Protests will be staged outside greyhound racing tracks throughout Ireland over the coming weeks. The picture is from a demo at the County Kilkenny track last Friday. Greyhounds in Ireland are generally abandoned once their racing days are over. Shallow graves are unearthed with depressing regularity, disgorging the remains of ex-racers that were shot or beaten to death with spades by people who claim to love and revere what they call the "raw materials" of the industry. But these are not "raw materials". They are living, breathing affectionate sentient creatures that make wonderful pets. They deserve better than this. As if such neglect and ill treatment weren't bad enough, every greyhound trained to race on a track in Ireland must by law be registered with...the Irish Coursing Club. The fee is paid to an organisation engaged in one of the world's most barbaric blood sports. So...anyone who gets involved in greyhound racing is directly FINANCING live hare coursing, a practice that involves the snatching of thousands of hares from the Irish countryside each season and their use as LIVE BAIT... to be terrorized, mauled, and tossed about like broken dolls on frosted or water logged winter fields. Ireland's greyhound industry faces a bleak future, according to its leading advocates. The public is increasingly turning away from its abusive and corrupt activities. The question is: does it DESERVE a future? If and when it goes to the wall, it will be good riddance to a vile blot on our country.