The Ireland Japan Association is being urged to stay away from Shelbourne Park stadium, one of the worst tracks in Ireland for greyhound injuries and deaths.
The Ireland Japan Association (which promotes greater business and cultural ties between Ireland and Japan) and Japan Business Society are due to hold a networking event at the Dublin stadium on 5th March https://ija.ie/event/the-shelbourne-dog-races-networking-event/
Both organisations have been told about the suffering and death at Shelbourne Park - at least 167 greyhounds suffered injuries there and 39 were killed by a track vet over the past five years alone. Among the victims are a greyhound who collapsed after a race and died of a heart attack and another who was carried away bleeding with a leg bone “popped out”.
In an appeal, ICABS urged Ireland Japan Association and Japan Business Society to follow the example of Japan's biggest business, Toyota, in rejecting greyhound racing. We told them that in the past, Toyota Ireland has emphasised that the company does not sponsor greyhound racing. After its brand name was used at a greyhound track, it contacted the Irish Greyhound Board to instruct it to immediately remove Toyota from the title of a race, saying the use of the brand name was used "without our knowledge or consent."
We also highlighted the disturbing revelations in "RTE Investigates: Greyhounds running for their lives". The programme revealed that 6,000 dogs are killed every year simply because they are not fast enough to win. It included horrifying scenes of dogs being delivered to knackeries to be shot in the head. One shot dog was seen writhing on the ground in agony as his merciless owner drove away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
We hope Ireland Japan Association and Japan Business Society will show compassion for the animals and follow Toyota Ireland, Eir Sport, Tesco Ireland, Electric Ireland, Applegreen, Le Guide Irlande, Barry's Tea, FBD Insurance, Botanica International, Hyde Irish Whiskey, Thomas Cook/Jet Tours, Galway Crystal and other companies, in rejecting greyhound racing. This would be widely welcomed by the public.
SEE ALSO
Toyota Ireland has told the Irish Greyhound Board to remove its brand name from the title of a race held at Clonmel greyhound track. The car company, which does not sponsor greyhound racing, has told the IGB that the Toyota brand was used without its permission https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/photos/a.463548137094083/1321250814657140/?type=3
Toyota Ireland has moved to emphasise that it is NOT a supporter of Ireland's cruel greyhound industry
https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/posts/1940259316089617
ACTION ALERT
Urge Ireland Japan Association to show compassion for the dogs and choose a different venue for its networking event.
Ireland Japan Association
C/O Unique Japan Tours
54 Dawson Street
3rd Floor
Dublin 2
Email: info@ija.ie; culture@ir.mofa.go.jp (with a copy to the Japanese Ambassador to Ireland, Mitsuru Kitano)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IrelandJapanAssociation/