Advancing International Greyhound Welfare & Rescue
TALLAHASSEE —  Naples Daily News : As some legislators renew a push to slash dog racing requirements from state law, animal rights activists released a report Tuesday highlighting extreme cases of greyhound abuse.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals called for quick passage next session of a bill that failed earlier this year. The legislation would end a measure that requires cardroom licensees, like the Naples Fort Myers Greyhound Track and Poker, to offer a minimum number of live races each year.

Aside from animal welfare groups, the bill has the support of many track owners who lose money on racing.

“We’re just hopeful that something will be done that will benefit the business,” said Isadore Havenick, an executive at West Flagler Associates, which owns the Bonita Springs track.

He said his facility is required to hold more than 400 events — eight races each — per year, a number much greater than the actual demand. The mandate costs him $2.5 million annually, he said.

Some experts anticipate a smoother path for the bill during this session. Earlier this year, legislation decoupling card rooms and dog racing passed both chambers but died on the final day of the 2011 session.

The ASPCA and a greyhound advocacy organization, GREY2K USA, condemned Florida’s dog racing industry in the Capitol Tuesday.

They said 8,000 dogs in kennels across the state often have no room to stand or turn around. Dogs have died from heart attacks, one was electrocuted, and between 2000 and 2003, 119 dogs tested positive for cocaine, including in Bonita Springs, the group reported.

“It is hard, I think, for anyone to look at this report and not come to the conclusion that dog racing is cruel and inhumane,” said Carey Theil, executive director of GREY2K USA.

If a law decoupling greyhound racing and cardrooms passes, the groups say some pari-mutuel gaming facilities will stop live racing altogether and others will scale back the number of races they offer.

While Havenick supports their stance on the bill, he denied ill treatment of dogs.

“In all sports there are injuries,” he said. “While we don’t own the dogs, we do everything in our power to provide a safe facility for them.”

Marc Dunbar, a gaming lawyer and lobbyist for horse racing operations, vouched for West Flagler Associates’ reputation for animal care. But he said the bill is unfair to companies that are required to run 40 horse races per year.

“Horses would like to see dogs come down to our level,” Dunbar said. “We would support the dogs coming down to 40, and treat everybody the same.”

Kennel owners across the state, represented in Tallahassee by the Florida Greyhound Association, will strongly oppose the measure, because of potential jobs losses in that industry.

Attempts to reach a representative for the Florida Greyhound Association were unsuccessful Tuesday. ***


Ireland/China: The Greyhound Export Controversy
There is a lucrative proposal afoot in Ireland to export Irish Greyhounds to China to seed and build China’s new Greyhound racing industry. This proposal has aroused controversy and outrage among animal welfare advocates. This page exposes the issues involved.
The Irish Greyhound Board (IGB)–Bord na gCon– is a commercial state body established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. The IGB has assured that the welfare of the Greyhounds exported to China would be supervised by the board in the same fashion as it is in Ireland.
Activists, knowing the poor treatment racing Greyhounds already receive in Ireland at the end of their racing careers, and the horrific treatment that frequently befalls dogs in China and other parts of Asia (sold as meat, skinned alive, etc.) do not want to see such a fate for these amazing and gentle dogs.

The Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) are proposing to exploit thousands of greyhounds by sending them to china –a country with no protective animal legislation and with the real possibility of a horrific death for the dogs when they stop winning races.
The IGB are in dire straits financially and they now hope to save their sick and ailing Industry by sending innocent Irish dogs and pups to China.They hope to operate and build new tracks in China.
?They are currently submitting a proposal to both the Agriculture and Finance Ministers. As the IGB [Bord na gCon] are a commercial semi-state body, they require Government approval if this venture is to become reality. This proposal confirms the IGBs total lack of concern for greyhounds as it is promoting animal abuse on a massive scale.
?There is worldwide condemnation from animal protection groups and from Industry people themselves. “As with any country we do not have any influence on the welfare standards adopted in other countries, and these matters are more appropriately dealt with by the country’s own legislative system,” said the IGB about the China venture.

