Friday, September 25, 2009

Friday Hound Blogging

It's the eye of the tiger, it's the cream of the fight. Risin' up to the challenge of our rival.
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night, and he's watchin' us all in the eye of the tiger. Dumm dumm dumm Da Da Dumm...

Oh, hi. We were just loading in the weekend supply of Stoli and thinking about the overlords in Massachusetts and their refusal to knuckle under to The Man. Well, in this case The People we guess, but the point is eye of the tiger, overlords, eye of the tiger. Let's see how they're doing this week.

State Reps. David Flynn of Bridgewater and James Fagan of Taunton have a bill pending in the House that would extend simulcasting and remove the requirement in the statute that mandates it be accompanied by live dog racing. "We figure we got half a shot at saving greyhound racing, if we can just get rid of the greyhound racing part," Fagan told reporters.

What? No way! Cut out the exploitation part of racing for the televised version? That makes no sense. Who would do such a thing Jack Swint of West Virginia News?

Our interpretation to the changes made to W. Va. Code 29-25-1 et seq. is that the state wanted to quickly put in a casino at the Greenbrier Hotel. To differ from the other 4 casino's, they only allow people who stay at the resort to gamble. Like a private resort, and gambling is part of the package deal. This also allows the state to get around any horse or dog racing that is mandated for casino operations It's a legal loophole to by-pass live racing legislative law that has been in effect for the past 30 years.

What? "By-pass" the units? It's like the thing that's dragging greyhound racing down is, well, greyhound racing. Come on now. Surely someone isn't thinking straight. It's like you're saying greyhound racing is the least popular part of, ah, greyhound racing, right Steve Clark?

Is greyhound racing running its course? Money-losing tracks across the nation have shuttered over the last couple of decades as attendance has waned in adverse ratio to proliferation of other forms of gambling — lotteries and casinos, for instance. In addition, the sport’s reputation has suffered after years of vocal denunciation from animal welfare groups over the treatment of dogs, while seven states have banned the sport altogether.

Vocal denunciation? Come on Steve, that's a bit harsh. What about the excitement of unit exploitation? The drama! The action!

A national advocacy group that wants to abolish dog racing in Iowa said Wednesday that 101 greyhounds were injured at Iowa tracks in 2008, including 10 dogs that were euthanized.

Umm...well...OK. Let's not get excited about this. It's the same as people going to NASCAR races to see the crashes, right Jack Ketterer, administrator of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission?

"Unfortunately, as we have seen with horse racing, there are a small percentage of starters in both sports that are injured, and some fatally," Ketterer said. "There is a continuing quest to examine injuries, and we have kept a database, trying to see if there is something related to the track surface" or other problems.

"A continuing quest to examine injuries..." Hmm...how about a continuing quest to end injuries?

Gloria Sanders, executive secretary of the Iowa Greyhound Association, a dog racing trade group, said she believes her industry is unfairly under attack by animal rights activists. "Just because we're one of the few states left stupid enough to have live racing, everybody's all like 'Oooo, you have to be like everyone else and treat the dogs with respect and care' like they're living creatures or something. What do you want us to do? Close the track and go to simulcasting?"

A possibility, but here's our question. If Massachusetts gets rid of live unit exploitation for simulcasting, and West Virginia gets rid of live unit exploitation for well, whatever, and Texas only has one live exploitation track running part of the time, who's going to be doing the live racing to simulcast? Any ideas Cora?

Cora is friendly and outgoing. She is playful, but calms quickly. She has a very mild and easygoing temperament. She likes affection, but she is not clingy. She likes to play with stuffed toys. She will collect toys and shoes. She tends to pick things up and move them, but she does not hurt them. She is a Second Chance at Life Dog from the Coldwater Prison Program. Cora would do well in a working family home with well-mannered children, 10 and up. She is good with other average to larger size 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.

35 comments:

greygarious said...

Ten years ago, I was on the Steering Committee of the first MA ballot initiative to end dog racing, managed by what was then called Grey2K. My cautioning that we should not be partnered with ant-vivisection and anti-gambling groups fell on deaf ears. It was my contention that Grey2K should limit its focus to ending the exploitation of the dogs, so as to draw upon the widest possible pool of supporters, rather than possibly alienating dog lovers who play the lottery or are alive because of pacemakers that were tested on greyhounds. Public and governmental sentiment in MA and other states has moved evermore in the direction of expanding gaming aa a trade-off for jettisoning live racing. This helps preserve jobs and might increase revenue, albeit risking increasing social costs related to crime and family dysfunction. I believe anti-racing groups should support the trade-off. As our late senator Ted Kennedy used to say, we shouldn't let perfect be the enemy of good.

