Ireland’s largest dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust Ireland, has restated its support for an end to greyhound racing.
“Dogs Trust has worked on the issue of greyhound welfare for a number of years and has raised many different areas of concern with both government and the industry during this time,” a spokesperson stated in a recent message to ICABS, adding “we would like to see a phased end to greyhound racing”.
Dogs Trust Ireland originally called for an end to greyhound racing in September 2022.
In a statement, the charity said at the time: “We are calling for greyhound racing to come to an end, to put a stop to the unnecessary and completely preventable deaths of hundreds of dogs. Greyhound racing is inherently dangerous for the dogs involved. Running at speed around oval tracks causes significant injury to many dogs, and in some cases the injuries are so severe that it is necessary to euthanise the dog.” https://www.dogstrust.ie/about-us/media-centre/end-greyhound-racing
It pointed to disturbing Greyhound Racing Ireland figures showing that 2,146 greyhounds suffered injuries and 715 greyhounds were killed at Irish tracks between 2015 and 2020.
“We’ve worked closely with the greyhound industry for many years to try to improve welfare conditions for the dogs, but progress has not been made quickly enough, or on a big enough scale,” Dogs Trust Ireland Executive Director Suzie Carley commented in 2022. “It is simply not acceptable that 869 greyhounds have died on racetracks in Ireland over the last six years, with 2,343 more injured, all in the name of entertainment.”
The injuries and deaths have continued since then, with 351 injuries and 154 deaths in 2021, 287 injuries and 122 deaths in 2022, 257 injuries and 134 deaths in 2023 and 389 injuries and 202 deaths in 2024.
Dogs Trust Ireland also expressed “serious concerns” about the number of dogs who “fall outside the scope of [Greyhound Racing Ireland’s traceability system] and are unaccounted for before and after their racing career.” It also noted that there are “significant welfare issues for greyhounds throughout every stage of their lives which have not been resolved”.
Speaking on “The Last Word With Matt Cooper” on Today FM on 29 September 2022, Dogs Trust Ireland’s Head of Communications Ciara Murran told listeners: “We’ve always had welfare concerns about the greyhound racing industry in Ireland and we’ve worked closely with the industry for many years to try and improve welfare conditions for the dogs but unfortunately, we feel that progress hasn’t been made quickly enough or on a big enough scale. We believe there are still significant welfare issues for racing greyhounds which haven’t been resolved and which we don’t believe can be resolved in a sufficient amount of time.”
“Greyhounds running at speed around oval tracks is dangerous – it causes significant injuries to many dogs and in some cases, death,” she pointed out. “We feel that it is simply not acceptable that 869 greyhounds have died on tracks in Ireland over the last six years, with over 2,300 more injured. All in the name of entertainment...It is a big concern for us – that there are that many greyhounds being injured and tragically dying.”
The ISPCA - Ireland's largest national animal welfare charity - also wants greyhound racing brought to an end and has highlighted "the appalling animal welfare and export issues linked with the greyhound industry". The ISPCA has raised concerns about "the welfare of greyhounds and that includes before, during and after their racing lives". An ISPCA CEO stated that the charity “supports a winding down of greyhound racing in Ireland”.
ACTION ALERT
Don’t go greyhound racing. Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has received €366,986,146 in state funding, including €18.2 million for 2023, €19 million for 2024 and €19.82 million for 2025. This is unacceptable and must be stopped. Tell the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein to stop supporting the funding 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
Ban Greyhound Racing
https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/ban-greyhound-racing-4
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
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)
SEE ALSO
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/
At greyhound races in Ireland in 2024, 389 greyhounds suffered injuries and 202 were killed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHAfODwqyRs