Friday Hound Blogging

OK, so let's say you're an overlord in New Zealand. You get up one morning and while you're looking for the instructions on shoe tying, there's a knock at the door. You open it and a stranger is standing there who says, "Hello. I'm from 60 Minutes." Now, it's been about six years since they repossessed your TV but even you know about 60 Minutes. You gotta be thinking "My day just got worse."

Well, strap in Bucko, because this is just the beginning.

Pressure is mounting for an independent inquiry into the number of dog deaths in the greyhound industry. It follows Sunday’s 60 Minutes investigation, which revealed hundreds of animals listed as retired are actually being put down.

"Well, 'retired' means not working anymore, doesn't it? I don't see the problem here," said Greyhound Racing New Zealand’s Jim Leach.

Oh, we totally agree Mr. Leach. It's like when you decide to retire they'll throw you this big party and you're boss will be all like, "Jim, for your many years of dedicated service to industrialized animal cruelty allow me to present you with this gold watch. Now if you'll just go with Dr. Smith here, he'll take you in the back and administer your lethal injection."

Today Green Party co-leader Russel Norman lent his weight to mounting calls for an independent inquiry, rather than one conducted by the industry itself. “The question is, are we willing to kill animals in order to enable our entertainment? Effectively that's what the greyhound racing industry is.”

Uh oh. Got the hippies on your case now, Mr. Leach. You know what that means. One morning you're going to wake up and find your house has been T P'd with Marcal® Small Steps® 100% Recycled Bath Tissue Rolls with flushable tubes. These people are some serious Mo Fo's.

No one from Greyhound Racing New Zealand would appear on camera today, saying they haven't confirmed what the investigation will actually investigate. But it will most likely include what happens to the dogs once they have finished their racing life.

"Most likely?" Man, Jethro Gibbs you are not. Dogs are listed as retired when they've been killed. What were you thinking of investigating, underage drinking by young dogs after lights out in the kennel?  Maybe the dogs are planning a breakout. You never know what they're talking about out there in the exercise yard. If we were you we'd make sure to inventory the cutlery after meals. They don't have thumbs but that may not stop them from making a mean shiv out of a spoon, and when their choices are win or die, they don't have much to lose, right Sera? 

Sera is still in the playful puppy stage and really enjoys a good romp in the yard followed by a nap. She's a little shy at first in new situations and with new people, but once she warms up she'll ask for pets by poking you with her nose. Sera would do well in a home with older well mannered children as an only dog if her family is home more often to play with her, or with other dogs her own size. She doesn't mind going in her crate, but does have a lot of puppy energy so would need a yard she can run in, or someone to play with her. 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.