Anonymous said...

Here we go again with the "Irish" and all the women folk trying to project the appearance of "sweet".
Last week we had the Texas "executive" Diane Whiteley (hope I am spelling that "right" for ya, darlin'. Wouldn't want ya to have to spill yer beer gettin' excited 'bout "yer title") moaning about criticisms of her "job" but how she is doin' her darndest to be really , really "good" at it. Unfortunately, she did not have the "professionalism" or courtesy and not even the good ol' Irish "spirit" to return and "discuss" what she thought was the "bad" in the "industry, so heaven only knows who they actually "employ "at these "tracks". (maybe she started behind the bar and made nice and and "cold" fuzzies; it helps to make the broken dog events go down more fun , particularly if they have so many of those nasty injures that Diane was talkin' 'bout due to naughty tracks. (not due to the people, o' course! The people don't make those tracks! They just showered down from "Dog Hill"! The Lord is all merciful! And so "givin'".
Now then, we have up for this here week, a "Gloria Sanders". (don't have time to check the spellin' there dear but the Irish can spell it anyway they want, it comes out the same as far as us "animal rights" people go (or "A.R's" as you gals like to call'em). Don't look good, Sandra. I mean, you either "care" about the Greyhounds or you care about the "units". Which one is it fer you, dear?
We know you been there a good while and you are into the adoptions area too, just like someone else we know from Texas. It spins it "correctly" at the end turn but , conveniently, y'all racing "pros" love to forget about those sticklin' rolls and bounces and euthanasia corpses you all shovel into the dirt as fast as you darn well please.
Is that your interpretation, along with Diane Whiteley's, of makin' it "look better" and maybe even makin' it look "good"?
In any case, you tell Jack, yer pal, that injuries happen when people force these dogs and horses to race their minds silly, and often on all the drugs and frenzy and whupped up chaos that makes those tickets sell. (altho' those people are gettin' the picture whether you like it or not, just by your sheer accidents and horror exhibitions that happen, and all the time, at race tracks everywhere.)
So, in short, because I know you gals are in a hurry to show us men up and hey, you go, girls, like I should be the one to stop ya from being Prez! But while y'all are doing lip service for the "industry", people are all talkin' how dumb and icy you truly all are.
And Jack, watch out, son. Sandra wants yer job and that cannot be "good".

Anonymous said...

When a national advocacy group wants the dog racing ended in Iowa because of 101 Greyhounds injured and 10 being euthanized, where does it say that "looks good"?
Where does it also say that it "looks good" for the Racetracks?
Finally, where does it say that that is what society wants?
We Americans have spoken.
We don't want it!
We don't need !
We want you all to go away!

Anonymous said...

Look at that! That is so amazing that all of us contributed to nail West Virginia! That is no coincidence. This is exactly what is needed to stop all this hell and violence for this poor breed. More media. More teamwork. More voices.
We are on our way!

Anonymous said...

Jack Ketterer is such an ass. "Examine the injuries". They have already happened you idiot! How desperate are all you people to continually hurt these poor dogs without one speck of feeling or guilt!
All of you, get into the kennels and be caged and thrown 4-d meat! (and let's not forget the whirligig and live meals that might get you to to those deadly tracks, unless of course, you do get shot on a whim by Tomblin)
ENOUGH!

Anonymous said...

No more live racing of anything!
God never intended broken animals to fill human greed. To need to feed yourselves is one thing, but to intentionally and maliciously injure and jeopardize an animal's existence? You say that "it's in the Bible, you moron" one more time, you will go to hell for your untruths and unlawful ways.
And as far as we are concerned, it won't be too soon.

Anonymous said...

