Sickening statistics released for the first time this week confirm that greyhounds suffered injuries and were killed by vets at ALL of Ireland’s 16 greyhound tracks last year.
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed had previously revealed that a total of 353 greyhounds were reported injured and 121 were destroyed by track vets in 2018 but these new stats provide a track-by-track breakdown of the figures for the year.
Provided to Clare Daly TD, further to a Dail Question, the Irish Greyhound Board data shows that Limerick stadium (headquarters of the IGB) recorded the highest number of greyhound injuries (58), followed by Shelbourne Park (41), Galway stadium (31), Curraheen Park (28), Tralee (29), Mullingar (27) and Enniscorthy (27) - see full list below.
The worst track for greyhounds “put to sleep by vet at track” was Limerick stadium (15 greyhounds killed), followed by Mullingar (13), Curraheen Park (13), Shelbourne Park (12) and Tralee (10).
Regarding the percentage of injured greyhounds killed, the worst track was Thurles (67% of injured dogs were killed), followed by Waterford (64% killed), Dundalk (55%), Lifford (54%), Newbridge (50%) and Mullingar (48%).
The Irish Greyhound Board stats include a breakdown of the 353 injuries suffered by greyhounds: hock 120, muscle 63, front leg 39, wrist 32, wound/spike 25, shoulder/neck/stifle 24, back leg 15, toe 9, back/tail 6, metacarpal 5, metatarsal 4, no visible injury 9. Dogs also died from “suspected heart attack” - one at Curraheen Park on 29th June and another on 4th May at Clonmel track.
The 2018 figures bring to 1,559 the number of greyhounds injured and 506 the number of greyhounds killed at Irish tracks in the past four years alone.
They are based on "reported" injuries and deaths, suggesting that the actual number could be even higher. They do not include the greyhounds injured at tracks and later killed elsewhere, or the thousands of greyhounds who go missing each year - presumed killed when found to be too slow to win races.
It is time for the government to bring the cruel greyhound industry to an end by stopping the millions of euros in funding that is keeping it afloat. Over a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers' money has been handed over to greyhound racing since 2001, including €16.8 million for 2019.
ACTION ALERT
Don't attend greyhound races or fundraisers/hen parties/office parties held at greyhound tracks.
Join us in an appeal to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to stop funding the cruel greyhound industry.
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
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Paschal Donohoe TD
Minister for Finance
Email: paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie; minister@per.gov.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1 6045810
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REPORTED GREYHOUND INJURIES AND DEATHS AT IRISH TRACKS
2018: Injuries: 353. Deaths 121
2017: Injuries: 357. Deaths: 124
2016: Injuries: 427. Deaths: 139
2015: Injuries: 422. Deaths: 122
Greyhound injuries and deaths by track (2018)
Clonmel: 18 injuries, 7 deaths
Curraheen Park: 28 injuries, 13 deaths
Dundalk: 11 injuries, 6 deaths
Enniscorthy: 27 injuries, 1 death
Galway: 31 injuries, 7 deaths
Kilkenny: 13 injuries, 2 deaths
Lifford: 13 injuries, 7 deaths
Limerick: 58 injuries, 15 deaths
Longford: 08 injuries, 1 death
Mullingar: 27 injuries, 13 deaths
Newbridge: 16 injuries, 8 deaths
Shelbourne Park: 41 injuries, 12 deaths
Thurles: 09 injuries, 6 deaths
Tralee: 29 injuries, 10 deaths
Waterford: 11 injuries, 7 deaths
Youghal: 13 injuries, 6 deaths
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