Chapter Game 15

Register November 2003 No. 575

Chapter Game 15

HUMANE TREATMENT OF RACING ANIMALS

Game 15.01   Purpose.

Game 15.02   Humane issues.

Game 15.03   Euthanasia.

Game 15.04   Live lure prohibition.

Game 15.05   General humane rules.

Game 15.06   Scientific research.

Game 15.07   Kennel standards.

Game 15.08   Rodent and insect control.

Ch. Game 15 Note Note: Chapter RACE 15 was renumbered chapter WGC 15 and corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1. and 6., Stats., Register, March, 1995, No. 471.

Ch. Game 15 Note Note: Chapter WGC 15 was renumbered chapter Game 15 under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats., and corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6. and 7., Stats., Register November 2003 No. 575.

Game 15.01 Game 15.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure that animals participating in races in this state shall be treated humanely both on and off racetracks throughout the life of the animals.

Game 15.01 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1990, No. 411, eff. 4-1-90.

Game 15.02 Game 15.02 Humane issues.

Game 15.02(1) (1) Owners and trainers of greyhounds shall humanely treat, both on and off the race track, all greyhounds in their possession or under their control:

Game 15.02(1)(a) (a) This condition shall terminate only when the party ceases to be an owner or trainer of greyhounds;

Game 15.02(1)(b) (b) A proven violation of this rule shall ban the responsible party from holding any racing related license for a minimum 5 year period.

Game 15.02(1)(c) (c) A person is guilty of inhumane treatment for any, but not limited to, of the following acts: if the person overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, drink or shelter, cruelly beats, mutilates any animal, or causes or procures any animal to be so overdriven, overloaded, driven when overloaded, overworked, tortured, tormented, deprived of necessary sustenance, drink, shelter, or to be cruelly beaten or mutilated; and whoever having charge or custody of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, subjects any animal to needless suffering, or inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon the animal, or in any manner abuses any animal, or fails to provide the animal with proper food, drink or shelter or protection from the weather, or who drives or otherwise uses an animal unfit for racing, training or other labor.

Game 15.02(1)(d) (d) No person shall remove or alter, either directly or indirectly, any tattoo, other marking, device, coloration or special characteristic that is used for the purpose of identifying a greyhound.

Game 15.02(2) (2) A sworn affidavit for each greyhound to be entered shall be filed by the trainer or owner with the steward stating the dog has not been trained on a live lure:

Game 15.02(2)(a) (a) The affidavit shall disclose the locations and dates of training and names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all trainers. This affidavit is to be filed by the trainer or owner prior to entry;

Game 15.02(2)(b) (b) Providing false information shall subject the licensee to a forfeiture, suspension, revocation of license or any combination;

Game 15.02(2)(c) (c) A violation of this rule shall result in a suspension of the guilty party for life;

Game 15.02(2)(d) (d) For purposes of this requirement it is presumed a greyhound cannot be trained at an age of less than 10 months.

Game 15.02(3) (3) The division shall investigate on all complaints regarding humane treatment of greyhounds.

Game 15.02 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1990, No. 411, eff. 4-1-90; CR 03-070: cr. (1) (d), am. (2) (a) Register November 2003 No. 575, eff. 12-1-03.

Game 15.03 Game 15.03 Euthanasia.

Game 15.03(1) (1) All persons subject to the jurisdiction of the division shall only use a lethal injection of barbiturates to euthanize a greyhound:

Game 15.03(1)(a) (a) Only a licensed veterinarian shall administer such barbiturates.

Game 15.03(1)(b) (b) Such barbiturates shall be administered in a manner sufficient to ensure that the animal feels no pain or discomfort.

Game 15.03(2) (2) Violation of this rule shall subject the violator to the penalties as provided in s. 562.13 (4), Stats.

Game 15.03 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1990, No. 411, eff. 4-1-90.

Game 15.04 Game 15.04 Live lure prohibition.