I would like to know what is the animosity with you people employed by racetracks with the "AR'S". I assume it does mean "animal rights" people. Did God want you to hurt animals for fun? Is that what you are telling us? Did God want you to break their necks and their backs and their legs and their heads for a nice afternoon out with "the family"? What do you think your child sees when they see a dog lay dying on the tracks? Do you think it makes them feel good? Do you think it makes them believe in God more? Or maybe it makes them fear just how far they can go in life without getting into an accident then being shot up and thrown into a cart to be dumped somewhere in the bush. You think that is what Freda Tomblin did to Earl Ray Junior to make him the big bread winner? Is that what Earl Ray Tomblin Senior did to make Freda follow his rules?
Nothing good, ever, comes from violence be it a rape, a marriage, a government or a piece of bloody entertainment.
The South has been long in collapsing with this attitude. The proof is all the Diane Whiteleys with gun-toting vocabularies creamed over with a drawl and sugared ice teas. Listen to the twang of the North, ladies.
It is barbaric.

Anonymous said...

Well, the Enterprise news got "zero" on the comment section.
The subject is dead, guys.
Just like Greyhound Racing.
These old political geezers really, really, die slow.

Anonymous said...

Here we come! Another Babe from Texas!
Hi Andrea Young!
(This one looks even "slower" than Diane but hell, let's give it a "go" anyway.)
Despite live Greyhound Racing falling, and quickly, in popularity, Andrea thinks it's a great idea to keep those bitches rolling out the puppies particularly in Texas!
Oh sure, the people prefer fast gratification and prefer machines and cards to dogs, but Andrea still wants to "push those little bitches" to keep having those puppy mill puppies because, hell, she doesn't know anything else to do ! So, she wants to really get those Greyhounds conditioned with all the live-baiting and all the whirligigs and all the whatever else goes on in the "industry".
Ok. Tough question but since Diane didn't answer it, we want to know if you know the answer to the question. Here it comes and maybe you want to sit down for the question as it may be a bit too exciting for you.
"How many puppies do you know that have been drowned?"
If you are afraid to come and answer on this List where we absolutely ARE allowed to discuss the welfare of the Greyhounds, because THAT is why WE are here, you are encouraged to come on as "anonymous". We never intimidate anybody with emails , ever, because that is neither civil, nor God's way.
So, Andrea Young, do you talk or just breed.

Anonymous said...

Look at how fabulous Jack Swint's stories in West Virginia have stirred the political pot into stopping Greyhound racing just like that!
With all the corruption, all the guns and all the evil greed in that state, I hope the media is watching to see how it is swiftly and meticulously "done."
It is "done" with guts!
It is "done" with facts!
It is "done" with conviction!
And it is "done" with morals.
Mainstream Media? Are you all at Tiffany's or in Austrian Spas?
You all do realize Jack Swint never even went to a journalism school? It's called heart and talent all wrapped into the desire to speak the truth. In other words, he reported.

Anonymous said...

It is very interesting that this topic is almost like a "competition" in West Virginia between two very distinct and very "solitary" figures. The two men with completely different values and desires in life are obviously cast from their own environments as children be they the result of rejection, of survival, of religion, of sensitivity. Whatever either have done with their lives, they have certainly influenced populations to think a certain way and to feel a certain way and to perhaps, even live a certain way.
How important it is to raise a child well! The bad or good one does in life can be absolutely linked to extremely poor parenting of some and the heart-warming , continuous devotion of others.
A" solitary" man. It means courage to me. Unfortunately to others, it may mean fear.

Anonymous said...

THAT SOLITARY MAN (ERT JR.)


HE'S THAT SOLITARY MAN.
HE JUST DOES WHAT HE CAN.

HE'S THE MAN THAT ALWAYS WINS.
HE'S THE MAN WITH ALL THOSE SINS.
HE'S THE MAN MAKES CHILDREN CRINGE.

HE'S THAT SOLITARY MAN.
HE'S THE GUY ON THE LAM.

HE'S THAT MAN WITH NO LOVE.
HE'S THAT MAN WITH PUSH AND SHOVE.
HE'S THAT KILLING FIELDS GUV.

HE'S THAT SOLITARY MAN.
HE JUST DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN.

HE'S THAT SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN'S SON.
HE'S THAT BEE HIVE MAMA'S NUMBER ONE.
HE'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF GUNS.

HE'S THAT SOLITARY MAN.
HE JUST DOES WHAT HE FUCKIN' CAN!

HE'S THAT SOLITARY MAN.
HE JUST DOES WHAT HE FUCKIN' CAN!

Anonymous said...

