Is Supervalu happy for its brand name to be associated with a cruel industry in which dogs are injured, drugged, dumped and killed? That's the question the supermarket chain is being asked this week as details emerge about 30 of its stores supporting greyhound racing.
Quishes Supervalu in Ballincollig is the latest of the chain's supermarkets to sponsor racing, with the "Quishes SuperValu 525" €690 race taking place recently at Curraheen Park stadium https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=CRK&date=07-Sep-18#race9
As highlighted by ICABS in August, a greyhound fell badly in a race sponsored by another Supervalu store. Two-year-old Longslip Charlie was knocked over at the final bend and could be seen falling to the ground and tumbling during the "Pettitt's SuperValu Great Sprint Stakes" race. See sickening footage at https://www.igb.ie/videos/videos/?raceid=ECY_2018_08_23_02 (forward to 30 seconds)
The Supervalu store also sponsored the "Pettitt's SupertValu Five-Two-Five Stakes" race on the night. The total prize money on offer was more than €800. A Supervalu advertisement sign was on display at the side of the track close to where Longslip Charlie fell. The races were part of a SuperValu Pettitts "annual Gala Race Night at Enniscorthy Greyhound Track" which the store promoted as "fun for the whole family with live music, party food, goodie bags, face painting, free draws and much more". https://www.facebook.com/pettittssupervalu/photos/a.194586477228313/1971369662883310/?type=3&theater
Last week, Hurley's Supervalu Midleton sponsored a race at Youghal greyhound track
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=YGL&date=14-Sep-2018 Its name was previously attached to a race at the same track in September 2016.
Other Supervalu stores supported greyhound racing over the summer. For example:
- The Wallace's Supervalu Five-Seven-Stakes race at Enniscorthy track on 16 August 2018
https://www.igb.ie/racing/upcoming-race-cards/upcoming-race-card-summary/?track=ECY&id=92016&date=16-Aug-2018
- Garveys Supervalu Stakes Final (with over €1,500 in prize money) on 13 July 2018 at Tralee track
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=TRL&date=13-Jul-18
- The Bernard Keane's SuperValu, Lanesboro A3 525 race on 6 July 18 at Longford track
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=LGD&date=06-Jul-18
Last year, and in previous years, the Supervalu name was attached to numerous races at tracks around Ireland. Scroll down for full list.
It is incredible that any business would wish to be associated with the greyhound industry following revelations about the injuries suffered by greyhounds at tracks, the doping of greyhounds and the killing of greyhounds. Shocking statistics show the extent of cruelty and killing in the Irish greyhound industry - over the past three and a half years alone, 1,369 greyhounds were reported injured at tracks and 438 were killed. This does not include the greyhounds injured at tracks and later killed elsewhere. Thousands more greyhounds go missing each year - presumed killed when found to be too slow to win races. Meanwhile, 2,729 unwanted greyhounds were killed in Irish dog pounds in the past eight years. Sponsorship is helping to keep this dog killing industry afloat.
ACTION ALERT
It's time for SuperValu to act to stop its local stores from sponsoring greyhound racing. Join us in contacting the company now.
SuperValu Head Office
Musgrave Limited,
Ballycurreen,
Airport Road, Cork
Comment on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SuperValuIreland/
Tweet to @SuperValuIRL
Say NO to the greyhound industry - don't attend races or fund-raisers held at greyhound tracks (these are a significant source of funding for the greyhound industry). Distribute our "6 reasons to say NO to greyhound racing" leaflet outside greyhound tracks to encourage people to show compassion and boycott greyhound racing. You can download the leaflet at http://www.banbloodsports.com/ln170616.htm or order copies by emailing info@banbloodsports.com Encourage your local animal protection groups to join calls for an end to greyhound racing, given the cruelty and killing involved.
The cruel and crumbling greyhound industry has received nearly a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers' money since 2001 (including €16 million for 2018). Urge Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to end funding to the greyhound industry and instead direct the money to charities, community groups, animal rescue centres and other deserving causes. Email "Stop funding the cruel greyhound industry" to taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie, paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie, minister@per.gov.ie
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Tweet to: @campaignforLeo
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignforleo/
Paschal Donohoe TD
Minister for Finance
Email: paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie, minister@per.gov.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1 6045810
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaschalDonohoe/
Tweet to @Paschald
Please sign and share our petition
Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Industry
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-industry
SUPERVALU STORES AND GREYHOUND RACING (2007-2017)
On 7th April 2017, McConville's SuperValu Mountmellick was named in all 11 races at Newbridge track, with prizemoney of over €3,000. During one of the races, two dogs collided, whom of whom "did not finish" the race and in another, there was "carnage" with one greyhound knocked over and sent tumbling.
