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AN animal welfare group called for a boycott of Britain’s £1.7billion greyhound racing industry last night after it found disturbing conditions at kennels run by a notorious breeder.
Greyhound Action demanded the closure of ZigZag Kennels in Dunholme, Lincolnshire, after it filmed dogs suffering with open wounds and left struggling to find food.
The kennels, which operate in what the group described as a “dilapidated barn”, are run by Charles Pickering, who was exposed two years ago for selling unwanted dogs to university dissection laboratories.
Greyhound Action filmed the kennels in February when 70 greyhounds were kept for long periods in small cages that stank of urine and faeces. On one day, the investigators said “nobody fed or visited the dogs from dawn until dusk”. One stated: “On February 21, I saw a puppy get caught through the fence and attacked by the older greyhounds.” Another dog with an injured leg was also pictured picking over rancid meat.
Mr Pickering said the dogs’ lives were “idyllic”. He said: “Our resident vet visits regularly. Any dog with a nip or cut is treated with antiseptic and given a course of antibiotics.
“As a result of complaints from anti-racing direct action groups, unannounced visits have been made on four separate occasions by different inspectors from the RSPCA. On every occasion the inspectors have reported that the condition of all the dogs and their environment was found to be of the highest order.”
Britain’s greyhound racing industry is worth £1.7billion in bets a year. About 12,000 dogs are bred for racing but most do not make the grade. The RSPCA believes 20 a day disappear.
Tony Peters, of Greyhound Action, described ZigZag Kennels as an “appalling establishment” that should be closed. He said: “We are calling on the public not to attend dog tracks or bet on greyhound racing, so this death industry fades away through lack of financial support.”
A campaign group has launched an awareness week to highlight what they say is the "huge problem" of retired racing greyhounds being put down.
Greyhound Action claims 12,000 greyhounds are put down every year and is hoping the week will persaude people to boycott the sport.
"Members of the public can help put an end to this horrific situation," Greyhound Action's Tony Peters said.
"By not attending dog tracks or betting on greyhound racing, so this appalling death-industry fades away through lack of financial support."
The fate of some retired greyhounds was exposed in 2007 when David Smith was taken to court for allegedly slaughtering and disposing of thousands of dogs in County Durham.
But some organisations feel there is still a huge problem.In Stoke-on-Trent, Lisa Cartwright from Greyhound Gap has been rescuing thousands of abandoned dogs over the last eight years.
She said the dogs she helps are often lame, suffering from racing injuries or have bad scars.
"They've got damage to ligaments, muscles, it is heartbreaking because you just want the dogs to be healthy," she said.
Self regulation was no good for MPs or bankers but fine for an industry that makes the government a lot of money.
One Foot In The Grave's Annette Crosbie attacks the restrictions
But Steve Rae from the Greyhound Racing Association said the damning figures are no longer correct and the industry has cleaned up its act.
Mr Rae, who takes in retired greyhounds from a dog track in Birmingham, said: "It's more about the tracking of the greyhounds now, there were no real records kept of what happened to greyhounds after racing before the Welfare Act.
"But now we have to record, that's why we use micro-chipping, we know how many greyhounds are racing and what happens to them at the end of their racing career."
The plight of greyhounds has attracted the support of actress Annette Crosbie, best known for her role as Mrs Meldrew in One Foot In The Grave. She wants to see an end to the industry governing itself. Crosbie said: "Self regulation was no good for MPs or bankers but fine for an industry that makes the Government a lot of money".
The RSPCA said it will never have a true picture of how many greyhounds are needlessly killed until every birth and death is recorded. Others feel an end to greyhound racing is the only way to stop their abuse.
Watch video and read original.
The Guardian: 17 March 2010
Portsmouth greyhound track may soon be closing down. The owner denies it, and says he in negotiations, but dog racing is in decline. Walthamstow and Reading stadiums have recently closed, and if Portsmouth goes too, 220 greyhounds will be in trouble and need rescuing. That's on top of the other 10,000 a year that are unfit to race – too old, injured or not up to scratch – and so thrown on the scrapheap.
Owners and trainers are meant to pay £200 for the care of each retired dog, but they're not always keen to do that, even though the industry is making squillions (bookmakers make about £2.34bn gross annual profit), and may try a cheaper disposal method. A couple of years ago, a rather unsavoury fellow in Durham had shot thousands of greyhounds in the head for £10 a pop, for licensed trainers, but he was an exception. We hope.
People working in the industry say that the dogs are happy, don't need much of a walkie, take no drugs, are well fed and looked after because they need to be healthy to race. There are good and bad owners and trainers, but as soon as you put humans, animals and money into an equation, you're going to have problems, and it's difficult to warm to an industry that dumps 10,000 dogs a year.
Campaigners for greyhound welfare suggest that the dogs are not happy cooped up in a smallish pen with another dog, and are busting to run by the time they race. They're stuffed with drugs and thrown away when their short racing life is over, aged between three and five years old. On top of that, about 15,000 puppies seem to disappear annually, because they weren't much good at racing and never even made the race track.
The lucky ones get to a regulated track (the industry regulates itself), which has its own attached re-homing centre, some good, some not. Unregulated "flapping" tracks are usually grimmer – more crowded, worse conditions, and the redundant dogs are off in a lorry to God knows where. Horrible stories abound. One independent rescue centre in the north of England has a wall of shame, listing the situations and conditions in which the hundreds of abandoned dogs were found. When I was a child in the 50s, half an Alsatian was found in the freezer of a local restaurant. Uproar. The story hit the local headlines. That was half a dog. Now we have tens of thousands of dogs disappearing and hardly anyone bats an eyelid.
Perhaps we don't want to think about it. You need a strong stomach and a will of iron to plunge into the world of greyhound rescue. The website pictures of dead and injured dogs stick in your head, along with the knowledge that people really are that cruel and greedy. Greyhound owners can be identified by tattoos in the dogs' ears. But ears can be, and are, cut off.
In Spain, the greyhound (galgo) problem is even more harrowing and massive. Galgos are used to hunt hares; they're for chasing, not racing. They're often poorly fed and kept in hovels. The season lasts from September to February and dogs are usually kept for only one season. Too stingy to keep them until the next one, the owners get rid of them in various grisly ways: hanging them from trees, throwing them down wells, mutilating and abandoning them – about 50,000 annually, so life for our greyhounds is a comparative breeze.
