Greyhound Racing
the facts behind this dark sport
The national picture . . .
Around 30,000 greyhounds are bred for racing each year in Britain & Ireland. Most are exported from Ireland to Britain and other countries.
Around 90% of dogs racing on British tracks are Irish bred.
Around 10,000 of these greyhounds are killed before they ever race. Owners can tell straight away that they will not be winners.
Approximately, two thirds pass their first racing trials and the remaining third are killed.
Approximately, 20,000 hounds enter racing each year, which means around the same number must leave the racing industry each year. But these dogs are nowhere to be found. The prime factor is money.
A greyhound that does not chase is assumed to be useless and can cost around £2000 in kennelling bills, against just £20 to be euthanased by a vet, or no cost at all if killed or abandoned!
The same argument goes for old dogs which no longer win races.
Some 12,000 dogs are injured by racing each year. Many of these are killed rather than given costly veterinary treatment. Around 10% of dogs that race suffer from injuries. Injured toes, torn muscles, strained tendons and arthritic joints are commonplace.
Official figures record that 9000 greyhounds are retired every year in this country. Of these, the Retired Greyhound Trust says that approximately 1800 dogs (BGRB Fact Sheet 1 - 2001) are found homes, some will be kept by their owners and others end up in rescue centres. But these figures are based only on the 32 registered tracks that race under the rules of the sport's governing and self regulating body - the National Greyhound Racing Club.
There are a further 23 independent 'flapping' tracks which are unsupervised.
Some estimate that the number of greyhounds coming out of racing and coursing, plus those abandoned by travellers and private owners, could be as high as 25,000 each year.
Many of those are abandoned, left on railway lines, thrown off bridges, drowned, shot, poisoned, let loose on motorways or hanged. An unknown number are sold for vivisection.
The Dogs Trust (formerly National Canine Defence League) has 15 rescue centres throughout the country. At any one time they have approximately 2000 dogs waiting for new homes. About a third of them are greyhounds and lurchers (greyhound crossbreeds).
There are many other independent charities and individuals who have rescued abandoned greyhounds, either waiting for homes, or have been re-homed, believe that until such time a ban is accomplished, an independent statutory authority to control greyhound racing and monitor welfare is urgently needed.
Many unwanted British greyhounds are shipped to Spain for use in racing, coursing and hunting. Read about the horrors of Greyhounds in Spain and . . . read about the horrors of Greyhounds in the USA . . . YES! This is how good ol' Uncle sam treats his unwanted canine racers.
Would you like to rehome a rescued greyhound?
FAITH Animal Rescue, Stubb Road, Hickling, Norwich, Norfolk, NR12 0BW. Telephone: 01692 598312. Website
PACT Animal Sanctuary, River Farm, Woodrising, Hingham, Norfolk, NR9 4PJ. Telephone: 01362 820775. Website
The Dogs Trust (formerly NCDL), Snetterton, Norwich, Norfolk, NR17 9XX. Telephone: 01953 498377. Website
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ACTION FOR GREYHOUNDS UK
PO Box 3089, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 3YP
Tel: 01603 469864 Mobile: 07809 681691
e-mail: [email protected]
Action For Greyhounds UK believe that greyhound racing is inherently exploitative and causes unnecessary suffering. We are therefore totally opposed to greyhound racing and support all measures for the abolition of the racing industry. However, until such a ban is achieved, we campaign for greater protection for racing and ex-racing greyhounds everywhere. To promote them as pets, to raise funds for the rescue of unwanted, abandoned, neglected and abused greyhounds, to give financial support to their rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing.
STOP SUFFERING DEAD IN ITS TRACKS
BOYCOTT GREYHOUND RACING!
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Click here to check out the names, addresses and telephone numbers of Britain's most wanted greyhound abusers!
Click here to read the latest news from Greyhound Action
Also . . a new national campaign has recently been set up to counter greyhound cruelty and press for the abolition of greyhound racing
July 2006 - Greyhound mass murderer exposed!
Please click on the following links for the full harrowing story uncovered by the Times & Sunday Times newspapers:
Article 1 Article 2 Article 3 Article 4 Article 5 Article 6
and encourage your MP to sign up to Lindsay Hoyle's EDM 2578 - Slaughter of Greyhounds!
Essential information . . Greyhounds as pets . . Fostering & rescue