Friday Hound Blogging

This is it. You tree hugging, Birkenstock wearing, animal rights wackos have pushed the overlords around just about enough. First you close up all their tracks. Well, all right, so the fact that people didn't come to the tracks had something to do with that, but we're not talking about the rubes right now, we're talking about mushy-mush, whosagoodboy, slurpy-slurp, dog loving, goody two shoes, commie pinko, leftist elite fascists. You know, people like these meddlers in West Virginia.

A state law passed in 2008 requires the commission to construct two tracks at which greyhounds can be trained. But there has been controversy over the proposal - with some in the racing community saying the tracks are not needed.

Check it: Agitators, probably from out of state, come in to make trouble and kill our ability to make a living, why it's as if...wait, did you say some in the racing community don't want the tracks?

OK, bad example. Oh, we know. Let's ask Gary Guccione. He's like the overlord's overlord and his logic is strong and cannot be defeated.

We are not surprised that Grey2K USA, a radical animal-rights group from Massachusetts, has launched a misinformation campaign against greyhound racing in Iowa.

Boo Yah! Take that Grey2K. Bet that's the last time you'll use public records from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to document the injuries. Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Phfffft! How misinformed are they?

The vast majority of greyhound injuries are minor, and allow the dogs to return to racing after a week or two.

See, this is how compassionate the overlords are. If a greyhound gets hurt trying to earn a trailer payment, they get a second chance. Then their killed if they don't win.

Even when career-ending injuries occur, most greyhounds transition successfully to retirement in a loving adoptive home. More than 90 percent of all retired greyhounds are adopted or returned to the farm as pets or breeders when they retire.

Oooo. Bad move there Mr. Gucionne. Remember? We've talked about this. Math is not your strong suite.

The number of injuries at Iowa tracks is actually very small when viewed in relation to the total number of races run, or starts. The 101 injuries in 2008 occurred from a combined total of more than 55,000 starts at the two tracks, including official races as well as schooling.

Yeah. Let's cut these guys some slack here. Fifty five thousand starts, times multiple dogs in each start. They're throwing dogs out there faster than overlords run from a job fair and all they can manage to injure, maim or kill is a measly hundred? They should get a medal or something because it's obvious that the vast majority of dogs that are killed are killed after the overlords have sucked all the trailer payments they're going to off them. Now that's compassionate care.

Greyhound tracks spend a great deal of time and money ensuring that track surfaces are safe and well-maintained.

Darn straight. These are professional athletes that represent a sizable investment of time and money on the part of the overlords. No stone is left unturned in making the racing environment safe and well maintained, right Don Walker?

Since my last post on issues involving the track surface at Dairyland Greyhound Park, a few people who are concerned about the greyhounds that race there have contacted me. None of them wish to have their name used, for fear they would lose their job. But each of them said track owners used the track's heat system sparingly. The heating system is supposed to be used to warm up the surface. In addition to the infrequent use of the heating system, sources at the track have said that the surface is rock hard for the dogs and can cause injury. Through November, a total of 56 dogs have broken their hocks.

See? Safety first, that's the overlords...wait, what? People who work at the track are saying this? Well, obviously a group of disgruntled employees. Probably didn't get invited t o the Christmas party or something.

Track veterinarians ensure that the greyhounds are strong and healthy before they are allowed to race.

Ha! Now you're talking. Even human athletes don't have to be examined as much as the units...er...dogs. Nothing is going to slip by professionally trained, experienced and caring Vets, right Andrew Carlton, the Arizona Department of Racing veterinarian, and track vets Betty Menke and Paul Pullen?

Tucson vet Janet Forrer and Susan Via, a retired assistant U.S. attorney and head of Tucson Dog Protection, filed the complaints with the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board.

Some of the alleged violations include:

• Steroids being administered by people other than the dual-licensed vets, who are the only ones authorized to do so.

• Track vets turning a blind eye to the steroid injections that are clearly in violation of the act, either because of "negligence or indifference."

• Lack of records outlining the drugs or treatments given to the animals, which should be submitted to the Arizona Department of Racing.

• Lack of oversight by Carlton, who, as state racing veterinarian, should be supervising the track vets' practices.

• Pullen not notifying the Veterinary Medical Examining Board of a change of address, or having a listed phone number. The last two practices where Pullen worked have disconnected telephone numbers.

Hey look, everybody's busy. Things fall through the cracks, right Bobo?

“Bobo” is a sweetie pie and a joy to have around. He is extremely curious and he has lots of personality! Bobo is a very handsome boy. He has a white stripe down his snout and his nose is heart-shaped. He is a bit of “collector”. Bobo would do well in a working family home with well-mannered children 5 and up. He is good with other dogs of all 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.