Luckily our refuges find homes for a few rescued galgos, and for about 5,000 of our own 10,000 surplus greyhounds a year. So why not rescue one? Go on. They make fabulous pets. They're very relaxed, almost lazy, elegant, beautiful, sensitive, serene, gentle with children, hardly bark and don't need constant attention. They may mistake a Jack Russell for a rabbit in the early days, before you've had time to retrain them, they may not be keen to come back when called. Otherwise I cannot fault them. But I can fault the owners and bookies. They need to spend a lot more on the dogs that have made them their fortunes.
Published Date: 11 May 2010
THEY might not be the stars of a famed children's story but 101 canines of a different kind came together to draw attention to a doggy plight.
Side-by-side with their human friends the animals enjoyed a day out in South Yorkshire in a bid to raise awareness of what happens to their less fortunate friends.
Tia Greyhound Rescue called for the owners of greyhounds and lurchers to take their pets to Cannon Hall near Barnsley and spread the word about the fate of the 13,000 dogs it says are found to be surplus to the racing industry's requirements each year.
It says the dogs are abandoned once they are no longer of use and often left to starve.
Yorkshire-based charity Tia rehomes more than 250 dogs a year - more than half of them from South Yorkshire which have been abandoned at rescue centres.
Volunteers say most of the dogs would be destroyed unless they stepped in to help but the charity receives no financial support from the greyhound racing industry.
There was entertainment for people and dogs at Cannon Hall and scores joined in the fun.
The fun day included a sponsored walk, treasure hunt and tombolas for humans while the animals were give their own doggie treats and allowed to take part in guided walks.
A spokesman said: "Greyhounds make wonderful pets. They are generally quiet and placid. The middle-aged and older dogs are ideal for active older owners or families.
"Contrary to popular belief these dogs don't need lots of exercise. Two 20-minute walks a day is enough."
f you live in or near the Wiltshire area and would like to get involved in a campaign to close this death-track down, please contact Greyhound Action at info@greyhoundaction.org.uk or on 01562 700 043.
August 28, 2010- Now campaign group Greyhound Action, which claims to have received the information from a sympathiser working at the stadium, is calling for the dog track to be closed. The group's UK Co-ordinator, Tony Peters, said: "We were informed of this appalling carnage by an employee at the track, who has become increasingly disturbed about the suffering and slaughter of dogs caused by the greyhound racing industry.
"He also told us that there were concerns about a recent deterioration of the racing surface at the track, which may have contributed to these tragic incidents. "Thousands of injuries to greyhounds, many of them serious, occur every year in Britain. The main reason for this is that the shape of the tracks, with fast straights leading into tight bends, creates a very dangerous environment for dogs to run in.
"In addition, hundreds of other greyhounds, bred because of the demand created by the Swindon track, are put to death as puppies or young dogs, before they even make it to the track, after being judged unsuitable for racing. "According to recent research, more than 12,000 greyhounds, bred for the British racing industry, are 'put down' every year, after failing to make the grade as racers or when their 'careers' on the tracks come to an end.
"An RSPCA report on greyhound racing has stated that 'at least 20 greyhounds a day - either puppies which do not make the track, or retired dogs aged three or four - simply disappear, presumed killed'. "Members of the public can help put an end to this horrific situation by not attending dog tracks or betting on greyhound racing, so this appalling industry fades away through lack of financial support."
A photo taken at a demonstration by local Greyhound Action supporters outside Swindon Greyhound Stadium can be viewed and downloaded at http://tinyurl.com/SwindonDemo for use, free of charge. For more information, please visit Greyhound Action's website at http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk Contact: Tony Peters on 01562 700 043 or 07703 558724.
August 28, 2010- KENT NEWS: Potential dog owners are being urged to think twice following an increase in the number of greyhounds being abandoned in Kent. The appeal comes from the Rochester-based Greyhound Rescue West of England (GRWE), which took in and rehomed 763 dogs last year, compared to 513 in 2008.
But the worrying increase in dumped lurchers – highlighted in a recent episode of Panorama – could swell that figure to as much as 1,000 this year, including greyhounds no longer wanted after their racing careers are over. Kent regional homing officer Janet Lindsay highlighted the case of a saluki cross called Suri, spotted tied to a fence outside a dog pound weeks after giving birth. Two days later a box containing her eight puppies, all of which were in an appalling state of neglect, was dumped outside a nearby veterinary surgery.
All nine animals narrowly escaped being put to sleep and were instead placed into the care of the charity. Mrs Lindsay said: “Both mum Suri and her pups are in a poor condition, suffering from sarcoptic mange which is so itchy it is causing them quite a bit of distress, leaving their skin flaky, broken and red raw. “But now with veterinary treatment and plenty of TLC, both mum and her pups are gradually recovering.”
GRWE is run entirely by volunteers. Already overwhelmed with the number of dogs in kennels and foster care, and a growing waiting list, emergencies like this put further stress on a charity that relies solely on donations from the public to carry out its rescue and re-homing work.
GRWE currently has about 80 dogs in its care, including 21 puppies. To offer a home to one of the dogs or to help the charity financially, visit www.grwe.com or call 07000 785 092. Meanwhile, the Retired Greyhound Trust is also appealing for new owners as its kennels in Meopham, near Gravesend, contain more than 40 dogs with nowhere to go. Spokesman Ivor Stocker said: “Greyhounds make fantastic pets. When they leave the track they turn from speed machines into docile couch potatoes who love to loll around and get fussed over. “All they want is a loving family or owner to look after them.” Call 01474 815273 for more information.
MONDAY, 31 MAY 2010
Likely many people shopping recently in the sleepy Suffolk town of Leiston will have spotted an advertisement in the towns pet shop window for “12 greyhounds free to good home(s).” The ad raised various comments including “what will happen to those not taken” and “how come there are twelve available all at the same time!” Scratch the surface and revealed is widespread indiscriminate homing of greyhounds and a quandary the greyhound racing industry will likely never satisfactorily address.
Every year many thousands of greyhounds never make the grade to race or have their career on the track terminated due to injury, age or simply because the dog fell short of expectations. The majority are killed but in what might best be described as a public relations exercise the regulatory body has sought to increase homing figures that just 10 years ago were pitifully low.
The Retired Greyhound Trust (RGT), funded by the racing industry, officially homed 4,725 greyhounds in 2009, a figure that represents about one quarter of greyhounds bred to meet the demand generated by British greyhound tracks. Though a marked improvement on 1,893 in 2001 the annual homing figure has increased little since 2007.
Perhaps, without a massive boost in funding, the RGT is close to the maximum figure obtainable and feedback from members of the racing fraternity would indicate an ever increasing number of trainers are homing dogs independently, essentially for two reasons: the fee or ‘donation’ requested by rescues (to cover in part costs incurred including neutering) and the waiting list that commonly prevails.
The greyhounds advertised in the above pet shop were being off-loaded by trainer Chris Mosdall, a major player at Harlow stadium. When interest was expressed in homing two of the dogs Mosdall sounded delighted. No home check would be carried out and needless to say none of the greyhounds will be neutered prior to homing.
And whilst Mosdall was led to believe I had never previously adopted a greyhound, little advice was given. More worryingly, the trainer didn’t ask any questions about my situation concerning such matters to include work, home and garden. In theory I could be living on the top floor of a block of flats or banned from keeping animals.
Mosdall, however, had the uncanny ability to tell from my voice that the dogs would be well looked after and the opportunity to get rid of one, possibly two greyhounds, quickly at zero cost is of course incidental.
Further consider that a vet may charge in the region £35 to euthanize a track dog and the attraction of advertising a greyhound ‘free to good home’ is all too apparent. Even having the animal shot is not without cost and may result in disciplinary action. And with the survival of racing increasingly dependent on professional trainers and survival for the trainers increasingly dependent on running a large number of dogs such costs are now a key business consideration.
Margins are very tight even for successful players, a point Oxford champion trainer Michael Peterson touched on in conversation last year: “The finances in this sport are piss poor. A lot of trainers are basically just covering their costs which to be honest with you I am. I am not making bundles of money, I’ve got a young family and I have eight to nine dogs here that need homing.”
The result is frequently the independent and indiscriminate homing of greyhounds. Not surprisingly, many such dogs see a quick succession of ownership and many are later found neglected, abused and abandoned.
When of no further use or value as a racing dog, Rum Gal (trained under Margaret Bailey) was not placed with a rescue but rather homed independently and seemingly off-loaded without any concern given for the animal’s future welfare and security. Months later Rum Gal was picked up as a stray on the streets of Norwich.
Tasmanian Diego was given away just 2 days after her career on the track was terminated due to injury. No doubt the trainer, Ian Brown, was elated when the prospective owner, Angela Laver, agreed also to adopt Burgoyne Bunny who had retired through injury 4 days previously. Unable to cope, Laver off-loaded both greyhounds within a couple of weeks of signing the adoption forms. Burgoyne Bunny was later found abandoned in a flat and Tasmanian Diego spent just 3 months in her next ‘forever’ home.
And two young bitches, given away by Mosdall about five months prior to the ad in Leiston pet shop window, were picked up in the Wanstead area in appalling condition. Mosdall was to remark: “The people who do that to dogs should have it done to them, that’s the way I look at it.” My view is trainers should not be allowed to home dogs independently as there is a clear conflict of interest.
Furthermore, there is arguably a breach of Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) Rules of Racing. Rule 18 covers responsibility of the owner and subsection 1, e states that when a greyhound is sold or found a home this action is to be carried out “responsibly.”
Mosdall was reported to the GBGB but is unlikely to face disciplinary action. Investigation Officer Clive Carr has previously visited Norfolk to follow up a number of similar reported breaches in the above rule but appeared more interested in those making the allegations than the allegations made and did not believe there was a case for any trainer or owner to answer.
Perhaps, as a representative of the regulatory body, this should come as no surprise. Officials no doubt appreciate the difficulties facing trainers and it suits the industry to turn a blind eye. A greyhound indiscriminately homed is still a greyhound homed and collectively the national homing figure receives a significant boost without any funding from the industry. This data can in turn be used to promote greyhound racing. The trainer wins, the industry wins and who cares about the welfare of greyhounds.
A simple amendment to Rule 18 that would help eliminate the above scandal was put to the regulatory body back in 2007 but dismissed out of hand, and whilst very evident apathy prevails so the tragedy will continue.
May 16 2010 by Neil McKay, Sunday Sun
BEING stuck in the doghouse has never been such fun . . . for caring Sonia Graham shares her home with husband Dave, seven children and seven greyhounds.
She has a further 20 in kennels at her farmhouse near Berwick upon Tweed on the Scottish borders.
Most of the animals are former racing dogs from the Brough Park greyhound track in Newcastle, some of which would have probably been destroyed if she had not taken them in.
The case of David Smith, 57, from Seaham, County Durham, who admitted killing and burying thousands of greyhounds on land near his home when he appeared in court three years ago, exposed the callous way in which greyhounds can be disposed of once their racing days are over.
The builder’s merchant was accused of killing more than 10,000 greyhounds at £10 a time after they were brought to him by trainers.
But Sonia, 42, mother to Alistair, 15, Heather, 13, Hannah, 11, Danny, nine, and foster kids Chloe, 12, and Stacy and Ross, both 10, said: “Greyhounds make wonderful pets.
“I had my first one, Libby, five years ago and fell in love with them as a breed.
“They are so adaptable and are wonderful with children, and are good travellers in a car.
“They don’t need a great deal of exercise, contrary to popular belief, but they will go on long walks if their owner enjoys walking,” said Sonia, who is originally from Cramlington, Northumberland.
As well as keeping seven greyhounds in her farmhouse, Sonia’s farm has 15 state-of-the-art kennels (accommodating a total of 30 greyhounds) all of which are heated and have raised bedding, giving the dogs maximum comfort.
The dogs also enjoy the adjacent galloping fields that allows them to play and learn to share.
Sonia says: “This is extremely important for the greyhounds’ future welfare and re-homing.”
She added: “Not enough people appreciate how affectionate and easy to manage they can be as pets. I am always looking for caring homes for the greyhounds and if any Sunday Sun readers can offer a good home I would be delighted.”
Sonia can be contacted on 07967 057759.
Portsmouth greyhound stadium (known as "Pompey" by dog racing enthusiasts) has closed and will be demolished to pave the way for housing.
