At least 2,649 greyhounds have been destroyed in Irish pounds in the past eight years, shocking statistics reveal. The dogs are just some of the many victims of the cruel greyhound industry. The local authority dog pound stats show that since 2010, 3,130 greyhounds were surrendered to pounds around the country and 2,649 of these were destroyed. According to the latest available figures for 2016, 284 "stray and unwanted greyhounds" ended up in pounds during the year. This includes 234 greyhounds surrendered by owners, 46 strays and 4 seized greyhounds. Fifteen of these were reclaimed or rehomed, 115 were transferred to dog welfare groups and the remaining 152 didn't make it out alive. The greyhound pound death rate has been falling since 2010 when 672 were euthanised but this is most likely due to the fact that most of the pounds no longer accept greyhounds for euthanasia. According to the Greyhound Rescue Association of Ireland, "the decline in greyhounds accepted into dog pounds...raises further concerns of what is actually happening to those greyhounds turned away. The decline does not balance with any raised homing figures – far from it." "There are still huge concerns that hundreds of greyhounds are being destroyed in dog pounds, and there is documented evidence to show that perfectly healthy greyhounds are among those abandoned with very little chance of escaping death," the association adds. Commenting on the killing of greyhounds when they are no longer considered good enough to win, celebrity vet, Pete Wedderburn last year wrote: "There’s a strong argument that the State should not be subsidising the greyhound racing industry in this way, nor should the concept of 'euthanasia at the end of usefulness' be supported. This urgently needs be addressed." In addition to the 152 greyhounds destroyed in Irish pounds in 2016, 1,522 other dogs (lurchers and other breeds) were killed. The greyhounds being killed in pounds represent just a small portion of the greyhound industry's victims. In the past three years alone, over a thousand greyhounds suffered injuries at tracks around Ireland and 385 were destroyed by track vets. In addition, thousands of greyhounds go missing each year, presumed killed when found to be too slow to win races. One Irish trainer remarked online: "I've seen dogs being shot. It has to be done as there's too many of them to rehome." A former chairman of the Irish Greyhound Board meanwhile admitted on Cork's 96 FM that he believes it is "absolutely" okay for thousands of dogs to be killed and that racing couldn't exist without the destruction of dogs. ACTION ALERT Say NO to the greyhound industry - don't attend races or fund-raisers held at greyhound tracks (these are a significant source of funding for the greyhound industry). Distribute our "6 reasons to say NO to greyhound racing" leaflet outside greyhound tracks to encourage people to show compassion and boycott greyhound racing. You can download the leaflet at http://www.banbloodsports.com/ln170616.htm or order copies by emailing info@banbloodsports.com The cruel and crumbling greyhound industry has received nearly a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers' money since 2001 (including €16 million for 2018). Urge Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to end funding to the greyhound industry and instead direct the money to charities and other deserving causes. Email "Stop funding the cruel greyhound industry" to taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie, paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie, minister@per.gov.ie An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings, Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2 Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020 Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie Tweet to: @campaignforLeo Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignforleo/ Paschal Donohoe TD Minister for Finance Email: paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie, minister@per.gov.ie Phone: +353 (0)1 6045810 Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaschalDonohoe/ Tweet to @Paschald Greyhounds destroyed at Irish dog pounds 2016 – 152 2015 – 203 2014 – 245 2013 – 427 2012 – 404 2011 – 546 2010 – 672 Greyhound injuries and deaths at Irish tracks 2017 Injuries: 357. Deaths: 124 2016 Injuries: 427. Deaths: 139 2015 Injuries: 422. Deaths: 122