Friday Hound Blogging

Part of the problem the overlords have in trying to convince people that their line of work is "fun for the whole family" and not the flagrant and heartless exploitation of innocent animals in a desperate attempt to keep from having to earn an honest living, is that most folks outside of the racing industry can read.

More dogs suffered serious injuries racing at the Dairyland Greyhound Park last year, compared with 2006, according to state records. They show 76 greyhounds broke their legs, an increase of 18.7 percent. The total number of injuries also increased to 462, up 19 percent. "Oh sure, it sounds bad when you get all mathematical and stuff," said Bill Apgar, the track's general manager.

Jenifer Barker, a state veterinarian who treats most of the injured dogs at Dairyland — which is the only remaining dog track in Wisconsin, said the condition of the track's surface and deterioration of the greyhound industry in general are reasons for the increased injuries. "That's just her opinion," Apgar responded. "The track looks fine to me. It's got dirt and stuff. What do you want from us?"

"This has been the case since the track was built in 1990," Susan Netboy, head of the Penn Valley, Calif.-based Greyhound Protection League, said Monday. "Eighteen years of high injury rates suggests structural defects that cannot be fixed with resurfacing and grooming. For all of these years, management has been unwilling to effectively address this underlying problem, and hundreds of greyhounds have paid the price."

Apgar dismissed Netboy's comments. "Their agenda to shut down the industry is well-documented," he said. "Just because dogs are injured and killed needlessly is no reason for her to get all hyper. I mean, after all, no one else is getting upset."

The Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track is celebrating 50 years in business this weekend and while race lovers will crowd the track, protesters will form outside. "Oh," Apgar said. "Well maybe she isn't the only one upset then."

Yeah. Pesky protesters all out telling people stuff. Pretty soon it will be impossible for a man to make a buck by risking your life, right Chance?

Chance is very laid back and mellow. He is also affectionate and loving and will approach for pets. He is a happy boy who greets the family with a wagging tail. He is a greyhound “collector” and has collected dirty socks around the house! He likes to toss his toys up in the air to play by himself, but stops when he knows he’s being watched. When he’s excited he will chatter his teeth, like a dog’s version of a “purr.” Chance needs a family with someone home more often or with another dog in the home, as he does not like being left alone. He would do well with well mannered children, 12 and up. He would do best in a quiet environment. 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.