Friday Hound Blogging

A while back we took a trip down to West Virginia to visit the overlords and learn about advanced track management and dog training techniques. We were particularly impressed with the bet on the race after it's over handicapping method, although it might explain why people who like gambling aren't coming out to the tracks so much.

Anyway, we thought this week we'd pop back down and take a closer look at the high degree of care and compassion the overlords have for the units...er...the dogs. You know, like they're always telling us they do.

In late 2008 we received a packet of information that contained reports, memos and e-mails between WV owner-breeder Dean Miner of "Miner Racing Team" and Kansas owner-breeders Vince and Lance Berland. Together they formed a WV kennel company on August 28th, 2003, known as "Flying Eagles - Miner." Miner lives in Wheeling WV. In fact, the information came from one of their own employee’s.

Oh good. Now we'll get a chance to see first hand how decisions are made for the care of these dogs. As the overlords say, greyhounds are professional athletes after all, and to give them anything but the best care would be ludicrous given the investment they represent, right Dean Miner, Lance & Vince Berland?

Here is one of those e-mails…. Sent, January 26th, 2008 at 20:39:14 from Dean Miner to Lance Berland... .

"Lance: We’ve gotten killed in the last 10 days. Flying McGrath sprained a hock winning AA. Maloy broke a hock last week. Tarragon a hock tonight…done…euthanasia. Flying Ace and Flat Out Harley; Kay Dancemaker broke bones in his foot. Doves Augustus off limping today in AA."

On Sunday January 27th, 2008 at 11:005 PM came the reply from Lance Berland....

"As far as the injuries, five of those dogs are older and they are all males… Put them down if they cant be expected to return to racing….."

There, see? Proof positive that everything the overlords tell us about the commitment they have to he dogs and the responsibility they feel to make sure they're given the best of care is true. Well, except for that part about killing them when they can't make any more money part, but no program is perfect.

Hey, athletes are athletes right? And athletes get injured in any sport. Now it's true we wouldn't kill Eli Manning if he broke his leg, but at least while the dogs are competing their accommodations are first rate.

Greyhounds are constantly on the road being hauled across the US. Over the years, there have been too many hauling accidents to mention here. Not only are greyhounds killed and injured when any hauler has wrecked, but also maimed, killed and become deathly sick while being shipped to and from racetracks, breeding and training. Some locations they are hauled to aren’t on any map or racetrack brochure you will find. One such place, is a secluded training farm for pups that uses "live bait." It is in Oklahoma. Many well known owner - breeders in West Virginia send their dogs for the 4 to 6 week boot camp, depending on how long it takes to instill the killer instinct needed for racing. Training a dog to routinely chase down a defenseless animal and maul it to death can take some time.

WV State Senator Mike Green has been in the senate since 2006 and the greyhound industry since at least 1998, has used this trusted location with his former racing partner Harvey Maupin. Maupin, is also the Vice President of the WV Greyhound Breeders Association. Senator Green and Maupin ran"Green-Maupin Kennel" until 2008. How do we know this, Maupin said so.

How could these high profile owner-breeders trust that their dogs would be illegally trained with live bait, and in complete secrecy? Because, the man doing the training has more to lose then anyone if he is found out. Sam R. Burdette, President of the WV Greyhound Association & the 2009 Vice President of the National Greyhound Association is that trainer.

Oh come on now. Those are some pretty serious allegation laid against some of the most prominent citizens of the state. You can't just go around spreading malicious rumors like that without proof. How do you know this?

How do we know this? Maupin admitted to it. And, this author spoke to Burdette in Oklahoma in 2008. At the same time, longtime trainer-owner Paul Carbenou and Greyhound Racing expert and consultant Don Dodd, also confirmed it was occurring in 2008. Even though the Green-Maupin Kennels in WV had their own training farm, they couldn't use live bait there because of laws against it, and Senator Green’s image and reputation.

Oh. Well, ah...that's...uh...that's hard to argue with, huh Wilma?

Wilma is very sweet, outgoing and loving. She will push her chin against your leg and look up at you for attention. She is very happy and likes to give hugs. She loves to give hugs. Her ears stand straight up and she has a stunningly shiny coat. She likes to play with toys and shake them around. She has also fetched toys. Wilma would do well in a working family home with another dog to keep her company or as an only dog in a home that has someone home more often. She is good with other dogs and would probably be good with well-mannered children, 8 and up. 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.

Editor's Note: I'd like to step out of character here, and say that I make fun of these people because it's the only way I can get my mind around the callousness, unspeakable cruelty and depravity in which these people live every day of their despicable lives. I truly wonder if they are actually human beings.

People like Christine Dorchak, Susan Netboy and the authors of the piece quoted above, Jack Swint and Sam Webber are to be commended for having the courage to go into this dark, terrible jungle and fight to save innocent lives.

There is far and away more than enough cruelty and meaningless death in this world. As Mr. Swint says, greyhound racing is one example of inhumanity that we have the power to stop. Not everyone can be a world leader, or an ambassador for peace, but each of us can make a difference for a dog suffering silently under the abuse of people like Miner, Berland, Green, Maupin and Burdette.

Just writing those names makes me feel dirty. Let's clear our palates with another pooch looking for a forever couch. Meet Alex:

Alex is very sweet and he likes affectionate. He is a little timid and is reluctant to approach for pets, but loves to receive pets. He will come up to you for a treat. He is playful. He likes to play with the family’s greyhound. Alex would do well in a working family home with well-mannered children, 5 and up. He is good with other dogs, and would probably do better in a home with another dog that will help him through his shyness.