Time to Retire?

When an active racing greyhound no longer has the speed or their skills have diminished, the greyhound is retired and placed in adoption.

From the beginning I’ve been very concerned that SWA (as well as its previous incarnation) would fail simply due to the skill set of the main players. When attempting to mount a successful politically oriented mission, the leadership team must be prepared to ask and answer the hard questions, ready to make the hard decisions and willing to be honest and fully transparent with contributors and supporters. Many ridiculed myself and others (and I know still do) for being blunt about SWA. Diehard supporters’ usual response was "well at least they are trying/doing something" and "f*** you".

Every year at the beginning of the sports season, regardless if it is NBA, MLB, NFL or NHL, we know that certain teams just won’t make it to the playoffs for the simple reason that they just don’t have the leadership and players with the proper skill set to win. Sorry to those who have been continually offended by the honesty over the last few months, but isn't it time to stop buying into the SWA impossible dream and allow them to retire because it is my honest opinion that as long as their leadership remains the same, they are doomed to fail.

I would also like to address a comment made on Facebook by a “humane advocate protector” - SWA was not operating as the greyhound racing industry. SWA was a very limited small group with a worthy but unrealistic goal. The attempt to overturn Florida Amendment 13 in Florida was not an expertly organized and well thought out plan by the greyhound industry working as a whole.

Is it time for SWA to retire? Is it time for all those supporting them to start not only asking questions about the continued failed attempts, but demand a shakeup of leadership and question exactly how much more will be asked for in donations to fulfill their dream? I have an idea...if SWA leadership is going for the goal, their leadership should wholly fund their next phase and allow donation dollars that are in short supply in the greyhound community to assist the greyhounds being retired in record numbers due to continuing track closures, to say nothing of those greyhounds still on the farms?

Foolish Behavior.....

On this April Fool’s Day, I wonder if 70% of the citizens of Florida got fooled...played...taken advantage of...snookered by some what could be described as shady individuals. By now many of you have heard the rumors about the individual who runs the Tampa-based Big Cat Rescue and the accusations about a previous husband.

Big Cat Rescue of Tampa

For those of us that have been in the real greyhound welfare movement for years, it doesn’t surprise us in the least to see that an individual who was swept up in some shady dealings in West Virginia a few years ago is linked up with Big Cat Rescue. We in the real welfare movement have come to know and realize that all these shady organizations calling themselves advocates or rescues, seem to have connections to each other.

Greyhound "humane advocate protector" enjoying company of fellow shady characters?

Dear 70% of Florida - you got fooled.