Mike Hancock, MP for Portsmouth South, said: "I'm sure local residents will welcome it and see it as a positive stop in terms of some development starting to happen at the site."
The stadium had been open since 1931 and was one of the oldest in the UK.
The closure is excellent news for greyhounds, as the track's existence was responsible for the putting to death of at least 300 of these dogs every year.
Amongst those celebrating the stadium's demise will be the Southern Animal Rights Coalition (SARC), who have campaigned against greyhound racing there for over 2½ years.
March 29, 2010- Up to 200 dogs regularly raced at the Tipner track, which closed on Saturday after 79 years, but now their owners face a tough decision. Some of the hounds will be able to race at Poole Greyhound Stadium and can stay with their trainer.
But many will not make the grade. Those dogs could face being put down if they are not found a home, while some of the greyhounds in training are not suitable to be rehomed with families.
Pete Harris, who has been training greyhounds for the past 10 years at his home in Painswick Close, Paulsgrove, wants to eventually find homes for seven of his dogs. "They are being retired as they are not good enough to make the grade at Poole." Mr Harris, 61, said the last race filled him with sadness. 'I feel as sick as a pig,' he said. 'It's terrible. We're mainly concerned about the dogs and their welfare. 'I think the majority of the trainers will find homes for these dogs but we will keep our dogs anyway. 'We will keep them until something comes up.' He added: 'They enjoy it as much as we do. They run their hearts out for us.'
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To try and rehome the dogs, the Retired Greyhound Trust will be holding its annual walk on April 25. Around 85 dogs took part in last year's event, but it is expected this year will be even more popular, as Portsmouth's greyhound trainers take steps to find homes for their animals. .. Anyone interested in taking part, or giving a greyhound a new home, can call Sue on (01983) 30032 or 07933785696.
2 February 2010
Clive Ellis
It's the penultimate race of the mid-day meeting on 13 January at Hall Green greyhound track, Birmingham. As the dogs hurtle down the back straight a stomach-churning crack is heard across the stadium and Gulleen Star quickly pulls up. According to the dog's trainer Alan Bodell, the black male had "smashed his hock (left) completely in half." The trainer further ads: "You just have to put them out of their misery as quick as possible. I've been in it (greyhound racing) long enough now to know what happens, it's just not nice."
The average age for a greyhound to retire from racing is about 3 ½ years after competing in approximately 50 races. Length of career, however, varies greatly and is frequently brought to an abrupt and sometimes horrific end through injury.
It is thought as many as 1,000 greyhounds are put-to-sleep annually following injuries sustained in races and trials on British tracks. And to put that into context, the figure is more than 10 per cent of new registrations in 2009 for greyhounds to compete on tracks regulated by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB).
Bodell justifies the death of Gulleen Star by saying greyhounds are for racing and the dog was doing what he enjoyed. It's a line repeated by trainers over and over again who further justify the exploitation and abuse of greyhounds by referencing horse racing - a sport that in the state of Victoria, Australia, will see a ban on jump racing at the end of the 2010 season following the death of 'just' 20 horses over a two year period.
The extreme and unusual weather seen across much of Britain in January saw many greyhound meetings cancelled but where racing was not interrupted it was business as usual with an ever increasing number of greyhounds getting 'smashed-up'.
For Loughmore Boy race eight at Peterborough on 2 January was to be his last. The beautiful black male collided with Kangaroo Brice on the back straight putting Loughmore Boy into the fence and shattering his left foreleg. Trainer Bryn Ford said the dog was in "such distress, frothing at the mouth. it looked like he was dying of shock." The track vet quickly ended the animal's suffering out of sight of spectators watching from the restaurant and bars.
At Oxford the following day Kilkeedy Blue was PTS after breaking his right hock whilst negotiating turn one and a week later Ardera Express broke his neck after he was bumped and knocked over on the Kinsley track, again whilst negotiating turn one.
Incidents such as the two above bring into question the configuration of tracks that essentially comprise long straights leading into tight bends. Put six greyhounds into the mix and it's a recipe for disaster with numerous incidents occurring as the dogs hurtle into turn one (109 dogs recorded falling/brought down in turn one in January alone against dogs not finishing/finishing at distance (with the true figure likely many more)).
Malbay Katie survived the first corner but sadly not the second when running at Doncaster on 22 January. The steward's comment read as follows: Blk1, Ck2 (baulked 1, checked 2). In reality the blue female was brought down and her right hind leg was "ripped-off" from above the hock, according to trainer Keith Davis, who further added: "Every dog went into the corner together and she was the meat in the sandwich."
Davis, who described the accident as both "horrendous" and "freak," sounded genuinely upset when talking about the loss of Malbay Katie but was philosophical also: "Once the dogs leave the trap unfortunately they are on their own and you have to take what comes."
Many greyhounds are rightly PTS following injury but a large number are also destroyed solely on economic grounds. Indeed the GBGB conveniently provide a box for owners to tick on the 'retirement' form for precisely such an occasion (not applicable to national champions that are worth their weight in gold as breeding machines).
Another greyhound to break a hock at Hall Green in January was Glenske Sky. This dog, however, was to possibly escape the veterinarian's needle. Trainer Gerry Ballentine had the greyhound examined the following day but apparently the injury was a "big job" with "no guarantee there's going to be any results at the end of it." The small detail of which hock it was Ballentine couldn't remember and the black female was PTS on 12 January.
Hock fractures are one of the most common career ending injuries and invariably result in the animal being euthanased. Skywalker Brenda was no exception when her right hock gave way whilst competing at Poole on 15 January. The black female was just 24 months old.
And snapping a foreleg at Perry Barr, Birmingham on 24 January saw Fida Cascada join the tally of greyhounds to lose their life in the first month of racing this year, all in the name of sport, all soon forgotten. There is little room for being sentimental in greyhound racing and dogs can be replaced for a relatively modest sum of money.
In January stewards recorded greyhounds not finishing/finishing at distance 346 times - a figure covering 344 dogs. A further 93 dogs were recorded lame or 'brokedown'. How many are to race again remains to be seen. How many were PTS is impossible to say - the industry makes sure of that injuries to greyhounds (believed a five figure total annually) and greyhounds PTS following injury is the most sensitive and guarded subject within racing.
