Friday Hound Blogging

You know, we pick on the overlords quite a bit just because greyhound racing is a boil on the buttocks of this great nation, but truth is, a fair amount of their problem isn't because they're third grade drop outs with no people skills and substance abuse problems. See, you may have noticed that times are tough all over, and the states are mostly broke.

Take Florida for instance, the state where most of the remaining greyhound tracks in the country are failing. The state is $3.2 billion bucks in the red, can't raise taxes because, well, old people and nobody's got a job. Add to that the fact that having the state regulate the overlords just isn't the money making proposition it used to be, and you've got a recipe for hard times all around.

Now, none of this is the fault of the overlords. Sure, they're heartless, cruel, soulless, empty creatures, devoid of even the slightest hint of compassion, who suck their meager existence tick-like off the blood of innocent animals, but hey, nobody's perfect. The point is the economy is bigger than all of us and when times get tough, legislators have to make hard decisions, have to prioritize, have to make sure, as the fiscal pie gets smaller, essential government functions are still able to provide crucial services. Right Florida State Senator Dennis Jones?

A Florida Senate committee offered a last-ditch handout to Florida's ailing dog tracks and jai-alai frontons, passing a bill to give them a tax break to make it easier to compete with the growing gambling presence of the Seminole Tribe. The measure, passed 6-1 by the Committee on Regulated Industries, would lower the tax rate only on the 19 dog tracks and jai-alai frontons that do not operate slot machines -- those outside of Miami-Dade and Broward. The cost to the state: $19 million.

See? We all have to tighten out belts, pull together and gut it out through these hard times. The overlords are treated no differently, they have to...wait a minute, what?

``This is the other piece of the puzzle in trying to balance the compact with the parimutuels in Miami-Dade and Broward and the rest of the state,'' said  Jones, the sponsor of the bill.

"Balance the compact with the parimutuels"? Dude, have you even read your own state's report on the parimutuels? Especially the part where it says:

"Over the last decade, Florida’s pari-mutuel wagering industry has declined steadily, with attendance and state revenue falling dramatically. The Legislature has amended pari-mutuel wagering laws several times in an effort to stimulate the industry. Nonetheless, the industry no longer generates sufficient revenue to support both the cost of regulation and the $29.9 million distribution to counties mandated by current law."

Now, when it says "the industry no longer generates sufficient revenue to support both the cost of regulation and the $29.9 million distribution to counties mandated by current law"? That's bad see, because it means the overlords are costing you more than they're bringing in.

We're not economists, or anything, but we understand there is a specific term for continuing to invest money in this type of situation. It's called "dumb." Bart can explain that to you if you'd like, right guy?

Bart is very gentle, quiet, happy, well-mannered and easygoing. He is affectionate. He likes to be petted and he will pick his paw up and place it on you when you stop petting him. He will also lean against you for attention. He loves to go for car rides and even enjoys sitting in the car when it is not moving. He likes to run and play in the yard. Bart would do well in a working family home with well-mannered children, 10 and up. He is good as the only dog in the home. He has limited experience with other dogs at this time. He would do best in a single family home, because he tends to be vocal when first left in the crate.  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.