Slow dogs in China will be discarded or sold and butchered as meat
Slow dogs in China will be discarded as is the case in other countries that have racing. No dog is capable of winning for more than a short time if at all. Losing or getting injured makes them a liability to be disposed of.
In Ireland and the UK there is a slight chance of dogs living their full life span by being rehomed…in China they will without a doubt be processed into fur and meat as a means of getting rid of them. Many parts of China have a one dog per house policy and dogs and cats being skinned alive or butchered for meat is well documented. One Chinese city alone chose to kill 36,000 stray dogs rather than try to find them new homes. Animals killed for their meat in China are often abused significantly in order to tenderise their meat before they are killed.
Thousands of Greyhounds are killed by the IGB every year. In Ireland they are put down in pounds, shot by Bolt gun in slaughterhouses, others are drowned, drugged, mutilated, or just strayed on the streets. Imagine what it will be like in CHINA! The prospect for this gentle breed is unimaginable.
Put pressure on the following officials:
Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney Email simon.coveney@agriculture.gov.ie Ph 01 6072000
Minister for Finance Michael Noonan. E-Mail Minister@finance.gov.ie Ph 01 604 5626
DON’T LET GREYHOUNDS BE EXPORTED TO CHINA. BOYCOTT THE TRACKS NOW- See www.greyhoundaction.org.uk


Ireland: Dublin Walk for Greyhounds a Great Success
Written on June 20, 2011 by ghounds in Activism, Greyhound Adoption, Ireland, Racing Industry, World Greyhound News 

Greyhounds have their day – in Dublin City Centre
“Open your hearts and homes to these gentle dogs” says Sharon Shannon
Over 250 walkers with their dogs gathered from all over Ireland and beyond, including representatives of greyhound rescue organisations in the USA, England and Wales, Sweden, and Italy amongst others.
Irish celebrities turned out in their numbers: Best selling Irish musician Sharon Shannon, TV presenter and journalist Amanda Brunker and acclaimed film director Lenny Abrahamson all took part in the walk.

Greyhound Friends Inc. kennel manager Jen Hutchinson is seen in center posing with popular Irish musician Sharon Shannon who came out to support the event. The photographs were taken by Greyhound Friends Inc. staff member Brie Burkehart.
Sharon Shannon said “Greyhounds are such gentle, affectionate dogs. Anyone who saw them walking calmly through the city today, alongside children and dogs of all breeds and sizes will have seen that for themselves. I call upon the people of Ireland to open their hearts and homes to these gentle dogs and to consider adopting a retired racing greyhound as a family pet”.
A spokesperson from Greyhound Rescue Association Ireland said:
“This was a peaceful walk and a much needed “first” for Ireland. All over the World, people are aware that greyhounds make wonderful family pets. Yet in Ireland too many people still do not think this way.
“The support for this walk shows that attitudes, at last, are changing and that more and more people are realising that greyhounds deserve a life when they retire from racing. Greyhounds are very gentle, good with children, generally get on well with other dogs, and they make wonderful family pets.
“The walk was prompted by the Irish Greyhound Board plans to support the development of greyhound racing in China. We believe that they should concentrate on addressing the serious greyhound welfare problems that exist here rather than setting up racing in a country with a notoriously poor record on animal welfare.
“Last year over 650 greyhounds were destroyed in Irish council pounds alone, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Hundreds of other greyhounds are disposed of by their owners or simply given away thoughtlessly to people who may later abandon them. Large numbers of puppies and young greyhounds bred for racing also just “disappear” before they ever see a race-track because they are too slow or do not have chase instinct.
“If it were Labradors or King Charles Spaniels meeting their deaths in their thousands there would be a public outcry and so there should be over greyhounds.
“By promoting greyhounds as pets we hope that more homes can be found in Ireland for the greyhound, a noble dog, which for so many people throughout the world is a symbol of our country.”
For RTE News Coverage of the event click on:
http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1101495
(Go to 19 minutes/5 seconds for feature)
PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE EVENT
250 people and over 100 dogs take part in the “Walk for Greyhounds” event June 19, in St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin Ireland. Greyhound Friends Inc. kennel manager Jen Hutchinson is seen in center posing with popular Irish musician Sharon Shannon who came out to support the event. The photographs were taken by Greyhound Friends Inc. staff member Brie Burkehart.
#gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 25%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } 
Popular Irish Musician, Sharon Shannon poses with a Greyhound Greyhound Friends Inc. kennel manager Jen Hutchinson is seen in center posing with popular Irish musician Sharon Shannon who came out to support the event. The photographs were taken by Greyhound Friends Inc. staff member Brie Burkehart. 

