There are renewed calls on the government to scrap the massive state grants that are keeping cruel greyhound racing afloat.
The appeal comes amid revelations that the percentage of injured greyhounds destroyed at tracks around Ireland last year was nine times higher than in the UK.
Sickening 2019 statistics published by the Irish Greyhound Board (now Greyhound Racing Ireland) reveal that more than a third (36%) of the 332 greyhounds reported to have suffered injuries at tracks died or were destroyed by a vet.
In the UK during the same period, 4,970 greyhounds suffered injuries at tracks and 4% (207) were “put to sleep”.
In the previous year, 35% of the greyhounds injured at Irish tracks were killed while in the UK, the figure was reported to be 5%.
Available figures for the first six months of 2020 show that a massive 40% of injured greyhounds were killed at tracks around Ireland, i.e. 68 injuries and 27 deaths.
These fatality figures are just the tip of the iceberg and do not include the greyhounds injured at tracks, taken away and later killed elsewhere.
Greyhound Board of Great Britain statistics show that in the past two years, an additional 298 injured greyhounds were destroyed because of “treatment costs”, 286 were killed away from tracks “on veterinary advice” and 273 were put down because they were “designated unsuitable for homing”. Among the others who died were 163 “sudden deaths”. Many more are killed each year because they do not make the grade. Among the victims were around 10,000 greyhounds killed by a single individual using a bolt gun. He was photographed bringing some of the doomed dogs into a shed before wheeling their remains back out in a blood-spattered wheel barrow.
Here in Ireland, in addition to the injuries and killings at tracks, greyhound racing is responsible for the deaths of thousands of more dogs. A damning report which the Irish Greyhound Board attempted to hide, revealed that around 6,000 greyhounds are killed every year because they are not fast enough to win races. The report’s contents were featured on the award-winning “RTE Investigates: Greyhounds Running for Their Lives” documentary, which can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
The report estimated that a total of 17,962 greyhounds were culled in 2013, 2014 and 2015. They were killed for “failure to produce qualifying times”, “failure to produce desired entry level times” and for an “unacceptable decline in performance”.
The government must listen to the two thirds majority who want funding to greyhound racing ended. It’s time to stop propping it up with millions of euros of taxpayers’ money. Since 2001, the Irish Greyhound Board has been granted more than a quarter of a billion euros, including €16.8 million for 2019 and another €16.8 million for 2020 . This is unacceptable and must stop.
ACTION ALERT
STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING
Another €16.8 million of scarce public funds was 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
Contact Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and demand an end to state funding for greyhound racing.
Micheál Martin, Taoiseach
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Paschal Donohoe TD
Minister for Finance
Email: paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie; minister@per.gov.ie
Tel: 01 6045810
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaschalDonohoe/
Tweet to @Paschald
Please sign and share petitions
Ireland - Ban cruel hare coursing
www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing
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
Greyhound injuries and deaths at tracks
Ireland
2020 (Jan-June): 68 injuries. 27 deaths [40%]
2019: 332 injuries. 119 deaths [36%]
2018: 353 Injuries. 121 Deaths [35%]
2017: 357 Injuries. 124 Deaths [35%]
2016: 427 Injuries. 139 Deaths [33%]
2015: 422 Injuries. 122 Deaths [29%]
UK
2019: 4,970 injuries. 207 deaths (4%)
2018: 4,963 injuries. 242 deaths (5%)