There are renewed calls on the government to withdraw its support for greyhound racing after a greyhound trainer gave a sickening insight into how racing TAKES MONEY from struggling charities.
Referring to the loss-making Enniscorthy greyhound track, the trainer was quoted in a recent Sporting Press article as saying: “On a charity night, we might get €2,500 or €3,000 from the organisers and also have extra people coming in the gate.” [https://preview.tinyurl.com/yb25d6z9
Fundraisers held at tracks are a major source of income for greyhound racing and, along with massive state grants, are helping to keep it afloat. Mean-spirited tracks take a huge 30-40% commission on tickets sold by the charities and also profit from food/drink/gambling on the night..
What an outrage that charities are forced to spend valuable time and effort raising funds for their vital work, when cruel greyhound racing automatically receives millions of euros of taxpayers’ money every year from the government. Since 2001, the Irish Greyhound Board has been granted over a quarter of a billion euros, including €16.8 million for 2020.
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has in the past attempted to present greyhound tracks in a positive light, pointing to their hosting of fundraisers for “charitable organisations such as schools, clubs, healthcare charities and community projects”. But the reality is that there would be no need for fundraisers if the government stopped squandering money on the dying greyhound “industry” and instead channelled it into the many worthy charities and clubs crying out for support.
Pressure is growing on the government to stop the grants. A RED C opinion poll conducted in September shows that a two-thirds majority of Irish citizens want the funding ended. Petitions calling on the government to scrap the grants have secured more than 390,000 signatures.
With ongoing revelations about cruelty and killing in greyhound racing, more and more charities have thankfully been staying away from tracks and fundraising elsewhere.
Among the charities that have already said NO to greyhound racing are Pieta House, Society of St Vincent de Paul, Our Lady’s Hospice, Parkinson's Ireland, The Hope Foundation, Cara Projects, Movember, Family Carers Ireland and Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. As have sports groups such as Arklow Rugby Club and Verona FC, as well as companies including Dublin Bus, Air France, Eir Sport, Lonely Planet, Clayton Hotels, Tesco Ireland, Toyota Ireland, Electric Ireland, Applegreen, Groupon, Barry's Tea, FBD Insurance, Botanica International, Hyde Irish Whiskey, Thomas Cook/Jet Tours, Galway Crystal, Wilton Shopping Centre, Le Guide Irlande, Trip101, etc.
The horrors of greyhound racing were exposed in the "RTE Investigates: Greyhounds running for their lives" documentary which revealed that 6,000 dogs are killed every year simply because they are not fast enough to win races. It included shocking scenes of greyhounds 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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
Many more are killed at tracks after sustaining painful injuries during races. At tracks around Ireland over the past five years alone, at least 1,813 greyhounds suffered injuries and 592 were killed by track vets. Find out more at https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2019/03/27/greyhound-injuries-and-deaths-at-irish-greyhound-tracks/
ACTION ALERT
Say NO to cruel greyhound racing - don't attend races or fundraisers/hen parties/office parties at greyhound tracks.
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. A RED C opinion poll commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports found that a two-thirds majority want an end to state grants to greyhound racing. 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
Contact Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and demand an end to state funding for greyhound racing.
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
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
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
Urge the leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Labour (who back the grants every year) to stop the 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
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Alan Kelly TD
Leader, Labour Party
Tel: 067 34190
Email: alan.kelly@oir.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alankellytd/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alankellylabour
TELL SPONSORS TO STOP THEIR SPONSORSHIP.
Boycott businesses which continue to support cruel greyhound racing.
Please get in contact with Glanbia and ask it to permanently end all sponsorship/support of greyhound racing and hare coursing.
Jim Bergin
CEO, Glanbia
Glanbia House,
Kilkenny, Ireland
Telephone: +353 (0)56-777 2200
Email: corporatecomms@glanbia.com, info@gainanimalnutrition.com
Tweet to: @GlanbiaPlc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GAINpetnutrition/
Appeal to the Kerry Group (the company behind Pure sunflower/soya spread, Dairygold, LowLow, etc) to stop sponsoring greyhound racing.
Kerry Group
Phone: +353 (0)66 718 2000
Prince’s Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry
Email VIA: https://www.kerrygroup.com/help/contact-form/
Please sign and share petitions
Stop supporting the cruel greyhound industry
https://www.change.org/p/stop-supporting-the-cruel-greyhound-industry
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
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports