The
headline on the front page of The Lexington Herald Leader on Saturday
June 27th read, "WEG Won't Be Wag Friendly" - so much for any
plans to take a dog to the Kentucky Horse Park for the World Equestrian Games,
September 25th to October 10th, in 2010! According
to the Herald Leader article written by Linda B. Blackford,
"The main reason is ticks. Dogs carry them and ticks carry one of the most
dreaded equine diseases there is, equine piroplasmosis. which causes jaundice,
fever and anemia. It's fatal about 20 percent of the time, and no vaccine exists. "The
prohibition on dogs is a US Department of Agriculture requirement with a precident,
officials say. No dogs will be allowed - not for competitors, trainers, riders,
organizers or spectators. The 2006 World Games in Aachen, Germany also banned
dogs. "At
other competitions, dogs have gotten in the way and been a danger to the horses,
and we just can't have that," said Kate Jackson, the Games competition director. Seeing-eye
dogs and police dogs will be allowed, Jackson said. |
