A so-called “greyhound ambulance” has been delivered to Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium in Waterford, WLR Radio has reported.
The WLR report suggests that the modified buggy is a positive development, stating that it “enhances the care and welfare arrangements”. However, the reality is that the presence of the €8,000 vehicle at Kilcohan Park - and a number of other tracks around the country - signals that more dogs are expected to suffer painful injuries and die in racing.
Waterford track was the worst in Ireland last year for dog injuries (leg, toe, hock, wrist, shoulder, back, tail injuries). The number of greyhounds injured there in 2020 equalled the total number injured in the previous four years combined. Sickening Greyhound Racing Ireland statistics show that 48 greyhounds suffered injuries at the track last year. This compares to 13 injuries in 2019, 11 in 2018, 10 in 2017 and 14 in 2016.
10 of the 48 greyhounds injured at Kilcohan Park last year were “put to sleep” by a vet at the track – the second highest number of deaths at tracks in 2020, after Mullingar stadium.
In the past six years alone at Kilcohan Park, 122 greyhounds suffered injuries and 50 died or were killed by a track vet. Among the victims was a greyhound who "collapsed and died at end of race” from a suspected heart attack. In the same period at tracks around Ireland, at least 2,146 greyhounds suffered injuries and 715 were killed.
Greyhound Racing Ireland is continuing to hide video footage of dogs suffering falls. Among the latest footage to be withheld relates to three races at the Waterford track on Thursday 1st July 2021.
Footage is unavailable for race 1 which saw greyhound Whiteys Dropzone knocked over, race 2 during which Carrow Daisy was knocked over and race 9 in which greyhound Remote Support “fell” at the first bend.
The GRI website claims that the three greyhounds finished the races but no finishing times are listed.
Greyhound Racing Ireland has a history of hiding damning evidence. It attempted to bury a report which revealed that around 6,000 greyhounds are killed every year in Ireland because they are not fast enough to win races. The report’s contents were featured on the “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”. Read the report at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X94XJGXdHtxLvraoya5rP8NE48FkwxqQ/view
Previously, Greyhound Racing Ireland tried to hide the fact that a greyhound collapsed from a heart attack and died at Shelbourne Park. The death was revealed by the Greyhound Star website which reported: “The poor dog was having a heart attack. We managed to get him to the van and I started compressions but the tongue had already gone blue. He died shortly afterwards.” There was no mention on the IGB website of the heart attack or the dog dying. Incredibly, in a notice posted on the GRI website three days after Ballymac Syd died, the dog was listed among three dogs "withdrawn from the second round of the Boylesports Derby”. “In Heat 3, Ballymac Syd will be a non-runner from trap four,” the GRI website stated.
It’s time for the Irish Government to stop the funding that’s propping up this cruel, dog-killing gambling activity. Please respond to the action alert below and help bring greyhound racing to an end in Ireland.
ACTION ALERT
STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING
Another €19.2 million of scarce public funds has been granted to 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 act to stop the the 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
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports
Watch RTE’s award-winning "Greyhounds Running For Their Lives" documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM