Greyhounds, and chickens (?!), always lose at dog track
June 11th, 2010 by admin
Last week, the Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken Challenge returned to Mardi Gras Casino (formerly known as the Hollywood Kennel Club). The lure, for gamblers bored with poker and slots, is to “Play tic tac toe with a REAL chicken!” We understand if you’re confused; we don’t get the appeal either.
Last year, ARFF visited the casino and watched as a chicken in a 3-foot-square box, standing on a wire mesh floor, “played” tic-tac-toe against casino patrons by pecking and scratching at a screen. After watching for some time, a man arrived to replace the performing chicken with another. We were shocked to see the back of the machine opened and several chickens inside a windowless compartment stacked on top of each other in cat carriers. Games continue for eight hours each day.
A casino is clearly an unnatural, and undoubtedly stressful, environment for chickens. Chickens are intelligent, sensitive animals who should not be providing entertainment in a busy casino.
Appealing to the compassion of dog track management may be futile, but it’s worth a try. Do you like poker or slot-machines, but hate cruel and demeaning gimmicks involving animals? Please contact Mardis Gras and ask them to quickly end this promotion. Contact:
Dan Adkins, Vice President
Mardi Gras Casino
831 N. Federal Highway
Hallandale Beach, FL 33009
E-mail: dka@playmardigras.com and administration@playmardigras.com
Phone: (877) 55-SLOTS or (954) 924-3200