It takes a champion greyhound a shade more than 30 seconds to tear around the race track. It should take the Legislature not much longer to tear up a proposal allowing greyhound wagering at the state’s off-track betting parlors.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Marc Vigue, Democrat of Winslow, would bring greyhound racing simulcasts to Maine’s six OTB parlors. The public hearing before the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee today is expected to draw substantial opposition from animal lovers, as well it should.

Vigue says the measure would keep in Maine the roughly $600,000 Mainers now bet on the dogs at tracks in New Hampshire and Connecticut. That number becomes considerably less impressive when one considers that the state’s take, the measly 1.48 percent OTB fee going to the General Fund, would be less than $9,000.

For that not-so-princely sum, Maine would become an accomplice in an enterprise that kills (“puts to sleep” is the term used in polite company) an estimated 23,000 greyhounds each year. Most are just 2 to 3 years old, awfully young to be past one’s prime. And that offensive number would be some 16,000 higher were it not for the nationwide network of greyhound adoption groups working in behalf of animals whose only crime is that they’re not as fast as they used to be.

Maine has had such a group for six years. Maine Greyhound Placement Services in Bridgton finds homes for about 200 discarded dogs from New Hampshire tracks each year. It currently has 29 waiting in its kennel.

Six years ago, in fact, was when many Mainers thought it had been made clear they wanted nothing to do with this abusive industry. That was when Old Orchard Beach wanted to bring live greyhound racing to The Ballpark. The ensuing public outcry caused the city council to change its mind, and just a few months later the Legislature banned greyhound racing or betting in the state. Five other states — Virginia, Vermont, Idaho, Washington and even gambling-crazy Nevada — followed Maine’s lead and enacted bans of their own.

Why this issue is back is puzzling and the sponsor’s explanation is no help. Vigue says adding greyhound betting to the OTB menu would boost Maine’s harness racing industry, but adds he is opposed to actually holding the races in Maine because that would harm Maine’s harness racing industry.

There may be some logic in there, but it simply isn’t worth the Legislature’s time to find it. This bill is one puppy that should be put to sleep. Fast.