Greyhound Racing Ireland has confirmed that its greyhound tracks have freezers to store DEAD DOGS.

The disturbing details emerged following a Dail Question from Paul Murphy TD to the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.

In his 19 February 2025 question, Deputy Murphy asked “if there are freezers for deceased greyhounds at all fifteen greyhound racing tracks licensed by Greyhound Racing Ireland”.

Responding, Minister Heydon said that the question “is an operational matter for Greyhound Racing Ireland and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.”

In a follow-up response to Deputy Murphy, Greyhound Racing Ireland confirmed the presence of freezers at its tracks - “Greyhound Racing Ireland can confirm, as an important sanitary measure, that the use of frozen storage facilities are used at licensed stadia.”

It went on to outline that the remains of greyhounds killed at its tracks “are routinely collected by agents for a canine cremation facility who are authorised to dispose of such remains in a sanitary manner through cremation.”

It added: “For welfare and integrity reasons, it is additionally important to preserve remains in the event of a greyhound expiring for an unexplained reason. The use of frozen storage facilities is a critical measure for the management and preservation of remains in advance of an autopsy being conducted where appropriate.”

In a parliamentary speech in November 2024, Deputy Murphy told the Dail that “every race track has a freezer for the carcases of all the dead dogs - this includes the nine State-owned greyhound racetracks.”

“We have State-owned greyhound racetracks,” he emphasised. “Think about this for a minute. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have eagerly privatised vital public services such as childcare and nursing homes but they are dead set on hanging on to publicly owned greyhound racing tracks and publicly owned freezers stuffed full of dead dogs. It is so grotesque it is almost unbelievable.”

The freezers have been frequently used over the years, including in 2024 which saw a record number of deaths at tracks.

389 greyhounds suffered injuries at races in 2024 and 202 died - 194 were “euthanised” by track vets plus 8 racing fatalities (they “died on the track or shortly after a race”).

The sickening 2024 figures bring to 3,696 the number of greyhounds injured and 1,396 the number killed in racing at Irish tracks since 2014.
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 previous Dail Question from Paul Murphy TD on 30 April 2024, 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 tracks are only the tip of the iceberg. Many more are 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 funding that is propping up greyhound racing? Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has received €366,986,146 in funding, including €18.2 million for 2023, €19 million for 2024 and €19.82 million for 2025. This is unacceptable and must be stopped.

A RED C opinion poll commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports confirmed that a two-thirds majority of people want the government to stop this funding (with just 16% in favour of it continuing). The latest survey – carried out by Norstat on behalf of GREY2K USA Worldwide found that 70% oppose greyhound racing subsidies, while only 11% support them.

Petitions urging the government to end the funding have more than 400,000 signatures.

Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports

SEE ALSO:

Video: Irish greyhound track freezers stuffed full of dead dogs 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hucBCUIPR6c

Raced to death: 202 greyhounds killed at races in Ireland in 2024
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/02/18/raced-to-death-202-greyhounds-killed-at-races-in-ireland-in-2024/

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. Tell the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein to stop supporting funding to greyhound racing and back a ban on this dog-killing gambling activity.

Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Tel: 01 619 4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
X: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01 281 3727
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

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

Irish Government grants to greyhound racing

2001 €11,777,583
2002 €13,613,163
2003 €12,837,200
2004 €13,382,800
2005 €13,670,000
2006 €14,012,000
2007 €14,572,000
2008 €15,257,000
2009 €13,625,600
2010 €11,852,800
2011 €11,460,000
2012 €11,258,000
2013 €11,004,000
2014 €10,844,000
2015 €13,600,000
2016 €14,800,000
2017 €16,000,000
2018 €16,000,000
2019 €16,800,000
2020 €16,800,000
2021 €19,200,000
2022 €17,600,000
2023 €18,200,000
2024 €19,000,000
2025 €19,820,000

TOTAL: €366,986,146
(€366.9 Million)

REPORTED GREYHOUND INJURIES AND DEATHS AT IRISH TRACKS

2024: 389 injuries, 202 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)