An Irish greyhound listed as “rehomed as pet” on the Greyhound Racing Ireland website is actually in China being used for breeding, it has emerged.
“Ballygloss Angus has been exported to Mainland China for a life of being used as a breeding machine,” greyhound campaign group Caged Nationwide is reporting this weekend. “Sadly the worst part is Greyhound Racing Ireland is claiming he was ‘exported - rehomed as a pet’.”
A profile of Ballygloss Angus is now on display on a Chinese greyhound breeding website. It shows that the greyhound was born in Ireland in 2023 and is now in the Hebei province of China.
According to the Greyhound Racing Ireland website, Ballygloss Angus was used in 18 races around Ireland (Lifford, Derry, Kilkenny, Shelbourne Park) between March and November 2025, with prize money of €1,820. His first race was at Kilkenny track on 21 March 2025 in the “Boylesports Bookmakers ON2 525” and his final race before being exported was on 1 November 2025 at Lifford track in the “Happy Retirement Cloneden Flash A1/A2 525”.
GRI’s profile page for Ballygloss Angus twice states that the 2-year-old dog - who won five races and finished second in six others - was rehomed: “Export-rehomed-as-pet. Export-rehomed-as-pet”. The names of the original owners have been deleted.
There are grave concerns about the dog, given that China is a country with no animal welfare laws where dogs are beaten, boiled alive and hung on hooks at meat markets.
Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon is being urged to investigate the circumstances surrounding the export, establish whether it was a direct or indirect export and take action against those involved.
Shame on those responsible and shame on the Irish Government for failing to take action to stop the export of greyhounds to China. Irish dogs can 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 previously 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.”
Kerry Elliman of Candy’s Hound Rescue – a group which has rescued greyhounds from China – has said: “What I witnessed in China was that many trainers and owners of greyhounds would sell them when the dogs are no good to race. One underground track I visited was right by a meat market and literally for 3 hours, greyhound after greyhound was brought into the market for sale, either for meat or racing. Greyhounds from Ireland, UK, Australia and America have been found in breeding facilities in mainland China. We have done many years of research and many DNA tests on our rescued greyhounds and bloodlines all go back to these four countries (America less than the other 3). The reason for this is greyhounds are exported to China for breeding. China now has some of the biggest breeding facilities in the world and the Chinese pay big money for Irish and English dogs. We have rescued 5 Irish greyhounds from China and 11 Australian hounds. Unfortunately, the racing industry takes no responsibility for greyhounds being exported and its supporters will even defend the practice.”
Previous Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue was questioned about the export of Irish greyhounds to China. In a May 2023 Dail Question, then TD Joe Flaherty asked the Minister “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 was “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”.
Three years after the export, Havana Class continues to be listed by Greyhound Racing Ireland as being owned by Billy Loveridge.
In subsequent correspondence to Joe 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.”
In May 2023, then TD Joan Collins questioned Minister McConalogue about the export to China of another Irish greyhound 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.”
SEE ALSO:
“Rehomed as a pet” Irish greyhound Fortune Sydney exported to China for breeding
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/04/04/rehomed-as-a-pet-irish-greyhound-exported-to-china-for-breeding/
Shameful: Another Irish greyhound (Gougane Jet) exported to China
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/12/15/shameful-another-irish-greyhound-exported-to-china-2/
Irish greyhounds shamefully exported to China
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2021/09/30/irish-greyhounds-shamefully-exported-to-china/
UK & IRISH GREYHOUNDS EXPORTED TO CHINA
https://www.cagednw.co.uk/chinaexports.html
Minister questioned about latest greyhound export to China
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/04/04/rehomed-as-a-pet-irish-greyhound-exported-to-china-for-breeding/
ACTION ALERT
Don’t go greyhound racing. Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has received €386,806,146 in grants, including €19 million for 2024, €19.82 million for 2025 and €19.82 million for 2026. 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
REPORTED GREYHOUND INJURIES AND DEATHS AT IRISH TRACKS
2025: 344 injuries, 197 deaths
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)