Connie Theil
Connie Theil became immersed in the world of dog racing in 1997. She and her son Carey had discovered that the Portland-area dog track, Multnomah Greyhound Park, was trying to pass a bill that would give the track a $4.8 million subsidy. They were outraged that such a bill might pass and worked successfully to get Governor Kitzhaber to veto it.
Already very involved in animal advocacy and beginning to educate herself about dog racing, what Connie discovered was very disturbing. She formed Oregon Defenders of Greyhounds to attack the inhumane practice of dog racing on three fronts. First, they mounted a strong grassroots effort to publicize the truth about dog racing. Second, they began to work in the Oregon legislature, eventually killing every bill the dog track introduced in the last eight years. Third, they worked closely with GREY2K USA and exposed the underbelly of dog racing in Oregon.
As a result, numerous articles have appeared in the local press concerning the deaths of dogs, betting scandals, and other malfeasance. All their hard work paid off in December 2004, when Multnomah Greyhound Park announced it was closing after more than 70 years of racing.
Connie is 51 years old and feels like the luckiest activist on earth to have such an amazing son and future daughter-in law, Christine Dorchak (the president and vice-president, respectively, of GREY2K USA), and all the wonderful volunteers and supporters who have helped bring the dog racing industry to an end in Oregon.
