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The Minister for Agriculture has been questioned about the latest Irish greyhound to have ended up in China, a country with no animal welfare laws where greyhounds are beaten, tortured, boiled alive and slaughtered at meat markets.
In a 23 May 2023 Dail Question, Joe Flaherty TD (Fianna Fáil, Longford-Westmeath) asked Minister Charlie McConalogue “if a stud greyhound (details supplied) is registered accordingly in the Greyhound Racing Ireland's RCETS traceability system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.”
The greyhound he was referring to is “Havana Class” who, he told the Minister, “was exported to a greyhound breeding facility in Nangong, Hebei, China in April 2023 but is still listed in the Irish Greyhound Stud Book as owned by Mr Billy Loveridge in Co Tipperary”.
This week - two months after the export - the greyhound continues be listed by Greyhound Racing Ireland as Irish-owned. The greyhound's profile page shows that he was born in July 2019 and was trialled twice at Thurles greyhound track in October and November 2020. He was first used in a race in December 2020 and his second and final race was in January 2021 – both races at Thurles track. He finished first in the races, with total prizemoney of €590.
In a response to the question, Minister McConalogue stated that “the question raised by the Deputy in relation to a named greyhound is an operational matter for RCÉ [Greyhound Racing Ireland] and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.”
In subsequent correspondence to Deputy Flaherty, Greyhound Racing Ireland stated:
“Rásaíocht Con Éireann can confirm the greyhound Havana Class is registered on its Traceability System RCÉTS. The greyhound is assigned a status of being exported. Rásaíocht Con Éireann are not the appointed keepers of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book nor is it responsible for the entry of data or maintenance of records therein. Such activity falls directly within the remit of the Irish Coursing Club. Arising out of a report received regarding the greyhound 'Havana Class' being located in China, Rásaíocht Con Éireann can confirm the reported circumstances around the discovery of this greyhound in China are currently the subject of an investigation being undertaken by Rásaíocht Con Éireann. This investigation involves interaction with policing authorities and greyhound regulators in Republic of Ireland, the six counties and the UK. As a result of this investigative work, Rásaíocht Con Éireann do not consider it prudent to comment any further on the matter.”
The shameful export of Havana Class was highlighted on the UK's Greyhound Star website (8 May 2023) - "Former open race star Havana Class is at the centre of a welfare storm with news that he has been sold to China" https://greyhoundstar.co.uk/havana-class-china-outrage/
Northern Ireland greyhound breeder Drew Richards was quoted in the article as saying: “[Greyhound campaign group CAGED Nationwide] were onto me and I have told them exactly what happened. I was approached by a man (“Michael Sullivan”) from Ardfinnan in Tipperary. He seemed nice enough, and said he was interested in buying the dog and that he would cover a lot more bitches in that area than he would where I am based. I sold him for just a token figure of €2,000 with the promise that I could send some of my own bitches to him. We agreed and the dog was due to arrive with him on or around March 22. I realised that there was something wrong about three weeks ago when I arranged to meet him at the garage in Ardfinnan because I had a bitch for mating. He never turned up. When I tried to phone him, the number was unobtainable. Now no one seems to have heard of the guy. I’m absolutely livid, I would never have sold the dog if I had the faintest idea that this was going to happen. I thought I was doing the right thing by the dog in terms of a stud career. [Trainer] Rab has gone mad and rightly so, but this ‘Michael Sullivan’ had better hope I never get to lay hands on him."
In May 2023, Joan Collins TD questioned Minister McConalogue about the export to China of another Irish greyhounds named "Claregalway Lad". She asked “if he will investigate if the dog was exported directly or indirectly from Ireland; if action will be taken against those responsible for the export; and if he is aware of other Irish greyhounds exported to China for breeding and racing purposes and if he will urgently ban the export of greyhounds to China”
Minister McConalogue told her that “The department does not collect information on the breed of dog being certified for movement from Ireland, and therefore figures of greyhound movements are not available. There has been no recorded movement of dogs from Ireland to the country named [China] between the years of 2019 and 2023.”
A photo posted online 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.
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 at 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 €328 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