Tucson– Two years ago today March 26, 2008 Tough Ol Buzzard suffered a laceration on his right leg. His leg was wrapped and he went on medication. Recovery time was predicted for 10 to 14 days.
According to the data site, he didn’t race again for two months.
Tucson –Two years ago today — 03/25/08 — WW Billy The Kid tore his right ligament. Was treatment provided? Who knows? It’s not listed. It was a career ending injury for poor Billy.
This dog’s info was not found in greyhound data website.
We have health care reform or so some people are cheering about. I think it’s somewhat of a cop out but I guess in its own way, it’s progress. The insurance companies are still bound to get richer without doing anything to earn it. People with preexisting conditions will be able to get insurance if they can afford it…the question is the “if.” Kudos to Obama for sticking with it.
One of single payer’s biggest objections from angry uneducated masses encouraged by Sarah Palin is that universal health care was considered socialized medicine because those that don’t have, would be entitled to have. Of course, we already have Medicare and Social Security so their arguments were loud but skewed.
Here’s a definition of socialism: Socialism is a system which ignores borders. For any wealth to be accumulated within a country, it has been done at the expense of the workers. These workers have the power to form revolutionary groups regardless of what current political controls are in place.
That got me thinking about greyhound racing.
According to this excellent article in the Las Vegas Sun, much of greyhound racing is subsidized. Wasn’t that the whole problem with health care reform? The naysayers don’t want anything that is subsidized especially health care for the have nots.
According to the article:
“Still, Harrah’s calls greyhound racing a giant waste of money and resources — including real estate that could be used for more profitable enterprises. “It’s like a horse and buggy manufacturer getting a subsidy from an auto manufacturer,” Harrah’s spokesman Gary Thompson says. “We’re subsidizing a dying business.” ”
Nobody wanted to subsidize health care, why subsidize greyhound racing especially in a bankrupt state like Arizona?
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer will probably put the kibosh on Arizona health care under the Obama plan but she and the Arizona Department of Racing will still subsidize greyhound racing at the expense of health care, state parks, and tourism.
Socialism is a system which ignores borders: If socialism has ignored borders, the same can be said of the greyhound racing industry. Like when was the last time they have been accountable for missing dogs or drugged dogs or dogs pumped full of steroids with no paperwork to back up the administration of dosing? In Arizona, some of the injury reports don’t even list the dogs’ names or why or how they died. How is that accountable? A Green Valley veterinarian admits to dosing racing greyhounds with steroids even though there is a South Tucson voter approved ordinance against the practice. This is operating recklessly without borders.
Socialism: For any wealth to be accumulated within a country, it has been done at the expense of the workers. In greyhound racing, the workers are the dogs. They do all the work. They have no say so in their working conditions or diet. The Las Vegas Sun article says they’re on a strict diet. All you adopters out there who feed your dogs 4D meat (RAW dead, diseased, downer, and disabled meat), please raise your hand? They may live like kings and queens (according to the article) at one track but as they start to lose they are hauled from the A track to the B track to the C track to end-of-the-line tracks where their vitality has been stripped only to be euthanized or disappear when they are no longer profitable.
Socialism: These workers have the power to form revolutionary groups regardless of what current political controls are in place. Unfortunately, the workers or greyhounds in this case don’t have the know-how to form revolutionary groups. They might refuse to come out of the starting box unless kicked or they might cause interference. The revolutionary groups are you and me and the thousands of people who are now speaking out on blogs, tweeting, educating the masses via Facebook, protesting at tracks, articles like the Las Vegas Sun, and powerful advocacy groups making a difference state by state.
A sport that is propped up by racinos, slot machines, and casino-style gambling is a sport that no longer needs to exist. A dying antiquated sport supported by older folks dragging their walkers and oxygen.
A dying sport indeed.
Two years ago today, March 21, 2008, Scarlet’s Demon fractured his right foot in what was a career ending injury at Tucson Greyhound Park. According to the data report, the dog was pin balled at the first turn. That conjures a terrifying image. The things these poor race dogs endure in order to make a buck for their owners is horrifying.
Scarlet’s Demon raced 67 times in two states and had been injured before. He raced in Colorado which thankfully has no more racing. Can’t wait until TGP joins that club. Dozens and dozens of people across the state, greyhound adopters and people who simply hate greyhound racing cruelty are now joined at the hip and heart to end greyhound racing in Arizona.
What happened to Scarlet’s Demon? His whereabouts are unknown. If you have this handsome red male on your couch, please email me at savetucsongreyhounds@gmail.com
He was injured racing in Colorado in Nov ’06;
didn’t race again until June ’07 in Tucson
Two years ago today – March 15, 2008, a greyhound was injured at Tucson Greyhound Park.
In this case, RD Ned’s right hock swelled. No treatment was provided on the injury report so we have no way of knowing whether treatment was provided but not listed or wasn’t provided. Also no recovery time was listed although according to the data website, Ned didn’t race for two months but started up again to race 151 times.
In the comments, it was reported (from Veterinarian Injury Report) “Blood in urine – recommend check for tick fever.”
Blood in urine is a scary diagnosis for dog and for man. Why do racing greyhounds suffer so much tick fever?
Greyhound racing is a mistake.
You betcha.
This week, former Iowa State Senator Bill Dieleman joined the effort to end live greyhound racing there. I wish Arizona had a legislator who thought greyhound racing was a mistake and had the courage enough to speak out.
