Friday Hound Blogging

You know, if the overlords could run greyhound racing on their delusions...er...we mean their hopes, it would be the most popular heartless blood sport in the country that has as its end result the injury and death of innocent animals  We mean, take the overlords in Iowa who, when confronted with the fact that a private company was willing to pay the state $7 million a year just to get rid of them, managed to turn that into a positive.

Some greyhound kennels in Iowa expect a strong racing season even with an attempt to shut down the industry. "It's like when you drive by a car wreck, said Joe Lent of Dubuque's River Bluffs Kennel. You are disgusted but you can't help but look."

Hmm...greyhound racing...car wreck. Yeah, we can see that. But it's not just the present that has the overlords all in a tizzy. It's the future too.

The starting doors opened and four greyhounds sprang out of the gate. The dogs were puppies, not veterans. Thirty seconds later, the race was over and another heat at the National Greyhound Association spring meet in Abilene was set to go. "Everything at our meet is puppies," said Tim Horan, assistant director for the Greyhound Association. "The oldest dog out here is 16 months. Now, it's true some of them won't live to see 17 months, but that's the whole point: survival of the fastest. See I made a pun there."

You're a regular Carrot Top there Timmy boy, and a good thing too because you're going to need all of your sunny outlook on life to explain why Pennsylvania wants to kick overlords out of the state when they aren't even allowed to be there in the first place. Boy, it's as if the overlords can't take a hint.

Cynthia Branigan, president of a Bucks County greyhound adoption organization called the 2004 law banning dog racing in Pennsylvania — championed by state Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-12th District — unnecessary. "We've got to wait until we have a crime to pass a law, right? Branigan asked. "I mean, was there a law against murder before there was murder? No way. Once Cain killed Abel god said, 'Oops, guess I left a loophole in my rules and bingo bango, Moses gets the top ten."

And now Branigan, who runs Make Peace With Animals, describes legislation proposed by Greenleaf to prevent the simulcasting of greyhound racing in the commonwealth as the "height of absurdity. It's inexplicable," said Branigan, a Solebury Township resident who has written two books on the breed. "This legislation does not make sense, since there is no simulcasting in the state. And that it wasn't about to come here. I mean, if no one is going to rob your house, why pass a law outlawing burglary? It's bureaucratic overkill pure and simple."

Greenleaf said he introduced the legislation to further prevent the cruel treatment of the greyhounds. "The more we cut down on the potential market for this atrocity, the sooner we'll get rid of it," he said.

Branigan said the senator must have been "bamboozled" by anti-racing interests to introduce the bill. "They probably told him it might save dogs," she said. "Where's the proof of that? Look, if drying up the outlets for greyhound racing closes down the industry a few years earlier, all it will do is save those dogs that would have been killed if the industry had lasted. Wait. I don't think that came out right."

"I doubt (Greenleaf) came up with this alone," Branigan said. "In Pennsylvania it seems absurd to whip people into a frenzy about this. I mean, you know how worked up people can get when told about simulcast betting in other states and how it might come here. Well, if they know what you're talking about. And if there aren't bigger things on their minds like getting a job, or paying their bills. Didn't Glen Beck do a show about this?"

Branigan — who owns three greyhounds — said she opposes the anti-racing crowd, but does not favor the industry. "I'm against one side, but not for the other, so that's like a sort of half an opinion, right?"

We'd go more with half assed.

"Some consider me a tool of the racing industry," Branigan said. "Mostly the people in the racing industry who use me as a tool, but I am not. I've been criticized quite often for my opinions."

OK, so if you're a tool of the racing industry and people criticize you for being a tool, that means you're not a tool because...what? If you call a tool a tool, that turns it into a souffle? You're going to have to explain that one to us Emma.

Emma is playful and puppy-like. She gives play bows and wants to engage you. She is affectionate and happy – her tail wags often. She approaches for pets and will put her nose in your hand. She tries to get everyone in the house (dogs, cats, and people) to play with her by giving them a play bow. She likes to collect things, including clothes and toys. She follows her foster mom around the house. She is very cheerful. She can often be found on her back with her feet in the air (the cockroach position). Emma would do well in a working with well-mannered children, 10 and up. She would do best with another dog if her family works all day. She is playful and needs a family who will interact with her regularly to burn off her puppy-energy. 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.