Ireland: Greyhound Welfare in Ireland- A Status Report and Call to Action
Written on July 27, 2011 by ghounds in Activism, Asia, China, Greyhound Abuse, Greyhound legislation, Ireland, Racing Industry, United Kingdom, World Greyhound News 
The Ireland-China Deal still a threat. We need to keep up the pressure.
Legislation
The Irish Government has finally passed the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill and it is due to be introduced before the end of 2011.
This piece of Legislation has been long awaited by all greyhound Welfare Activists as we thought it would help control the overbreeding of greyhounds in Ireland and improve the standard of kennelling and registration. Unfortunately, due to intense lobbying by the Greyhound Racing Industry they were granted an exemption from the new Legislation. The Department of Agriculture has now been allowed to amend the 1958 Greyhound Industry Act, and to legislate separately for the welfare of the Irish Greyhound. This Bill which is called the Welfare of Greyhound Bill 2011 is now been debated by the Government. At present we are studying the Bill and preparing submissions. It is our aim to ensure that a strict Code of Best Practice is drawn up and adhered to. Measures must be put in place to ensure that Welfare Officers are properly trained and in a position to enforce the Regulations.
The good news is that the number of greyhound puppies registered with the ICC in 2009 and 2010 hs shown a decline:
2009 3819 litters estimate 7 puppies per litter = 26,733
2010 3000 litters estimate 7 puppies per litter = 24,000
In any one year approximately one third of the puppies registered are unaccounted for at the end of the year. Therefore, 8000 young greyhounds would have been unaccounted for in 2010. Taking into account adult greyhounds leaving the Industry “retiring” each year and “natural wastage” which is injuries and diseases, we estimate approximately 11,000 greyhounds were unaccounted for in 2010. There are no records available for the number of greyhounds injured in any one year.
MARKET DECLINE
The Irish Greyhound Board now intend to expand Irish Greyhound Racing into China. The Board has plans to build 5 Stadia in china and a lucrative deal is envisaged with the Chinese.
In the past approximately 10,000 Irish Grehounds were exported to the UK each year. The UK Greyhound Industry continues to decline as Greyhound Racing Tracks continue to close. The Irish Greyhound Board now intend to expand Irish Greyhound Racing into China. The Board has plans to build 5 Stadia in china and a lucrative deal is envisaged with the Chinese. Animal Welfare Activists in Ireland recently protested outside the Dept. of Agriculture Offices in Dublin, joined by supporters from Greyhound Friends Boston, the AEGA and SOS Galgos, Spain. This protest was instrumental in forcing the Irish Government to withhold permission to export all surplus Irish greyhounds to China.
ACTION
We must continue to lobby against the expansion of the Irish Greyhound Racing Industry into China. If Stadia are build in China Irish Greyhounds will be sold at auction to China. At present Irish Greyhounds are sold to Pakistan on a regular basis. The IGB are putting severe pressure on the Irish Government to grant them a subsidy to enable them to expand the Greyhound Industry into China
THE HORSE AND GREYHOUND FUND
The Greyhound Industry continues to be subsidised each year by the Irish Taxpayer. Since 2001 the Irish Government has given 130,000,000 to the Greyhound Racing Industry. Due to the downturn in the economy the Irish Government is facing severe criticism if they continue to subsidise the Industry. We must continue to be vigilant and lobby to stop the expansion of the Irish Greyhound Industry into China.




Guam Greyhound Wins $10,000 Award for G.A.I.N.
Written on October 19, 2010 by ghounds in Guam, Happy Tails, Pacific, World Greyhound News 
Guam Greyhound Wins Nationwide “Best Pet Parent” Contest

