Friday Hound Blogging

Frequent reader(s) of this blog will recall a time before the current ice age when the earth, now barren, windswept and empty was once lush, green and fecund...erm...we mean will recall the name O'Donnell which to greyhound racing is like the name Ford to automobiles, Harley Davidson to motorcycles, or Boehner to incompetence.

And speaking of incompetence, that brings us back to the current O'Donnell in the news, one James "Barney" who seems to think that the mere fact that a person is deceased should not preclude that person from carrying out his official functions.

One of the largest greyhound kennel operators in the state used the signature of a dead Miami veterinarian to forge the vaccination records of dogs racing in South Florida, St. Petersburg and Jacksonville, according to a complaint filed last week by state regulators.

First of all we have to give credit to the state regulators for actually attempting to regulate. This represents an important departure from their usual approach to oversight which might be best described as laissez faire except when they're not paying any attention at all.

But back to our story. It seems James  "Barney" has come to the attention of somnambulant regulatory officials both for what he wasn't injecting his dogs with, and for what he was.

Last year, during unannounced inspections, state investigators found syringes in his kennel which they said tested positive for a variety of anabolic steroids, including testosterone, boldenone, and androstenedione.

 "Hey, testosterone, rabies vaccination. How am I supposed to know the difference?" James "Barney" said. "My Vet died you know." Well, that is a point JB. Didn't you get a replacement?

O’Donnell said Vega’s assistant assumed care of the dogs. “After Dr. Vega died [the assistant] said, I’m taking over,’ I said, `Alright.’ And he came and vaccinated the dogs.”

It turns out the "assistant" was actually one of James "Barney'" childhood friends. You know, the kind that only he could see?

O’Donnell said in recent weeks he began looking for the assistant now that questions are being raised. “Right now I’m trying to find the man and I can’t find him,” he said. “I’m trying to find him to see if he is still alive too.” O’Donnell said he just assumed the man was legitimate. “He used to come with Vega and then sometimes he’d come alone, if we had vaccinations sometimes he’d show up by himself,” O’Donnell said. Was he a licensed vet himself? “I can’t answer that, I never asked him,” O’Donnell admitted. “I never asked to see his credentials.” O’Donnell said in hindsight that was a mistake.

Hey, don't be so hard on yourself James "Barney." After all, if you think about it, you're whole career is based on not asking too many questions. Questions like what's in the food? Where are you taking these dogs? Is that leg broken? Sometimes it's better not to know, right? Well, better for you. For the dogs, not so much.

Investigators also claimed they found an unknown substance inside two Absolut vodka bottles. Although clearly suspicious, investigators from the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation never bothered to have the contents analyzed.

"Truth be told, Wally emptied the bottles on the way back to the office," a spokeswoman for the agency said. "Guy has a bit of a drinking problem, but you would too if your job was to watch over a bunch of losers, idiots and sociopaths like we do. Anyway he's no worse for wear as a result. In fact he's been looking pretty buff lately."

Maybe he can get on with a major league baseball team. So what are you going to do about old JB now that he forced you to leave the coffee shop and drive out to his kennel.

The state is now asking an administrative law judge to revoke O'Donnell's license to race greyhounds and fine him $96,000.

Whoa! $96,000. That's some serious coinage right there. But dudes, JB is 84 years old. He's been an overlord all his life and he has two things to show for it: Diddly and Squat. You'll be lucky to get 96 cents out of the guy. Wait, maybe his friends in the industry can help out.

The operators of the racetracks in Jacksonville and Hallandale Beach said they have suspended O'Donnell's contract as of Monday morning, banning his dogs from racing there.

Oh now that's just piling on right there. Won't anyone stand with James "Barney?" After all the guy's been an overlord for 60 years. Think of all the contributions he made to the industry in those 60 years. All the sacrifice. OK, so it was the dogs that did all of the sacrificing, but let's not quibble. Is there no one who will come to James "Barney's" aid?

Gary Rutledge, lawyer for the Derby Lane in St. Petersburg, said that track's contract is with O'Donnell's wife, Pauline O'Donnell, who has not been charged and her dogs will continue to race.

Kudos to you Mr. Rutledge! Finally someone who truly understands the credo of the greyhound racing industry: Anything for a buck. "We're a small industry and so we're like family," Rutledge said. "The Manson family, but family just the same." No argument here Mr. Rutledge. What do you think Willis?

I am a very happy, playful boy. I am very smart and will make a great family member. I am housebroken and don’t mind being in my crate. I get along great with small dogs. I can go up and down the stairs. I love to go for walks and play with toys. I would do well with older, well-behaved children. I have loved everyone I have met. 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.

Cloud update: Cloud is a fast learner that strives to please. He's playful, obedient, and will lay with his head in your lap and get his ears scratched for hours.