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The Battalion
Page 3
student finds homes for canine racers
By Margaret Claughton
The Battalion
In 1990, David Mosier adopted Grey Lady, a 14-
month-old Greyhound, from a local breeder. Grey
Lady was the runt of her litter and when tried on
[hetrack, did not run nearly as fast as her siblings.
Raising dogs is a business, and businesses must
cut their losses. So what is the breeder to do when
a dog does not perform? Grey Lady was lucky -
she was adopted. Many greyhounds are not as
fortunate. If a dog does not make it to the track, or
; even if it does but begins to slow down, the breed
ers cannot afford to keep it. This leaves two choic-
' es: try to get the dog adopted or have it eutha
nized.
According to National Geographic, greyhound
racing is a billion dollar business. There are ap
proximately 59 tracks in the U.S. with over 45,000
i dogs racing on them. In Florida alone, 1 billion
dollars are wagered on greyhounds yearly. With
i such high numbers at stake, breeders cannot af-
! ford to support losing dogs.
Mosier estimates that approximately 10 percent
I of all greyhounds born make it to the track and
only half of those stay there.
1 "About every 2 years, there is almost a 100 per-
: cent turnover," Mosier said. "This means 45,000
i unwanted dogs."
Mosier is currently a junior electrical engineer
ing major at Texas A&M. He said his interest in
i greyhounds began while he was a Marine in Flori
da.
| "I watched the races at the dog tracks and
| wanted a greyhound ever since," Mosier said. "I
met Grey Lady's breeder while working in a local
’dike shop. We somehow began discussing dogs
and the rest is history."
Having discovered the position the breeders are
f in,and realizing what wonderful dogs greyhounds
are, Mosier began adopting retired greyhounds
from area breeders and placing them in suitable
domes.
Tommy Skaggs, former breeder and superin-
Jndent of the Washington on the Brazos State
ark, said, "Mosier has the dogs' best interests at
eart."
There are many others like Mosier including na
tional organizations such as Greyhound Pets of
America and Racers Recycled.
"These organizations don't just give dogs to
anyone," Skaggs said.
They, like Mosier, carefully screen prospective
owners in order to guarantee the dogs a safe and
happy home.
Not all of the greyhounds are adopted or eutha
nized, however. Many are killed by unlicensed
breeders using other methods. The National Geo
graphic special "Greyhounds; running for their
lives," shows authorities discovering many grey
hounds shot and buried in large mound graves. In
addition, several dogs were discovered starving to
death in their kennels.
In an effort to reduce the number of grey
hounds killed, the Texas Racing Commission man
dated that any greyhound breeder must have
filled out a form for each dog removed from the
track. The forms must include where the dog will
be living. This way, every dog is logged and can
not just disappear.
Jim Frey, executive director of the Texas Grey
hound Association, said, "For example, each track
in Texas has its own adoption service. Here in
Texas, we have taken several steps to get in line
with the humane aspects of the industry."
According to Frey, many track adoption ser
vices experience a 100 percent adoption rate of
their retired dogs.
"At some tracks, there is actually a waiting list
of adopters," Frey said.
Greyhounds are reportedly very agreeable ani
mals. Mosier said their sweet disposition and
mild manner make them wonderful house pets.
And since greyhounds are raised in kennels, they
prefer small spaces.
All three dogs currently living with Mosier
have their favorite niche around the house. Three-
year-old Pretty Girl prefers to lie under the kitchen
table. Akeishian, 2 years old, enjoys curling up
on the corner of Mosier's bed. Of course Grey
Lady, being Mosier's permanent pet, has staked
her claim on Mosier's lap.
Although the problem of protecting retired
greyhounds is not completely solved, the efforts of
people like David Mosier as well as the work of
national adoption services are helping to lessen its
intensity.
Kyle Burnett /The Battauon
lunior electrical engineering major David Mosier (right) is finding decent homes for some retired
greyhounds. These canines are bred to race, but only five percent ever make it to the race track. Many
breeders are left with dogs like Silverback (forefront) and are unable to provide them with a home.
r
Music H*
Shelton’s album
is solid country
Ricky Van Shelton's new release "A Bridge I Didn't Burn" is a good
mixture of pure country and brings a refreshing sound to country radio.
