September News – 2011
Track vet fails to detect a BLIND greyhound
Thursday 29th
Despite being totally blind in his left eye and only having 20% vision in his right eye – the owner – trainer and track vet failed to detect Jack Sprat’s loss of sight and raced him on what is already a highly dangerous circuit with 5 other dogs reaching speeds of up to 40 mph.
Fortunately Jack was handed over to the Dogs Trust for re-homing but only because his performance was so poor. Please click HERE for the full story.
Jack Sprat now looking for his 'forever home'
Reading Council: 'Keen' for a return of racing
Monday 26th
Greyhound Safe are calling for supporters to write to Reading Council amidst rumours they are considering plans for a new dog track.
Please click HERE for details of how you can help.
Lifford close their doors on Sunday
Thursday 22nd
Lifford dog track is to reduce its racing programme and no longer race on Sunday. This has traditionally been the main meeting of the week at Lifford which was one of the tracks developed as part of the IGB’s programme of capital development – financed from the public purse and by the Irish tax payer.
Read the industry's reaction on the GOBATA webiste
Two greyhound breeders admit animal cruelty
Wednesday 21st
Martin Carr and partner Dawn Campbell who bred greyhounds for the licensed racing industry under the ‘business’ name of Osiris Greyhounds have been banned for life from keeping animals after they admitted starving four greyhounds to death and further cruelty charges.
However – Carr still owns a racing greyhound called 'She’s All Style' - presently kennelled with Shirley Linley who supplies greyhounds to Sunderland dog track. It remains to be seen whether the GBGB will bring Carr - as an owner of a racing greyhound - before a disciplinary hearing to expel him from the industry.
She's All Style - owned by Martin Carr
Lowest number of trainers in living memory
The Racing Post reports there are now only 995 GBGB licensed trainers – compared to 1,400 in 2006. Although according to the GBGB website - 24.09.11- the official figure is only 976.
Who is there to look after them?
The same as always - greyhound rescue - rehabilitation and re-homing organisations!
Desperate times for Manchester's Belle Vue dog track
Belle Vue launch their latest promotion to get the punters through the doors – offering a package effectively worth over £10 for the loss making price of just £1!
Greyhound advocates stage protest at BBC’s Glasgow HQ
Saturday 17th
FOOTBALL pundit Pat Nevin has backed an anti-greyhound racing protest - aimed at radio pal Colin Murray - as the row over the BBC’s promotion of greyhound racing and Showme_Thebunny heats up.
Pat Nevin in support of the greyhounds
Organised by Royal Heart Greyhound Rescue – the protest receives coverage in the Scottish Sun newspaper.
Greyhound Roulette
Friday 16th
Greyhound advocate Aaron Cross has recorded and released a new soundtrack - called Greyhound Roulette – to help raise awareness of the cruel dog racing industry. You can listen to the sample of both mixes and download HERE
Aaron recently launched The Greyhound Protection League of New Zealand and has already had tremendous success in grabbing the media’s attention with a doping scandal.
Bogus vet arrested at Swindon
Peter Keniry, who had been practising under the name of a properly qualified and legitimately registered veterinary surgeon Shaun Kehoe, was arrested on 23 August and appeared in Swindon Magistrates’ Court on charges of fraud and practising veterinary surgery unlawfully. He was released on bail.
Full article HERE
Allegedly the vet practiced at Swindon dog track for over 4 years and alongside Simon Gower – who is Veterinary Director to the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
BBC in breach of copyright
Tuesday 13th
As part of a national promotion of greyhound racing and of his own racing greyhound - Showme_Thebunny - BBC radio presenter Colin Murray's colleagues illegally copied and reproduced an image belonging to Jane Jones – the proprietor of Max and Molly Designs - and used the image as an avatar on Showme_Thebunny’s Twitter page.
'Show Me The Bunny' - exculsive artwork from Max and Molly Designs
As an advocate for greyhounds – Jane donates a percentage of the profits from Max and Molly Designs to grassroots greyhound rescue – rehabilitation and re-homing groups in Scotland and therefore the use of her artwork to promote the cruel dog racing industry was not only potentially damaging to her business it was more than offensive.
Despite a number of complaints requesting the image to be removed – the logo remained firmly in place until a formal letter of complaint was delivered to the BBC’s legal department yesterday afternoon. Although the image has now been removed – a public apology has not been forthcoming.
Please support Jane and the dogs by complaining to the BBC – details HERE and browse Max and Molly’s online shop on Folksy HERE
'Max and Molly Designs'
BBC promoting greyhound racing as "A great fun night out”
Wednesday 7th
BBC Radio 5 Live’s sports presenter and fan of greyhound racing Colin Murray has taken ownership of a white and brindle 2 year old female greyhound. Named by the show’s listeners – ‘Showme Thebunny’ will run the risk of injury regularly at Sheffield’s Owlerton dog track on Friday evenings - with Colin Murray’s ‘Kicking Off’ show providing live coverage.
Please click HERE for full details and how you can help ~ thank you
BBC Radio 5 Live's Colin Murray
A new website and two Blogs
The Greyhound Protection League of New Zealand – the first campaigning group dedicated to protecting greyhounds in New Zealand are now online. They are many ways you can help in the greyhound protection movement – so please get involved in this important campaign if you live in New Zealand.
UK based Greyhound Safe offers readers ‘A voice for compassion for greyhounds and advocating an end to the racing industry and raises global greyhound issues, awareness and campaigns’ If you would like to follow Greyhound Safe – interact and post on all aspects of greyhound protection please click HERE
Co-founder of GREY2K USA - Carey Theil - writes an excellent blog on current issues of both American and International importance - aptly named Saving Greys. Please click HERE and bookmark or add yourself to the mailing list.
