Greyhound Protection Review
~ 2010 ~
January
Coventry dog track closes its doors for the last time and despite numerous rumours of potential interested parties to re-open the track – the long campaign by the local Greyhound Action branch eventually reaps dividends and Brandon’s doors remain firmly locked.
Coventry's dog racing stadium looks to have run its last race
Further to a Greyhound Action press release - the Oxford Mail publishes an article ‘End racing call after dog's death’ Neither the stadium nor the Greyhound Board of Great Britain were willing to confirm how many dogs had to be destroyed last year.
End racing call after dog's death
Following the shameful broadcast of Three Men go to Ireland which promoted greyhound racing to an international audience without any acknowledgement of its canine star - Snip Nua - having subsequently been destroyed - Greytexploitations asks the question ‘Did the BBC Callously Dismiss the Deaths of Two Greyhounds?’
Thousands of concerned viewers worldwide complained to the BBC and despite unwarranted threats of litigation to Greytexploitations - the BBC were eventually forced to admit 'The programme footage for 'Three Men Go to Ireland' shot in October had already been edited and finalised by the time we heard about the sad news of Snip. Even assuming that the BBC was aware of the fate of Snip before the programmes were broadcast, we do not feel that we needed to flag this up to viewers in programme announcements before or after the programme'
Did the BBC callously dismiss the deaths of two greyhounds?
On January 21st Greytexploitations met with the Animal Welfare Minister Jim Fitzpatrick in London to raise concerns over the failure of the Animal Welfare Act to protect racing greyhounds. Although the subsequent meeting was cancelled due to the election – during the House of Commons debate on the Greyhound Welfare Regulations Mr Fitzpatrick did acknowledge there were problems regarding "the Animal Welfare Act’s policing powers and enforcement powers" – "its practical application for animal welfare purposes in support of the greyhound regulations" and stated the act will be reviewed during the next 12 months and under its 5 year review in 2011.
Greyhound Welfare Regulations - House of Commons Debate
February
Snip Nua's death prompts an excellent article in the Irish Mail On Sunday ‘Dara’s dog starred in Three Men after she was put down’ Raising questions over the treatment of animals in the world of dog racing - a DSPCA spokesman said a broken leg is not ‘a life threatening injury’ and putting a dog down over a broken leg is tantamount to animal abuse.
Irish Mail On Sunday - Snip Nua
The 14th marked the first anniversary of Valentina’s death - a heavily pregnant greyhound whose ears had been cut off and then dumped and left to die alone. Her former owners remain unknown as do her killer(s) who still walk free amongst us today.
In Memory of Valentina
Equally as distressing – a badly neglected female greyhound found straying near Claudy Northern Ireland with wounds exposing her hip bones - finds refuge at the Rainbow Re-homing Centre. Joanne Mullan centre volunteer who also found the body of a drowned female on the banks of the river Foyle in 2008 said they were ‘very worried’ about what appears to be the growing trend of neglect of some retired greyhounds in the Londonderry district.
Brianna- Horrific Case Of Neglect
March
An excellent article written by Michele Hanson is published in the Guardian. ‘From the greyhound track to where’? highlights the decline of greyhound racing and why the industry isn't doing enough to care for the thousands of dogs who face an uncertain fate.The Guardian - From greyhound track to where?
After years of peaceful leafleting by Greyhound Action's local branch - March saw the welcomed closure of Portsmouth dog track. GA's Tony Peters said "The closure is excellent news for greyhounds as the tracks existence was responsible for the putting to death of at least 300 of these dogs every year"
Portsmouth grehound track set to close
April
The long list of fatalities continues at Belle Vue and Greyhound Action’s persistence secures wide media coverage – including an article in the Manchester Evening News. A major achievement considering the newspaper has in the past held social events in partnership with Belle Vue and continues to receive thousands of pounds advertising revenue from the track.
