Friday Hound Blogging

You know, say what you will about the overlords...go ahead, say what you will, we do. Anyway, say what you will about these folks, one thing you have to say is they never give up on their dream of riding the backs of innocent animals to trailer park heaven.

Industry dying? People not interested in animal exploitation? No problem, just add another dying industry to the one you're currently dying with. Did we mention the industry was dying?

Melbourne Greyhound Park has joined a statewide move to revive the long-dormant quarter horse industry. The park's owner, William Esping of EFO Holdings in Dallas, filed an application March 14 with the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering to get a quarter horse racing permit. "Look, we're not even making enough money to pay the light bill with the dogs," Esping said. "We figure the more animals we get in here to exploit the more chance we'll have of pulling enough money off of them to keep us out of the job market another year or so."

While popular west of the Mississippi, quarter horse racing has been dormant in Florida for almost two decades, with no live racing since 1992. Three tracks -- Tampa Downs, Gulfstream and Pompano Park -- have unused permits that allow live quarter horse racing and wagering. "Right," Esping said. "So it's like we won't have any competition. Pretty shrewd business move if you ask me."

In the last two years, the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering has been hit with eight applications -- six since February. Two submitted last year were approved for Jefferson and Hamilton counties, but those ventures appear to have fizzled already. "See? They're dying off before they even get started. Esping told reporters. "Wait. That's probably not a good thing is it?"

Umm...our guess would be no. What do you think Glitter?

Glitter is affectionate; she likes people. She’s always on the heels of her foster mom. She has tried playing a few times with the toys around the house, but she doesn’t play very much. She’s got the funniest vocalization; she will do this when her foster mom comes home. She is not interested in spending too much time outside. Glitter would do well in a working family home with well-mannered children, 10 and up. She is a dominant girl, so she will need to be in a home with a passive dog or be 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.