The GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) must act NOW to stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks.

Numerous clubs (including junior clubs) have held fundraisers at tracks - gambling venues where dogs suffer injuries and die.

Given revelations about gambling addiction problems among GAA players, it is entirely inappropriate and irresponsible for GAA clubs to choose gambling venues as fundraising locations. Allowing clubs to expose players to a gambling environment is at odds with the GAA's stated concerns about the growing problem of gambling and it undermines efforts to educate players about gambling addiction.

The GAA should also consider the fact that the greyhound industry is inherently cruel and that those attending fundraisers at tracks may witness injured dogs writhing in agony and crying out in pain. At races around Ireland in the past eleven years, at least 3,696 greyhounds suffered injuries and 1,396 were killed.

The horrors of greyhound racing were exposed in the award-winning “RTE Investigates: Greyhounds running for their lives” documentary. This revealed that thousands of greyhounds are killed behind the scenes every year simply because they are not fast enough. It included disturbing footage of dogs being delivered to a knackery where they were shot in the head and dumped in a skip. One shot dog was seen writhing on the ground in agony as his merciless owner drove away.

The programme featured a damning report which Greyhound Racing Ireland attempted to hide. This showed that around 6,000 greyhounds are killed every year because they don’t make the grade. The report estimated that, for example, a total of 17,962 greyhounds were culled in 2013, 2014 and 2015. They were killed for “failure to produce qualifying times”, “failure to produce desired entry level times” and for an “unacceptable decline in performance”.

Watch “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” at https://youtu.be/ZYTb2qBjlMM

Fundraisers at greyhound tracks are helping to keep the cruel greyhound industry afloat - the track takes a 30-40 per cent commission from ticket sales and also profits from gambling and food/drink sales on the night. The cruel bloodsport of hare coursing also indirectly benefits - all greyhounds used in track racing are registered with the Irish Coursing Club and the registration fees help fund coursing activities. In coursing, thousands of hares are snatched from the wild every year for use as live bait for greyhounds at coursing meetings. Hares are terrorised while desperately running for their lives and there are injuries and deaths due to maulings.

We are appealing to the GAA and its local clubs to show compassion for the animals and reject the cruel greyhound industry.

ACTION ALERT

Join us in urging the GAA to instruct member clubs to reject greyhound racing as a form of fundraising.

Email: queries@gaa.ie; nationalchildrensofficer@gaa.ie
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