Friday, April 17, 2009

Friday Hound Blogging

Well, isn't this encouraging. President Hopey is...er...hopeful that the economy is turning around. We bet the overlords are glad to hear that. It's got to be tough running an animal exploitation business that relies on people with both discretionary income and closed head injuries.

What we're saying is that when times are tough for those of us who actually engage in activities we're not ashamed to mention in polite society, they've got to be doubly tough for those who think leeching your trailer payments off the backs of innocent animals is the type of career someone with the ability to walk upright and dress themselves most days would consider an accomplishment.

We mean, just look what's going on in Wisconsin.

Dairyland Greyhound Park in Kenosha, the state's lone pari-mutuel dog-racing track, lost $3.44 million in 2008, according to a new report.

Wow. Well, see it's the economy thing. Times were bad for everyone last year. You can't expect a thriving business like unit exploitation...um...greyhound racing to be immune.

The loss was even greater than it was in 2007, when owners reported to the state that it had lost $2.82 million.

OK, so they've had a couple of bad years. It happens.

It also continues a string of losses dating back years. In 2006, the track reported that it lost $2.84 million.

Oh. Um...

In 2005, it reported a loss of $2.41 million.

OK, now you're just being mean.

Roy Berger, Dairyland's executive vice president, said that supporters of the dog track had long given up any idea of lobbying for a state tax break to offset the losses the track is suffering.

Hmmm...so you've managed to lose $11.5 million in the last four years and you don't think the state, which is facing a $1.6 billion dollar deficit is going to be amenable to bailing you out. Yeah. We can see that.

Berger said the handwriting is on the wall. The state, he said, began with five dog tracks. Now there is only one track left.

On the bright side, Walmart has plans to expand in Wisconsin. How do you feel about wearing a vest to work?

How long can Dairyland hold out, losing millions year after year? "It becomes a year-to-year situation," Berger said.

Year to year? More like day to day, huh Bea?

Bea is very sweet, friendly, and playful. She is a bouncer and will bounce up to you for affection. She will also stand there as long as you will touch her. She likes to play with squeaky toys. Her ears fold forward in a cute way. Bea would do well in a working family home with well-mannered children, 8 and up. She might be too bouncy around smaller children. She is good with other dogs and might do better with another dog in the home. 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.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dairyland has always been for cattle. What more can be said?

Anonymous said...

Greyhound racing in Arizona is still subsidized even though Arizona is bleeding over a billion dollars in debt. They don't pay state taxes on their pari-mutuel earnings. AZ lawmakers seem to love their racing lobbyists more than education.

Anonymous said...

Yes, and Texas , too.
Love how they state they are donor states when it is 94 cents to the dollar. All of the top ten being democratic states pay huge hunks to keep these "red" states moving. Scams are as frequent and political as the Gov. of Texas. It is gross from "tea bags" to "imprisoned Greyhounds", the lies and cons are everywhere.
The whiners are indeed Republican when they reap the absolute most and might I add, without one grain of guilt.... and the dogs be damned.

Anonymous said...

I don't understand why people don't continually picket these tracks when it just brings " the neighborhood down".
I they can outlaw it in Jamaica, well-known for murders, corruption and drugs, how come not here!

Anonymous said...

Wherever there are ill-educated, badly educated, non-educated, you truly see the human race at its worst.
Indians, blacks, Latino, get with it. Not to mention all the white trash. Maybe with Obama people might wake up and get working. A degree and a real job is respect.