Trust who???

Should you ever trust anything a convicted child molester says? Or should you follow the statements of an individual who must register for life as a sex offender?

On September 16 2014, a convicted child molester with LIFETIME sex offender registration who runs family friendly events in the greyhound adoption community sent out an email blast for an event this individual runs that contained the following statement:  

Fast forward to 2016. To an event run by a convicted child molester with LIFETIME sex offender registration who put up two of those previously self-proclaimed tents that won’t go anywhere in the event of wind or rain tents for vendor shopping. Apparently like those who called the Titanic unsinkable, the individual was tempting fate. Fate can be cruel. When put up against the elements, the tents blew down. So despite that 2014 vow to vendors and attendees by a convicted child molester with LIFETIME sex offender registration that any tent he erects would not blow down, blow down they did. It is unfortunate that vendors may have lost or damages stock and displays due to their faith in such promises yet I do have to question the wisdom of the individual who puts up tents for an event when under a previous organizer always vending tents and weather conditions were always an issue, especially in 2006 when their tents blew down. 

Do some individuals pay no attention to the past?

Do repeat offenders ever learn?

It's not always all about the greyhounds...

Many of us for many years have been involved with the placing ex-racing greyhounds into loving homes. Every year people looking to adopt a pet choose ex-racing greyhounds and every year the ranks of adoption volunteers grows.  As a whole, greyhound adoption will be perceived not by how many greyhounds we place, but on whom we follow and who we allow to be present, admired or supported in our family friendly greyhound community. What we do, what we have done, what we allow lays the groundwork for what the next generation of greyhound lovers accept as gospel. An oft quoted phraseology "My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am" is tempered with another – “Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful”.

Does an individual's involvement with greyhounds or greyhound adoption make the unacceptable acceptable? 

Let's say a sports figure who was involved in dog fighting became involved with greyhound adoption. Would the greyhound community put their blinders on and welcome this person with open arms? If some point in the future, say 25 or 30 years, a person who was convicted of animal abuse and or animal assault adopts a greyhound, will the greyhound community toss its collective hands in the air and with a shake of the head claim it is not an issue as the crime that a conviction resulted from happened so long ago? Or even worse, a nonchalant "hey it wasn't MY dog so I don't care"?

Yet there are members of the here & now greyhound community sending a distressing message to the world at large - don't abuse animals, but if you molest children it's no big deal.

What other explanation can there be for a convicted child molester who currently has lifetime sex offender registration to be admired and supported and embraced by those in the greyhound community?

This individual's presence leaves a bad impression on the greyhound community, especially as more and more families (and by that I mean with children ranging in age from newborn to 18) are welcoming greyhounds into their homes.  Registering, attending, vending at any event that is associated in any way with such an individual gives credence to the community that we as a whole could care less about children, women and victims of sexual assault and only care about the greyhounds. Continuing on in such a way in our community may well have a negative impact on the greyhounds.

Some may say this is political mudslinging. I call shenanigans on that. It is simply about good judgement and what is in the best interest not only for our greyhounds but for the humans that share their lives with greyhounds. 

I get contacted almost daily from victims in our community. If you think it is ok to continue to support a convicted child molester with lifetime sex offender by registration, attending, vending or paying registration fees (whether you attend or not) at one of this individual's events, think about this - you have most likely offended a dear friend or adoption associate in the greyhound community by showing support for a child molester and opened up very traumatic wounds or triggered flashbacks with your declarations of an event that happened years ago is not important today. 

Tomorrow I will share an open letter from an individual who is a victim of sexual assault that was posted on social media a few weeks ago. I was granted permission to share it and feel it is too important, too powerful and extremely insightful not to stand on its own. The pain sexual assault victims go through each and every day should be more than enough to make us all say – No more! I will not register, attend functions nor vend at any event sponsored by or coordinated by an individual who has lifetime sex offender registration resulting from a conviction of first degree sexual molestation of innocent children.

The character of our adoption programs, our events, and our vendors reflects on the whole. If just one member continues to support a person who has a requirement to register for life as a sex offender due to the sexual assault of children it will negatively impact our community thus impacting the greyhounds.

