Longford Greyhound Stadium has announced that it is closing down.
In a notice posted on Facebook, track management stated: “Sadly on Monday March 23rd Longford Greyhound Stadium will hold it's [sic] last race meeting. Unfortunately in accordance with IGB guidelines, no public admissions will be allowed.”
Many dogs have suffered and died at Longford stadium. Sickening Irish Greyhound Board statistics confirm that over the past five years alone, at least 61 greyhounds suffered injuries there and 24 were killed by a track vet. In the same period, at tracks around Ireland, at least 1,813 greyhounds suffered injuries and 592 were killed.
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is calling on the government to urgently stop greyhound racing and shut down all tracks. The call is in response to shocking video footage posted on the Irish Greyhound Board [IGB] website showing track staff and greyhound owners ignoring government advice to maintain a 2 metre distance from each other during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Footage from Longford stadium, for example, shows greyhound owners/trainers crowding in together to grab greyhounds at the end of races.
The IGB announced that a “racing behind closed doors policy” has been put into effect and that there will be “no public admissions other than ‘one person, one dog’ admissions”. However, disturbing video filmed over the past few days at tracks around the country shows stadium staff standing next to each other and individuals in near-empty stands shoulder-to-shoulder as dogs run by.
In a statement on Monday, the IGB claimed that “social distancing [would] be fully observed at all times”, adding that “this is a critical measure to be observed by all”. From the evidence on its own website, this is clearly not being observed.
The IGB claims that “our approach at this time is to continue to support the greyhound community whilst managing risks in accordance with the latest guidance from Government/HSE”.
Official Government/HSE guidance clearly states: “Avoid close contact with people - keep a distance of 2 metres (6.5 feet) between you and others”
In an letter to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Health Minister Simon Harris and Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, ICABS stated: “This cannot be allowed to continue. In the interests of public safety and doing everything possible to slow the spread of COVID 19, it is imperative for you to shut down greyhound racing today.”
Find out more about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how you can protect yourself
https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
SEE ALSO
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is calling on the government to immediately stop greyhound racing. The call is in response to shocking video footage posted on the Irish Greyhound Board website showing track staff and greyhound owners ignoring government advice to maintain a 2 metre distance from each other during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis
https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/posts/2798985833550290
ACTION ALERT
Join us in urging the government to immediately close all greyhound and horse racing tracks around Ireland.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Michael Creed TD
Minister for Agriculture
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Email: michael.creed@oir.ie
Tel: +353 (0)1-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelcreedtd
Tweet to: @creedcnw
STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING
Another €16.8 million of scarce public funds has been approved for greyhound racing for 2020. Since 2001, greyhound racing has received more than a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers' money. Please contact your local TDs and demand that they vote against this funding. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33
Urge the leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail (who back the grants every year) to stop the funding and redirect the money to the many worthy causes crying out for funding.
Leo Varadkar
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Please sign and share petitions
Stop supporting the cruel greyhound industry
https://www.change.org/p/stop-supporting-the-cruel-greyhound-industry
Ban Blood Sports in Ireland Now
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland
Ireland - Ban cruel hare coursing
www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing
GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks
Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing