The Irish Greyhound Board is shamefully continuing to target children and in a current marketing campaign aimed at youngsters, it states "go greyhound racing".

On its website and Facebook page, the IGB is encouraging kids to colour in an illustration of a cartoon greyhound at a track and forward it to its marketing department for the chance to win a prize.

"Why not show us your artistic skills and you could win a family night out this summer," it states. "Happy colouring! #GoGreyhoundRacing."

With more and more adults rejecting greyhound racing in the recent past (due to revelations about cruelty and killing), the dying greyhound industry is desperately targeting children as part of an attempt to stay afloat.

Despite being gambling venues where dogs can be heard crying out in agony when they suffer injuries, tracks have been increasingly trying to lure kids in with offers of toy vouchers, free meals and colouring competitions.

In a 5-year strategic plan, the Irish Greyhound Board has stressed the importance of "encouragement of the younger generation as spectators and regular attendees at greyhound race meetings" and on its website highlights that "children under 18 are welcomed during racing under the supervision of an adult".

Elsewhere, the IGB encourages parents to introduce their children to racing, saying "Going greyhound racing and having an evening at the dogs, is something totally different, especially if your children haven’t done anything like it before. It gives them something new to look forward to and perhaps even a new hobby to embrace."

Tracks have also been attempting to attract minors through primary school and GAA club fundraisers and by offering free meals to children who hold their communion and confirmation parties at a track. They also tried to lure them in with the promise of "a €5 Toy Store Voucher for the Communion/Confirmation Child" and "Communion/Confirmation child's name in the race programme".

The IGB disgracefully presents greyhound racing as "great for all ages", saying "younger children will love the excitement and thrill of cheering on ‘their dog’, whilst the older one will appreciate the sport and competition." https://www.igb.ie/go-greyhound-racing/how-it-all-works/5-reasons-to-go-greyhound-racing-with-the-whole-family-this-summer/

"The fact that there are races every fifteen minutes or so means that the kids always have something to do and get excited about," it adds.

Among the tracks which have presented greyhound racing as "family-friendly" is Mullingar stadium - one of the worst in Ireland for greyhound injuries (broken legs, severed spine, etc). In a similar colouring competition, the stadium told children that they had to "come visit us on Easter Sunday to enter your finished masterpiece".

It also stated: "Greyhound racing is one of those rare occasions that all the family can enjoy together. And the fact that the races take place every twelve minutes or so means that children, in particular, have plenty to keep them interested - the kids can...have a ball watching the action".

Children watching "the action" are likely to see dogs falling and sustaining injuries to legs, wrists, shoulders, backs, tails, muscles and toes. At tracks around Ireland in the past five years, at least 1,813 greyhounds suffered injuries and 592 were killed by track vets.

Many have expressed disgust at IGB's targeting of children, with comments including "hard to know how much lower IGB can go in trying to buy a future audience - disgraceful that a state subsidised body can get away with doing this" and "targeting children with dog killing, abuse, drugging and gambling - as classless as you'd expect from dog racers. They must be desperate to stoop so low."

ICABS has urged the Minister for Children, Katherine Zappone and the government to act.

ACTION ALERT

Contact Minister Katherine Zappone and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and urge them to take urgent action to stop the Irish Greyhound Board targeting children.

Katherine Zappone, TD
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
43-49 Mespil Rd, Dublin 4
Phone: 085 2196189 OR 01 647 3000
Email: Katherine.Zappone@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatherineZappone/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KZapponeTD

Leo Varadkar
Leader, Fine Gael
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

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