The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is calling on Glanbia to announce a permanent end to its "GAIN" sponsorship of cruel greyhound racing.

In an email to the company's CEO we stated: "If you saw the RTE Investigates programme last week, you will understand why no company should in any way support this shameful industry. The programme revealed that 6,000 dogs are killed every year simply because they are not fast enough to win. We were shown horrifying scenes of dogs being dragged into knackeries and shot in the head. One dog was seen writhing on the ground in agony as his merciless owner drove away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM The programme also highlighted the illegal practice in the greyhound industry of doping dogs to make them run faster or slower to influence the outcomes of races. Also shown were greyhounds with their ears chopped off or burned with acid (to remove identity tattoos before being dumped) and the hellholes that await Irish greyhounds exported to China and Pakistan."

The Irish public is horrified that Glanbia - a company behind some of Ireland's most famous brands - is a sponsor of this vile dog-killing industry. They are disgusted that, a week after the broadcast of the RTE Investigates programme, Glanbia has yet to make a statement and end its sponsorship.

We told Glanbia that as calls grow for a ban on greyhound racing, the company's "GAIN" dog and cat food brand name remains on display on the Irish Greyhound Board website in connection with a race next month, i.e. "the final of the GAIN Dog Nutrition Corn Cuchullainn will take place on 9th August 2019".

Glanbia is one of the biggest supporters of greyhound racing. In 2016, Glanbia's Gain Dog Foods brand announced a rolling one year greyhound racing sponsorship deal worth €120,000.

We are urging Glanbia to follow Connolly's Red Mills, Barry's Tea, FBD Insurance, Botanica International, Hyde Irish Whiskey and other companies, in announcing an immediate and permanent end to its greyhound racing sponsorship.

We also urge Glanbia to put an end to its support for cruel hare coursing - we were told by Glanbia in the past that it "does not pass judgement on sports or activities as long as they are undertaken within the confines of the law". Amid growing protests and boycotts of companies which support the nasty greyhound industry, now is the time for Glanbia to make a judgement.

ACTION ALERT

Get in contact with Glanbia and ask it to permanently end all support/sponsorship of greyhound racing and hare coursing.

Jim Bergin
CEO, Glanbia
Glanbia House,
Kilkenny, Ireland

Telephone: +353 (0)56-777 2200
Email: corporatecomms@glanbia.com, info@gainanimalnutrition.com
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