Well. Spose I’d better explain. No, I ain’t announcing I gotta boner. That’d be kissin’ and tellin’. No, the Cheers bartender ain’t bringin’ us a beer. If you grew up in Liberty, no, it ain’t the guy that sold appliances forever and ever.
“Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere comes Woody” is what the track announcer at The Woodlands (A greyhound racetrack in Kansas City, KS) says prior to releasing the little wooden Woody that all the hounds chase – and people wager boo-koo bucks upon which dog will finish first.. Or, first, second, third. Win, place, show, quinella, trifecta, super trifecta, daily doubles, you name it.
The loser in all this (aside from the chaps who foolishly toss their money away) are the Greyhounds. Aside from the ‘elimination’ of the 25,000 annualy that are “too small” or “too big”.. greyhounds live in kennels 18-24 hours a day – are barely fed enough to get by on… and are oft fed diseased livestock… and many have internal and external parasites… open wounds.. broken bones… etc…
Is this a blog about Greyhound adoption? Well… no… and yes. The yes part says “hell yeah”… I’ve got a cousin and a friend who have adopted greyhounds – they’re remarkably docile, loyal, quiet, are housebroken easily, and simply great, great pets.
The ‘no’ part is – there are many humans who “live the life of a greyhound” – have the key to the kennel to get the hell away – yet fail to do so. They are basically ‘kenneled’ all their lives. Partners of abusers – drug, alcohol, physical, mental, sexual and neglectful. Yuck. Patooey.
Why many stay is beyond me – but they do. Saddled with low self-esteem, they often have trouble eating, sleeping, concentrating – and distrust others. Many actually feel “it’s my fault.” Much abuse goes unreported because it would mean turning in someone they love (some/most of the time) – thus, it rarely goes reported.
In domestic abuse, for example, it normally takes an average of seven beatings before the abused seeks help. Sometimes that’s too late.
What to do? Seek help. There are shelters for temporary escape. National hotlines for Domestic (1-800-799-SAFE) and sexual abuse (1-800-656-HOPE). Seek out doctors, go to a college health center, seek out family and friends. If you’re a friend, intervene. If you know someone who is/has been abused, you could maybe even write a blog about it – and simply tell them you love them. Even after abuse has ended, sometimes folks need further therapy – and that’s cool, ok to admit.
Victor, this was a sad blog, unlike anything you’ve ever done. I agree. Please help someone who is abused. If you need a really cool pet, I highly recommend greyhounds too. Free one. Love, Victurd.
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