Some profess the mantra “it's all about the greyhounds” but for some who hide behind that phrase, it is not about the greyhounds at all.

Excuse #1 - They have paid their debt to society.

Many in the greyhound community say that a convicted child molester with lifetime sex offender registration has paid their debt to society and the individual's molestation of two innocent children was a long time ago. 

Actually the individual is still paying on that debt to society in the form of being required by law to register for life as a lifetime sex offender due to the sexual assault of two innocent children. And while not all child molesters are required to register for life, it is only those who commit the most serious assaults and who experts in the judicial system, law enforcement and child protective services believe to be a lifetime risk. If an individual is required to register for life as a sex offender, why are there some in the greyhound community who feel this is nothing to worry about?

Will board of directors of organizations, and in particular a board on which such an individual sits and who have personal responsibility for this individual, be warning all attendees and hosting establishments of such an individual's presence so that all attendees and hosting establishments at such events are given full disclosure, much the same as communities do when a registered sex offender moves into a city or town, in order to make attendees and local residents in the area aware of the liabilities and risks?

The excuse is moot. A debt to society is still owed and the community has a valid and existing reason to know about an individual that may be standing beside them and their families at family friendly greyhound events.

***If you liked this blog, you may want to also read this entry.***

http://rorygoree.blogspot.com/2016/04/before-you-hit-enter-key.html

Excuse #1 - They have paid their debt to society.

Many in the greyhound community say that a convicted child molester with lifetime sex offender registration has paid their debt to society and the individual's molestation of two innocent children was a long time ago. 

Actually the individual is still paying on that debt to society in the form of being required by law to register for life as a lifetime sex offender due to the sexual assault of two innocent children. And while not all child molesters are required to register for life, it is only those who commit the most serious assaults and who experts in the judicial system, law enforcement and child protective services believe to be a lifetime risk. If an individual is required to register for life as a sex offender, why are there some in the greyhound community who feel this is nothing to worry about?

Will board of directors of organizations, and in particular a board on which such an individual sits and who have personal responsibility for this individual, be warning all attendees and hosting establishments of such an individual's presence so that all attendees and hosting establishments at such events are given full disclosure, much the same as communities do when a registered sex offender moves into a city or town, in order to make attendees and local residents in the area aware of the liabilities and risks?

The excuse is moot. A debt to society is still owed and the community has a valid and existing reason to know about an individual that may be standing beside them and their families at family friendly greyhound events.

***If you liked this blog, you may want to also read this entry.***

http://rorygoree.blogspot.com/2016/04/before-you-hit-enter-key.html

Second Chance or Ounce of Prevention……..

Why do we give our greyhounds heartworm medications? We do so to prevent them from getting heartworm and risking their health.

Why do we keep our greyhounds on leash? We do so to prevent our greyhounds from getting away and running into harm.

I recently heard an individual remark that a child molester who must register as a sex offender for life due to the conviction of molesting two innocent children should be given a "second chance". 

Which raised the question - shouldn’t potential future victims be given an "ounce of prevention"? 

The individual runs greyhound events that have minors present. (Please do not doubt this fact as there are photos that clearly show children at events this individual runs and also attends) A child molester who while out on bail molests a second child does not appear to be a trustworthy individual, and a child molester who when one reads the court and parole records is acting and conducting himself in same manners he did when he was caught is not someone to trust!

Would you trust and give a second chance to a significant other who molested your child?

Would you trust a neighbor who molested your child?

Would you trust a sport team coach who molested your child?

Would you trust a teacher who molested children?

Wouldn't you wonder how many children may have been molested but were too fearful to come forward?

Would you willingly allow your child or your wife or your girlfriend to be offered a ride by a convicted child molester with lifetime sex offender registration? Perhaps you did not know of the sex crimes done by an individual however now that you do know, is a ride with such an individual really worth it? There have already been two recorded strikes. How many second chances are you willing to give?

Is your adoption program ready and willing to give a convicted child molester with lifetime sex offender registration a second chance in exchange for a monetary donation that is given only if you work...excuse me, volunteer to work at an event run by such an individual? The care and placement of ex-racing greyhounds is of utmost importance to me as it should be to all in the greyhound adoption community however exactly what are you willing to turn a blind eye to in order to receive a donation?

You say give the individual a second chance but tell me what do you say to children who have been raped, who have been molested, who have endured a childhood of hell due to sexual assault? You say people change but if you knew nothing of the individual previously how can you honestly say such a person has changed when you know nothing about them? You say that was a long time ago, yet are you sure? You preach that anyone who adopts a greyhound must be a good person.  Do you also feel that someone who is aroused by children is a good person?

Just as we give our greyhounds an ounce of prevention, the children and women of our community deserve the same. Those whose lives have been forever altered by sexual assault never get a second chance at innocence. 

So whats it going to be?

Mirror Mirror.........

A few weeks ago I had the privilege to discuss greyhound adoption efforts with adoption officers from another country.  It was a privilege to convey to them my experience of running local adoption programs and also a National organization for 17 years then top it off with my current views/experience as a regulator.
Watching the first storm of the monsoon season roll through the Valley of the Sun I thought about my discussion with them regarding home visits and how that came about. We hear the term often in greyhound adoption but many may not realize how it came to be.

Years ago a person adopted a couple of greyhounds.  This was back in the day when we tried to move as many as we could; we knew we couldn’t get them all. The group that adopted these greyhounds out happened to be in the neighborhood of the adopter and thought, hey let’s stop in and see how the greyhounds are adapting.  As it turns out the address was bogus and with a little further investigation it was found out that the adopter just acquired the greyhounds so they could sell them for research.

The term “home visit” was from that point on a term that would live forever within the greyhound community. It started out as a way to protect the greyhounds and grew into a tool to help determine the suitability of a home and match the right greyhound for the home.

Over the years the community has grown and done many things to protect the greyhounds, but one item is severely lacking – the checks on ourselves.

We’ve concentrated so much on the greyhounds that we forgot to look in the mirror. We automatically accept an individual with an adopted greyhound as a good person without knowing anything about them. We "know" them from reading about them on the internet or they are our "friends" because they are in some way a part of the greyhound community. Yet they are also convicted rapists or convicted child molesters or have life time sex offender registration. If we had paid just as much attention to ourselves as we do potential adopters these disgusting individuals would have not been able to weasel themselves into our community and use the good will of our community to prop themselves up and solicit praise. Committing serious and heinous crimes against women and children is not the norm and should never be brushed under the carpet in exchange for having adopted a greyhound.

Something to consider - if during a home check it was found out that the adopter was a convicted child molester or someone with lifetime sex offender registration, would you place a greyhound with such an individual, knowing the percentage and likelihood that such types assault animals? If you said no, would you also continue to welcome and condone such individual’s participation in our family friendly community being next to children, women and yes even be near our dogs? Over the years many have found fault with the greyhound racing industry and with some of the individuals involved with it, but do you even think for once a convicted child molester would easily get a license to train greyhounds or operate a kennel having to go thru state background checks and licensing procedures?

It is time the community takes a look in the mirror and gets serious about ourselves the same we do about potential adopters.

Yesterday was Mother’s Day

Today is just another day.

Every day a mother’s child is a victim of sexual assault. Communities notify their residents when a sexual predator is in the area. National databases do their best to contain information about individuals who are registered sex offenders. Yet there could be a child molester who has lifetime sex offender registration within 50 feet of your child ~ at a family-friendly event, at a church, at a national park. People around you may already know and do not bat an eye as they feel if the pedophile has done their time there is no concern and feel no need to share the information because they feel your children are not at risk. Yet what mother is will knowingly allow their child to stand next to a pedophile, a convicted child molester, a lifetime registered sex offender? What mother would not be mortified to learn that the past of a convicted child molester was kept hush-hush by friends just so the party could go on?

Imagine how wonderful Mother’s Day would be if every mother knew that every child would never be the victim of sexual assault?

April is Greyhound Adoption Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Those of us in the greyhound community know that April is Greyhound Adoption Month, but many may not realize April is also Child Abuse Prevention Month (in addition to Sexual Assault Awareness Month).

