[NOTE: Any donations made through Change.org go directly to Change.org. Please consider donating to the Irish Council Against Blood Sports to support our campaigns https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports Thank you]
96 greyhounds lost their lives at races around Ireland in the first six months of 2024, sickening Greyhound Racing Ireland statistics reveal.
The number of deaths at tracks was 57% higher compared to the same period in 2023 (61).
The shocking January to June 2024 figures show that 178 greyhounds suffered injuries at the country’s tracks and 92 were “euthanised by track vets”. Four more greyhounds “died on the track”, with their deaths recorded as “racing fatalities”.
The injury and death data – obtained by Paul Murphy TD further to a Dail Question to Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue – shows that the 92 greyhounds who were killed had suffered injuries including: spinal injury, spinal paralysis, broken elbow/leg/hock/wrist/radius & ulna, complete fracture of hind leg, fractured elbow/leg/hock/pelvis/shoulder, hip injury, torn ligaments in wrist, ruptured tendon and shattered hock.
The 82 greyhounds who were treated had suffered injuries including: bleeding foot, abrasion on paw, broken hock/toes, bruised flank and gashed flank, cut stifle/stopper pad/toe, damaged tendon in wrist, dislocated hock, flesh wounds, fractured elbow joint/hock/leg/shoulder blade/toe/wrist, pelvic injury, ruptured cruciate ligament, ruptured gracilis muscle, severe cramp, sprained wrist, superficial wound on pad, torn Achilles tendon.
Post-mortems carried out on the bodies of the four “racing fatality” greyhounds showed that one died at Tralee track on 18 May 2024 after suffering a “broken neck with internal haemorrhage”. “Post-mortem results from UCD” were not provided for greyhounds who died at Limerick track on 22 February, at Mullingar track on 20 April and at Youghal track on 14 May 2024.
At some individual race meetings, two greyhounds lost their lives –
At Kilcohan Park track in Waterford on 14 March 2024, two greyhounds were killed by a track vet. Their injuries were listed as fractured hock and spinal paralysis. On 23 March at Mullingar track, two greyhounds suffered broken/fractured wrists and were both destroyed. On 12 April 2024, four greyhounds were “euthanised” by vets – two at Lifford track (broken hock and fractured metatarsal) and another two at Newbridge track (fractured Metatarsals). Two greyhounds were killed at Youghal track on 4 May (fractured hock and hip injury). Two greyhounds also lost their lives at Youghal track on 14 May 2024 – one was killed after sustaining a “fractured radius and ulna” and the other was a “racing fatality”. On 6 June 2024 at Kilcohan Park, two greyhounds were put to sleep after suffering hock fractures. Two greyhounds were killed by a track vet at Kilkenny stadium on 21 June 2024 (fractured elbow and fractured tibia). On 29 June at Tralee track, two greyhounds suffered fractured hock and fractured radius & ulna and both were killed by the track vet.
The worst day of the year so far for greyhound deaths at races was 4 May 2024 when five greyhounds were killed by track vets after being injured in races. The killings occurred at Shelbourne Park (1), Thurles (1), Youghal (2), and Galway (1) tracks.
Greyhound Racing Ireland is again attempting to downplay the high numbers of injuries and deaths. GRI told Paul Murphy TD that the 178 greyhounds injured “represents 0.37% of the total number of greyhounds that raced on GRI tracks during that period (48,410 runners)” and that the 96 deaths “represents 0.20% of the total number of greyhounds that raced on GRI tracks during that period”
However, this is entirely misleading as the figure of 48,410 actually relates to race entries and not individual greyhounds. According to previously published GRI data, the number of greyhounds in the “racing pool” over a year is 4,850. This means that the actual percentage of greyhounds injured and killed is substantially higher.
The track with the highest number of deaths (euthanised plus racing fatalities) up to the end of June was Mullingar (11), followed by Youghal (10), Dundalk (9), Tralee (9), Waterford/Kilcohan Park (8), Limerick (8), Shelbourne Park (6), Thurles (6), Lifford (6), Galway (5), Kilkenny (5), Newbridge (5), Clonmel (3), Curraheen Park (3), Enniscorthy (2).
