A veterinary surgeon attached to Kilkenny greyhound stadium is shamefully continuing to sponsor racing at the track, ICABS can reveal.
As reported last month, vet Pat Dunne is a sponsor of racing at the stadium where in the past four years alone, at least 39 greyhounds suffered injuries and at least 13 greyhounds died or were “put to sleep” by a track vet after suffering injuries.
Injuries to hocks, legs, wrists, shoulders and back/tail are among those suffered by dogs at Kilkenny track.
Yesterday, Friday 8th February, five races took place at Kilkenny track as part of the “€5,200 Pat Dunne,Track Vet, Open Unraced” and "Pat Dunne, Track Vet Unraced Consolation" race events - https://www.igb.ie/results/view-results/?track=KKY&date=08-Feb-2019 During one of the races, a 1-year-old greyhound was knocked over and could be seen falling to the ground.
Vet Pat Dunne has been sponsoring greyhound racing at Kilkenny track since at least 2014.
Incredibly, despite the fact that 1,559 greyhounds have been injured and 506 have been killed at Irish tracks since 2015, the Veterinary Council of Ireland is refusing to act to stop vets from sponsoring greyhound racing.
Last year, ICABS brought to the attention of the Veterinary Council another vet (AnCu Veterinary, with offices in Dundalk, Dublin and Newry) sponsoring racing at Dundalk stadium, one of the country's worst tracks for dog injuries.
We asked the council if they considered it appropriate for a veterinary clinic to sponsor an activity in which animals suffer and are killed. Their response was: "The Council would not take issue with a veterinary practitioner sponsoring an event as long as it complies with the Code of Standards for Advertising, Promotional and Direct Marketing, which is enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland http://www.asai.ie/asai-code/ and does not bring the veterinary profession into disrepute. The activities mentioned in your email are legal in the State and the Council does not restrict registered persons from participating in any legal activity."
Greyhounds are not only dying at tracks but also in dog pounds. Shocking statistics show that at least 2,649 greyhounds have been destroyed in Irish pounds since 2010. The local authority dog pound stats reveal that 3,130 greyhounds were surrendered to pounds around the country and 2,649 of them were destroyed. Last year, in a statement expressing concern about a €1 million grant to Kilkenny track from the taxpayer-funded IGB, Greyhound Rescue Association Ireland said that a "significant amount of rescues [dogs] surrendered in the [Kilkenny] area are greyhounds" and that two Kilkenny rescue groups - PAWS Rescue and Greyhounds in Need - are both forced to take in an average of 100 greyhounds every year.
Injuries and deaths at Kilkenny track
2018 (January to September 2018)
8 greyhounds injured, 2 killed
2017
8 greyhounds injured, 3 killed
2016
13 greyhounds injured, 2 killed
2015
10 greyhounds injured, 6 killed
REPORTED GREYHOUND INJURIES AND DEATHS AT IRISH TRACKS
2018: Injuries: 353. Deaths 121
2017: Injuries: 357. Deaths: 124
2016: Injuries: 427. Deaths: 139
2015: Injuries: 422. Deaths: 122
VICTIMS OF RACING AT KILKENNY STADIUM
In her first race on 28 December 2018, a greyhound named Tanners Hawk fell and tumbled at Kilkenny track. According to the Irish Greyhound Board website, this greyhound did not finish the race, suggesting an injury. She has not raced since.
https://youtu.be/D-RMjR_rqK8?t=7
On 14 December 2018, a 2-year-old greyhound named Foyle Lucy suffered a very bad fall at the first bend at Kilkenny track. She has not raced since.
https://youtu.be/at6Hu3q8EMc?t=7
In April 2018, a man was seen lashing out at a greyhound after the dog was suspended from a race for fighting. The video footage of the incident was later removed from the Irish Greyhound Board website. The greyhound never raced again.
On 5th May 2017, a greyhound named Tyra Grimlough struck the trackside rail and suffered a shocking fall at the beginning of a race at Kilkenny track. The race commentator, acknowledging the severity of the fall, could be heard exclaiming: “Big, big trouble there at the opening bend”. This was Tyra Grimlough’s first and final race.
https://www.igb.ie/videos/videos/?raceid=KKY_2017_05_05_07
On 16 January 2019, 2 greyhounds collided and fell to the ground at the first bend at Kilkenny track.
https://youtu.be/Tju693bGKGo?t=14
ACTION ALERT
If you agree that vets should not be sponsoring greyhound racing, please join us in appealing to the Veterinary Council of Ireland to change its stance.
Aideen Neylon
Veterinary Council of Ireland
53 Lansdowne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin
Telephone: +353 (0)1 668 4402
Email: Aideen.Neylon@vci.ie, info@vci.ie
The greyhound industry has received nearly a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers' money since 2001 (including €16.8 million for 2019). Urge Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to end funding to the greyhound industry and instead direct the money to sports clubs, health groups, animal rescue centres and other deserving causes.
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie, finegael@finegael.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