Tucson Region

Half of seized greyhounds relocated

Half of the 76 greyhounds seized by Pima Animal Care Center two weeks ago from a South Side kennel have been placed in homes or foster care. Investigations by Pima County and the Arizona Department of Racing continue as officials try to determine who was responsible for the dogs' care. The dogs were confiscated from a kennel leased by Tucson Greyhound Park. The property, on East Alvord Road near South Palo Verde Road, is owned by trainer Johnny Rippetoe, but it is unclear who is responsible for maintaining the kennels. Pima County Sheriff's Department detectives and Pima Animal Care Center investigators were tipped off two weeks ago to poor conditions at the kennel. Investigators found dogs covered with fleas and ticks. Some were missing patches of fur, were underweight and had other medical problems. However, Margaret Custead, a volunteer at the kennels who signed the dogs over to Pima Animal Care, said that the ongoing flea problem on the Alvord Road property was being addressed and that days before the seizure, dogs with the worst infestation had been moved out of the kennels. Eleven dogs from the property were released to Custead and her husband the night of the seizure and were taken to kennels at the track. "If it was such an abusive situation, why would they release the dogs to us?" Paul Custead asked. The Custeads are greyhound trainers and kennel operators who keep racing dogs at Tucson Greyhound Park. During the warm, moist summer months, a flea infestation can overtake a kennel in a matter of days, said Mark Soto, enforcement operations supervisor for Pima Animal Care. "It was serious, but it's definitely not the most serious we've ever seen," Soto said. While being housed at Pima Animal Care, two greyhounds were mauled after other racing dogs in their kennels pulled off their muzzles and attacked. Both dogs died. Of the 74 remaining dogs, one was returned to its owner in Colorado. Most of the rest were placed in foster care or transported to adoptive homes in other states by the Greyhound Adoption League. Property owner Rippetoe declined to speak with the Arizona Daily Star, but his attorney, Robin Carter, said his client leased the kennels to Tucson Greyhound Park. He said track officials were ultimately responsible for the care of the dogs. Carter likened Rippetoe's involvement in day-to-day kennel operations to that of an office building owner who leases space to individual companies. "It would be like suggesting that the owner of the largest skyscraper downtown would be responsible if somebody got murdered on the fifth floor," Carter said. "(Property) ownership does not convey responsibility for those dogs." Tucson Greyhound Park officials declined to speak with the Star. But in a press release on the American Greyhound Council Web site, Tony Fasulo, the chief operating officer at the track, said that while the track leased the kennel space, officials denied any responsibility in caring for the dogs. At least four of the confiscated dogs had been signed over to the Greyhound Adoption League in January and were waiting at the Alvord Road kennels for permanent homes. The league was placing 400 to 500 dogs a year in adoptive homes in Arizona and other states until last autumn, when the organization lost its lease on kennels in Marana. Since then, league volunteers have been relying on foster homes, pulling dogs out of the Alvord Road kennels as frequently as possible. A backlog of dogs occurred at the Alvord Road kennels earlier this year when movement of greyhounds - racers and retired dogs - was halted as an illness spread through greyhound kennels across the country, league Vice President Carolyn Olson said. In addition, not all of the identifying markers - ear tattoos, coat color, names on collars - kennel owners listed on Adoption League release forms matched dogs that were turned in, league President Lorri Tracy said. "It's a no-win situation," she said. "We've got more dogs than we know what to do with. If the people can't mark the dogs so we know who they are, it makes it really hard to get them out." An investigation continues. A hearing may be scheduled at the racetrack this week, said Mike Brimmer, the Arizona Department of Racing's chief steward at Tucson Greyhound Park. If the stewards, who enforce the rules and regulations of the Racing Department, find evidence of wrongdoing, they can impose up to a $500 fine and a 60-day license suspension. Following their ruling, the case may be forwarded to Racing Department Director Geoffrey Gonsher, who can uphold the decision, dismiss the case or impose a greater penalty.