LONGWOOD, Fla. — A race between high school football players and greyhounds has been canceled after an animal rights group convinced Lyman High School leaders to call it off.
The event was a fundraiser for groups that try to find homes for retired greyhounds.
The spokesperson for the animal rights group said the race was a public relations stunt, and he felt the students were being used to make the dog racing industry look better.
The manager of Sanford Orlando Kennel Club admitted they wanted publicity, but only to get the word out about adoptions.
Trevor Doyle was the underdog when he wore his Lyman Greyhounds jersey to race against a real greyhound.
For the last two years, it’s been a badge of honor for seniors to race the dogs for charity.
“They spent two years planning. This is my year to race, and now they’re upset,” said Doyle.
Students would have raced seven dogs to raise money to get retired racers adopted.
Video: Students racing greyhounds for fundraiser
But this year, Bryan Wilson, with Animal Rights Florida, went to a school board meeting and pressured leaders to stop it.
“We believe that high school students should not be used as public-relations props by such a cruel industry,” said Wilson.
Wilson said he supports getting retired racers into homes, but now like this.
“So we brought a list of optional ideas so they could raise money for adoption groups that don’t involve bringing underage students to the dirty, old race track,” Wilson said.
Mike Newlin runs the track and said the event was held hours after races involving gambling were finished.
He’s frustrated that a day that brought in $2,000-$3,000 and media attention for greyhound adoptions is now off the table.
“To cancel something that’s positive for greyhound adoption and finding greyhounds good homes, it seems the opposite of what their purpose as an organization is,” said Newlin.
Lyman's principal emailed a statement Thursday saying they met with advocates and administrators and want to find another way to raise money for greyhound adoptions. But at this point there aren't concrete plans about what they will do or when.
WFTV