What the GBGB will tell you is in excess of quarter of a million pounds has been spent on track safety improvement projects in recent years but if feedback from trainers is anything to go by, it has had at best only a marginal impact on the frequency and nature of injuries greyhounds sustain.
Who would have thought that in Britain we have animal welfare law intended to protect animals from pain, suffering and injury.
GA Comment : Greyhound Action has issued press releases to the relevant local media about all the fatal injuries mentioned above, in the hope that this will persuade even more people not to attend or bet on greyhound racing and to try to make sure that these poor dogs have not suffered and died in vain.
A considerable amount of publicity has been obtained, which will, hopefully, hasten the demise of commercial greyhound racing, and bring the day closer when no more dogs fall victim to this evil industry.
January 30, 2010. Meet Sooty - the 50,000th retired greyhound homed by a leading dog charity. The Retired Greyhound Trust placed Sooty with the Hodgson family in Darlington.
The landmark for the chariity comes as it reveals a new face to help its fundraising campaigns - model and actress Jo-Emma Larvin. Larvin, who recently split from boxer Joe Calzaghe, is hoping to boost the profile of the charity. The Hodgson family - Dad Mike, Mum Joanna, six-year-old Poppy and cat Patrick - welcomed their first dog into the family this month. Mike Hodgson, from Darlington, said: "We have spent years contemplating getting a dog. "We researched lots of different breeds to try to find one that fits with our family and our lifestyle. We kept coming back to retired greyhounds. "They get on well with children and we have a six-year-old daughter. "They don't need huge amounts of exercise, so fit in with us having to work full-time and they get on well with cats and we have a cat."
Alison Waggott from the Hollin Hall Durham Retired Greyhound Trust said she was delighted that the 50,000th dog had come from her branch. "The 50,000th dog is a great landmark for our charity, but we must remember that this is just one greyhound and one family."
Most greyhounds are aged around three or four when they retire. This means that after their racing careers, greyhounds have around 10 years left in them and need to find homes to enjoy a happy life. Larvin said: "Dogs are the most amazing companions. They are always there for you - through the good times and the bad. They are fun, loving and they don't judge you. "The thought of hundreds of dogs across the country not having loving homes like Sonny has really inspired me to get involved with the Retired Greyhound Trust."
To find out more about the Retired Greyhound Trust, call the head office and they will put you in touch with your local branch, tel: 0844 826 8424. Or log on to www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk
January 30, 2010. THREE pups were rescued after being cruelly dumped in a Sunderland lane in the freezing cold. An elderly man spotted the puppies while out walking his own dog in the fields behind the Stackyard pub in East Herrington. The lurcher pups – two bitches and one dog – were shut up inside a cage with no shelter, food or water. They are now being cared for at Cleadon Kennels for rescue dogs.
Sarah Wilkinson, who runs the kennels, said the pups were lucky to have been spotted by the man, who then called the out-of-hours dog warden. She said: “The man was out walking his dog and said the cage wasn’t there when he set off about half an hour earlier, but was in clear view in the open field when he returned from his walk. “It is disgraceful that people can do this. It was really cold and raining – it’s not the sort of weather where you would leave puppies outside. If the man hadn’t spotted them, they could have been there for hours.”
The dogs, thought to be a greyhound and terrier cross, are recovering well from their ordeal. She said: “They are not in bad condition – they are a little on the thin side, but other than that are well and very happy little pups, they are really cute.” Sarah says she gets a lot of lurchers at the kennels because irresponsible owners breed them for hunting rabbits. She said: “In this case, I think someone has bred them to sell and then couldn’t get rid of the these three. But there is no excuse to just dump them – they could have advertised them free to a good home or left them at a rescue centre.” Sarah says the pups are between 10 and 12 weeks old and are enjoying being made a big fuss of by kennel staff. Anyone who would like to view the puppies, which are looking for loving new homes, can visit the kennels in Cleadon Lane on Mondays, Wednesday, Thursdays and Saturdays between 2pm and 4pm. For more information, telephone 529 2369.
Attendances at British greyhound tracks dropped by 3.2% during 2008, despite a costly marketing campaign by the dog racing industry, including £millions spent on TV advertising. There has also been a 14% reduction in the number of registered greyhound trainers during the past 12 months and greyhound breeding figures are continuing to fall, both in the UK and in Ireland, meaning that fewer dogs are being produced to be discarded and put to death.
Latest figures from the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA), which owns more tracks than any other promoter, recorded a 15.3% fall in attendances, together with an 11% drop in revenue, and only the sale of their Portsmouth track prevented the company from making a £2m loss.
Demos and leafleting have cut attendances at Wimbledon The GRA's 2008 annual report stated that its tracks had "experienced a shortfall in corporate bookings for both entertaining clients and Christmas parties" and punters were obviously spending less, with restaurant diners down 16,000 from 2007. At Wimbledon, the most well-known of its five tracks, the GRA has been forced, for financial reasons, to close the main stand and put a stop to Tuesday evening race meetings.
Regular leafleting sessions outside the stadium by local Greyhound Action supporters have played a big part in driving down attendances and plunging the track into ever deepening economic problems. The £100,000 win prize for the Greyhound Derby, Britain's biggest dog race, run annually at Wimbledon, has been cut by 25%, after the competition's previous sponsors, Blue Square, pulled out and new sponsors William Hill were unwilling to pay the full amount. In Scotland, Glasgow's Shawfield has become the latest of a string of greyhound stadiums to drop midweek racenights and tracks throughout Britain and Ireland have suffered financially through having to cancel racing due to the freezing weather.
Read original article ("Running for Their Lives" Jan/Feb. newsletter)
Coventry Stadium has suspended greyhound racing following an intensive campaign by local Greyhound Action supporters. This encouraging news is a big victory for Coventry Against Greyhound Exploitation (CAGE), who vowed to put an end to the track after it reopened in April 2004. Since that time CAGE have held hundreds of demos and leafletting sessions (averaging at least one a week) outside the stadium, to educate punters about the plight of the greyhounds and urge them never to go to dog racing again. Their valiant efforts helped reduce attendances at the Coventry track to such an extent that it began to suffer big financial losses and has now been forced to suspend racing.
If the suspension leads to a permanent closure of the track, this will be excellent news for greyhounds, as we estimate that its existence is responsible for the putting to death of at least 300 of these dogs every year.
