Hounds Home For The Holiday

Frequent readers of this blog know that life is a teaspoon of happiness dropped in a sea of despair...er...we mean know that from time to time we dust off one of the few non-alcohol related traditions here in the marbled halls of IM Central and bring you, one again Hounds Home for the Holiday in which we try and use the upcoming festivities to find a few extra couches for a few extra hounds.

But first a word from the overlords. And that word is NOOOOOooooo!!!!

One day after Raynham residents voted overwhelmingly to postpone the ban on overlord welfare at Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park, the Raynham Board of Selectmen moved the measure ahead by voting to pass the buck to state lawmakers. Called a We Not Want petition, the local exemption from state law seeks a two-year delay on the Greyhound Protection Act until Jan. 1, 2012.

"See, most of the people who voted to protect the dogs don't work at the track, so we feel that in a democratic society, the will of the few outweigh the will of the many," said Mike Curran, owner of a kennel that "cares" for greyhounds at Raynham-Taunton Park.

Taunton Democrat Sen. Marc Pacheco submitted a bill to temporarily exempt the Raynham dog track from the November referendum that banned dog racing across the Commonwealth. Pacheco and state Rep. David Flynn, D-Bridgewater, also co-sponsored a “racino” bill to legalize slot machines at Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park, Wonderland, Suffolk Downs and Plainridge Racecourse. "Where else you gonna have the concentration of low pay no skill jobs like this," Pacheco said. "There aren't enough Walmarts in all New England to take these people if the tracks close."

Before the unanimous vote Monday night, Selectmen Joseph Pacheco said there has never been proof of cruelty to dogs at the town track.

Well, except for the proof that is.

"Hey, we got a poll too," Pacheco said.

Yeah, well, when the question is "Do you want greyhound racing to continue or do you want substance abusers with anger issues wandering around your neighborhood with nothing to do?" we're pretty sure the results will be somewhat skewed, right Duane?

Duane is very friendly, outgoing, playful and affectionate. He is a lover; he will lean against you and follow you around the house. He is very good natured and listens well. He likes toys. He is gentle and quiet, a real people dog. He is a great companion. He has a puppy-dog face that follows your every move. If it is raining, you need to push him out the door, because he doesn’t want to get wet. He is a Second Chance at Life Dog from the Coldwater Prison Program. Duane would do well in a working family home with well-mannered children, 8 and up. He 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.

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.