Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Dog injured in fight, allowed to suffer 2 days

Dog injured in fight, allowed to suffer 2 days
Daytona Beach, FL (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Oct 31, 2005
County: Volusia
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available

Abusers/Suspects:
» Gene Wayne King
» John Douglas Fuhrman - Alleged

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 7460

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

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A greyhound racer maimed in fights with other dogs died after handlers allowed the animal to suffer for two days, according to an arrest report. Injuries to Petey, the dead greyhound , were so severe that bones and muscles were exposed after the fight at the kennel compound on Bellevue Avenue near the dog track. His handlers at Bad Boy Kennel never sought medical attention, said investigators for the State Attorney's Office. Two handlers were arrested Thursday. Both are independent contractors not employed by the track.

Investigators charged Gene Wayne King, 46, of Houston, and John Douglas Fuhrman, 26, of Daytona Beach with two counts of cruelty to animals. Fuhrman was out of the Volusia County Branch Jail on $7,500 bail Friday. King is still being held on the same amount.

Help for the hurt greyhound only came after a trainer for a different kennel contacted an advocacy group, the local chapter of the Greyhound Pets of America, which got permission from handlers for Bad Boy to take Petey to an emergency clinic in St. Augustine, the report said. Petey died there two days after the November 2005 dog fight. During the same incident, a representative from Greyhound Pets of America found another badly injured dog named Bert, who was also taken to the Ravenwood Clinic for treatment. Bert survived his injuries. "In that context (referring to another abuse incident 10 years ago at Daytona's track), it appears that track management has failed to convey that animal abuse is not tolerated," said Susan Netboy of California, founder of the Greyhound Protection League. "It's time that management made greyhound welfare an essential part of its business."

Dan Francati, the general manager of the Daytona Beach Kennel Club, said neither man was employed by the club. He did not want to comment on a pending court case, but said the kennel takes animal welfare seriously. "If we did tolerate animal abuse, two people wouldn't be charged today," he said.

Case Updates

A former greyhound dog handler avoided more jail time for not getting help fast enough for two racing dogs injured in a fight by pleading no contest Monday to a reduced misdemeanor cruelty charge.

Gene Wayne King, 46, of Houston faced up to 10 years in prison for two felony counts of animal cruelty after the November 2005 fight between dogs at a kennel compound near the track on International Speedway Boulevard. Instead, he'll have to complete six months of probation.

"He made some bad calls, but our position was that he didn't commit a crime," said King's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Saul Baran.

The debate over what charges, if any, King and fellow kennel worker John Douglas Fuhrman should face was hashed out over the past two weeks in Circuit Judge R. Michael Hutcheson's courtroom. Central to that argument was whether the men should face a felony or misdemeanor for allegations they did not get the injured animals prompt medical attention.

Source: News Journal Online - Aug 15, 2006
Update posted on Nov 13, 2006 - 12:41PM

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A maimed dog that died from lack of medical care symbolizes the widespread abuses in the greyhound racing industry, said protesters who brandished signs in front of a local track Saturday.

At midday, drivers entering the Daytona Beach Kennel Club could see a half-dozen protesters from the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida holding signs that bashed dog-racing as inhumane.

The protest was done in tribute to Petey, a greyhound that was injured last year in dogfights at a kennel compound near the track and died two days later. His handlers never sought medical help, authorities said.

Gene Wayne King of Houston and John Douglas Furhman of Daytona Beach have been charged with two counts of animal cruelty. Neither was employed by the track.

"This racing industry has no respect for the life of dogs," said Bryan Wilson, a protester, arguing that the state should become more active in regulating the greyhounds' care.

Dan Francati, the track's general manager, said Petey's death was an isolated incident.

"We abhor what happened," he said.

The dogs seen at this track are well-cared for, otherwise they couldn't sprint at 40 mph, Francati said. The kennel club has an emergency medical fund for injured animals and an adoption program for dogs past their racing prime.

But Carla Wilson, a coordinator for the animal rights group, said so many greyhounds are bred in a quest for the "super dog" that it's impossible to adopt all the castoffs.

"These dogs are killed by the thousands -- young, healthy, beautiful greyhounds -- all in the name of profit," she said.

Francati said he didn't want to comment on the broader issues raised by the protesters.

Racing kennels should be required to keep public records, so people can see how many dogs were injured, euthanized and adopted, said Kathy Pelton, a group member. "We want record-keeping and accountability," Pelton said.

Source: Daytona News-Journal - April 9, 2006
Update posted on Apr 9, 2006 - 7:50PM

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Daytona Beach News - February 18, 2006

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Dog injured in fight, allowed to suffer 2 daysDaytona Beach, FL (US)

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Dog injured in fight, allowed to suffer 2 days
Daytona Beach, FL (US)