Friday Hound Blogging (Tuesday Edition)

Frequent reader(s) of this blog know that ennui is the space between youth and eventuality...erm...we mean know that we generally reserve Fridays for our weekly forays into that fetid swamp of delusion, disassociative disorder and dyspepsia in search of Morionem Malum more commonly known as The Overlords, and even though President Obama was not entirely successful in sending hurricane Issac to disrupt the republican convention, providing us with what is called in military circles a "target rich environment," this was just too good to wait until Friday to bring to your attention.

Last week we told you about Joe "Needles" Robinson, (Wally's College of Veterinary Medicine and Truck Driving School, class of '95) the track "Veterinarian" at Tucson. Robinson's job is to make sure the female units stay productive by shooting them up with steroids so the natural rhythms of their bodies are disrupted. Well, what we didn't tell you was that in 2008 the people of the city of South Tucson (where the track is located) passed an ordinance banning the injection of steroids. We think it was called the "Hey Needles, Quit Shooting The Dogs Up With Steroids" Ordinance. That may be a paraphrase.

So you're thinking problem identified, legislation enacted, situation improved. Democracy in action, right? Wrong. To wit:

So what did the track do instead? Well, that’s what KGUN9 News went to check out. So we waited in a non-descript van with our cameras rolling. Low and behold, at 6 o’clock in the morning, a truck loaded with dozens of dogs arrives on an empty street. Veterinarian Dr. Joe Robinson gets to work right away, administering injections, which are perfectly legal in Tucson.

See? If the injection can't come to the greyhound, the greyhound must go to the injection. That's what the overlords mean when they say  to understand their industry you have to have experience with it, because to most people this would look like a blatant disregard of the wishes of the people of South Tucson and the dogs' safety just to score a few bucks. Hey Needles, you having any sort of problem with this obvious flaunting of the law and violation of your Veterinarian's oath?

Doan: Mr. Robinson? Can we talk to you guys about what you’re doing here?

Dr. Robinson: It’s none of your business.

Doan: Is it ethical, what you’re doing?

Dr. Robinson: Yes, it is ethical.

Doan: How so?

Dr. Robinson: You’re involving yourself in a doctor client privilege – it’s none of your business. 

Doctor client privilege...for dogs? How do they sign their HIPPA forms? And Needles, dude, come on. You're standing in the street shooting up dogs out of the back of a truck. Not exactly what the manual calls a sterile environment if you get our drift. Does any of this give you pause, a sort of what's wrong with this picture moment? OK, it's true we're not up on the latest veterinary medicine treatment protocols, so maybe we're missing something here. Let's ask some other Vets in the area what they think:

More than 100 local veterinarians signed this petition to outlaw steroids in South Tucson.

Hmm...sleeping in medical ethics class that day huh, Needles? Now, we know what you're going to say, those Vets are biased because they're all about helping animals and stuff and they have no experience with the greyhound racing industry. OK, so you tell us whom we should talk to about the moral implications of putting innocent animals at risk for profit, and skirting the law that forbids you from doing so?

After capturing video of the injections, 9 On Your Side tracked down Greyhound Park’s CEO Tom Taylor. He admitted the dogs were receiving steroids in Tucson that had been banned in South Tucson.

Doan: Some people would say that by traveling 5 miles or so that you’re simply skirting the law of South Tucson.

Taylor: I am.

Doan: So you blatantly admit that?

Taylor: Yeah, I’d break the law if I did it here. And by doing it there I’m not breaking the law.

Doan: And you have no qualms about it?

Taylor: Not at all. 

You know, we're beginning to think that when the overlords say the greyhounds receive the best care when they're racing, they don't mean it. What do you think Caroline?

Katjam Caroline is a very sweet and friendly girl. She loves everyone she meets. She loves to go for walks and play in the yard. She is very good on the leash. She is learning how to do stairs. She has not learned how to play with toys yet but she loves chewing on her rawhides. She does good in her crate; however, she does sometimes bark when her foster parents first come home so they leave her in the crate until she quiets down, which does not take long. She has had no accidents in the house or her crate. She lets her foster parents know when she has to go out. She is not cat or small dog safe. Due to her head-strong personality, she would do best as an only dog. She has not had any experience with children but, due to her personality, she would probably do best in a home with older well-behaved children or no children. She gets along great with men and women. 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.