Hourly Update

8 dead greyhounds lead to trainer's license suspension

A race dog trainer's license was suspended Wednesday after eight race dogs died in his care. The animals were in a group of 35 dogs being taken to a race track in Juarez, Mexico, from Tucson by trainer Jesse Burgess, said Arizona Department of Racing Director Geoffrey E. Gonsher. At the border port, some of the dogs were dead. It is unclear when or why they died during the trip, Gonsher said. "The department staff took immediate action to protect the remaining dogs and to investigate this very serious situation," he said. The surviving dogs were brought back to Tucson and placed in the care of other trainers. "It was a man-made tragedy, the result of extremely poor judgement and a lack of concern," said Susan Netboy, president of the Greyhound Protection League, a dog rescue group based in Penn Valley, Calif. Her group is publicizing the case, hoping to raise awareness about mistreatment of racing dogs, she said. The racing department suspended the Burgess's license, meaning he can't train or race dogs. A dozen of his dogs scheduled to race Wednesday night at Tucson Greyhound Park were scratched from the races. The facts of the case and possible punishments for the trainer will be presented at a hearing tonight at 6 p.m. at the park. Burgess faces up to $500 in fines and a license suspension of up to 60 days.