Manchester Evening News - 30 injured greyhounds put down at dog track
Following a public consultation the Greyhound Welfare Regulations come into force and the government choose to ignore not only 1,671 submissions in support of the Racing Dog Protection Act that advocates the abolition of betting on dogs but also the concerns of 174 MP’s who signed an Early Day Motion calling on the Government to ‘Acknowledge that the draft regulations under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 on the welfare of the 30,000 greyhounds used for racing are, following consultation, acceptable only to the gambling industry and have been conclusively rejected by over 10,000 concerned individuals and animal welfare organisations because of their inadequacies in regulation and extension to kennelling and retirement; and further calls on the Government to ensure that hon. Members are given adequate opportunity to consider the provisions of any regulation laid before the House before being asked to decide on them’
EDM - Greyhound Welfare Regulations
The Dogs Trust brand the regulations a ‘whitewash’ and are appalled that ‘the Government has decided to restrict Greyhound welfare provisions to just trackside activity – thereby condemning thousands of dogs to a life of misery and in some cases an early death’
Dog Magazine - Labour slammed by Dogs Trust
The RSPCA remains very concerned that there is no comprehensive system of regulation of greyhound racing ‘from cradle to grave’. Current regulations only cover welfare whilst at the racing track and not at kennels or elsewhere where they spend the majority of their time.
And the regulator for Local Councils continued to oppose the regulations by stating ‘It is LACORS’ view that these Regulations, including the identification requirements, will have no significant impact on the fate of retired racing greyhounds. LACORS reiterates that the Animal Welfare Act remains a discretionary function for councils.
May
Lots of media coverage in May - not only raising the profile of greyhounds as companion animals but also raising the public's awareness of the abuse and neglect they suffer at the hands of the gambling industry.
The Sheffield Star covered Tia’s event held at Cannon Hall near Barnsley
The Star - Tia Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue
The Swindon Advertiser also publish an article promoting a GLWR event
Vet Marc Abraham is the first vet of the year to speak frankly on greyhound racing and appears on ITV’s This Morning programme - unashamedly giving his opinion on greyhound racing.
Greyhound Action's awareness week goes national when Sky News runs an article ‘ Campaign To Cut Number Of Greyhound Deaths’ including excellent interviews with Annette Crosbie and Lisa Cartright of Greyhound Gap
And finally in May the GBGB’s high profile young trainer - Diane Henry – is caught on camera showing her true colours and in a fit of temper hurls a lead and grabs her dog – Ten Large Down – before spinning him round and unceremoniously dumping him on the track.
June
Sees the publication of a 10 month investigation by Greyhound Action to expose Britain’s largest greyhound breeder – Charles Pickering and those authorities whose duty is was to enforce legislation and protect these animals.
Ted Jeory of the Sunday Express helped to nationally expose the greyhound breeder for the second time in as many years.
ZigZag stud and puppy farm - suppliers to Liverpool University & the racing industry
Further to a Freedom of Information request West Lindsey District Council admit their failure to enforce breeding and planning law and Greytexploitations are currently pursuing a complaint against the council.
July
July 12th marked the fourth anniversary of the slaughter of Clash Nitro and Rent A Flyer who were caught on camera being led to their deaths by David Smith at Seaham in County Durham. Supporters from Greytexploitations laid flowers and held a minutes silence at the entrance of the smallholding where the Sunday Times estimated 10,000 greyhounds had been buried over a 15 year period.
In memory of Clash Nitro and Rent A Flyer
The Irish Daily Mail published an excellent article following a lengthy investigation into the breeding of Irish greyhounds and their exclusion from the impending Irish Dog Breeding Establishments Bill.
August
Greytexploitations contribute to an article written by journalist Nick Mays for 'Your Dogs' magazine - with an account of a greyhound called Milton - in the ‘care’ of a ‘professional’ trainer - that had sustained a traumatic injury following a botched attempt to destroy him with the use of a bolt gun.
A Licence to Kill
The Swindon Advertiser publishes an excellent article highlighting the recent death toll of greyhounds forced to perform on Swindon dog track.