The track where the most injuries occurred (resulting in death or treatment) was Mullingar (24), followed by Tralee (17), Shelbourne Park (16), Kilkenny (14), Limerick (12), Enniscorthy (11), Galway (11), Lifford (11), Curraheen Park (10), Youghal (10), Dundalk (10), Waterford/Kilcohan Park (10), Thurles (10), Clonmel (6), Newbridge (6).
In relation to the percentage of injured greyhounds who were destroyed, Youghal was the worst track, with 100% of injured dogs “euthanised by track vet” (i.e. nine greyhounds injured and all nine killed). This was followed by Dundalk 90% (10 injured, 9 killed), Newbridge 83% (6 injured, 5 killed), Waterford/Kilcohan Park 80% (10 injured, 8 killed), Limerick 64% (11 injured, 7 killed), Thurles 60% (10 injured, 6 killed), Lifford 55% (11 injured, 6 killed), Tralee 50% (16 injured, 8 killed), Clonmel 50% (6 injuries, 3 killed), Galway 45% (11 injured, 5 killed), Mullingar 43% (23 injured, 10 killed), Shelbourne Park 38% (16 injured, 6 killed), Kilkenny 36% (14 injured, 5 killed), Curraheen Park 30% (10 injured, 3 killed), Enniscorthy 18% (11 injured, 2 killed).
The January to June 2024 figures bring to 3,485 the number of greyhounds injured and 1,290 the number killed in racing at Irish tracks since 2014.
More greyhounds suffered and died at trials and sales events around the country. In its reply to Deputy Murphy, Greyhound Racing Ireland provided a list which shows that “10 greyhounds were recorded as having been injured in trials and sales events” and “eight greyhounds were euthanised by vets following trials”.
Two of these injured greyhounds were euthanised on-site by a track vet (at Galway and Shelbourne Park tracks).
The other six were “subsequently euthanised at owner's vets” after suffering injuries at Kilkenny, Clonmel, Newbridge, Galway and Waterford tracks. There would have been prolonged suffering for these greyhounds as they were transported away from the tracks before receiving veterinary attention at some time afterwards.
There is no requirement for vets to be present at trials. Greyhound Racing Ireland has stated in the past that “a veterinary surgeon is not on duty for official trials or unofficial trials, but the contact details of nearby veterinary clinics are posted in the weigh room of each of the Greyhound Racing Ireland licensed stadia.”
Download the Greyhound Racing Ireland injury and death statistics (pdf)
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/breakdown-of-racing-injuries-jan-to-june-2024.pdf
The Greyhound Racing Ireland figures for injuries and deaths at races do not include the greyhounds injured at tracks and later killed elsewhere.
In reply to a 30 April 2024 Dail Question from Paul Murphy TD, GRI admitted that their injury stats only cover greyhounds “seen” to have been injured at tracks and do not include greyhounds who were injured but taken away and not presented to the track vet. Also not included are greyhounds who sustained what they term “minor injuries”.
The deaths at races are only the tip of the iceberg. Many more are also killed out of sight.
As revealed in the award-winning “RTE Investigates: Greyhounds running for their lives” documentary, thousands of greyhounds are killed behind the scenes every year simply because they are not fast enough. It included disturbing scenes of dogs being delivered to a knackery where they were shot in the head and dumped in a skip. One shot dog was seen writhing on the ground in agony as his merciless owner drove away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
A damning report which Greyhound Racing Ireland attempted to hide, revealed that around 6,000 greyhounds are killed every year because they don’t make the grade. The report estimated that, for example, 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”.
How many more dogs have to suffer and die before the Irish Government stops the massive grants that are keeping greyhound racing afloat? A RED C opinion poll commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports confirmed that a two-thirds majority want the funding stopped (with just 16% in favour of it continuing), while petitions urging the government to end the funding have more than 400,000 signatures.
SEE ALSO:
Greyhound injuries and deaths at Irish greyhound tracks
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2019/03/27/greyhound-injuries-and-deaths-at-irish-greyhound-tracks/
Raced to death: 134 greyhounds killed at races in Ireland in 2023
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2024/03/15/raced-to-death-134-greyhounds-killed-at-races-in-ireland-in-2023/
GRI’s greyhound injury stats do not include all injured greyhounds
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2024/05/20/gris-greyhound-injury-stats-do-not-include-all-injured-greyhounds/
ACTION ALERT
Don’t go greyhound racing. Please join us in urging the government to STOP the massive grants that are propping up this cruel, dog-killing gambling activity. Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has received €347 million in funding, including €17.6 million for 2022, €18.2 million for 2023 and €19 million for 2024. This is unacceptable and must be stopped.
