This ballot question — Question 3 — passed 56% to 44% and won in 12 out of 14 counties. It phased out live greyhound racing in Massachusetts by 2010. Over 1.5 million Massachusetts voters said that dogs matter and deserve to be protected.
We dedicate this victory to all those dogs who have been hurt or died on Massachusetts tracks, and also to those dogs who will not be in harm’s way in the future.
In approving the Greyhound Protection Act, voters sent a clear message that we will not tolerate an industry that causes thousands of dogs to endure lives of terrible confinement and many to suffer serious injury. For seventy-five years, greyhounds have suffered at local dog tracks. While at the racetrack, dogs are confined in small cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around for long hours each day.
We are extremely proud of the 3,000 volunteers, who made great sacrifices to pass this humane law, and we are proud to stand with the many community leaders and animal protection groups who supported Question 3. The Committee to Protect Dogs worked hard during the 14-month phase-out period to ensure that any racing dogs ending their careers in Massachusetts found loving homes.
The Greyhound Protection Act was supported by the oldest, largest, and most respected animal welfare organizations in the state. It was sponsored by the MSPCA, The Humane Society of the United States, and greyhound protection group GREY2K USA.
There were two racetracks that had live greyhound racing in Massachusetts — Wonderland and the Raynham Greyhound Park. In 2001, a law was passed which mandated the reporting of injuries at the tracks. According to state records, more than 800 dogs were injured while racing in Massachusetts. Nearly eighty percent of these injuries involved broken legs. Other reported injuries include paralysis, death from cardiac arrest, and broken necks.
In 2023, a law was passed to specifically end the wagering in Massachusetts on greyhound races run in other states or countries.
If you would like to learn more about greyhound racing, visit GREY2KUSA’s website.
