| DESCRIPTION/NOTES |
Several complaints regarding the conditions of the Pruett Kennel and the greyhounds housed within were received; upon inspection, the kennel was said to be in deplorable conditions & the dogs were infected with fleas & ticks (which the track vet seemed to have missed at both weigh-in & post-race inspections); track manager, Tom Bowersox, told the investigator that he would immediately have the air conditioning repaired and sent a fan over to air out the kennel ("the outrageous stench of ammonia was overpowering. Its source was from the urine on the carpets that had not been cleaned from the dogs that had not been let out of their cages"); apparently, the previous trainer, Stephen Williams, also had an issue with cleanliness & caring for the dogs (cases are pending); the investigator gave track management several opportunities to deal with the kennel employees and have them clean up the kennel area; however, as on 7/27/07, the kennel was still, "far below acceptable standards", according to the investigator (Toner) - in addition, Toner went to the track on 7/27/07 after having received a call reporting a, "vicious dog fight" in the Pruett Kennel turn-out pen - one of the dogs was seriously injured and custody of the dog was taken by Suncoast Kennel trainer, Debbie Williamson, as the Pruett Kennel trainer helper, Lauriann Gray, did not know what to do for the dog; Ms. Williamson said she took the dog to the track vet who stated that the dog would recover & did not need stitches for the, "rip in its throat"; Ms. Williamson contacted Gold Coast Animal Rescue to seek care for the injured greyhound - the dog was transported to Markham Woods Veterinary Hospital were the greyhound was to be kept overnight & then "petted out", as, "the throat injuries would make it an unlikely candidate for racing" |