Dear Greygarious:

I must tell you, I am totally with casinos as everyone in the world plays at one time or another be it a quarter a dollar or a thousand. If they have it in their pockets, they will spend it. It is not our business to watch how people use their money be it on five hundred dollar shoes or three thousand dollar jackets. People spend and will spend when they think they need to or want to. It is not our business! Period. It is like those against fat foods or those against sugars. People have a right to live as they wish if they do not do it illegally.
Yes. I am also very with casinos. If people are sick, psychologically, they will do anything to destroy themselves so it won't just be a casino that can do that. There are a million ways to ruin your family or yourself.
Let us all be straight with wanting the dogs out of harm and out of complete and utter peril. It is purely obscene to hurt these Greyhounds and when dog racing is finally banished, it will certainly be enough. Let them play poker. Let them drink. And let everyone live like adults . But never, ever again as butchers.

Anonymous said...

We are with you for casinos and dogs freed!
It's pretty easy. If West Virginia just did it, the entire world can do the same. Only the breeders and the mob who are trying to make as much as they can at any cost to the Greyhounds' lives , will try and fight this. And we already know who you all are.
" Beat it." Get out while you still can.

Anonymous said...

Well, call me vindictive, or call me an eye for an eye, despite what Mahatma Ghandi might say, because maybe he never saw the likes and the powers and the cruelty of "the Mob". But I want every single one of these sick "units" in a prison cell. I cannot look at my Greyhounds and just wink and say, "it'll be better now".
No. It will be years before "we clean up " all the heart -break and years to even stop the horrendous memories we have all seen or known about. The breeders must pay in no uncertain terms and the Mob must die behind bars for propelling it.

Anonymous said...

Ok. I get the last post. However, this is how I see it.
The entire idea is to get the dogs "out". To stop all the executions, debauchery , slaughter and horrific suffering of these poor dogs. Let us rise above the Mob. Let us extinguish these low class politicians and breeders who made a fast million humping the Greyhounds to death. And let us truly end the criminal compounds of Race Track Life, be it the cocaine, meth, steroids, prostitution, guns, power , intimidations, whatever.
What does not transfer to casinos is the vulnerability of these Greyhounds. We save them from further torture, it's a big deal. The Mob and the breeders and the politicians will make restitution for these evil acts, but let's get moving and not stand behind a dust-line for" an eye for an eye". We are way past that. We are a hundred years messed up because of stupidity and selfishness. To end it, we can make it work And we can make it work for the dogs. For the dogs' sakes.

Anonymous said...

Have you all checked out Jack Swint's blog? Someone says to get Alec Baldwin or Mickey O'Rourke to play Manchin.
This story has LEGS, Man!

Anonymous said...

Checked it out and they also want Keith Urban to sing " That Solitary Man". Urban 's not bad but what about Bono? Maybe the two together? It's a pretty great idea to have singers representing other parts of the World where Greyhound Racing is happening as well. We got to go "Global" to fight "Global". (Hey Stan Pawloski and Chris Carpenter, hope you are listening.)

Anonymous said...

Look at that beautiful girl you have up this week, Cora. How on earth can a human being kill that girl if she breaks a leg because she was forced into racing and probably pumped with blow, or steroids or god only knows what!
We are now too educated to pretend we do not know what is going on. We can easily find the results of all the massacres and all the cruelty on a computer if we just press a key.
I think the days are absolutely done for these mobsters and politicians. News is everywhere and if they go over the boundaries, it is reported. Just like what Jack Swint and Ironicus Maximus and the Greyhound Protection League do. They speak of the helplessness of this poor breed. To ignore this plight is impossible. Our society has already paid the price. Thank you to all three and all the people who help inform us to try and better protect these loving, sweet dogs.

Anonymous said...

Oh please. It is always the same . Jack Ketterer is saying the trainers and Greyhound owners and regulators are "monitoring" all the injuries. Right Jack. Just like Dale Childs "monitored" all the injuries for the Greyhounds at the tracks even though she has not one clue what a real Veterinarian might know. Now, in the case like Dr. Dunn and the hundreds like him, of course it doesn't mean the vets are always "nice" and they "help" the dog. Let's face it, in the Greyhound Racing "industry" they help the track way before they are going to help the dog, because that is
just , quite simply," business".
As Ironicus Maximus is known for one of his most well-known sayings:
"The Greyhounds? PFST!"
.

Anonymous said...

