Friday Hound Blogging

Frequent reader(s) of this blog know that know that hope, like the harlequin leaves, burns bright in the brisk fall sun, then drops withered to the ground as the reality of winter marches forth...erm...we mean know that, as the overlords have told us time and again, when they uncover chicanery in the process of exploiting helpless, innocent living creatures for (no) profit, they move with the vengeance of the lord himself to identify and punish those who would put the worship of Mammon above the welfare of the dogs.

Except when they don't.

New details emerged Monday about the scope, as well as the possible source, of recent positive drug tests for greyhounds racing in Dubuque. Twelve greyhounds who were at Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque now have tested positive for ractopamine, a drug that is believed by some to have performance- enhancing qualities, according to Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission Administrator Brian Ohorilko.

"See, this is what happens when you investigate things," Ohorilko told reporters. "And you guys wonder why we like to stay in our offices."

Nine of the greyhounds are from a kennel for Stidham Racing LLC, while the remaining three are from Robert Hardison Kennel, Ohorilko said. Stidham Racing is owned by Jon Stidham, a member of the Iowa Greyhound Association Board of Directors, while Bob Hardison, owner of the other kennel, is also on the board of directors and serves as the organization's president.

Hey come on now Mr. Reporter. Why was it necessary to point out that both of these alleged miscreants sit on the overlord Board of Directors? What are you implying? The fish rots from the head down? Are we to infer that you think the wholesale commodification and heartless cruelty inflicted upon trusting greyhounds incarcerated in the Iowa death camps is a feature and not a bug?

In the wake of the positive tests, neither kennel is being allowed to enter dogs into races at Iowa Greyhound Park. Meanwhile, trainers Alicia Bushey, of Dubuque, and Jessica Hughes, of Bellevue, Iowa, have been suspended, pending a hearing.

Ha! See that Mr. Reporter? What were we saying earlier about the vengeance of the lord, huh? The wicked shall be called to account! Those undeserving of the great honor of caring for the units...erm...we mean the dogs shall be stripped of their responsibility and driven into the night. Tell us, oh great and powerful hearing board, what say you to those called before you to atone for their failure to live up to the high ideals inherent in the practice of putting man's best friend in harm's way on a regular basis as the overlords chase the few remaining coins in an industry zombie walking through its own demise?

Both trainers were scheduled to appear before racing stewards Monday, but their hearings were postponed for the second time in five days. A new date has not been set.

"We're hoping if we keep postponing the hearing long enough people will just forget about the whole thing," Ohorilko said.

We see. So basically what you're saying is you subscribe to the Florida theory of oversight. So do you have any explanation for the epidemic of ractopamine spreading though your state?

Preliminary tests of the dry food supplied to greyhounds indicated some ractopamine contamination, providing a potential clue about how the drug was introduced to the greyhounds, Ohorilko said.

What? How can this be? We are told almost daily by the overlords that the greyhounds are elite athletes who must receive only the best care to perform at their peak. Surely you aren't saying the overlords scrimp by feeding them contaminated food? How could you even consider such a scenario? Tell them Chief. You had steak and eggs for breakfast every day didn't you? And the kennel had its own personal chef, right? By the way, what happened to your leg? Slip on some spilled foie gras? Would you like some ractopamine for that?

Chief is fine with small dogs and cats, and can be an only dog. This sweet boy is looking for a forever home with plenty of toys to play with, and a loving family. Chief is very good at supervising his family and likes to be with his people. 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.