Lesa Ann King
The Battalion
"A Bridge I Didn't Bum"
Ricky Van Shelton
Country
Columbia
While it may not be the biggest
release in September or the album of
the year, Ricky Van Shelton's latest
release, "A Bridge I Didn't Burn," is
a good, solid mixture of pure coun
try music.
Shelton's music talks about love,
heartache and life in an honest and
wholesome way. His music has a re
freshing sound compared to much of
the over-synthesized music and
meaningless lyrics found on the ra
dio today.
The opening cut, "If They Turn
Out the Lights," takes an optimistic
look at getting through hard times.
Similar to Shelton's earlier release,
"Life's Little Ups and Down," this
new song is much more upbeat and
fun to listen to.
The classic Shelton sound comes
out in the title cut, "A Bridge I
Didn't Burn." Written by rising
country star Tracy Byrd, along with
Billy Yates and Frank Dycus, "A
Bridge" tells about a man still con
trolled by his feeling toward an old
love.
Shelton's genuine country music
often takes a special look at the sim
ple things in everyday life. One
See Shelton/Page 4
Reviews
Paying homage. . .
A Dylan tribute
By Joe Leih
The Battauon
"Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration"
Various Artists
Tribute Album
Columbia
"Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration"
double disc set leaves no doubt the great singer/songwriter
has truly touched the musical world since 1962, when he
first began his career.
Since then, Dylan has tirelessly cranked out 38 albums,
toyed with musical genres on over 500 songs and worked
with or influenced countless artists.
This new release, highlighting last year's Madison Square
Garden concert presents a throng of those influenced musi
cians (young and old) paying homage to Dylan with their
own renditions of his visionary tunes.
Stevie Wonder, one of these artists, was only a teenager in
1966 when he first recorded Dylan's classic gem "Blowin'
in the Wind." Three years later, folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary
turned it into a mainstream hit. On this album. Wonder
again performs the time honored song of peace with power
ful R&B force. A truly soulful keyboard king. Wonder
proves with his heartfelt crooning that Dylan's songs do in
deed know no boundaries, time or generation.
Neil Young (middle) and Eric Clapton (right) pay tribute to
Bob Dylan for his 3.0 years of contribution to music.
Johnny Cash, the famous man in black, is yet another of
Dylan's friends that lends his talent for the concert. Dylan
and Cash first encountered each other at the 1964 New Port
Folk Festival and have since formed a working relationship.
See Dylan/Page 4
‘90210’ plus two pseudo-actors. . .
; Calendar Girl’ stinks
By Jacqueline Ayotte
Jerry O'Connell (left), Gabriel Olds
and Jason Priestley make bad acting
an art form in "Calendar Girl."
The Battalion
"Calendar Girl"
Starring Jason Priestley and Jerry O'Connell
Directed by John Whitesell
Rated PG-13
Playing at Cinema III
Take Jason Priestley who plays Bran
don on "90210," add two more almost
30-year-old pseudo-actors to a cheesy,
predictable script and low budget pro
duction, and what do you have?
Like omigod, all the ingredients to
the sorriest film released this fall —
"Calendar Girl."
If you've seen the previews for this
film, that's about how far the plot ex
tends. It's as predictable as Shannen
Dougherty hate mail.
It's 1962 and three teenage boys from
Nevada are practically drowning in a
puddle of their own hormones. The rea
son? Like every other male human be
ing, they're head over heels infatuated
with Marilyn Monroe.
But, unlike most males, it's the bull
headed, conceited Roy (Priestley) who
believes Marilyn Monroe would go out
with him if he asked her. Stubbornly, he
drags his best friends Ned (Gabriel
Olds) and Scott (Jerry O'Connell) to his
uncle's Hollywood mansion in hopes of
finding the film goddess.
/
See 'Calendar'/Page 4