in Massachusetts!!

Yes! Another victory for dogs.

YESSSSSS !!!!!!! THAT IS SO EXCELLENT!!! I LIVE IN SARASOTA,FLORIDA,AND THEY HAVE GREYHOUND RACING HERE.I WISH WE COULD PASS A LAW TO BAN IT HERE TOO.IN THE PAST RETIRED GREYHOUNDS MET A HORRIBLE FATE.THANK GOD OUR CITY HAS AN ORGANIZED AND EFFICIENT ADOPTION PROGRAM NOW.GREYHOUNDS ARE SWEET,WONDERFUL ANGELS.THEY MAKE FANTASTIC PETS,LOYAL AND LOVING.I WILL BE SO HAPPY TO SEE GREYHOUND RACING BANNED IN THIS COUNTRY.

I live in Massachusetts & am totally thrilled that we FINALLY got this passed!!

This is from the ASPCA’s website on, not only the victory on election day in Massachusetts, but also on one in California!

The People Have Spoken—Victory for Animals in CA and MA!

Tuesday was an historic day in America in more ways than one. With resounding victories for California’s Prop 2 and Massachusetts’s Ballot Question 3, voters on both coasts sent a clear message that preventing animal cruelty is a national priority.

In California, the factory farm-related Standards for Confining Farm Animals Act ( http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=alert_caprop2) - ballot Proposition 2 -  won in a landslide, with over 60 percent of respondents voting “yes” to mandate an increase of confinement space for veal calves, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens. On the Act’s effective date, January 1, 2015, these animals will have their rights to turn around, lie down, stand up and fully extend their limbs guaranteed by state law. Violators will face a fine up to $1,000 or six months in county jail.

The Massachusetts ban on dog racing  -
( http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=alert_MAYes2 ) has been a long time coming - in 2000, a similar ballot measure was narrowly defeated, and attempts to get the question included on the 2006 ballot were unsuccessful. With the ban’s passage this week (57 percent to 43 percent), commercial dog racing will be phased out in Massachusetts by 2010. There are two dog tracks in the state—each of which is believed to currently house about 1,000 greyhounds. Because the phase-out will occur over a period of 14 months, greyhound advocacy groups such as Grey2K USA ( http://www.grey2kusa.org/index.html ) are confident that they will be able to find homes for any racing dogs who become available for adoption.

Great job, California and Massachusetts animal advocates! The ASPCA strongly supported both proposals, and promoted them to members of our Advocacy Brigade. If you would like to be alerted when animal-friendly legislation is being considered in your state, please sign up to receive email alerts from the ASPCA—the alerts are targeted to your area, and taking action is easy, fun and free! ! Join the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade now -
(  http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lobby_home ).