Winning Greyhound Cartier & Dana Provost
Guam – After weeks of voting, loyal Guam greyhound fans and GAIN supporters celebrated as Cartier, one of Guam’s rescued greyhounds, won first place in a nationwide PetFinder.com contest, awarding Guam Animals In Need with a much needed $10,000 grand prize.
Cartier was one of the hundreds of abandoned greyhounds that resulted from the closure of the Guam Greyhound Racetrack in 2008. Sick and emaciated, he was rescued one evening in a torrential rain storm in December of that year while he was roaming the streets, trying to nourish himself with whatever he could find.
Luckily, a guardian angel had been sent for Cartier and he was placed in GAIN’s Greyhound Rescue Program, a special project for the abandoned greyhounds of the track. “Never in our wildest dreams did we think the rescue effort would result in being awarded a $10,000 prize from one of the hounds,” stated Cindy Bartels, GAIN President.
Through the rescue effort, several greyhound rescue groups around the world came together to help find homes for the abandoned Guam greyhounds.
Cartier found his forever home with Dana Provost, a greyhound rescue volunteer from Las Vegas who owns several other greyhounds. The 11 months he was with Dana was probably the happiest he has ever been before he gave in to an illness and passed away.
In August 2010, PetFinder.com conducted the World’s Best Pet Parent Contest, which Dana entered with Cartier. For the next six weeks, Cartier supporters from around the world voted for him. Dana had selected Guam Animals In Need as the non-profit organization to benefit should Cartier win. Cartier racked up more than 7,000 votes to win first place.
“I have to say that Cartier lived it large,” Dana said. “I hoped for the best, but I never knew too much of his background in Guam and he was already 8 years old with this medical issue, so there was no guarantee of his lifespan. With his demeanor he easily took on with full grace the role of Greyhound ambassador.”
Dana added, “Whether it was costume contests or car rides, Cartier was able to experience life as it was and he loved and participated in everything. He may have known he was sick for a long time and didn’t show it. I had no reason to think otherwise. I believe he wanted to go out on his terms. And that he did.”
In the short time since his rescue, Cartier touched the hearts of several people, from the lady who rescued him off the streets, to the children he would play with while in foster care and finally with Dana.
“His passing has empowered me to keep doing what I do best,” Dana said. “The greatest gift he gave me was that he left this world on his terms. I did not have to make the decision.”
GAIN is extremely grateful for all the support from all of the greyhound rescue groups and animal advocates who voted tirelessly to help Cartier win the contest. The prize money will go toward the GAIN Second Chance Program, which helps animals like Cartier, who require extra care and are otherwise adoptable.
“What one greyhound did by just being – to bring people together from all walks of life from virtually all over the world is an absolutely amazing feat,” Dana said.


Great Britain-Oxford: Cash infusions to Greyhound Owners Revitalizes Racing Industr
Written on October 10, 2011 by ghounds in England, Ireland, Racing Industry, United Kingdom, World Greyhound News 
30,000 Pounds for Racing, None for Re-Homing Greyhounds
Oxford owners and trainers are in for a massive bonus following a big injection of prize money by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
The GBGB initiative in awarding tracks a fund of around £30,000 over the next 12 months will be great news for Oxford Stadium.
Some owners can only dream of landing a graded race for £1,000.
But that is what’s up for grabs as racing manager Gary Baiden plans to stage two £1,000 graded sweepstakes a month over the next year.
They will cover around 26 races in which trainers will receive a £100 bonus, and all losing finalists will also get £100.
And that’s not all, the Board have also given an early Christmas bonus for the owners by donating another £5,000 in added prize money for December.
The 50 races will run between December 1 until the turn of the year.
While we are on the cash theme, bookmakers RD Racing are to sponsor a graded event in the spring worth £500 to the winner.
Another innovation from the GBGB is a 40-foot limousine topped with a giant 20-foot long greyhound promoting the spot and is touring tracks .
It is due to visit Oxford on Saturday November 26.
The sign that a few more owners are joining the sport comes from trainer Michael Peterson.
He welcomes back an owner lost to the sport for 18 years who has now purchased five top class dogs from Ireland for the Peterson kennels.
The racing office are looking for a steward to officiate in the stewards box and on Saturday evenings. Those interested in applying should ring 01865 778222.
Chris Stringer kept up his good run by taking his winning streak to 13 winners in eight days, while Angie Kibble has one hand on the champion trainers title after a hat-trick on Saturday.
Former Pall Mall winner Ballymac Ace and finalist last year, took his prize-money tally to £30,000 when landing the Yarmouth Derby.

