Another Irish greyhound has been shamefully exported to China, it has emerged. Greyhound campaign group CAGED Nationwide is reporting that "Claregalway Lad" is now in China - a country with no animal welfare laws. 

A photo posted on the group's Facebook page shows the unfortunate Irish dog in the Hebei province of China , along with a document classifying him as a “breeding male”. https://www.facebook.com/cagednw/posts/pfbid0V93uYwjrUF3jzVK53L2PmHdZPxdbDo56iDyPTNRt1gmhHZdLr4EqufLR1eutEQ9Nl

Alongside these is a 2019 photo taken at Galway Stadium after the greyhound won a “Con and Annie Kirby Memorial” race.

Details published on the Greyhound Racing Ireland website confirm that Claregalway Lad was “exported” but there is no mention of China being the final destination.

Born in April 2017, Claregalway Lad was first seen at a track in October 2018 when he was used in two trials at Galway Stadium. There was a third trial on 10 January 2019 at Limerick stadium (headquarters of Greyhound Racing Ireland). His first race was the following month at Galway track and he was entered into three more races there. In March 2019, he was used in two races at Limerick Stadium, including his final race on 30 March when he finished last in the “2019 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Round 2 Heat 8” race .

According to 15 February 2019 race commentary, Claregalway Lad was, at that time, “Pat Hogan and Martin Kelly-owned” and trained by Pat Guilfoyle https://youtu.be/73mvMnRSZnw?t=29

Greyhound Racing Ireland has removed the names of the owners from its website so it is unknown if there was a change of ownership before the greyhound left Ireland or if he was exported directly to China or via the UK or another country.

Shame on the Irish Government for failing to take action to stop the direct or indirect export of greyhounds to China. There are fears that Irish dogs suffer in China and face horrendous fates after they are used for racing and breeding. Shocking videos filmed in China have shown a greyhound being boiled alive in a barrel and an individual slamming a greyhound into the ground after the dog failed to win races. Sickening scenes of greyhounds on hooks at meat markets in China have also been filmed and posted online.

Caged Nationwide has stated that Chinese volunteers who try to save some of the dogs at meat markets have told them that the greyhound is the “third most popular breed found at the slaughterhouses”.

“It's fully legal to drug, beat, skin or cook a greyhound whilst still alive, for their flesh in China,” the group highlights on its website. “There are no boundaries to how you can torture any animal there. They have zero animal welfare laws.”

Find out more about some of the other unfortunate British and Irish greyhounds who have ended up in China
https://www.cagednw.co.uk/chinaexports.html

ACTION ALERT

Don’t support cruel greyhound racing. Join us in again urging the Irish Government to end the state funding that is keeping the dying greyhound “industry” afloat.

Since 2001, over €309 million in funding has been handed over to Greyhound Racing Ireland, including €19.2 million for 2021, €17.6 million for 2022 and €18.2 million for 2023. It’s time for politicians to stop the funding and allow unpopular greyhound racing to die a death.

Please contact your local TDs and urge them to oppose this 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/LeoVaradka

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

Ivana Bacik TD
Leader, The Labour Party
Tel: (01) 6183136
Email: ivana.bacik@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivanabacik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bacikivana/

Please sign and share the petitions

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

Watch RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” documentary
https://youtu.be/ZYTb2qBjlMM