Wouldn’t it be nice if along with showcasing our greyhounds we also stood up and rid our greyhound community of a convicted child molester with lifetime sex offender registration that lurks amongst us?

This individual who is looked upon by some as a person of importance and influence was arrested for molesting children ages 5 and 7, making them eat candy off his penis and doing things that caused vaginal bleeding.

The individual who did this to innocent children now calls the crimes rumor and innuendo in an effort to continue to run family friendly greyhound events. Many know the truth and have vowed never to attend any event he runs/charges registration fees for. It astounds me that the individual has supporters who parrot the lies. Is it for the donations and perks the individual offers the supporters? Do the supporters see nothing wrong with a convicted child molester with lifetime sex offender registration in close proximity to children?

I feel the time has come for all events to state if they are associated with or have zero association with the individual and if the the individual will or will not be at the event festivities. Why does a faction of the greyhound community turn a blind eye? Sadly, often time’s society fails to support the survivors and instead defend the abusers and minimize their actions.

I would hope that during this month the greyhound community stands up and demand that the actions of this individual are no longer trivialized or justified and insist the individual step away from greyhound related activities. We need to show those in our community, potential adopters and the towns that welcome greyhound events and attendees that we do not condone such actions against children and will do what is needed to provide safe, friendly events for our greyhound community.

The following excerpt is from “Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists, & Other Sex Offenders” by Anna Salter Ph.D. from interviews with convicted molesters & rapists on how predators groom a family:

“When a person like myself wants to obtain access to a child, you don’t just go up and get the child and sexually molest the child. There’s a process of obtaining the child’s friendship and, in my case also obtaining the family’s friendship and their trust. When you get their trust, that’s when the child becomes vulnerable and you can molest the child…”

Think about this - a person claims to be donating money & time to greyhound adoption, galgo adoption, dog hauls and running family friendly greyhound events could be someone that many would easily fall prey to because many falsely equate working with greyhounds as a saintly calling and could view an individual as important, as trustworthy, as a good person then...bam...the unthinkable could happen.

As we take the month of April to showcase the joy of greyhound adoption let us also show solidarity against child abuse. Let’s say goodbye to the one who is trying so desperately to build up trust with our families but is not facing the truth.

TBT – as greyhound event season gets ready to kick into high gear let us not forget we have a “stain” that still needs to be washed away!

http://rorygoree.blogspot.com/2015/11/an-open-letter-to-greyhound-suckers.html

Adoption Contracts - Time for a legal review.........

A bit of background info for today’s blog:

A chapter of Greyhound Pets of America who is currently being harassed and being subjected to social media character assassination by an adopter who has no compunction about ignoring one of the basic rules of greyhound adoption - keep on lead in an unenclosed area - but also common sense of pet ownership - keeping a collar with identification on your dog and having your dog micro chipped. The most difficult thing to understand is why this individual failed to contact the adoption group any of the times his dog got loose and went missing. Yet because the adoption group felt the need to take possession of the dog after its last escape, this adopter is mounting an all-out assault on the GPA-Chapter and its membership, other GPA chapters as well as GPA National all because this adopter failed to follows the rules in the adoption agreement that he willingly signed. And while the greyhound has been returned to this adopter, the hateful attacks have not stopped by the adopter and his supporters who also do not seem to understand the correct care of an ex-racing greyhound so much so that one supporter feels that all the greyhounds shown on Facebook's Greyhound Amber Alert may well be greyhounds that have been stolen from adopters by the greyhound adoption groups.

Time for a legal review……

Several years ago an adopter got arrested and spent some quality time in jail. Upon entering jail this adopter turned over her greyhound to a local shelter. The greyhound adoption program that originally adopted the greyhound to her was able to retrieve the greyhound from the shelter. Upon exiting jail the adopter wanted her greyhound back and sued. I was named in the lawsuit, as at the time I was Greyhound Pets of America’s National President. I had no problem getting myself removed from the lawsuit, thanks to some excellent counsel, but it still required me spending time to show up for court appearances and also legal fees.