Tell the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Sinn Fein and the Green Party to stop supporting this funding.
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/
X: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: +353 (0)1 618 3805 or +353 (0)1 889 2442
Email: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
X: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
Roderic O'Gorman TD
Leader, Green Party
Tel: (01) 6642052
Email: roderic.ogorman@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodericOG/
X: https://x.com/rodericogorman
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
Percentage of injured greyhounds killed at Irish tracks (1 Jan to 30 June 2024)
Youghal 100% (9 injured, 9 killed)
Dundalk 90% (10 injured, 9 killed)
Newbridge 83% (6 injured, 5 killed)
Waterford/Kilcohan Park 80% (10 injured, 8 killed)
Limerick 64% (11 injured, 7 killed)
Thurles 60% (10 injured, 6 killed)
Lifford 55% (11 injured, 6 killed)
Tralee 50% (16 injured, 8 killed)
Clonmel 50% (6 injuries, 3 killed)
Galway 45% (11 injured, 5 killed)
Mullingar 43% (23 injured, 10 killed)
Shelbourne Park 38% (16 injured, 6 killed)
Kilkenny 36% (14 injured, 5 killed)
Curraheen Park 30% (10 injured, 3 killed)
Enniscorthy 18% (11 injured, 2 killed)
Greyhound injuries and deaths at Irish tracks (1 Jan to 30 June 2024)
Clonmel - 6 injuries, 3 deaths
Curraheen Park - 10 injuries, 3 deaths
Dundalk - 10 injuries, 9 deaths
Enniscorthy - 11 injuries, 2 deaths
Galway - 11 injuries, 5 deaths
Kilkenny - 14 injuries, 5 deaths
Lifford - 11 injuries, 6 deaths
Limerick - 12 injuries, 8 deaths (7 killed by track vet + 1 fatality)
Mullingar - 24 injuries, 11 deaths (10 killed by track vet + 1 fatality)
Newbridge - 6 injuries, 5 deaths
Shelbourne Park - 16 injuries, 6 deaths
Thurles - 10 injuries, 6 deaths
Tralee - 17 injuries, 9 deaths (8 killed by track vet + 1 fatality)
Waterford/Kilcohan Park - 10 injuries, 8 deaths
Youghal 10 injuries, 10 deaths (9 killed by track vet + 1 fatality)
Trials: Greyhounds injured and killed (1 Jan to 30 June 2024)
10 February 2024: Kilkenny Sales Trial – foreleg injury, subsequently euthanised at owners vets
16 February 2024: Clonmel official trial – injury not specified, subsequently euthanised at owners vets
9 March 2024: Newbridge unofficial trial – hindleg injury and foreleg injury, subsequently euthanised at owners vets
29 March 2024: Galway official trial – hock injury, euthanised by track vet
6 April 2024: Galway official trial – hock injury, subsequently euthanised at owners vets
12 April 2024: Waterford unofficial trial – foreleg injury, subsequently euthanised at owners vets
14 April 2024: Waterford unofficial trial – hock injury, subsequently euthanised at owners vets
25 May 2024: Clonmel unofficial trial – hock injury, treated at owners vet
1 June 2024: Shelbourne Park official trial – hock injury, treated at owners vet
21 June 2024: Shelbourne Park official trial – hock injury, euthanised by track vet
REPORTED GREYHOUND INJURIES AND DEATHS AT IRISH TRACKS
2024 (Jan to June): 178 injuries, 96 deaths
2023: 257 injuries, 134 deaths
2022: 287 injuries. 122 deaths
2021: 351 injuries. 154 deaths
2020: 255 injuries. 90 deaths
2019: 332 injuries. 119 deaths
2018: 353 injuries. 121 deaths
2017: 357 injuries. 124 deaths
2016: 427 injuries. 139 deaths
2015: 422 injuries. 122 deaths
2014: 266 injuries. 69 deaths (July to Dec 2014)