Greyhounds lose at the finish line - Florida Senate fails to pick up decoupling bill, state's legislative session is over

http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/grey2k-usa/florida-greyhound-bill-not-voted-on-our-fight-goes-on/340105504977 

Florida Greyhound Bill Not Voted On - Our Fight Goes On
By GREY2K USA - May 7, 2011 

Dear Friends,

Despite working until after 3 am, the Florida Senate failed to take up our greyhound bill, and the session ended. If we had been brought up for a vote last night, we would have won: We knew that and our opponents knew that. We had already won by super majorities (86-31 and 25-14) in the initial votes taken in each chamber.

In 2000, after we lost our first greyhound ballot question by the smallest margin in state history (49-51), and then proceeded to gather another 150,000 signatures to get back on the ballot in 2006, everyone knew we would win. So one of the tracks used a legal maneuver to knock us off the ballot that year.

What a blow this was to thousands of wonderful people.

But, as you know, we simply regained our strength and found the courage and tenacity to continue. The volunteers reassembled and we gathered those 150,000 signatures again! We got back on the ballot in 2008, and the greyhounds of Massachusetts won! We were able to keep fighting by putting aside our own fatigue and frustration and remembering that the dogs were depending on us.

To the thousands of people, in the state and around the world, who joined together to help pass the Florida measure, I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. Please look inside yourselves and find the strength to keep fighting for these gentle friends.

Florida greyhounds are languishing in small cages right now, eating 4-D meat, and suffering injuries or dying when let out to race. It is for these dogs that we must continue to work together.

As Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy once said:

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."

Republican or Democratic, Independent, Green or otherwise, we can all embrace these words. Please join me in fighting on. Victory will come. 

Christine Dorchak
President, GREY2K USA