Campaigners will be encouraged by the words of Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) representative, Richard Hayler, who said: “Official letters seeking basic information fundamental to the regulation of the track have been ignored and other issues reported to us are being investigated or closely monitored......in the current circumstances I cannot imagine the GBGB being in position to issue a licence to Coventry for 2010, and certainly not before the year end." This is the second big success for CAGE, who succesfully fought plans to construct another greyhound track at Coventry's rugby stadium in 2002. In fondest memory of Brian (lurcher, in foreground), a regular member of the CAGE campaign, who died recently at the age of 16 Dedicated – one of hundreds of demos outside the stadium.
Read original article ("Running for Their Lives" Jan/Feb. newsletter)
A GREYHOUND racing trainer faces jail after inflicting “terrible suffering” on nearly 30 dogs. Ian Street, 49, had 29 greyhounds confiscated when his premises were raided last April. Of those, eleven were in such a state that animal welfare charges were brought against him by Wirral Council.
Street, of Bedford Avenue, Birkenhead, leant on the dock at Wirral Magistrate’s Court as the animals’ misery was detailed yesterday. Kenneth Abraham, prosecuting, described the scene at Hillcroft Farm, Frankby Road, Frankby, where the dogs were kept.
He told the court: “A greyhound called Dancer had gingivitis and scabs on her feet. “Tex had complete hair loss on his back half and scabs on his ears. “Sal had thinning hair and redness to her skin. “The vet who examined the dogs confirmed these were all illnesses that would have been spotted by a responsible dog owner who would have sought appropriate advice.”
After Street admitted failing to protect the animals from pain, suffering, injury and disease, chairwoman of the bench Linda Tragen warned him: "It is up to you to co-operate with the probation service on a pre-sentence report which may include a community penalty or indeed custody."He was also ordered not to give away any animals he was keeping at other properties and to make them available for inspection.
Ann Downey, enforcement officer with Wirral Council environmental health team, said: "This was a particularly difficult case to investigate because of the number of animals involved and the level of suffering we witnessed. "We are pleased that the hard work that had gone into preparing and presenting the evidence has paid off with the guilty plea.
"The conditions in which these greyhounds were kept were simply not acceptable and it's clear that a number of them suffered terribly as a result of his neglect. "Mercifully all of the dogs have now fully recovered and have all found new homes as a result of the efforts of Greyhound Rescue West of England, whose hard work and assistance has been invaluable throughout."
Street's sentencing was adjourned until February 15.
OXFORD Stadium has defended its safety record after a greyhound had to be put down following a race. The stadium’s general manager spoke to the Oxford Mail after an animal rights organisation called for the dog track to be closed, following the death of a greyhound two weeks ago. Three-year-old Kilkeedy Blue suffered a broken hock joint and had to be put down following a collision with another dog at a race meeting on Saturday, January 3.
Manager Maureen Ridley said: “We were all very upset following the death of Kilkeedy Blue, but I want to reiterate it is a very rare occurrence. Like all sports, there is a level of risk involved. “Incidents like these do not happen very often and when it does it saddens everybody. “We take the dogs’ safety very seriously. We have a team of people dedicated to ensuring their welfare, including a vet who checks them before they go out to race, and when they return. “We do everything we can to ensure conditions are as safe as possible.”
Ms Ridley added: “Thousands of people come here and have a great evening. “These incidents are incredibly saddening for everybody, but do not reflect on the sport as a whole.” Neither the stadium nor the sports governing body – the Greyhound Board of Great Britain – was able to confirm how many dogs had to be put down last year.
Tony Peters, the coordinator of Greyhound Action, a pressure group which says it wants to end the "inherent cruelty" of greyhound racing, said the death of Kilkeedy Blue was the latest in a string of fatal injuries at the track – a claim denied by Ms Ridley.
He said: “We were contacted by an official who has become increasingly concerned about the welfare of racing greyhounds. He told us that four of the six greyhounds collided with each other on the first bend, causing two of them to fall. Tragically, Kilkeedy Blue, sustained a badly broken hock and a decision was made to put the dog down.
“This horrific incident has caused us to renew our call for an end to greyhound racing at Oxford Stadium.” Mr Peters claimed greyhound racing posed a number of dangers to dogs. He said: “Thousands of injuries to greyhounds, many of them serious, occur every year in Britain. The shape of the tracks, with fast straights leading into tight bends, creates a very dangerous environment for dogs to run in.” Greyhound Board spokes-man James McCreadie said: “There is a continuing downward trend in injuries, which goes hand in hand with the investment in track safety on courses across the country.” dhearn@oxfordmail.co.uk
July 10 2010: Article in the Irish Daily Mail written by Michelle Fleming of the Limerick Animal Welfare.
May 02, 2010 17:15 by Bernie Wright
We, the Association of Hunt Saboteurs (AOHS) are calling on the Irish Coursing Club to retract their claims that our group was in any way responsible for the manipulation or staged set- up of the ‘dying hare’ video contents.
We now request a retraction and immediate apology to our group regarding their accusations in a press release dated 31-3-2010. See link below.
Their accusations were carried in the Irish Times articles on 2nd, 3rd and 9th April 2010.
We ask the ICC to answer the following questions:
• Where is the proof that the video incident was set up.[as they claimed]?
• Has anyone come forward to claim the 20,000 euro?
• Why was an animal left to die at the ICC showpiece event?
We also stress that the focus should be on the ICC instead of on animal activists or film-makers .The event happened on THEIR LAND in THEIR ENCLOSURE at THEIR EVENT.
The AOHS requested a full Gardai Investigation when the video was handed in to Gardai Headquarters by us on 6thApril 2010. Preceding that date two Garda stations, Finglas and Clonmel said that no investigation was in progress.
The Department of the Environment was also supplied with the film and asked to investigate a breach of Coursing licence conditions.
Why was an animal left to die at the ICC showpiece event?
The hare recorded in the released video endured horrific suffering for the sake of somebody’s fun and entertainment. Along with thousands of other hares who are taken from their habitat in the wild, hares are stressed, mauled and killed as they are chased down by large speeding dogs at every coursing meet. Their brittle bodies are battered by plastic muzzles as the dogs try to catch them.
We now await the ICC‘s reply and apology.
Bernie Wright.
Press Officer AOHS.