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=NWB&date=07-Apr-17
O Keefes Supervalu
Curraheen Park, 04 November 2017
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=CRK&date=04-Nov-17#race10
Keanes Supervalu 525 (Grade: A3) Flat 525
Tralee track, 27 October 2017
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=TRL&date=27-Oct-17
Greig Tuite Supervalu A3 600 (Grade: A3) Flat 600
Limerick track, 30 September 2017
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=LMK&date=30-Sep-17
Reilly's Of Sallins Supervalu 525
Newbridge track, 22 September 2017
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=NWB&date=22-Sep-2017
Hurley's Super Valu A5 525
Youghal track, 22 Sepember 2017
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=YGL&date=22-Sep-17
Nestors Super Valu A5 (Grade : A5) Flat 525
Galway stadium, 9th September 2016
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=GLY&date=09-Sep-16#race1
Super Valu Portlaoise 525
Newbridge track, 18 August 2017
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=NWB&date=18-Aug-17#race10
Super Valu Enfield A1 525
Shelbourne Park, 08 July 2017
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=SPK&date=08-Jul-17
Garveys Super-Valu Hospital Stakes Final (with over €1,000 in prize money)
Tralee track, 07 July 2017
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=TRL&date=07-Jul-17#race7
The Twohigs Supervalu Kanturk A4 Stake
Curraheen Park, 12 August 2016
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=CRK&date=12-Aug-16
The Super Valu Portlaoise A3 525
Newbridge track, 12 August 2016
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=NWB&date=12-Aug-16
The O'Reillys Supervalu Buster Race A3 525 (Grade: A3) Flat 525
Enniscorthy track, 30 June 2016
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=ECY&date=30-Jun-16
SuperValu Open 525
Shelbourne Park, 4 June 2016
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=SPK&date=04-Jun-16
Hannon's Supervalu Enfield 525
Mullingar track, 30 April 2016
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=MGR&date=30-Apr-16#race2
The Supervalu Knocklyon 525
Harolds Cross, 08 April 2016
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=HRX&date=08-Apr-16#race8
The Rushe's Supervalu Naas 525
Newbridge track, 11 December 2015
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=NWB&date=11-Dec-15#race6
Ryans of Grange SuperValu 525
Curraheen Park, 01 November 2014
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=CRK&date=01-Nov-14
The Hurleys Supervalu Midleton 525
Curraheen Park, 25 October 2014
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=CRK&date=25-Oct-14
Twohigs Supervalu Kanturk A4 550 Stakes
Curraheen Park, 22 August 2014
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=CRK&date=22-Aug-14
Supervalu A4 525
Longford track, 15 August 2014
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=LGD&date=15-Aug-14
Twohigs Supervalu Kanturk A4 550 Stakes. Semi-Final
Curraheen Park, 15 August 2014
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=CRK&date=15-Aug-14
The Buckleys SuperValu S7 400
Mullingar track, 15 March 2014
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=MGR&date=15-Mar-14
The Davis Supervalu A5 525 (Grade : A5) Flat 525
Longford track, 24 May 2013
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=LGD&date=24-May-13
Marcus McLoughlin Super Valu Portarlington A2 525
Newbridge track, 15 June 2012
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=NWB&date=15-Jun-12
The Supervalu 330
Curraheen Park, 2 December 2011
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=CRK&date=02-Dec-11
Dooleys Supervalu, Newcastle West A4 525
Limerick track, 04 December 2010
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=LMK&date=04-Dec-10
McInerney's Supervalu (Loughrea) Open/A1 525
Galway track, 08 September 2007
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=GLY&date=08-Sep-07
Supervalu - Ballymoney (Grade : A7) Flat 525
Lifford track, 17 August 2007
During this race, a 2-year-old greyhound "did not finish" and never raced again
https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=LFD&date=17-Aug-07
GREYHOUND INJURIES AND DEATHS (IRELAND)
(NOTE: figures only relate to injuries and deaths at tracks and do not include the dogs injured at tracks and later killed elsewhere. In addition, an estimated 10,000 greyhounds go missing each year - presumed killed when found to be too slow to win races).
2017
Clonmel 11, 03
Curraheen Park 21, 08
Dundalk 44, 10
Enniscorthy 18, 04
Galway 24, 10
Harold's Cross 02, 01
Kilkenny 08, 03
Lifford 10, 06
Limerick 46, 19
Longford 13, 05
Mullingar 71, 16
Newbridge 17, 04
Shelbourne Park 21, 10
Thurles 10, 03
Tralee 24, 15
Waterford 10, 06
Youghal 07, 01
2016
Clonmel 24, 08
Curraheen Park 24, 08
Dundalk 23, 15
Enniscorthy 06, 05
Galway 23, 04
Harold's Cross 35, 11
Kilkenny 13, 02
Lifford 10, 04
Limerick 34, 12
Longford 17, 10
Mullingar 81, 15
Newbridge 21, 06
Shelbourne Park 51, 07
Thurles 18, 05
Tralee 28, 16
Waterford 14, 08
Youghal 05, 03
2015
Clonmel 14, 03
Curraheen Park 24, 07
Dundalk 32, 16
Enniscorthy 14, 06
Galway 16, 03
Harold's Cross 58, 07
Kilkenny 10, 06
Lifford 18, 02
Limerick 64, 13
Longford 14, 07
Mullingar 59, 14
Newbridge 11, 07
Shelbourne Park 33, 07
Thurles 11, 05
Tralee 11, 04
Waterford 26, 12
Youghal 7, 03
Injuries And Deaths: 2018 (January to June)
Injuries: 163. Deaths 53
Injuries And Deaths: 2017
Injuries: 357 Deaths: 124
Injuries And Deaths: 2016
Injuries: 427 Deaths: 139
Injuries And Deaths: 2015
Injuries: 422 Deaths: 122