Friday Hound Blogging

A couple of weeks ago we told you how the overlords in Tucson had struck back against people with scruples by bringing the full weight of the legal system down on one Karyn Zoldan because she had the temerity to suggest that just because dogs were disappearing, dying (PDF) and just generally being neglected they weren't being cared for with all the commitment and affection we've come to expect from their exploiters.

You just can't satisfy some people.

Well, this week the overlords have found a spokesperson whose expertise and experience should, once and for all, put this controversy to rest. Meet Dr. Paul Pullen, track veterinarian and night watchman. Lay it on us Dr. P:

An initiative to regulate greyhound racing in South Tucson is based on misinformation and emotion rather than fact.

So those dogs really aren't dead? The Racing Commission wasn't really investigating the track? The Iraqis really did have WMD's?

No one should be deceived; this measure is not really about animal welfare. It's actually an effort by animal-rights activists to regulate a business out of existence.

Then shouldn't they be called Business-rights activists?

Ballot proponents claim that greyhounds need more exercise and outdoor time. This is simply not the case. Greyhounds do not have a high need for constant exercise; they are widely recognized as "couch potatoes" who are content to lay quietly for hours in their crates

They have couches in their crates? Boy we have been misinformed.

The proposed rule regarding meat fed to greyhounds is another bogus idea. Greyhounds have no difficulty digesting 4D meat; if they did, no rational person would feed it to them, since it would interfere with the greyhound's ability to perform at the track.

Hmmm...must have been sleeping in class the day they talked about Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy of greyhounds [CRVG].

Prohibiting the administration of steroids to prevent heat cycles also is misguided. There is no evidence that female greyhounds have suffered any serious long-term harm from this practice.

Of course the fact that you kill a lot of them before they get old could have something to do with that.

There's another aspect of this proposal to consider. If activists succeed in regulating greyhound tracks out of existence, what other businesses will be next?

That's right folks. If they make the overlords start treating animals with respect and decency what's next? Gay rights? Is that the kind of country you want to live in? Why do you hate America Capri?


Capri is highly intelligent & adaptable. Her first night in a home, she took herself up the stairs, without having seen anyone do it first! She is very sweet, loving, quiet and easygoing. She will tap you with her foot to get your attention. She likes to play in the snow when the weather is not too cold. When you rub her belly, she touches you with her front paw to encourage you to keep going. Capri would do well in a working family home with older, well-mannered children, 8 and up. She is good with other dogs of various sizes 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.