In a video statement, Dieleman explains how in 1983 he and others were trying to defeat a pari-mutuel racing proposal. Convinced that adding dog racing to the bill would keep horse racing out of Iowa, Dieleman added a dog racing amendment.
On the video, he urges his former colleagues to correct the mistake of greyhound racing saying that Iowa can put the dollars currently used to prop up the faltering dog racing industry to better use. The report further notes that purse supplements benefit few with more than 50% of the moneys going to 20 recipients and about 42% going to out-of-state operations.
The same can be said for Arizona. Did you know that in 2009, six percent of the breeders of 612 winning greyhounds earned $223,112 in breeders awards? The Arizona Department of Racing promotes and encourages the breeding of greyhounds which is stupid. That’s $365 per dog. Is that more than Arizona pays per student?
But back to Iowa…redirecting the funds away from dog racing to the state is equivalent to:
* Approximately 200 teachers in Iowa public schools, or
* An additional 100 state troopers, or
* Nearly 200 state social workers could be hired to assist needy Iowans; or
* More than 180 correctional workers to keep Iowa facilities safe.
That seems like a no brainer.
Did you know that the Arizona Department of Racing is primarily financed by the General Fund? In 2009, Tucson Greyhound Park earned $4.1+ million from live racing and $9+ million from simulcast betting. Yet, they didn’t pay any pari-mutuel taxes to the state on these earnings. This is not a new event. They have not paid pari-mutuel taxes for at least a dozen years…for much more profitable years. What other business doesn’t have to pay taxes? They do pay for some licensing. One of the licensing is to prove that your race dog is Arizona bred. Breeders pay the state a whopping $3 per dog (adobe acrobat required/PDF).
And don’t even get me started about the hardship tax credit Tucson Greyhound Park receives or else I’ll vomit my breakfast across the room.
Arizona legislators should redirect funds away from propping up a faltering industry that is more about the wagering than greyhound welfare and redirect funds and salaries paid to state veterinarians (who already have flourishing private practices) and from a handful of others.
What about taking the General Fund money that props up the Arizona Department of Racing and instead:
* Open the rest areas on the weekends
* Keep our state parks open longer
* Boost tourism
I wish Arizona had a Bill Dieleman, someone with a clear voice, reputable conscience and the courage to speak out. Go Bill!
Two years ago today – March 12, 2008
WWW Kelly Lebrock suffered a laceration on her right leg. The leg was sutured and wrap. Recovery time was not noted.
However, according to the data, she continued to race for a total of 82 times until she retired in August 2008. I wonder how many times she was dosed with anabolic steroids?
I hope Kelly Lebrock has not suffered urine scald or bladder infections or osteosarcoma or neurological disorders.
Two years ago today, two dogs were injured while racing in Arizona.
In Phoenix Greyhound Park
3/11/08 Night Flyer (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List) “Judges” scratch “pulled up” – As usual no information was provided about the injury. As usual the track veterinarians couldn’t give a damn. Good riddance to PGP.
Thank dog, Night Flyer only ran two races and was rehomed by GPA-AZ.
In Tucson Greyhound Park
3/11/08 Bella Artois dislocated her right toes, a splint was provided but the recovery time was not. Bella ran 29 races and was rehomed by Arizona Greyhound Rescue.
Two years ago today March 7, 2008, two dogs were injured at Tucson Greyhound Park according to the Arizona Department of Racing injury report compiled by Grey2K. (Adobe Acrobat)
Boc’s Country Boy had suffered a muscle tear in his right rear. This was a career ending injury but nothing is listed as treatment. Dog injured. Is that a let-the-rescue-groups deal with this expense type of thing?
According to the data website. What happened to Country Boy after 89 races?
On the same day Kay V Stark also suffered a muscle tear in her right rear, again another career ending injury. Again, no treatment listed. Again probably a problem for the rescue groups if she’s lucky.
According to the data website, this poor girl ran 132 races. What happened to Kay V Stark? Did she end up on someone’s couch or not?
What the hell was going on here that two dogs suffer the same injury in the same place and end their careers because of this same injury? Contact savetucsongreyhounds@gmail.com if you have a clue.
Two years ago today March 6, 2008, two dogs were injured at Tucson Greyhound Park according to the Arizona Department of Racing injury report. (Adobe Acrobat required)
KK’s Morgan dropped muscle in the right rear. What kind of treatment did KK have? Who knows? It wasn’t provided on the injury report. Does that mean NO treatment was provided or treatment was provided but wasn’t listed? This was a career ending injury. KK ran 166 races. Fortunately, for him he ended up with Arizona Greyhound Rescue.
On the same day My Royal Athena fractured a right hock which was treated with a splint. The recovery time was not listed so we don’t know if Athena had time to recover or not. Athena ran 115 races, came in first place 21 times. If you look at the data they ran her every 3 to 5 days. How very sad. Somebody got rich off this hound. This looks like it was a career ending injury because there were no other dates listed. I hope Athena wasn’t euthanized like Missy was for a fractured hock in 2007.
If you know the whereabouts of My Royal Athena, please write to savetucsongreyhounds@gmail.com
More dogs have recently broken their hocks at Tucson Greyhound Park. Please consider donating to Greyhounds2Go who take in these dogs and rehabilitate them and pay for their medical expenses.