Friday Hound Blogging

One of the challenges that the overlords face in trying to avoid the labor market is state regulation. Ask any overlord who is half way sober at the time and he or she will tell you that intrusive regulations like having to vaccinate the dogs, or making sure there's some sort of paper trail following them when they're (ahem) retired all cut into the profit margin. And besides, given their devotion to the best interests of the units...er...dogs...why does the state insist on all these checks and balances anyway. It's like they don't trust the overlords or something, right Susan Via?

The Arizona Department of Racing is investigating claims that trainers at Tucson Greyhound Park have been injecting racing dogs with steroids. The track's management, meanwhile, has questioned the timing of the complaint filed by Susan Via, who organized a dog protection initiative for the November ballot in South Tucson. "As soon as Via heard about this she was right on the phone to the state. It just seems a little suspicious to us," said a track spokesperson. "It's like she's watching us or something."

Steroids are used to keep female dogs from going into heat. Only veterinarians are supposed to inject steroids into the dogs, but Via said she believes trainers have been supplying the steroids to all the dogs, male and female. Via said it would also compromise the integrity of the sport. "Oh like we've got a lot of integrity to compromise," the track spokesperson said.

Hey. Careful there Bud. You don't want headquarters hearing you bad mouthing the industry. By the way, where is headquarters these days anyway?

The National Greyhound Association's leader expects its headquarters to stay in Abilene, despite dog racing's decline in Kansas. No dog tracks are open year-round in Kansas. Executive Director Gary Guccione said the wheels had been taken off the trailer when the headquarters was first opened and "no one knows where they went, so we're not going anywhere."

Local residents were concerned enough to discuss it at a recent economic development meeting. "If they'd get that eyesore out of there we could put up a Quickie Mart," said one local resident.

Well, maybe the locals should talk to Gary about diversifying into convenience stores. It's not like he has a lot to do anyway, right Quasar?

Quasar is friendly, curious, alert and outgoing. He loves to be petted. He likes to shadow his family. He is calm and very well behaved. He has a couple of bursts of energy each day where he wants to play with toys and wrestle. He enjoys long walks. He pays attention to noises outside the house. His foster family feels like he wants a job to do, either being your shadow or play buddy. He is a Second Chance at Life Dog from the Coldwater Prison Program. Quasar would do well with well-mannered children, 10 and up. He is good with other dogs and would probably be fine as an only dog in a family that has someone home most of the time. He would be okay in a working family that had another dog to keep him company. He would do well in an active family home that would include him in their activities. He might make a good therapy 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.

And if you 'd like to know more about the good work the Second Chance at Life program is doing for the dogs, and the prisoners, go here.