Friday Hound Blogging

OK look, there are a lot of things it takes to be an overlord, but teeth and math skills aren't among them. Just ask Richard Favreau.

A Colorado dog handler says he's not to blame for dozens of missing greyhounds. Tucson greyhound park paid him to find new homes for nearly two hundred retired racing dogs but a greyhound rescue group says it can only account for eight of the dogs. "Eight, 200, tomato tomahto," Favreau said. "What am I a bank or something? I can barely count past 20."

The Arizona Department of Racing slapped Favreau with a thousand dollar fine and suspended his racing license for two months for violating record keeping and welfare regulations. "How was I supposed to know you were supposed to keep track of the units," Favreau asked reporters. "I mean they were done racing. They weren't gonna make any more money for anyone."

Just as greyhounds race in circles around a track so do the accusations against Favreau. He's at the center of an investigation into the well-being of at least 150 dogs, "it's really frustrating, because it's a bunch of allegations that aren't true," he said from his home in Colorado. "At least I don't think they're true. Truth be told I tend to drink a little. sometimes I wake up in cities and I don't remember how I got there."

Some speculate Favreau sold the dogs to a research lab, "I do only because he's done it before," says Karyn Zoldan a member of Arizona Greyhound Rescue. She's referring to a July 1998 incident when the Colorado Racing Commission suspended Favreau's license for giving greyhounds to Colorado State University without the knowledge of the registered owners.

When asked how Favreau could be given dogs if his license was suspended Zoldan replied that it had only been suspended for a short period of time. "It's not like I did anything wrong," Favreau said. "Well, OK I did do something wrong, but nobody really cares, so a slap on the wrist and I'm back in business."

Yeah. Well, there are a few of us who might disagree with that, right Illusion?

Illusion is very affectionate. She loves to be loved. She is very friendly. She is recovering from a broken leg and has a cast which should be removed mid-November. When she relieves herself, she gets excited and turns in circles as if she is ready to play – she is walked on lead to relieve, while her leg heals. She is very playful and enjoys playing with toys in the home. She is a “nester” and likes to bunch up her bedding blankets. She follows her foster mom around the house. Illusion would do well in a working family home with well-mannered children, 6 and up. She is good with other dogs and would probably be fine as an only dog with a family that will play with her regularly. For more information about this dog, and other rescued racing greyhounds looking for homes, go here. If you don't know about the plight of racing greyhounds go here.

PS: I 'd like to step out of character here and just say something about this. I make fun of the owners and breeders because that's the only way I can get my mind around the unspeakable cruelty, inhumane disregard and cold calculation with which the dogs are treated. Truth of the matter is, these dogs are probably dead. If they're lucky they've been sold to research and through the efforts of people like Susan Netboy of the Greyhound Protection League a few will be rescued. Having worked in greyhound rescue for over ten years now though, while I hope for a good outcome, experience has taught me to expect the worst. The people who make their living off the backs of these wonderful dogs and then toss them away like yesterday's news deserve their own spot in one of the deepest corners of hell.

PPS: Let's end on a happy note though, and do two hounds this week. Whadya say Dream?

Dream is like a puppy, very active and playful. She is confident, full of energy and curiosity and enjoys playing with toys. She loves the male greyhound in the home. Dream is determined to have furniture privileges, no matter how hard her foster mom tries to deter her. She has a real pretty face and is a character. Dream would do well in a working family home with well-mannered older children, 12 and up. She would probably be okay as an only dog, because she has a lot of confidence. She would do well with other dogs, as long as they allow her to be in charge. She has a lot of energy for a greyhound and needs a family that will play with her and exercise her regularly. For more information about this dog, and other rescued racing greyhounds looking for homes, go here. If you don't know about the plight of racing greyhounds go here.