0872651720
Soundbites;
• “Blooding” is where animals such as rabbits and cats are fed alive to greyhounds. It’s believed that this makes the greyhounds more competitive as the greyhounds get a taste for blood.
• The Irish Coursing Club has admitted that someone inflicted “injury and suffering” on the unfortunate hare who was forced into their so called “sport”. The ICC hoped to blame others for the actions of hare coursing but this should be seen as an admittance of guilt, albeit one made unwittingly. This is the responsibility of the ICC and hopefully they will at the very least be punished with the full ability of the law.
• All hares used as bait at Coursing events are or should be tagged. If so this hare should be accounted for?
We attach to this Press Release a more comprehensive footage of the National Hare Coursing Finals in Clonmel on the 3rd of Feb 2010.
www.vimeo.com/11314627
ICC Press Release:
www.irishcoursingclub.ie/
More Information:
www.huntsabsireland.org/
Website with video from the Swedish students who took the video:
http://www.ofhs.ltkalmar.se/t/Page.aspx?id=2656&epslang...ge=SV
Original Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTi2k6nfJSo
Related Link: http://www.vimeo.com/11314627
Link to film: WARNING: Contains distressing footage of dying hare.
The film reveals that the hares appear to escape, but die of severe injuries after the race. See scan of article. Irish Daily Mirror. This clip, filmed for the first time from BEHIND the escape hatch/enclosure, clearly shows the callous nature of Hare coursing in Ireland.
This clip was filmed by undercover activists at the Clonmel National coursing final on 3rd February 2010.The clip shows:
We have handed this film to the Minister of the Environment John Gormley to ascertain if licence rules have been breached by the ICC. He has agreed to fully investigate this if the licence conditions are breached.
Leading participants in horse racing and greyhound racing, together with major bookmakers, have signalled their support for the RISE! Rural Ireland Says Enough! Campaign.
The campaign has been formed by sixteen organisations representing hunting and gun clubs to promote and defend traditional rural sports against impending legislative threats being promoted by the Green Party.
From this week, almost two hundred bookie shops throughout the country will display posters supporting the RISE! Campaign and will stock supplies of petition sheets to allow customers to signal their support.
For more information from and about Greyhound Welfare in Ireland
Here's a story about an upcoming documentary about Friends of the Hound for Supreme Master TV that will be made in February. It's a struggle to save greyhounds from destruction, and we are trying to change public and government perception of these wonderful dogs.
For more information, contact Babette Angell; www.babetteangell.com
The Mackay greyhound track in northern Queensland was forced to close in June, due to a lack of greyhounds available for racing, poor attendances and low turnover at the Cairns track, whose president, Emma O’Connor, commented:
"When I first started in greyhounds they had racing in Mt Isa. They stopped that. They also had it in the Burdekin, Beenleigh, Parklands, Toowoomba and they’re all gone. All that seems to be happening is clubs shutting down. The industry is not moving forward in my eyes. All we’re doing is going backwards. It’s ridiculous."
Also in Queensland, the main stand at the Albion Park greyhound track had to be demolished, after engineers deemed it unsafe. The decision forced the closure of the stand's 700-seat restaurant, causing takings to drop by 50% and sponsorship dollars to be lost.
These latest blows to the state's greyhound racing industry follow last year’s closure of the Gold Coast track, to make way for a new hospital.
Greyhound Racing Victoria has shut down the track at Wangaratta, following estimates that it needed £3m in redevelopment work. Track manager Neville Tait said the closure would have a “devastating” effect on the region's greyhound racing community, who "would basically have to get out of the industry".
NORTH-EAST GROUP IS OPPOSED TO NEW WELFARE LEGISLATION
BY STACEY HORNE
Published: 19/11/2009
An Aberdeenshire group fighting to change the UK Government’s proposed racing greyhound welfare regulations will meet with their MP tomorrow.
Volunteers and workers at Methlick-based Give a Greyhound a Home are meeting Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce to discuss the proposed legislation. They believe it is not in the best interests of the animals.
The new proposals include rules such as having a vet present at all race meetings and trials, ensuring that a vet examines each greyhound before racing, and making sure that no greyhound participates in a race if a vet has deemed it unfit.
Volunteer Fiona Nicholson, who has six hounds, said the new legislation is restricted to the greyhounds’ trackside activity which is only 10% of their lives, and that the new rules are failing to regulate the 90% of racing greyhounds’ lives which they spend away from the race tracks.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs launched a consultation earlier this year to hear views about the regulations, which would be made under section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and will only be put in place in England and Wales.
Mrs Nicholson, 53, of Tulloch Croft, Ellon, said that the consultation process was flawed due to a high percentage of responses being rejected as they missed the deadline date. She said that 89% of the responses that were accepted were disagreeing with the new legislation.
Mrs Nicholson said: “We are going to ask Malcolm Bruce if he can put forward a motion to ask if the proposals can be looked at again on the basis that 78% of the responses were rejected due to deadlines, and out of the responses that were accepted 89% disagreed.
“Even with these high numbers we are still being ignored. The proposals are not in the best interests of the hounds. They are most definitely relevant in Scotland because many dogs make there way up here.
“We are asking the government to do what was originally promised – extend the regulations to address the real racing greyhound welfare issues.”
The group, along with some of their own greyhounds, will meet Mr Bruce at 3pm tomorrow at his constituency office in Inverurie. The proposed legislation will be discussed in parliament at the end of this month.
Harness racing might be thriving in Palmerston North but the same can't be said for the greyhound racing code in the Manawatu.
According to the Manawatu Harness Racing Club's vice president, Martin Wrigley the greyhound club had received an eviction notice early yesterday morning (Wednesday) from his Club. "They owed 'tens of thousands' of dollars in rent money. Despite being owed a substantial sum of money we don't hold any animosity towards the Manawatu Greyhound Racing Club people, but this is really an unfortunate decision that has been forced upon us and that's the way that we look at it," Wrigley said.
5/6/10: Manawatu greyhound racing has gone to the dogs.
All meetings at the Palmerston North track have been suspended after the committee of nine collectively resigned under a cloud of financial turmoil. Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) said race meetings had not been held since the committee pulled the plug three weeks ago. All scheduled race meetings had been transferred to Whanganui.
