Friday Hound Blogging

You know, we're beginning to get a little concerned about the overlords. We mean, it's not like they've ever been welcomed as part of the human race, anyway. They're like The Lobster twins, or Werewolf boy, or Percilla or something. You know, total freakazoids that you feel both pity and revulsion for at the same time.

OK, mostly revulsion, but still in the last year or so it seems even people who don't normally pay any attention to the heartless cruelty of animal exploitation for profit have gone out of their way to bash an overlord.

Over a six-year period, the greyhound racing track at the Mardi Gras casino in Nitro reported more than 3,200 injuries to greyhounds to the West Virginia Racing Commission. Of those injuries, 750 involved broken bones. In that time, more than 150 dogs were so severely injured that they had to be euthanized. It's repugnant that injuries are the part of the nature of the sport. Greyhounds are fast but fragile, and races involve much bumping. Why does the state continue to allow such a gruesome sport?

Whoa. Now that's bound to harsh some overlord mellow right there, right Dan Adkins, who serves as the president of Hartman Tyner, the company that owns the  Mardi Gras racetrack?

"If you compared these numbers to the NFL or even horse racing, this would be a very low percentage," said Adkins.

Well, there you go then.  Hey Dan, while we're on the subject, we were just wondering how hard it is to get an NFL linebacker back in his 2 1/2 by 3 foot crate after the game, because we're thinking that's got to be kind of difficult, no? Is lubrication necessary?

Dan has no comment. Well, no matter, it's beginning to look like pretty soon we won't be needing any crates at all, right lobbyist Michael Racy?

Lobbyist Michael Racy first proposed to let the Tucson track drop live racing entirely, a move that could have effectively turned the track and its satellite operations into a strictly year-round OTB operation.

Now, we know what you're thinking, but why shouldn't greyhounds have their own lobbyist? Everyone else does.

Directives by Gov. Jan Brewer to require state regulatory agencies to become financially self-sufficient are requiring track owners to come up with more cash, he added.

More cash? See, now that's going to be a problem, because as the poet once said, "How can you have Mo cash when you ain't got No cash?" Any suggestions Mr. Racy?

Racy said if the bill becomes law, track owners will figure out what days live racing still makes sense. "Candidly, there are some days that are more profitable and some days that are less profitable," he said.

Right. Days that end in Y? Forget it. Other than that, it's like the money is falling out of trees.

The legislation does contain an escape clause of sorts. It permits the track to actually have live racing on fewer than 100 days but only if agreed to in a contract with dog owners and track kennel operators whose business would be affected.

OK, let's see if we have this straight. You want to pass a law that says the overlords only have to race 100 days a year, unless they want to race less? Is that about right? So your initial position was let's drop racing all together, and your compromise is let's have racing 100 days a year unless we don't want to. Brilliant! Bet you wished you been owned by that guy huh, Bart?

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.

Silver update: She is gaining confidence in her surroundings. She is spending less time in the crate, which she initially spent a lot of time inside. She is more playful with the family dog and is starting to have more fun. She is a fun girl and has cockroached for the first time and has rooed once, showing her increased confidence. She hides toys in her cage or at a back door collection.