*paws
Mayor Cortes adamant "nothing cruel about dog racing". New names added to the franchise: QUISUMBING of NORKIS (formerly franchise holders of Yamaha Motorcycles) .
"Nothing cruel about dog racing in Mândaue"
Reprint this article PROTESTS from animal welfare advocates in Manila have not deterred Mayor Jonas Cortes from supporting moves to put up a dog racing facility in Mandaue City.
Cortes said yesterday there was nothing cruel about dog racing in the first place.
Cortes said that the facility would bring in more tourists to Mandaue”which is in line with the thrusts of his administration.
"If they are worried that dogs will be killed when they retire from race, then I don't think they have to be killed because these dogs can be given or donated to those who want them,"� Cortes said.
"Wala ko'y nakita nga makadaot sa dog racing para sa siyudad (I don't see anything that would show that dog racing is bad for the city),"said Cortes.
He also pointed out that no one had filed a complaint against dog racign in his office.
Cortes, however, admitted that one of the investors to the dog racing facility currently being discussed in Congress was the Quisumbing family ”owners of the Norkis Group of Companies.
Cortes and Quisumbing belonged to the same political party during the 2007 elections.
"Even the (opposition- led) City Council is also supporting such dog racing," said the mayor.
He pointed out that Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz of Cebu's 6th district, an ally of the opposition in Mandaue, is one of the authors of the House Bill creating dog racing activities in the Philippines.
Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu 4th district) (primary author) and Rep. Ferjenel Biron (Iloilo 4th district) are the authors of House Bill 5921 which grants The Fox New Millenium Amusement Club, Inc., a franchise to construct, operate and maintain a greyhound racetrack in any place within the City Of Mandaue."�
The mayor however emphasized that he is awaiting results of the discussions in Congress and the Senate because it is only them that would grant franchise to such businesses.
"That is precisely why they (investors) asked for the franchise so that it would determined if the facility could be allowed,"� Cortes added.
The mayor, however, said he personally does not see any animal abuse in such activities such as dog racing.
"I even think that the horse-racing is more cruel because they (animals) are whipped," said Cortes in Cebuano.
"But it will invite more tourists and stir economic growth for the city."�
Cortes said that with the dog-racing activity, tourists will come to Mandaue particularly those coming from Australia and Hong Kong.
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in its position paper fought against the operations of dog racing facilities in the country.
"The new industry of greyhound racing will trigger the breeding of hundreds of greyhounds, more than it can place at race tracks. Racing afficionados will be motivated to produce "winning"� dogs and will end up overbreeding them," said PAWS program director Anna Hashim-Cabrera in a written position paper.
"This is an inevitable scenario as can be shown in euthanasia statistics in countries which already have greyhound racing."
The PAWS also said that in the United States, about 20,000 surplus greyhounds are killed each year because they no longer qualify for racing.
There is also not enough homes for the retired dogs.
The advocates said that a greyhound's racing career is usually over at 3.5 to 4 years of age, and yet, its life expectancy is about 13 years old.
"The reason why the greyhound racing industry is inherently cruel is because it treats dogs as commodities, "� said Hashim-Cabrera.
"It is a form of gaming in which the amount of money a dog generates determines his or her expendability. "�
Aside from PAWS, other groups have already sent written petitions at the Senate where the Bills are pending for approval.
Dave DavisJul 31
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1 comments:
This sport like all sports en-riches the local economy and will attract great revenue for the People of Mandaue .
The people of Mandaue should welcome this as a great boost for jobs in many areas such as Food Vendors, Hotel ,Concession workers and the list goes on. I have seen the interest in the Sport and think its a great idea to pursue it.
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