The eventual outcome of the case was not what I expected. After all, the group had a signed adoption agreement with the adopter. The court ended up ruling in the jailbirds favor.

We all love our greyhounds, and greyhound adoption volunteers want to do what’s best for the greyhounds. Often times that love can lead to rash decisions that later cause legal headaches.

Now would be a good time for every adoption program to have counsel review documents, and then discussions on how to enforce said documents. Trust me, it is a lot cheaper to discuss with counsel now, than to have counsel try and right the wrongs at the end. It is also safer for the greyhounds if you are using approved legal documents with knowledge of how to enforce those documents.

If I was still on the front lines of greyhound adoption, the lessons I’ve learned in year’s past would have me letting counsel do all the communicating with a problem adopter that is violating the adoption agreement. Of course that would only be after I had counsel review all contracts and advice group on how it can or can’t be enforced.

Every day we have lessons to learn and if we do not take the time to learn from them, we are not doing what we envisioned to do for the greyhounds.

Many moons ago in simpler time’s greyhound adoption were fairly easy for both group and adopter. Yet even back then the best of intentions was not enough as one group learned a very hard lesson. An adoption rep decided to stop by and visit with an adopter and to their horror discovered the address on the adoption application was bogus. A few greyhounds had disappeared and their whereabouts unknown. It has been speculated that the person was getting greyhounds to sell to research facilities.

The group established safeguards to prevent such incidents in the future and out of those changes came the home visit. Today we have many other tools available that at that time were not available to check on an adopter’s claim of address. Be not mad at failure. Be mad if you fail to learn from the failure and make a difference going forward.

We owe it to the greyhounds to do it right so I encourage all groups to have that discussion with counsel before it’s too late for a greyhound or you end up racking up some serious unwanted legal bills that would crush the financial stability of your adoption program.

I think probably the most important forum that should be held at every adoption event should be guidelines for doing it right for our greyhounds here at home. As each year many, many ex-racing greyhounds are in need of being placed in forever homes this is, in my opinion, far more important that hearing about the fate of the galgos in other countries which seems to be dominating focus of greyhound events. Yes, the galgos plight is not a happy one but right now in the United States not only is their greyhound waiting for homes but also thousands of pets in animal shelters and puppy mills who need our attention and assistance.

The greyhound community has some great legal minds as well as many who have lead their adoption groups through successful legal encounters and I'm sure they would be more than willing to participate in forums to help the greyhound community do it right. We owe it not only to our past, present and future greyhound but to the unpaid and unsung volunteers across the country who do the right thing each and every day so that you can adopt an ex-racing greyhound.

An open letter to the greyhound “suckers”

Dear supporters and defenders of a convicted child molester with lifetime sexual registration who declares their "job" as an event coordinator -

Did you know that the greyhound community has many members who themselves are victims of molestation? Did you know that many members of the greyhound community have family members and or friends who are victims of child molestation? Did you know supporting and defending a convicted child molester reflects not only on you but the group you represent and or your business? Did you realize by defending a convicted child molester you are smacking hundreds of volunteers, donors, adopters, and customers in the face?

The People of The United Methodist Church, overseers of a church site where a recent greyhound event was held, have the following statement about convicted child molesters on their website:

“Recent studies suggest a low likelihood that pedophiles can or will change. Without extensive professional treatment, virtually all child sexual offenders will re-offend. Repentance, prayer, and pastoral support, always in combination with lifelong professional treatment, can be crucial in helping to change behavior but, in themselves, offer slim hope of changing the behavior of perpetrators.”

For those of you who are defending a convicted child molester, did you know the greyhound community has several donors, adopters, volunteers and shoppers who have children? Can the supporters of a convicted child molester (and honestly, everyone knows who you are) beyond a shadow of doubt say that even if a convicted child molester is watched that they are not getting aroused when seeing the child or children of one of our donors, adopters, volunteers and shoppers?

