The pettiness of some people.... sheesh

[radfringe]

I'm involved with a greyhound rescue organization. Every year they have a Greyhound reunion for all the families that have adopted greyhounds.

Among the activities there are contests. One of the contests is for the Oldest and Youngest Greyhound. The winners get a 'prize' (usually a toy, new collar, treats etc.) {we're not talking AKC big time PRIZE money here)

The general rules are simple: Sign up on a list for the contest you wish to enter, and show up in the "ring area" when the contest is announced.

15 minutes before a specific contest is to take place - they start announcing it on a PA system, and a volunteer walks around (like a town crier) telling people what contest is starting and where to go.

So the contest for the Youngest Greyhound starts - there are 3 contestents in the ring area. A young brindle, Bella, is determined to be the youngest. She's give a "ribbon" and a small bag of squeaky/fuzzy toys.

About 1/2 hour later - BIG CONTROVERSY. Some other owner claims HER dog is the youngest. This owner wasn't in the ring, hadn't signed up for the contest and says her dog deserves the prize. Then she has the gall to verbally attack Bella's owners....

To shut her up - they gave her a squeaky toy and a ribbon.... Yeah, I know the judges could have argued the point etc... but for pete's sake we're not talking big time prize money and commercial endorsement for the winner.

the pettiness of this just floors me....

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. Wow...what an asshat.

If you want to compete, then enter the fucking contest. Duh. Some people are so stupid.

[greguganus]

2. Nice to meet someone helping the Greyhounds

Did you see the news article of that guy in the UK that has killed over 10,000 greyhounds over the last 15 years? He works for about 40 trainers. This really pissed me off because there was not any outrage in the article. I can find a link for it if you want me to.

[Courtesy Flush]

3. What kind of contest is that?

Why not just keep records of dogs' ages and mail a ribbon to the oldest dog every year?

A "contest" implies that others have a shot at winning. Giving prizes for oldest and youngest is like saying "enter now, but the winners have already been selected".

It seems the real contest is to see whether owners can follow rules, as your story demonstrates.

[radfringe]

5. Don't know

guess it's just for the people that show up at the reunion?

I suggested to one of the organizers that next year they have a contest for the Whiniest Greyhound and Whiniest Owner... :D

[XemaSab]

10. It's for FUN

You don't know until you show up if you're going to get it.... just like every other contest.

[Nicole]

4. What a moran

I wouldn't have given her whiney ass a damn thing. That's probably why she is that way, too many people have given in to her to shut her up.

[GardeningGal]

6. The judges should have followed their own rules

She wasn't at the event so wasn't entitled to any prizes. People like that do those kinds of things because they're allowed to get away with it.

I like your idea of the whiniest owners....she'd win that one hands down.

[yellowdogintexas]

7. It is simple: when she was a kid, her mommy gave her candy

when she flung a fit in the grocery to shut her up. Then her girlfriends did what ever she wanted to play to shut her up. She married someone who did whatever she wanted to shut her up.

so she expects to get her way and if she makes enough noise she will.

I bet the poor dog poops in the exact right spot just to shut her up

[NewWaveChick1981]

8. That woman sounds like a spoiled brat.

:grr: What a whiner... If she'd played by the rules, she might have gotten the prize to begin with. Sheesh.... :eyes:

[flvegan]

9. They gave her a squeaky toy and a ribbon...you'll notice

how it seems it was given to the person, not the dog. Winner of "Most Immature" maybe.

You know what they say, one in every crowd.

BTW, thanks for being involved in grey rescue. I know many people in my area involved as well (huge number of tracks here in Florida).

[radfringe]

13. Florida dogs

Majority of the dogs we place come from Florida. Some are ex-racers, others have never raced.

we've also place greyhounds from tracks in Conneticut and elsewhere.

Our biggest obstacle is foster homes. Unless a dog is being adopted by someone who already has experience with greyhounds, they are are placed in a foster home for a month or so.

this gives the greyhound time to learn about living in a home, allows for an assessment of the greyhound and makes for a smoother transition to a forever home.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

11. Thank you for doing greyhound rescue, btw.

One of my friends just adopted one a few weeks ago and despite all he's been through, he's a wonderful dog. A little skittish, but a very nice dog.

[radfringe]

15. takes about 2 months

on the average - it takes about 2 months for a greyhound to "settle in"

living in a home environment is a big change from what they were use to -there are all sorts of things to learn, like stairs, sliding glass doors, small animals, and letting the family know when you have to "poop"

for the most part - you know your greyhound is feeling at home when they lay on their back with their legs in the air...sound asleep

[JitterbugPerfume]

12. I salute you

for your Greyhound rescue work .I hear that they are very sweet dogs.

[mike_c]

14. a terrible injustice was narrowly averted....

Whew. That was close. In the end however, this shows that the system works. I'll sleep better tonight, knowing that....

[Dangerously Amused]

16. Thank you for your work in greyhound rescue.

Maybe next year you can have an additional day-long contest. The category could be "outstanding bitch," and it would be open to both genders. Heh.