The club was evicted from the Pioneer Highway facility yesterday, after failing to pay rent for at least 18 months. Two independent audits concluded the club was insolvent and action had to be taken, GRNZ general manager Jim Leach told the Manawatu Standard yesterday. "Under the rules of GRNZ we are not allowed to allow clubs to race officially if they are insolvent. It's important that if they're running race meetings they should have money to pay all the costs incurred."
Palmerston North trainer Brendon Cole said it was frustrating for owners, especially those with dogs that were particularly suited to the city track. "You've got a million-dollar complex there that's just going to waste." Mr Cole, 36, has trained dogs for the past 16 years. "I've never seen a club go insolvent before in my time. I don't know whether that's bad management or what ... I've heard a lot of rumours." GRNZ cancelled the Manawatu Greyhound Racing Club's affiliation with the New Zealand Greyhound Association last Friday, Mr Leach said.
The club can appeal the disaffiliation. A sub-committee of three club members has been created and it planned to meet Mr Leach today on neutral ground in Levin. "Our primary concern is to get greyhound racing back running in the Manawatu." Mr Leach understood the committee resigned for fear of personal liability. "If they are running while they're insolvent there is certainly a strong possibility that they could be held liable. There are debts, there's no question," Mr Leach said.
Former acting club president Bill Hodgson would not disclose the amount of debt. "I'm in no position of authority now, I'm just a club member. All that I can tell you is it's a funding issue." But Mr Hodgson did say an eviction notice arrived yesterday morning from the Manawatu Harness Racing Club. He said they had until 4pm to move out. Harness vice president Martin Wrigley said the greyhound club owed "tens of thousands" in rent money. "Despite being owed a substantial sum of money we don't hold any animosity towards the Manawatu Greyhound Racing Club people, but this is really an unfortunate decision that has been forced upon us and that's the way that we look at it."
He said the demise of the greyhound club was another blow to an already struggling industry. "Like us they battle and they do rely on a very large pool of volunteers just as we do. We do hope that for the racing fraternity there is a resolution to the problem."
Swansea dog track in South Wales has closed less than two weeks after the owner, Eric Short, was fined £250 for keeping greyhounds in poor conditions.
The track's closure leaves just one greyhound stadium in Wales, where at one time there were at least half a dozen.
Greyhound Rescue Wales and five other animal welfare organisations have launched "Operation Greyhound" to find homes for greyhounds that have been discarded by their racing "owners" following the closure.
In our opinion it is disgraceful that such people are not prepared to look after their dogs for the rest of their lives, once they can no longer use them for racing.
Anyone who would like to help by offering a permanent or foster home to a Swansea greyhound should contact Greyhound Rescue Wales on 0300 0123 999 or at info@greyhoundrescuewales.co.uk
Although Swansea was one of Britain's smaller independent tracks, we estimate that its existence was nevertheless responsible for the putting to death of dozens of greyhounds every year, so its closure is a cause for celebration and another victory in the struggle for greyhound protection.
The slaughter of greyhounds in South Wales was given public attention five years ago when local greyhound executioner Andrew Gough was sentenced to six months imprisonment for the mutilation of an ex-racing dog called Rusty (see http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk/justiceForRusty.htm).
Greyhound Action's first ever demo took place at Swansea in July 1999 (see pics at http://tinyurl.com/SwanseaDemo).
From www.thisissouthwales.co.uk Llanelli Star
Thursday, November 05, 2009, 19:05
THE race is on to find new owners for dogs made homeless by the closure of Swansea's greyhound track. Six animal welfare groups have joined forces to try to help the dogs. The Fforestfach stadium will run its last race on Saturday night after
organisers failed to secure a long term-lease for the site with council bosses.
Now, animal welfare groups have launched Operation Greyhound, hoping to put the dogs in new homes.
The Dogs Trust, Greyhound Rescue Wales, Greyhound Welfare, RSPCA Cymru, RSPCA Llys Nini and Swiss Valley Greyhound Rescue are working together alongside the Swansea Greyhound Stadium and the council.
Penny Hard, from Greyhound Rescue Wales, said: "Once the Swansea track closes, there will no longer be a greyhound track in South West Wales, and many people may well decide to retire their dogs. We know that many of these owners will want to keep their dogs as pets, but not everyone will be able
to, particularly in the current economic climate.
"The six organisations involved have therefore pooled resources, as a one-off exercise, to make sure we find good homes as family pets for all the retiring greyhounds."
Race manager John Rabiotti said: "It is such a shame. It is a family run business which has been going for 40 years. "We have been trying to secure a long-term lease for the past three or four years, but have failed to agree anything with the council.
He added: "The track needs around £30,000 investment, and we would be prepared to pay that if we had a secure future, but the lease expires next September and we can't risk spending that kind of money with the chance of losing it in a year." Five dogs have already been taken into care and are being housed in Ammanford until homes can be found.
Mrs Hard said: "All potential new owners will be checked before homing to make sure they are aware of the responsibilities of dog ownership."
She added: "If anyone who raced their dog mainly at the Swansea track in the past want us to find a home for one or more of their dogs, they should get in touch.
"Operation Greyhound will not ask for any payment for the service, because our only concern is to help all those dogs who need a home."
Anyone interested in offering a home to a greyhound retiring from Swansea can contact the group. The group is also looking for foster homes who could take in one of these dogs on a temporary basis until a permanent home can be
found.
Contact 0300 0123 999, or email info@greyhoundrescuewales.co.uk
The sad saga of greyhounds seriously injured and put to death at Peterborough Stadium continued on September 30th, when 
Forest Patriot suffered a terrible fall during a race.
According to an eye witness, the 4 year old dog "was thrown over and over before crashing down on the barrier and was carried off lifeless, making no sound, but was still alive, he was taken straight in to the vets room to be put down".
See http://tinyurl.com/PeterboroughLeaflet for more info about serious injury and slaughter of dogs racing at Peterborough.
On October 19th, at Yarmouth Stadium, a 4 year old female greyhound, called Oklahoma Trail, was "put down" by the track vet after being seriously injured during a race.
The only good thing to come out of this tragic incident is that the kennels where she was kept have subsequently decided to cease training greyhounds for racing.
In addition to the serious injuries to racing dogs that occur all too frequently at stadiums like Peterborough and Yarmouth, it must also be remembered that these tracks are each responsible for the deaths of about 500 greyhounds per year, because of the demand they create for these dogs to be bred and subsequently disposed of.