Swindon Advertiser - Greyhound deaths sparks campaign
September
Sheffield trainer Stuart Mason faces an internal GBGB inquiry after his Droopys Arshavin tested positive for cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine at Wimbledon on August 3rd. Five months on - Mr Mason has not been bought before the GBGB and still continues to train and race greyhounds in his ‘care’
The Star - Greyhound given cocaine
K9 Magazine publishes Greytexploitations article called ‘Shocking Views on Greyhound Welfare Expressed by Industry Insider’ as Gordon Bissett – head of Ladbrokes Greyhound Stadia – is caught on camera delivering a speech during a conference organised by the American greyhound racing industry in March of this year. Describing greyhounds as inanimate objects Gordon Bissett said "Our concern was that the number of tracks declined, that means the numbers of breeding declined. So far, in the UK that isn’t the case. What has happened is that greyhounds have become a lot cheaper – you’ve heard of ‘buy one get one free’, well we have that with the dogs"
Dog Magazine - Shocking views on greyhound welfare expressed by industry insider
October
LUSH launch the much anticipated ‘Don’t Bet On It’ campaign in our High Streets and on the World Wide Web.
The event is a tremendous success generating much media attention – not only exposing the cruel racing industry but the campaign also gave an opportunity to introduce our gentle greyhounds to high street shoppers nationwide.
Greyhound Watch secure a brilliant opportunity on BBC Radio Nottingham to talk about their well researched article ‘Why Britain’s Greyhound Tracks are Inherently Lethal’ published on many internet sites.
The GBGB decline an invitation to debate concerns but fortunately vet Graham Oliver who specialises in dog orthopaedics steps in only to further confirm the dangers and fatal consequences of racing dogs on oval tracks.
Veterinary Graham Oliver on racing injuries
Also in October the GRA who own five tracks are featured in the Sunday Telegraph’s business section with an article ‘Greyhound business is going to the dogs’. GRA posted a loss of £4.4 million for 2009 which they attribute to a fall in sales of 13.8% and a reduction in race meetings by 14.1%. Despite the endless stream of various marketing campaigns the largest track promoter also declared a drop in attendances by 14.3%
Please click to enlarge
November
Action for Greyhounds publish their second annual Calendar and a range of Christmas cards designed by the children of a local primary school where coordinator Annie Body has given many awareness talks throughout the year.
Evening News - Abandoned greyhounds star in new charity calendar
A greyhound breeder who set up a "sophisticated" cannabis factory in disused dog kennels in West Lothian is jailed for six years.
BBC Scotland News - Greyhound breeder jailed for Lothian cannabis factory
December
Christmas comes early when the GBGB announce a huge reduction in the voluntary bookmaker’s levy that funds the industry. A fall of 23% in just 12 months reaffirms the industry’s continued decline which has seen a 50% reduction in funding in the last three years.
The failure of costly television campaigns in an attempt to stem the flow of dropping attendances has also forced the industry to reduce its Marketing budget by 48%.
However - of concern is the welfare budget and not surprisingly the industry continues its failure to take responsibility for the greyhounds that earn them millions of pounds profit as the financing of the Retired Greyhound Trust is cut by 23% and support for track vets and paddock staff slashed by 9%.
Greyhound Star - BGRF board approves 2011 budget for sport
December also sees greyhounds racing in sub zero temperatures and inches of snow.
Greyhounds are forced to run in dreadful conditions on December 3rd last year - for the bookmaker owned Sunderland track.
These images are a stark reminder of the industry’s cruel practices that serve only to protect the bookmaker’s profits and revenue for the government whilst greyhounds continue to go unprotected under the Animal Welfare Act.
It is vitally important that we continue to campaign for greater protection of the exploited greyhound and raise awareness in order that commercial greyhound racing ceases to exist.
Please click here for a list of greyhound protection groups and to read more on the valuable campaigning work they do in raising awareness - rescue and re-homing.
http://greytexploitations.com/greyhound-protection-links
Many many thanks to all those who have contributed to the greyhound protection movement or helped to rescue - re-home and rehabilitate these innocent dogs.
