Looking back at 2010: 37 greyhounds found dead

EBRO — Dozens of greyhounds were found dead as a result of starving and dehydration in Ebro Greyhound Park’s kennels Oct. 29 and their trainer, 36-year-old Ronnie Williams of Ponce de Leon, was arrested and charged with 42 counts of felony animal cruelty.

Williams remains in jail awaiting trial.

The dogs were found dead by Florida Department of Pari-Mutuel Wagering officials, who were investigating a complaint they received from a greyhound adoption agency.

Williams, who was arrested at the scene by Washington County Sheriff’s Office, said he checked on the dogs only hours before and they were fine.

It was not immediately known exactly how many dogs died or when and how it happened, but necropsy results determined 37 dogs died of starvation and dehydration. Pari-Mutuel Wagering investigators reported finding the bodies in kennels and freezers in two buildings.

When asked about the stench of the rotting dogs, Williams told passersby it was coming from meat that was rotting in a broken freezer, and he also stuffed towels in the building’s ventilation system to contain the smell.

Five dogs, including three with duct tape wrapped tightly around their necks, survived and were turned over to Ebro’s adoption agency, which works hand-in-hand with Greyhound Pets of America’s Emerald Coast chapter.

Eight greyhound carcasses were found near a bridge on State 20 close to the Walton-Washington County line, just a half-mile from Williams’ home Nov. 2. To date, Williams has not been charged in the death of those dogs.

The investigation was sparked when Williams turned eight underweight dogs over to the adoption center. Stacie Strickland, who works at the adoption center, said she consulted with GPA-EC and a decision was made to call the authorities about possible neglect.

Mark Hess, manager of the track, said all trainers at Ebro are independent contractors who lease kennel space during the racing season to run the dogs. Though the park conducts routine inspections of the kennels during the racing season, the kennels had not been inspected since the track closed Sept. 25 and all trainers were given 60 days to remove their dogs from the park.

Five dogs were found alive in the kennel. Four of them are being held by the state and are doing well and one was taken to a veterinarian for immediate care, Hess said.

“We’re shocked, appalled, pissed off and all around disappointed,” Hess said.

The situation is especially perplexing because the dogs were not abandoned, Hess said. Williams continued to come to the track daily and turn out two dogs, telling other trainers he only had those two animals left.

Hess and GPAEC’s board member Roger Spencer expressed frustration with Williams because both Ebro and GPAEC have told trainers repeatedly they will take any animals trainers are not able to move to other tracks or adopt out themselves. GPAEC also makes food available for trainers who are in need.

“We thought we had an excellent working relationship with the people within the compound and we do for the most part,” he said. “There’s no indication why this man ignored our promise and plea to take every greyhound.”

This is not the first time Williams has had a run in with track officials. Hess said Williams is a “troublemaker” and had been told before the close of the season his contract would not be renewed in the spring. He declined to be specific, but said previous problems did not involve neglect of the dogs. Williams also had about a dozen complaints against his license, according to the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering’s website, for a variety of racing infractions.

Rogers said GPAEC has adopted out more than 715 dogs this year and has not turned away a single animal. This is a record for the group as the economy has caused many trainers to “grade off” substantial numbers of dogs.