Game 15.04(1) (1) No animal that participates in races upon which pari-mutuel wagering is conducted in this state, and no animals which are whelped or trained in this state for racing, shall be trained on a live lure or bait.

Game 15.04(2) (2) No person shall enter or permit a dog to be entered in a race if that person knows that the dog was trained in a state that does not specifically prohibit the use of live lures or bait in a race or training for entry in a race.

Game 15.04(3) (3) Any occupation licensee who violates this section shall have his or her occupation license revoked for life.

Game 15.04 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1990, No. 411, eff. 4-1-90; am. (1) and (3), Register, July, 1990, No. 415, eff. 8-1-90; correction in (3) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 5., Stats., Register, July, 1990, No. 415; CR 03-070: am. (2) Register November 2003 No. 575, eff. 12-1-03.

Game 15.05 Game 15.05 General humane rules.

Game 15.05(1) (1) Greyhounds shall not be muzzled in their crates while housed in kennels on the grounds of a licensed association, unless permission is obtained by the division’s veterinarian, which shall be granted only for valid veterinary medical concerns.

Game 15.05(2) (2) No greyhounds shall be removed from the grounds of the racetrack unless prior approval from a division steward or designee has been obtained, unless the greyhound is being removed for the purpose of receiving veterinary care and the greyhound is returning to the kennel compound or the greyhound is housed in the association’s adoption kennel.

Game 15.05(2)(a) (a) Approval may include inspection and identification of the greyhound.

Game 15.05(2)(b) (b) The destination of the greyhound shall be submitted to the division stewards or division veterinarian on a form supplied by the division. The form shall be completed and submitted by the trainer, kennel owner, or greyhound owner prior to the greyhound’s removal from the grounds of the racetrack.

Game 15.05 Note Note: Related forms are available free of charge at Division of Gaming offices located at each racetrack or by calling [phone].

Game 15.05(4) (4) All greyhounds transported to or from any racetrack within the state shall be hauled under the following conditions:

Game 15.05(4)(a) (a) All crates shall be designed and used for the sole purpose of transporting greyhounds. These crates shall be 2 feet wide, 3 feet long and 34 inches high.

Game 15.05(4)(b) (b) All crates shall be of sound construction, maintained in good repair and clean.

Game 15.05(4)(c) (c) All vehicles shall be in good repair.

Game 15.05(5) (5) All greyhounds shall have been vaccinated for rabies as provided in s. 95.21 (2), Stats.

Game 15.05(6) (6) Only one greyhound shall be housed per crate in a kennel at any time.

Game 15.05(7) (7) The trainer of each kennel shall be responsible for the proper maintenance, upkeep and sanitary condition of the kennel, crates and turn-out pens.

Game 15.05(8) (8) All greyhounds kenneled at a racetrack licensed under s. 562.05 (1) (a) and (b), Stats., shall be vaccinated against rabies. If a greyhound does not possess a current valid rabies vaccination prior to kenneling at the racetrack, vaccination shall occur prior to arriving at the racetrack. Copies of current rabies certifications evidencing a vaccination and its expiration date, which are signed by a licensed veterinarian, shall be recorded with the division. When a greyhound’s rabies vaccination expires, a new vaccination shall occur, and certificate filed, prior to expiration.

Game 15.05(9) (9) All greyhounds kenneled at a racetrack licensed under s.562.05(1)(a) and (b), Stats., shall be vaccinated against canine distemper virus, infectious canine hepatitis (canine adenovirus type 2), leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvo virus annually. If a greyhound does not possess a current vaccination against these diseases prior to kenneling at the racetrack, vaccination shall occur prior to arriving at the racetrack. Copies of current certifications evidencing vaccination against these diseases, which are signed by a licensed veterinarian, shall be filed with the division. When a greyhound’s vaccination expires, a new vaccination shall occur, and certification shall be filed prior to expiration.

Game 15.05(10) (10) No greyhound may compete in a race if any vaccination required by the division has expired.