UK: Greyhounds on Drugs and their Pushers (Trainers) who Break the Law
Written on October 6, 2011 by ghounds in England, Greyhound Abuse, Greyhound legislation, Racing Industry, United Kingdom, World Greyhound News 
The variety of substances injected or fed to greyhounds that can potentially affect the animal’s performance – speed up or slow down – is matched only by the variety of excuses when the trainers are caught. More recently two cases stand out not only because of the substances involved but also because of how each case was dealt with and the outcome.
By Clive Ellis
Of Cannabis, Viagra, Amphetamines and Methamphetamines
In September last year the police interviewed trainer Anthony Fowler on reports he was selling cannabis. It transpired, however, Fowler was giving both cannabis and Viagra to a greyhound called Jake to affect the animal’s track time.
The matter was brought to the attention of the RSPCA and though Fowler had got rid of the greyhound – put down due to a shoulder injury… apparently – a successful prosecution was brought against the trainer at Hartlepool Magistrates Court.
On 9 August Fowler was banned from keeping dogs for life. The trainer was further given an 18-week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.
There are two key points concerning the above: Fowler was not a licensed trainer and so not subject to the Rules of Racing under the Greyhound Board of Great Britain and the case was dealt with by the magistrates’ court.
Is the Greyhound Board of Great Britain Doing its Job?
The second case concerns a black and white greyhound bitch called Steer Me Home and trained by David Puddy. A urine sample was taken from the dog at Central Park Stadium, Sittingbourne, in March this year and it was found to contain methamphetamine and amphetamine.
Both are central nervous system stimulants. The former is a Class A drug known colloquially as crystal meth. The latter is a Class B drug known as speed.
Puddy is a licensed trainer (attached to Sittingbourne) and at a GBGB disciplinary hearing held on 19 July was found in breach of rules 152 (i), 174 (i)(b) and 217. The disciplinary committee ordered that Puddy be “severely reprimanded” and fined £750.
The magistrates’ court is of course independent. The GBGB are the governing body for 25 tracks across England and Scotland, and Puddy is still running dogs at Sittingbourne.
The GBGB press office stated this week that “with all cases relating to drugs the relevant authorities are informed.” Puddy’s partner, speaking on Monday, said neither the RSPCA nor the police had made any enquiries.
If there’s one positive to take from any of the above, it’s that Fowler was banned from keeping dogs for life. The fact, however, Fowler was caught in the first place had nothing to do with protecting animals.
Ultimately one is again left questioning whether the welfare of racing dogs is best served by a self regulating industry. Furthermore, one has to question the relationship between the GBGB and other “relevant authorities.”


UK/Britain: Greyhound Injuries Reported in new Racing Track Survey from Greyhound Watch
Written on September 23, 2011 by ghounds in Activism, England, Greyhound Abuse, Greyhound Adoption, Racing Industry, United Kingdom, World Greyhound News 
Greyhound track horror: a steward’s eye view
A new survey – the largest of its kind undertaken – offers a disturbing insight into the world of greyhound racing and the set task demanded of these athletes: the racing at speed on tight anti-clockwise tracks. 
In Britain up to 6 greyhounds are pitted against each other on a track that essentially comprises two straights leading into tight bends. The forces generated through the limbs on negotiating the turns, the potential to lose footing and inevitable interaction between dogs on such tracks, are key factors in the catastrophic number of injuries suffered by the dogs every year.
It is impossible to give a detailed breakdown of injuries or a figure for greyhound’s euthanased as a result of injury. Such information is being collated by the industry but is not being made public (against a key recommendation within a Parliamentary Group report published May 2007).
What we do have, however, are the stewards racing comments covering the ‘performance’ of each dog in each race. How the dogs perform is of course a measure of safety and the comments make for sobering reading.
In 2010 the number of runners not finishing (DNF) or finishing at distance (DIS) was 4,513. The tally of runners recorded broke-down or lame was 1,812. Above figures are taken from a survey by Greyhound Watch covering the races held on tracks governed by UKAS accredited Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
The highest figures recorded in the survey for individual tracks are as follows: 68 DNF (Monmore); 290 DIS (Crayford); 296 broke-down/lame (Sittingbourne).
Whilst a greyhound recorded DNF or DIS is not always an indication of injury, it is of course the more severe injuries prevalent in greyhound racing that either impair greatly a dogs time or terminate his/her race. Hock fractures are sadly all too common on oval tracks and invariably result in the animal being destroyed.
As a percentage of races contended, Sittingbourne had by far the highest figure for runners listed in the survey. On 15 January alone stewards at the Kent track recorded one greyhound broke-down and 11 greyhounds lame. A further 2 finished at distance after falling. For 7 of the greyhounds it was to be their last race.
The most serious injuries suffered by the dogs – to include longbone fractures – are commonly the result of a fall, and the number of runners brought down on oval tracks is horrifying. From the data compiled above that covers 5,565 runners, 2,315 are recorded falling. The breakdown is as follows: turn one, 1,309; turn two, 283; turn three, 272; turn four, 81; other, 370.
Figures clearly indentify the first corner as the most dangerous point on the track and the incidents that occur as the dogs enter turn one account for many of the greyhounds lost through injury.
1,938 runners listed in the survey did not contend another race. On greyhound-data.com there are 68 British based rescues alone listing retired racers as either available for adoption or adopted. A further section covers dogs independently homed/kept by their trainer/owner but only 188 of the runners can be accounted for in this way.
A Partial but Horrific View
Many people might find the results of the survey disturbing but it does nothing more than provide a flavour of what is a happening on British greyhound tracks. The survey does not cover the 11 independent tracks where it is thought safety is no better, nor does it cover the tens of thousands of trials held.
Furthermore there is stark variation on what stewards include in race comments that at best highlight only a fraction of the injuries racing dogs incur.
John Haynes – the gentleman who took on the unenviable task of trying to improve safety on tracks now governed by the GBGB – referenced a time not very long back when the majority of dogs retired through injury and claims to have reduced the injury rate by more than 20 percent.
Reports, however, from grass roots members of the racing fraternity indicate that in 2010 the scale and nature of injuries was about as bad as it gets. I think even Haynes would concede, oval tracks can be made safer but not safe.
GBGB ‘retirement’ forms include a section for dogs put down due to injury (treatable or otherwise) and a request was made (twice) for the figure covering 2010. The governing body have yet to respond.


