71 RESOLUTION NO. ___ _
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3 A Resolution of the Mayor and Commission of the City of South Miami calling for
4 an immediate ban on Greyhound dog racing in the state of Florida.
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6 WHEREAS, Greyhound racing is illegal in 39 states -Florida is one of just seven states
7 that still allows Greyhound racing!; and
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9 WHEREAS, presently there are 20 pennit holders operating 13 remaining Greyhound
10 dog tracks in Florida2; and
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12 WHEREAS, Florida has the most Greyhound racing facilities of any state in the country3
13 and a ban in Florida would make a big impact; and
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15 WHEREAS, Greyhound racing has dramatically declined in attendance to the point
16 where even hard-core dog racing enthusiasts see no future to this activity and Michael Glenn,
17 general manager of the Palm Beach Kennel Club, admitted that "[ilt is a dying sport4,,; and
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19 WHEREAS, the decline in attendance also effects the financial viability of the industry
20 with the total amount gambled on greyhound racing in Florida falling by 67% from $933.8
21 million in FY 1990 to $265.4 million in FY 2012 5 ; and
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23 WHEREAS, Greyhounds bred for racing suffer whether they reach the race.track or noe;
24 and
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26 WHEREAS, industry workers regularly kill Greyhounds puppies in the name of
27 selective breeding and those that become injured, grow old, are deemed to be too slow, or are no
28 longer profitable are also routinely killed'; and
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30 WHEREAS, Greyhounds are treated as though they are a disposable running machines
3 1 because they are bred in quantities that require disposal of surplus Greyhound stock'; and
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33 WHEREAS, each year hundreds of racing greyhounds die unnecessarily and often suffer
34 a horrible death by accident or due to willful and/or wanton action6 ; and
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36 WHEREAS, many animals are left to starve, freeze to death or are otherwise severely
37 mistreated and are kept in confmed cages'; and
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1 http://www.grey2kusa.orgiaction/states.html
2 http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pmw/documents/ AnnualReports/ AnnualReport-20 13-20 14--83rd--
20150114.pdf
3 http://www.washingtontimes.comlnews/20 14/ju1l9/a-Iook-at-the-states-with-live-greyhound-racingi?page=all
4 http://www.leg.state.fl.us/gamingstudy/docs/FGIS _Spectrum _ 280c120 13. pdf
5 http://www.leg.state.fl.us/gamingstudy/docs/FGIS _Spectrum _ 280c120 13. pdf
• 6 https://www.aspca.orgifight-cruelty/abomination-greyhound-racing
7 http://www.peta.orgiissues/animals-in-entertainmentlanimals-used-entertainment-factsheets/greyhound-racing-
death-fast-Iane/
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WHEREAS, the only way to put an end to greyhound abuse is to put an end to racing.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, THAT:
Section 1. The City of South Miami ("City") calls upon the government of the state
of Florida to ban all Greyhound racing in the state of Florida.
Section 2. The City Clerk is directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Jeff
Clemens of Lake Worth, FL, the Miami-Dade County League of Cities, Florida League of Cities
and all members of the Florida legislature.
Section 3. Severability. If any section clause, sentence, or phrase of this resolution is
for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holding
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.
Section 4. Effective Date. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon
adoption by vote of the City Commission.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this __ day of _____ , 2015.
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM,
LANGUAGE, LEGALITY AND
EXECUTION THEREOF
CITY ATTORNEY
Page 2 of2
APPROVED:
MAYOR
COMMISSION VOTE:
Mayor Stoddard:
Vice Mayor Harris:
Commissioner Edmond:
Commissioner Liebman:
Commissioner Welsh: