The Northern Panhandle loves dogs. They are members of our families and deserve to be protected from individuals and industries that would do them harm. That is why I support ending greyhound racing in West Virginia.

Dog racing proponents claim that the effort to end greyhound racing is being pushed by people who don’t live in the Northern Panhandle. But I’ve lived here my entire life. In fact, I was born on the Market Street Bridge between Ohio and West Virginia, in the back seat of a Wellsburg Police car. After retiring from a successful career as an account executive in the outdoor advertising business, I have spent years working to help animals in our community. This isn’t a political position for me. I am proud to live in Brooke County and believe in giving back to the community. That’s why I am also the longest serving member of the Wellsburg Volunteer Fire Department.

I formed Animal Advocates Brooke County after we uncovered animal neglect that was occurring at our local shelter. Our advocacy led to animal cruelty charges, and the passage of a levy to fund a new shelter.

When voters were given a choice to weigh in, the levy passed with 70% of the vote. I have also served on the board of directors for the Federation of Humane Organizations of West Virginia, the only statewide group advocating for improving animal welfare.

When it comes to the greyhound issue, I have watched for years as local politicians pander to a handful of greyhound breeders who receive subsidies totaling $19 million a year. I often speak to local residents about this issue, and there is widespread opposition to greyhound racing. Yet the only voices we hear represented are from people directly tied to this industry.

Greyhound racing is now illegal in 44 states. It is inevitable that it will also end in West Virginia. Yet I have not heard any local leader propose a plan to transition out of this cruel industry in a way that benefits the long-term interests of the Northern Panhandle.

For example, a portion of the greyhound subsidy funds could be used to offset the small amount of pension funding that is tied to greyhound racing. The state could also permanently earmark a portion of the subsidy funds for economic development in Ohio and Brooke Counties, and the surrounding area.

Instead of leadership like this, what we get from local politicians is talking points and empty rhetoric. The greyhound subsidies keep flowing, while our roads are in terrible shape, critical state services are underfunded, and dogs continue to suffer catastrophic injuries and die at Wheeling and Mardi Gras.

Finally, I find it patronizing when local politicians imply that the Northern Panhandle supports greyhound racing because we have strong working-class values. It’s true that we are a hard-nosed, working-class community. But working people also care about dogs. People who are used to working hard understand why it’s wrong to keep greyhounds confined for long hours each day and knowingly subject them to predictable and preventable risk of injury on dangerous racetracks.

It’s time for honesty on the greyhound issue, not the disingenuous spin used by local politicians to confuse and cloud the issue.

My vote is worth just as much as the vote of a greyhound breeder, and I want the state to prioritize economic development that will move the Northern Panhandle forward, not keep it tied to a depression-era relic of an industry that happens to still exist today.

Steve Tennant is president of Animal Advocates Brooke County.