China: Chinese dog eaters and dog lovers spar over animal rights
Written on May 31, 2011 by ghounds in Activism, Asia, China, Greyhound Abuse, Greyhound Adoption, Ireland, Racing Industry, United Kingdom, World Greyhound News 
Washington Post- BEIJING — The mutts were destined for the dinner table — all 520 of them crammed onto a truck hurtling down a Beijing highway toward awaiting restaurants in northeastern China.
Then, fate intervened in the form of a passing driver, an animal lover who spotted the truck and angrily forced it off the road.

Chinese street dog rescued by animal welfare activists on way to being eaten as meat
From there, things began spiraling out of control. News of the confrontation hit the Chinese blogosphere, sending more than 200 animal activists flocking immediately to the highway. Traffic on the road slowed to a standstill. Dozens of police officers were called in. Animal activists, however, kept arriving with reinforcements, carrying water, dog food, even trained veterinarians for a siege that lasted 15 hours.
For centuries, dog meat has been coveted for its fragrant and unique flavor; it is an especially popular dish in the winter, when it is believed to keep you warm. But pet ownership has skyrocketed in recent years as China’s booming economy produced a burgeoning middle class with both money and time for four-legged friends.
Weeks later, those who were there still talk in disbelief at how quickly things escalated. But in many ways, it was a battle that has been brewing for years between the rural and the urbanites, the poor and the rich — between China’s dog eaters and its growing number of dog lovers.
The standoff last month has sparked the widest-ranging discussions to date in China over animal rights. Pictures and videos from the incident have spawned endless arguments on e-mail groups and blogs, Web polls and news stories delving into each side’s points.
And the debate is the latest sign of China’s rapidly changing mores and culture. For centuries, dog meat has been coveted for its fragrant and unique flavor; it is an especially popular dish in the winter, when it is believed to keep you warm. But pet ownership has skyrocketed in recent years as China’s booming economy produced a burgeoning middle class with both money and time for four-legged friends. And with the new pet stores, a once powerless animal rights movement is slowly gaining traction.
Read the entire original article:

The article goes on to describe China’s lack of animal welfare laws, the changing cultural mores and the clash of classes this issue brings to light.
See related posts here, here, and here. The information in this article is basic to the protest against sending Greyhounds from Ireland to China to see a new Greyhound racing industry.


THE PHILIPPINE ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY (PAWS)’S POSITION PAPER/OPPOSITION TO GREYHOUND RACING
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (hereinafter, “PAWS”), through undersigned PAWS Program Director, Anna Hashim-Cabrera, respectfully submits this Position Paper/Opposition to House Bill No. 5291 proposed by House Representatives Salimbangon, Soon-Ruiz and Biron per Committee Report No. 1393, based on the following grounds:
GREYHOUND RACING IS CRUEL: IT WILL LEAD TO MASSIVE GREYHOUND BREEDING AND KILLINGS
The new industry of greyhound racing will trigger the breeding of hundreds of greyhounds, more than it can place at race tracks. Racing afficionados will be motivated to produce “winning” dogs and will end up overbreeding them. This is an inevitable scenario as can be shown in euthanasia statistics in countries which already have greyhound racing.
In the United States, approximately 20,000 surplus greyhounds are destroyed each year because they have been deemed unfit to race and because there are not enough homes for the retired dogs.
To illustrate just how many retired dogs that the Philippines would be dealing with, consider this: A greyhound’s racing career is usually over at 3.5 to 4 years of age, and yet, its life expectancy is about 13 years old.
Add this to the Philippine scenario where there is already an alarming rate of homeless dogs due to unregulated breeding of purebred dogs, and the lack of government-funded spay-neuter programs to prevent overpopulation of the “native” dogs or regular “aspins” (“Asong Pinoys”, formerly called “askals” ), House Bill 5291 will exponentially increase the current dog population of an estimated 9.6MM.
At present, one-third of this estimated dog population (3.2MM) are strays or homeless. Each barangay or city is already grappling with problems of how to “get rid” of unclaimed impounded dogs.
PAWS has been receiving dozens of reports from concerned citizens in cities and municipalities who have resorted to poisoning, drowning gassing or simply selling off the dogs to the illegal dog meat trade because do not how to humanely dispose of them. Many have no budgets for the purchase of barbiturates for the proper euthanasia of these unwanted animals.
With less than five (5) BAI-accredited non-government-funded animal shelters all over the Philippines, the PAWS Animal Shelter among them, the country needs to put some serious thought into the effective prevention of pet overpopulation or surplus animals. Currently, without the Greyhound Racing Industry, we already have a problem that is not being addressed – unregulated breeding of purebred dogs and non-availability and non-affordability of spay-neuter surgeries which will prevent every pet dog of each Filipino family from producing at least three (3) puppies per year.
With the greyhound racing factored in, greyhounds will be bred excessively leading to more unwanted or un-“rehomeable” dogs who will be victims of cruelty, neglect and not even afforded the proper euthanasia by cities or by the government agencies which will later on be collecting them for ‘disposal’.
GREYHOUND RACING CANNOT BE OPERATED IN A HUMANE MANNER
The reason why the greyhound racing industry is inherently cruel is because it treats dogs as commodities. It is a form of gaming in which the amount of money a dog generates determines his or her expendability.
As a result, the following cruelties have been commonly observed in racing greyhounds’ kennels or facilities in developed countries – those with strict animal welfare laws like the United States: 
Greyhounds are kept at track kennels in stacked cages, often muzzled, for a total of 18 to 22 hours per day. 
Many tracks use wooden crates which get soaked in urine, making sanitary conditions difficult 
Greyhound adoption groups regularly report that incoming greyhounds suffer from an incredible variety of afflictions. Untreated conditions and injuries such as missing or broken toes, broken hocks and incredible internal (whipworms, hookworms, tapeworms, coccidia and giardia) and external (fleas, ticks, mites) parasites are common. Teeth and gums frequently show advanced signs of neglect-related disease and wea, attributable to diet, as well as stress related trauma from chewing on available materials in the environment (stress/boredom precipitated). 
Dogs are routinely fed “4-D Meat” the meat of dead, diseased, dying or downed (unable to walk) animals deemed unfit for human consumption by the USDA. The micro-pathogen, drug and diseased laden meat can cause the dogs to become ill. The meat is used because it is cheap.
Source: Greyhound Protection League - www.greyhounds.org
http://www.greyhounds.org/gpl/contents/common.html
GREYHOUND RACING IS IMMORAL AND UNETHICAL BY ITS VERY NATURE – THE REASON WHY IT IS BEING BOYCOTTED AND STRONGLY OPPOSED BY MANY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
House Bill No. 5291 is proposing that we create a whole new profit-driven industry based on assumption of ‘expendable’ lives.
To allow a cycle of breeding and then mercilessly killing thousands of dogs “not being good enough to race” in the name of gambling and entertainment is morally inexcusable.
There is no need for the Philippines to adopt immoral and unethical practices being criticized by a growing number of informed citizens all over the world.
It will be a blight on our national image to introduce this form of animal cruelty as
an acceptable and legal practice in our country.
Further, greyhound racing is not in line with the spirit or rationale within which the Philippine Animal Welfare Act (Republic Act 8485) - a law which PAWS has
strongly lobbied for – was passed by our lawmakers in 1998.
The law was passed not solely for the well-being of animals alone but because of the conviction that a nation’s concern for its animals reflect the psyche of its people. Where people are conscious of preventing all forms of cruelty, its society is more harmonious, peaceful and more progressive.
Mahatma Gandhi, one of the greatest Philosophers of our time, put it succinctly when he said that “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
Promoting a humane society by rule of law or reflecting the state of our society by putting this principle into a law was deemed important enough to merit the passage of Southeast Asia’s very first national Animal Welfare Act.
PRAYER
WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that House Bill No. 5291 be outright rejected and not passed into law for it introduces the cruel, inhumane, immoral and unethical “sport” that is Greyhound Racing.
Quezon City for Pasay City, 26 June 2009.
THE PHILIPPINE ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY
87 Small Horseshoe Drive, New Manila, Quezon City 1112
By:
ANNA HASHIM-CABRERA
Program Director


New Greyhound Track to Open in St. Kitts
The proposed introduction of greyhound racing on St. Kitts is problematic.
When greyhound tracks at other isolated venues have failed ...especially when they fail abruptly, greyhounds are left stranded. Marguerita Island, Venezuela closed in the 90's with no back up plan. Hundreds of greyhounds disappeared. 
In the autumn of 2008 the greyhound track on Guam closed and no real provision had been made for the extraneous greyhounds' welfare. Since Guam is under American auspices it was possible to fly the dogs to the west coast of the U.S. and then on to homes.
This was an expensive, labor intensive, but extremely rewarding rescue. 
Two tracks in Spain closed quickly.........both had hundreds of Irish racers. International and Spanish rescue groups were able to save some of the dogs but certainly not all.

A major welfare worry is that it is not known what animal welfare standards would apply for the greyhounds at the St. Kitts track. Especially when these dogs are often considered 'commericial' animals.

Support the Greyhounds
In St. Kitts, which is part of the Caribbean Islands, there are plans to open two greyhound tracks. Dogs will be shipped from the United States to this very small island if the St. Kitts and Nevis Racing Bill of 2009 goes unchallenged.
Please send a letter of support for the greyhounds to:
Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas
Office of the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis
Government Headquarters
Church Street, Basseterre
St. Kitts


Ex-racing dogs rescued after track closing/Guam. -More   AEGA Photo/Mottern   
Current News: 
Plan to export to Chinese tracks stopped for the moment by Irish Government. AEGA focus continues on backdoor exporting to the region. -More  
News from Florida
Top Photos & Videos: 
More Breaking Stories
30 Irish Retired Greyhound for GACI Italy - May 5, 2011
Kennels at track in Casablanka
Press Release: June 14, 2012
For immediate release

American European Greyhound Alliance joins 
Greyhound Rescue Association / Ireland (GRA) for the 2nd Annual 
"Walk For Greyhounds" planned in Dublin, Ireland on June 17th, 2012

Co-founder of the American European Greyhound Alliance Louise Coleman has traveled from The United States to attend the 2nd annual "Walk for Greyhounds" scheduled for Sunday June 17th on location in St. Stephen's Green in the heart of Dublin, Ireland. The event is a peaceful walk organized by the Greyhound Rescue Association / Ireland (GRA) to promote greyhounds as family pets. AEGA staff photographer John Mottern has also traveled from the USA to cover and attend the event. Also attending the event will be AEGA co-founder Marian Fitzgibbon who will be traveling from Limerick, Ireland for the day's events. Louise Coleman and Marion Fitzgibbon will be available for interviews concerning the AEGA's on-going efforts internationally to promote greyhound/galgos welfare. (contact information below)

The AEGA works internationally to highlight the plight of greyhounds and Spanish galgos which are used for competitive blood sports and racing around the world. The organization works to expose the impact of over breeding for profit within these industries which results in a variety of suffering and a culture of uncontrolled and cruel culling of unwanted animals. Thousands of these dogs a year meet a horrific demise due to unregulated or ignored regulations both locally and internationally. The AEGA encourages media coverage of the issues facing these dogs and of specific cases of abuse. The organization also supports public education efforts through outreach programs and peaceful public demonstrations while working tirelessly to promote fund-raising efforts to support other international organizations working to educate and place greyhounds and galgos through adoption efforts.

MEDIA AND CONTACT INFORMATION:

Press Availability in Ireland June 14th through June 20th for radio, broadcast and print media
Contact phone number 0877007190 (After June 22nd USA (508) 435-5969)
email: greyhndfds@aol.com (Louise Coleman) / marionfitzgibbon@gmail.com (Marion Fitzgibbon) motternphoto@aol.com (John Mottern for press photography)
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