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TripAdvisor is being urged to remove greyhound racing from its website after an update to its animal welfare policies acknowledged that the activity does not meet animal welfare guidelines.
Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform, does not allow the sale of tickets for greyhound racing but pages for greyhound tracks remain.
The company has displayed a prominent notice on listings for tracks - including all of Greyhound Racing Ireland's tracks - emphasising that “Tripadvisor does not provide bookings for this experience because it does not meet our animal welfare guidelines.”
The alert appears on the pages for the following GRI tracks: Shelbourne Park, Curraheen Park, Galway, Mullingar, Newbridge, Tralee, Waterford and Youghal. It also displayed on a page for Limerick stadium (headquarters of Greyhound Racing Ireland).
Tripadvisor's animal welfare policies state: “At Tripadvisor, we believe every attraction has a responsibility to ensure that any animals in its care are treated humanely. We know that most attraction operators act responsibly, and agree with the basic precept of treating animals humanely. But we also know that worldwide, the standards of care that animals receive can vary depending on local laws. As an online platform used by millions, we recognise the role Tripadvisor can play in driving improvements in animal welfare standards across the tourism industry. As a result, we are proud to have introduced a set of industry-leading animal welfare guidelines that every bookable experience sold on our platform must comply with.”
https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Trust-lIFsY9GSDYn4-Animal_welfare_policy.html
In a section headed “Bloodsports,” the animal welfare policy also makes clear that “Tripadvisor will not sell tickets to any attraction that is found to be in breach of the Tripadvisor listing policy as it relates to the harming or killing of animals.”
In a message to the company's CEO, the Irish Council Against Bloodsports stated: “Acknowledging that greyhound racing does not meet your animal welfare guidelines must be followed by a removal of pages publicising this cruel, dog-killing activity. As it stands, Tripadvisor - while not selling tickets to greyhound racing - is regrettably presenting a visit to a greyhound track as something to consider while visiting particular towns and cities. Please show compassion for the dogs and eliminate all greyhound racing content from TripAdvisor.”
We reminded TripAdvisor that this content is at odds with the policy of Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland which have both stopped publicising and promoting greyhound racing, due to the suffering and deaths, and fears that it damages Ireland's reputation as a tourist destination.
We also highlighted all the associated suffering and death. In the past decade at Irish tracks, 3,485 greyhounds suffered injuries and 1,290 have been killed (including 178 injuries and 96 deaths in the first six months of 2024). Thousands of greyhounds are also killed behind the scenes each year because they are not fast or profitable enough.
ACTION ALERT
Contact TripAdvisor and urge the company to remove all greyhound racing pages from its website.
Matt Goldberg
CEO, TripAdvisor
Email: matt.goldberg@tripadvisor.com
Don’t go greyhound racing. Please join us in urging the government to STOP the massive grants that are propping up this dog-killing gambling activity.
Tell the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party and Sinn Fein 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
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
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
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
X: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Please sign and share the 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
Watch RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” documentary
https://youtu.be/ZYTb2qBjlMM