An image that Greyhound Racing Ireland has been using to promote cruel greyhound racing as family-friendly is a FAKE photo, ICABS can reveal.
The photo, apparently showing a happy family at a greyhound track, is part of a Greyhound Racing Ireland marketing campaign aimed at luring youngsters into their gambling venues.
The photo features a woman, girl, boy and man smiling in front of a greyhound stadium.
It has emerged, however, that this happy family was nowhere near a greyhound track when the photo was taken.
In fact, it was originally a photo of “parents giving children piggybacks in the countryside”. That was before the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) cut out the tree-lined background and replaced it with a scene from Limerick Stadium. The original Getty Images photo can be viewed at https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/parents-giving-children-piggybacks-in-countryside-gm465162307-33169982
With more and more adults rejecting greyhound racing in the recent past (due to revelations about cruelty and killing), the IGB - now renamed Rasaiocht CON Eireann or Greyhound Racing Ireland - has shamefully been targeting minors and using the fake photograph to give the impression to parents that greyhound racing is suitable for families.
Despite being gambling locations where dogs can be heard crying out in agony when they suffer injuries, tracks have tried to lure kids in with offers of toy vouchers and colouring competitions.
In a 5-year strategic plan, the Irish Greyhound Board did not hide the fact. It 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 suggests parents 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 in the past attempted to attract under-18s in 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 portraying greyhound racing as family-friendly is Mullingar stadium - one of the worst in Ireland for greyhound injuries (broken legs, severed spine, etc). In a 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".
Kids 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 six years, at least 1,959 greyhounds suffered injuries and 652 were killed. Thousands more are killed away from tracks every year because they are not fast enough to win races.
In April of this year, the greyhound board continued to focus on children, encouraging them to colour in an illustration of an Easter bunny next to a greyhound and forward it to its marketing department for the chance to win a prize. “Don't forget our Easter colouring competition,” they commented. "Why not show us your artistic skills and you could win a family night out this summer...#GoGreyhoundRacing”
Many have expressed disgust, 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 and the government to act.
ACTION ALERT
Contact Minister Roderic O'Gorman and Taoiseach Micheal Martin and urge them to take action to stop Greyhound Racing Ireland targeting children.
Roderic O'Gorman TD
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
Phone: (01) 6642052
Email: roderic.ogorman@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodericOG/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rodericogorman
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
Say NO to cruel greyhound racing - don't attend races or fundraisers/stag and hen parties/office parties at greyhound tracks.
STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING
Another €19.2 million of scarce public funds has been approved for greyhound racing for 2021. 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 latest 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 Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour to stop the funding and back a ban on cruel greyhound racing
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Leo Varadkar TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Eamon Ryan TD
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
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
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