Do you support a convicted child molester because they have asked you to “suck” it by giving you money or offering free perks at events or even sending you presents?  Who cannot find crimes against a child disgusting? Who would knowingly be socialize with a individual who  entered the room where a victim was sleeping, pulled her legs apart and rubbed their penis on the victim’s vaginal area. They then turned the victim over and did the same thing on the victim’s anal area and also inserted fingers in the victim’s vagina. A medical exam revealed a vaginal tear. The victim also indicated that the convicted child molester put “treats” on their penis and told the victim to suck it. Who would knowingly socialize with or welcome with open arms a convicted child molester at a family friendly greyhound event who did this to young girl(s) and very possibly still getting aroused when around young girls?

A convicted child molester has now ingratiated themselves in the greyhound community and wants you to “suck” it by defending him and saying no big deal or blaming others for this mess.

By your continued backing, embracing, idolization and happily taking the perks offered you are condoning and empowering a convicted molester with lifetime sexual registration. Are you proud of being viewed as a sucker?

The greyhound community as a whole needs to do the right thing and deny a convicted child molester the ability to have greyhound volunteers to “suck” it but more importantly the greyhound community needs to deny a convicted child molester the ability and opportunity to get aroused by the children in our community or in the host communities of greyhound events.

Contrary to what the supporters of a convicted child molester are spreading I’m not the one who started this. I am the one who a concerned and frightened individual came to and expressed outrage about a convicted child molester because they had done something that made this individual feel creepy and now scared. I promised this person I would assist in helping those wise enough to realize the harm a convicted child molester has done to children and the damage that will be done to the greyhound community if a convicted child molester is allowed to participate and have free reign at family friendly greyhound events so trying to paint me as a liar and gossip will not change my mind. 

What the greyhound community allows will continue. Your silence is your acceptance of a convicted child molester with lifetime sexual registration. It is up to you to ensure that he is not welcomed running or participating at any greyhound event or volunteering with any greyhound adoption program. 

That should be our promise to the victims and parents and children of the greyhound community.

Will you step up or just continue to be a “sucker”?

FYI - I've not forgotten about the "humane advocate protectors" and one should note they've been very silent on this issue - could it be they are also "sucker" - stay tuned.

Who Do You Trust?

Who Do You Trust?

Since August I and many others have been made aware that a convicted child molester with lifetime registration as a sex offender is masquerading as a greyhound supporter, using the dogs and other people’s money to build up support. This individual committed acts of first degree sexual assault, not one but 6 counts on a 5 year old girl and a 7 year old while out on bail. Apparently not even the State could trust this individual to keep to himself while out on bail - why should we? This individual "owns" greyhound events that are attended by families that often include children and grandchildren and these events are in towns and locations where children can be and are present. Records indicate that this individual claims to be associated with many adoption groups and organizations in various states in a variety of capacities. Are these adoption groups and organizations aware that many areas have laws against convicted child molesters volunteering for or with anything?

There are those in the greyhound adoption community who have cried foul regarding the fact that concerned attendees of a recent greyhound event as well as local residents contacted the "official" site of a recent greyhound event to question the liability and voice concerns about having a convicted child molester at a location with a nursery/child care center, a Safe Sanctuary designation and a children's skate park. Why is it frowned upon by some when legal counsel strongly advised calls of notification and concern be placed? Yet there are those in the greyhound community who did not make calls, yet receive communications of intimidation. Does the assault on women continue in a different form?

While a percentage of the greyhound adoption community continues to embrace a convicted child molester, I wonder if they would do the same if a convicted child molester with lifetime registration moved next door to them or a family member. Have any of these individuals who would vouch for the safety of any child in the vicinity of a convicted child molester attended a community seminar offered by the department of corrections which offers instructions and addresses concerns to residents when a sexual predator moves into an area? These community seminars advise that a convicted child molester never be trusted near or allowed in the vicinity of children. One thing the department of correction does not say is that a convicted child molester is safe and the crimes against children are negated because a convicted child molester does volunteer work with greyhounds. But color me stupid as I guess the sages of the greyhound world know far more than professionals who deal with rapists, pedophiles and child molestation every day.

For those who continue to support the actions and behavior of a convicted child molester do you also support the social media declarations of such an individual stating that they would not be attending a recent greyhound event yet they did indeed attend? Would this be considered a lie to most people or because this is said in the greyhound adoption community lies are acceptable because an individual is involved with greyhounds? Before you answer do you also know that they made a declaration asking if we really expected "me to not show up?" Why yes, we really did. Or are we to gather that this is one lie in a sea of questionable behavior directed at the greyhound adoption community? 

I saw a number of children at the recent greyhound event. Who among the supporters of a convicted child molester are willing to possibly sacrifice the innocence of another child? Why are those that know the truth and facts about this individual being directed/advised to tone it down, to ignore the risk, to forget the past crimes but perhaps most of all that those who embrace, support and look up to a convicted child molester in the greyhound community not understand that this individual be the one to step away for the greater good of the dogs that we love.

I and many others will not waiver because the safety of children is just as important to us as the safety of our greyhounds.

Shipmate

A few days ago someone asked me why I was such good friends with a particular individual. I responded that the particular individual is a shipmate.

Shipmates understand that while we may not be close, we may not be best of friends, we understand that we are a brotherhood/sisterhood of individuals who have come together for a common purpose/goal. We understand that we will support each other, and if we must, take over and continue the mission. We have a bond that even our darkest enemies can’t break.

Shipmates know that it’s not about the individual; it’s about a team working together to accomplish the mission. Shipmates know that change of command will take place.  Shipmates know that if one person is holding the team back we must either work to bring them up to speed or cut them loose.

I struggle with knowing the greyhound community is willing to prop up an individual who committed first degree sexual assault crimes against two young girls.

Some in the community insist the individual has paid their debt to society. That term is hogwash. It only means the person served time in jail/prison.  The two young girls, ages 5 and 7 at the time of the molestation, will always be victims until they draw their last breath. They will never be able to remove “victim” from their life. Their life has been forever damaged and the memories of being violated will never wash away. Should the perpetrator be allowed to wash their name clean of the label of “convicted child molester” when the victims will forever be haunted by the violations done to them?

It is time for the greyhound community to be a shipmate and cut loose those whose crimes will bring harm. It is time for the greyhound community to be a shipmate and stop placing those with a criminal past in positions of trust. It is time for the greyhound community to be a shipmate and no longer be enablers.

Perhaps it is time to reflect and ask yourself what type of misconduct was done and to whom that caused others in the greyhound community and outside the greyhound community to dig deeper into the past of an individual.

Perhaps it is time to reflect and ask yourself what you are willing to risk by swearing your support of a convicted child molester you honestly know nothing about.

Perhaps it is time to reflect and ask yourself is it right for an individual to use greyhounds as a prop to wash away their sins.

The only damage that will come to the greyhound community is damage from accepting and celebrating individuals such as this. The damage can be controlled by removing the sore from our community. Those that make the choice to stand by and with these individuals are enabling them to classify their crimes as irrelevant and render the innocent victims trivial and inconsequential.

To those young girls and to those who have received veiled threats or experienced misconduct and felt the need to dig a little deeper– I will be your shipmate!

Does acceptance provide the next victim?

My passion is animals and in particular greyhounds. I care that all involved in the care and placement of racing and ex-racing greyhounds always do what is right and in the best interest of the greyhound. 

I am not a parent or grandparent however I am disgusted to the core by any acts of violence done to an innocent child. 

Any person who would prey on the most vulnerable is truly disturbed and many of you may feel the same way.  Any person that molests children, robbing them of their innocence, is not a person I wish to associate with either in my personal life or in the family oriented greyhound adoption community and many of you may feel the same way.

Did you know that convicted child molesters are not allowed to use Facebook? Now I'm sure someone who would sexually degrade an innocent child would no doubt change the name of their account or lock it down if they felt they might be exposed or perhaps have enablers make posts for them.  What if such an individual, a convicted child molester, was a part of the greyhound adoption community, perhaps being involved with national family friendly greyhound events that you, your greyhounds and your children or grandchildren attend? Do you feel this is an acceptable situation?

We need to not only do the right thing for our greyhounds but also for the children and grandchildren who will be the adopters of future generations of greyhounds.