Seriously, let's keep with the idea of exposure on the cruelty and destruction of the Greyhounds concerning the Tracks and Breeders.
So many people are ignorant of the viciousness of this industry because they do not know the Greyhound and they do not go to the tracks! And they know absolutely nothing about the people making millions killing these dogs for a living.
A Movie would correct the "sporty" image of the racing business , worldwide, and would be brilliant to quickly end the limitless lines of dirty people connected in Greyhound executions.
Big media is the way to go because we are up against millions of companies, everywhere, where there is poverty, ignorance and greed.
Also, excellent idea to get a cast that symbolizes international awareness and responsibility of every country supporting these nightmare scenarios for Greyhound exploitation. Tell it like it is. This breed has had enough Hell. We all owe it to Greyhounds, everywhere.

Anonymous said...

Well, Andrea Young finally gets the picture. It's basically about "long-term survival".
Isn't it interesting that that is exactly what you, Andrea, and people like you, did to each and every dog you put down due to "track injuries"? They never even had a chance at "long-term survival".
I hope you are really sweating now. Feel the burn.

Anonymous said...

Getting nasty on the Blog here!
Well, I don't have a date tonight so I can really get into it.
When I read that EARL RAY TOMBLIN, Jr., just blew away PUPPIES with a shotgun (and that lady Hilda, confirms it) well, hey! You disbelievers out there, wake up! We are talking about something you never even have half a dream about, because it is , literally, about the "Devil".
Hey Earl Ray! Ever teach BRENT how to blow away puppies? Is that what you did on "Father's Day"?

Anonymous said...

I looked that up in one of Swint's stories and it was the Grandfather of Brent , EARL RAY SENIOR, that told Hilda Halstead he blew away "a whole litter of puppies". That was in front of her
grand-daughter , so the Grand-Daddy TOMBLIN really needed another five more years in the can just to "watch his mouth" if nothing else.
Can you imagine these guys running West Virginia?
Is it any wonder that guy "Mark" is still in hiding, presumably.

Anonymous said...

Listen: Mark could have easily been "run out of town". The people said it is so corrupt that the cops and judges intimidate you to the extent that you just get packed and get out of Dodge.
I mean, what is the draw?

Anonymous said...

I read one of Swint's stories and it seems to me that even government officials are doing coke! Not that that is the draw by an means but I'm just saying that I think a lot of people are so stressed and the only way they can get through all the corruption there is by doing dope.
Truthfully, how can you wake up every morning and know dictatorship is right at your door? They don't even get the damn NEWS!

Anonymous said...

If the dogs are doing coke, the dogs are getting it from somewhere. :)
I don't think by the sounds of things down there that the government shares much. So, it has to be the workers that are around the dogs "sharing" their stash.
Correct me if I'm wrong. I am still hung up on the "shooting of puppies".

Anonymous said...

When the VP of the NGA (Sam Burdette) knows what is going on and obviously has not stopped all the executions of these "losers" why is it so hard to believe anyone else in the "Industry" would care a rat's ass?
Look at all these women we have already mentioned. The killing of these Greyhounds is the main motivation to save a dollar! You cannot tell me a lot of these people don't get off on calling a life to end. They are all sick to continue this "blood sport" and as someone already mentioned awhile ago, they are all sadists.
Swint says, very few make it out alive and 100% well. What kind of people do that to a dog?
The Humane Society is hated for a reason by these people. It would put them out of business. And probably lock half of them up!

Anonymous said...

We are all waiting for the FBI and SWAT teams to take control of these mobsters and politicians in West Virginia!
Can you believe TOMBLINS have" ruled" for more than thirty years?
What does it take to shut corruption down?
Mickey O"Rourke?

Anonymous said...

Corruption never gets "shut down". It has to be "exposed".
Then, it "shuts down".

Anonymous said...

It'll be " a laugh" if the final show is the Gangsters who started off abusing the Greyhounds at the Tracks. (with the help of the NGA of course)

Anonymous said...

Remember " The Godfather"?
History always repeats itself.

Anonymous said...

For the music, England is well known for their blasted racetracks, too. Paul McCartney, who loves animals, should get into the act. Three can do a song and why not? Three countries all hurting these beautiful hounds. (England, Ireland, Australia)
Let's show them all we no longer accept it.

Anonymous said...

Don't know if Elton John wants to join us all, but we'd love that , too!
There's four for the theme song.

(Springsteen and Dylan you both sure are welcome!)

Anonymous said...

This is the movie I wanna see!