Friday Hound Blogging

We're coming to you today from the Plain As The Nose On Your Face Department here in the marbled halls of IM Central. The PATNOYFD is a division of the Somebody Buy These People A Clue Corporation, a wholly owned subsidy of Stupid Is As Stupid Does, LLC.

It seems the West Virginia chapter of our ongoing experiment in the Dunning Kruger effect* on governance is having some trouble figuring out the will of the people when it comes to the continued exploitation of innocent living creatures for (no) profit.

Despite a push by the West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association to eliminate greyhound racing and provide dog owners with a buyout, the first session of the 82nd Legislature failed to address the state’s greyhound racing fund, largely due to numerous complications on the subject, according to lawmakers.

 When asked to describe some of those complications, Senate Finance Chairman Mike Hall, R-etarded said, "Well when you have people from both inside and outside of racing telling us to end it we're not really sure what to do. I mean, on the one hand you have representative government reflecting the will of the people. And on the other hand you have us."

The session featured some discussion on the once-popular greyhound fund after a report was released by an animal rights organization in January, Grey2K USA released a report which found that subsidies from the state’s casino video lottery profits account for more than 95 percent of greyhound racing revenues. Although the greyhound industry had a $31 million economic impact on West Virginia in 2012, state subsidies accounted for $29 million, the study noted.

"Now, I know it looks like it's costing $29 million to get $2 million," Hall said. "But that's just because math is involved. You can't really expect us to use stuff like that when it comes to proposing legislation. Come on, this is the Finance Committee for crying out loud."

Following the study’s release, the West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association introduced bills in the House of Delegates and the Senate in hopes of providing financial restitution to those who invested in the greyhound industry. The Senate bill sought a $37.5 million buyout, which association President Sam Burdette said would provide dog owners and breeders a return on their investment while also ending greyhound racing this year.

"Other states have paid us to go away," Burdette said. "I don't see why things should be any different here. Bottom line is you get rid of the heartless cruelty that we call greyhound racing, the dogs are released to live out their lives as pets rather than commodities, and those of us who sucked our leech-like living off the continued injury and deaths of hundreds of animals trapped in the meat grinder of a dying industry fade away like that heartburn you had last night. It's win win man."

Sen. Daniel Hall, R-etrograde, told the Daily Mail on Wednesday that his colleagues were conflicted. “Do you cut them off cold turkey, do a partial phase out or a buyout?” he asked. “Nobody could come to a consensus as to what was the right thing to do.”

When asked to respond to Burdette's buy out proposal Hall replied, "Well sure that's what everyone wants, it's been done in Iowa and it would solve the problem, but we need time to study it so we can find a way to screw it up."

Further complicating matters was the fact that neither the governor’s office nor the House of Delegates weighed in on the matter, which essentially left the Senate as the only body to have significant discussions on greyhound racing this year.

"It's like we're expected us to take a leadership role here," Hall said. "I didn't become a state senator so I could effect positive change for crying out loud. Why do you think the people elected me?

Our guess is because they weren't paying enough attention. What's your take Ivy?

Sweet-natured little Ms. Ivy enjoys being with people whether it’s time to play or time to relax. Did someone mention getting out the squeaky toys and a ball or two? Ivy never misses an opportunity to have fun, and will need a home with a 6′ fence so she’s not tempted to find fun outside of her yard, and even helps tidy up afterwards by taking all toys to her bed. R&R time is good too, best done with her close by–naturally– since you never know when something might come along which would require some needle-nosed attention. Great company, that’s our Ms. Ivy!! 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 and here.

*h/t Michigan Liberal