Game 15.05(11) (11) No licensee shall possess any device capable of forced ingestion or absorption into a greyhound by human means unless the licensee possesses a written order from a veterinarian or the item is listed below:

Game 15.05(11)(a) (a) Oral syringe

Game 15.05(11)(b) (b) Eye dropper

Game 15.05(11)(c) (c) Inhalation device

Game 15.05(12) (12) No greyhound shall be rectally, orally, vaginally, naso-gastrically or gastrically probed or intubated without a written order from a veterinarian or have any item placed in a body cavity of a greyhound for the purpose of causing the animal to lose or gain weight.

Game 15.05 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1990, No. 411, eff. 4-1-90; am. (5), cr. (7) and (8), Register, July, 1990, No. 415, eff. 8-1-90; CR 03-070: r. (2), renum. (3) to be (2) and am., am. (4), (6), (8), cr. (9) to (12) Register November 2003 No. 575, eff. 12-1-03.

Game 15.06 Game 15.06 Scientific research.

Game 15.06(1) (1) No licensee, except the greyhound’s owner, may directly or indirectly transport or arrange transportation of a greyhound that has raced in the state of Wisconsin to a facility licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture for the purpose of the greyhound participating in animal research or blood donation.

Game 15.06(2) (2) No licensee shall directly or indirectly remove a greyhound from the grounds of the racetrack without the owner’s consent, except in removals of greyhounds for the purpose of obtaining veterinary care.

Game 15.06 History History: CR 03-070: cr. Register November 2003 No. 575, eff. 12-1-03.

Game 15.07 Game 15.07 Kennel standards. Kennels and the kennel compound shall be maintained by the association and kennel owners in the following manner to promote the health, safety, and welfare of racing greyhounds and humans:

Game 15.07(1) (1) Kennel facilities shall be structurally sound, maintained in good repair, and protect animals housed in the facilities from injury.

Game 15.07(2) (2) All kennel facilities and other buildings comprising the kennel compound shall have locks on all outside doors to protect against illegal entry. When kennel facilities and buildings used for the purposes of storage or maintenance are unattended by authorized personnel, all doors and gates must be secure and locked. One copy of the key for the lock shall be maintained by the kennel compound security officer for the purpose of accessing the building in the event of an emergency.

Game 15.07(3) (3) All kennel facilities shall have a functional climate control system to regulate the air temperature in the kennel to a minimum of 60 degrees during the winter heating season and 78 degrees during the summer cooling season.

Game 15.07(4) (4) Kennel personnel shall inspect the kennel and turn-out pens before leaving the kennel and immediately upon return to determine if unauthorized persons or unattended greyhounds are present. The presence of unattended greyhounds or unauthorized persons shall be immediately reported to the on-duty kennel compound security officer. The following shall constitute a violation of this section:

Game 15.07(4)(a) (a) The presence of 2 or more greyhounds in a turn-out pen when no person representing the kennel is present within 20 feet of the kennel.

Game 15.07(4)(b) (b) The presence of one or more greyhounds in a turn-out pen when no person representing the kennel is present on the grounds of the racetrack.

Game 15.07(5) (5) Kennel personnel shall inspect the turn-out pens prior to placing greyhounds in the pens to ensure the absence of foreign matter, signs of unauthorized entry, open gates, or damaged fencing.

Game 15.07(6) (6) All kennels and the kennel compound shall be sufficiently luminated both internally and externally.

Game 15.07(7) (7) The following rules shall govern electrical use in a kennel:

Game 15.07(7)(a) (a) Electrical outlets shall have coverplates, and all electrical wiring and lights shall be maintained in a manner which protects against damage by or injury to a greyhound.

Game 15.07(7)(b) (b) Devices in use shall be connected directly or with an electrical cord not more than 50 feet long to an electrical outlet.

Game 15.07(8) (8) All turn-out pens shall meet the following specifications:

Game 15.07(8)(a) (a) The turn-out pens surface shall have a minimum base consisting of 4 inches of sand that has been routinely aerated to provide an adequate drainage system to minimize areas of standing water.