It's hard to think of someone abusing greyhound dogs, but that's exactly what the state is investigating after dogs tested positive for cocaine and three others died from heat exhaustion.
All of those dogs were cared for by the same trainer at the Daytona Beach Kennel Club. We are now learning that cocaine is not a performance enhancing drug for race dogs and the animals may have ingested the drug by accident.
As for the heat exhaustion, each track has cooling procedures for the dogs after practice or race sessions. Dan Francati, the kennel club general manager, said he believes two of the three dogs that died were in fact cooled.
"He brought both dogs to sink, wetted them down, and started to work on them,” said Francati. “In his opinion the dogs were fine."
State workers said they test at least two dogs after every dog race for drugs, the winner of the race and another dog.