Greyhounds in Ireland and the UK are now being auctioned on a livestock website, it has emerged.
LSL Auctions, which facilitates online bidding, says it streams auctions for “all types of livestock including cattle, sheep, pedigree, horses and greyhound dogs”.
Sickening video footage of past auctions shows greyhounds being held in front of a Greyhound Racing Ireland sign as an auctioneer calls for bids.
Upcoming auctions listed on the Mullingar-based company’s website include Greyhound Racing Ireland sales at Curraheen Park, Thurles, Kilkenny, Youghal and Limerick tracks.
It is also set to stream “Anglo Irish Greyhound Sales” auctions from the following tracks in the UK: Brighton & Hove, Owlerton, Monmore, Romford, Crayford and Perry Barr.
Earlier this year, the Minister for Agriculture was asked by People Before Profit Alliance TD, Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central) why greyhounds are classified as farm animals in Ireland.
Responding, Minister Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fáil) stated: “For welfare purposes, Section 2(1) of the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013 defines ‘farm animals’ as, among other qualifiers ‘(b) for use in, or for the purposes of, breeding, sport or the farming of land.’”
“The Act does not specifically refer to greyhound classification,” he added. “However, it can be interpreted that those involved in sporting activities, as opposed to domestic pets, are classed as farm animals.”
As highlighted in the award-winning RTE Investigates documentary, Greyhounds Running for Their Lives, “Under Irish law, the greyhound breed is not a dog – it is a farm animal, falling under the remit of the Department of Agriculture. In reality, their worth is decided on how fast they can run.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
The Department of Agriculture, through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, has channelled over a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers’ money into greyhound racing since 2001. This includes €16.8 million for 2020 and €19.2 million for 2021.
A RED C opinion poll commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports confirms that a two-thirds majority of citizens want the funding stopped, while petitions urging the government to end the funding have more than 400,000 signatures. Please help stop the funding by responding to the action alert below.
ACTION ALERT
STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING
Please contact your local TDs and urge them to oppose 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 dog-killing greyhound racing
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 4350
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
Sign and share the petitions
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
Ireland must ban greyhound racing
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/184/794/470/?TAP=1732
“Stop Greyhound Racing”
https://www.change.org/p/the-department-of-agriculture-stop-greyhound-racing