AR-News: (FL - US) More on the greyhounds and positive cocaine tests

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Source:  Bonita Daily News

State records show 21 cases of positive cocaine tests at dog track
By JANINE A. ZEITLIN, jazeitlin at naplesnews.com
June 12, 2004

Dogs that raced at the Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track in Bonita Springs 
tested positive for traces of cocaine 21 times over the past 3-1/2 years, a 
review of state records shows. 

What those numbers mean depends on whom you ask. 

Industry officials say it represents a sliver of the around 13,700 dogs 
tested at the track in that time, while animal advocates are calling for an 
overhaul of state testing procedures, and some, an end to greyhound racing. 

In late May, Florida's greyhound tracks seeped into the national media and 
Jay Leno's monologue when a pair of animal rights groups called for Florida's 
Attorney General to probe suspected cocaine use at tracks. Their request came on 
the heels of a Tampa Tribune article reporting that more than 110 dogs 
statewide tested positive for cocaine between 2000 and 2003. Animal advocates said 
the Bonita track led the state with 10 cases. 

Earlier this month, the Attorney General's Office declined, saying it had no 
authority to investigate. 

Industry officials say the animal rights groups inflated the significance of 
the minuscule amount of cocaine found in dogs — most positive results turned 
up between 10 to 25 nanograms of cocaine at the Bonita track — to push their 
cause to quash racing. They blame the results on environmental contamination, 
not deliberate race-fixing. 

One million nanograms amounts to one milligram. The lethal cocaine dose for 
dogs is 13 milligrams, according to the 2001 handbook, "Small Animal 
Toxicology," edited by two veterinarians. 

"People are concerned when you just mention the word cocaine," said Mike 
Labun, president of Florida Greyhound Association, which represents kennel 
operators, owners and trainers throughout the state. "Now, unfortunately, my poor 
people are paying the price. I think it's a great injustice." 

"We know there's rampant cocaine use in Florida among particular elements," 
he said, adding that users could have petted the dogs. 

Attendance at Bonita's track plummeted after the cocaine news hit media 
outlets, Labun said. The track's general manager declined comment through track 
staff. 

Christine Dorchak, vice president of GREY2K USA, one of the groups that 
called for the investigation, said the results and media attention do give 
advocates steam to organize a ballot initiative to ban greyhound racing in Florida. 

"This only gives us yet another reason to pursue an end to this cruel sport," 
she said. "For some reason, the dog racing industry has a Teflon jacket that 
is protecting it from scrutiny by the public and law enforcement." 

Law enforcers don't get called in to investigate positive cocaine results. 
Local law enforcers say that's the state arena. State regulators with the 
Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering said the groups distorted the numbers. The 117 
cases of positive cocaine results represented only a tenth of the 104,000 urine 
samples taken during that time. 

Not all racing dogs are tested. The state samples a smattering of greyhounds 
after races and their urine results come back within weeks. Dogs are separated 
from trainers up to three hours before the races. 

"Some of the issues were taken out of context. When you truly look at the 
things in context, it's not the problem it was made out to be," said Meg Shannon, 
a spokeswoman with the division, adding that the state investigates each 
positive result and can fine and revoke or suspend the license of a trainer or 
owner. 

While blaming most positive results on recreational use by dog handlers, 
results approaching 100-plus nanograms does raise eyebrows among state regulators 
and they take stiff action against violators, they said. 

Between 2000 and 2003, the state took action against three dog owners or 
trainers at Bonita's track with positive cocaine results. The state revoked the 
license of Steven Petrillo, a Fort Myers man responsible for eight of the nine 
positives between 2002 and 2003. Petrillo declined comment. 

Regulators said they don't know how cocaine affects greyhounds. 

"You can't compare humans and canines," said Royal Logan, the division's 
chief operations officer. "Unfortunately, this is just a big unknown area." 

Dave Roberts, the division's director, said he didn't know if cocaine could 
cause a greyhound to run faster or slower: "We don't know if it pumps the dog 
up." 

Experts did know. Even small amounts of cocaine can spur excitement and 
hyperactivity in greyhounds, they said, not unlike the reaction cocaine causes for 
humans. If the dogs get too much, they could become depressed and comatose. 
How much cocaine would create such an effect in greyhounds isn't known. 

"Certainly, any exposure could elicit some of those effects. . . . It 
obviously doesn't necessarily take a huge amount," particularly for greyhounds, said 
Dana Farbman, a senior manager at the Animal Poison Control Center. 

"Greyhounds have very, very little body fat. Those kinds of things could 
really play a factor." 

The center is allied with the University of Illinois' College of Veterinarian 
Medicine. 

"Small Animal Toxicology" states that cocaine can cause a significant jump in 
the heart rate and cardiac output of a dog as well tremors, seizures and 
vomiting. Dogs rapidly absorb cocaine and symptoms can turn severe quickly. 

Even if amounts are minute, Laura Bevan, southeast director of the Humane 
Society of the United States, said the state must improve its testing procedures. 
The Humane Society of the United States was the other group calling for an 
investigation. Given the attorney general's denial, they're looking at other 
ways of addressing the results, she said. 

"For us, we have concern that the dog is being given cocaine. If it's not 
being used to fix races, why are you testing for it?" Bevan said. "Maybe there 
needs to be more testing of the dogs ahead of time. Maybe there needs to be 
testing of people working in the kennels."






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