Greyhounds, Greyhound Racing, and Jobs

Savannah Johnson posted a picture the other day on a greyhound racing forum.  In her state, West Virginia, greyhound racing is, yet again, under attack. Here's her post...

"My little girl drew this today for her Daddy after going to the capital to support him & racing .it just hurts to see what it is doing to my family and so meany others."

Johnson's Daughter Drawing

The West Virginia Legislature, while probably influenced by animal rights fanatics and also casino advocates, is attacking its own people, fellow West Virginians.  Here is some of the bill's language,

“The legislature finds that legislative cutbacks in deposits to the Greyhound track purses and to the Greyhound Development Fund for workers’ compensation debt reduction, for balancing the West Virginia state budget, and for helping to safeguard the bond rating of the state of West Virginia in the 2000s were necessary and appropriate.

“The legislature finds that these cutbacks helped create a hardship on Greyhound breeding and ownership investors to produce a return on investment and recoup their investment. Accordingly, the legislature finds it is in the best interest of the state of West Virginia and the West Virginia Greyhound racing entities to cease Greyhound racing in West Virginia and to compensate the West Virginia Greyhound racing entities for the investment in West Virginia Greyhound racing.”

So, what does this really mean?  It means the greedy state has kept reducing the monies that the state awarded by way of statute to get casinos into the racetracks.  And, now, they want to shut down racing, because they are not making enough money from the dogs anymore. They want greyhound racing folks to take a "buyout".

What does this have to do with Savannah's daughter?  Savannah, her husband, and her daughter are racing greyhound folks.  Greyhound racing is, in general, made up of families, small family owned businesses, not big corporations. The corporations are the casinos & the tracks.

This put tears in my eyes. Such a smart sweet girl... I hate that kids are worried.  I find it totally abominable that a state puts small children into such a position, a position where they are worried about their daddies staying employed at jobs they love. What's going to happen to this family?  What about the dogs?  Why is the state & the anti-racing fanatics being allowed to destroy not just greyhound racing but entire families & communities???

Rider Grandchil

The WV legislature was elected by people such as Savannah & her husband. They were elected to do what is right for the people, all of the people, not just some of the people.  West Virginia legislators are neglecting to reflect upon how this is going to effect the community as a whole:  the restaurants, lodging, gas stations, etc.  The ripple effect will take them out also.  And even tho' the bill sets aside something like $37 million for the breeders, there is nothing in it for other businesses. What's going to happen to the local hotel maid when the hotels lose clientele? What about the clerk working 2 jobs, one at a convenience store, to keep his family afloat? What's he going to do when he's let go?

It's time for West Virginia legislators to pull up their big boy panties and kill this bad bill.  It hurts too many people.  It's time for them to do what is right and required by law and put the monies they've taken out back into racing.

Savannah's final comment,

"Its a shame Maggie of what these people are doing. They don't care if you have a job or work for less, as long as they make more money."

Yours in greyhounds...