Friday, December 15, 2006

Friday Hound Blogging

Boy Howdy, them overlords sure got Teh Mad Bidniss Skillz. A while back we told you about the group of geniuses in Iowa who were trying to force the state to let them reopen a greyhound track that had gone out of business.

As they said at the time, the National Cattle Congress closed the Waterloo Greyhound Park in 1996 after financial troubles. The NCC is now is suing the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission for denying its application to reopen. "It's our position that they are denying it because we won't make any money," said NCC Board President Wally Mochal. "That's not their entitlement. This is America and if you can't be stupid here, where can you be stupid?"

Right on Bro. Well, that case is still working its way through the judicial system and tutors have been hired to help the overlords learn about negative numbers. We think it might be easier just to have them talk to these guys though.

Gulf Greyhound Park officials, who say they’re struggling to make ends meet, will go before state regulators in Austin today asking to significantly reduce the number of races offered at the track. "It's pretty discouraging when you have more dogs running than there are people in the stands," said track General manager Sally Briggs. "On the bright side though, at least the dogs aren't drunk."

In a Nov. 27 letter to the commission’s executive secretary, Charla Ann King, Briggs said proposals by the commission to increase race-day fees, along with a new yearly license fee, would cause more problems for the track.

“I am at a complete loss as to how the Texas Racing Commission thinks greyhound racing is anything other than a way for us to avoid having to get real jobs,” Briggs wrote in the letter. "Do you really want me parking your car at a restaurant, or greeting you when you come to Walmart?"

In a Nov. 27 letter to the commission’s executive secretary, Charla Ann King, Briggs said proposals by the commission to increase race-day fees, along with a new yearly license fee, would cause more problems for the track.

Briggs did not make information about the track’s revenues, losses or attendance available this week. But information provided by La Marque city officials showed a continued slide in attendance. "We asked that flyers be placed in with welfare and social security checks," Brigss said. "But the Commission was all like 'Oh, we can't take advantage of old and poor people.' Baloney. We take advantage of the dogs. We can handle people too.

The track has made efforts to cut costs, including closing the fourth-floor Horizon Clubhouse, which accommodated about 1,800 people. Two years ago, the track also closed the second floor on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. “I’m proud to say that we have never laid anyone off,” Briggs said. "Of course we haven't paid anyone in about three months, but they still have a job."

Well, fair's fair. They didn't pay you either, did they Kendra?

Kendra is very sweet, easygoing and very gentle. She follows her foster family around the house and puts her head on your lap or just watches you. She likes to be with near her family, but is not clingy. If the foster mom is away for a while she will get up to look to see where she is. She likes to sit on her bed and watch her family. Kendra very gently carries the toys around and will lay with them. She also brings the toys to her foster family. She especially likes the smaller toys. She was in another foster home for a day and she took an ornament off the tree and took it to the foster mom. She likes to chase whatever you throw; she doesn’t bring it back, she just looks at it and comes back to you. She has really crooked ears which are really cute. Kendra 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. 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.

No comments: