International News Fall 2000

Ireland
Greyhound Advocates Protest Transport Regulations Dublin, Ireland: Members of the Alliance for Animal Rights (AFAR) and the newly formed American-European Greyhound Alliance (AEGA) held a demonstration outside Leinster House Aug. 21 to protest the industry's failure to adhere to regulations in the transport of greyhounds exported to the Continent, predominantly to Spain.
The protesters, who had two rescued greyhounds with them, carried banners with pictures of injured and mistreated dogs and the message: "Greyhounds are dogs too, but not to Joe Walsh," a reference to the Minister of Agriculture. Walsh and his department were criticized for failing to implement the regulations.
AFAR spokeswoman Bemie Wright claimed cruelty was rife in the greyhound industry, with up to 30,000 greyhounds disposed of every year. The ones that survive for export are transported "in 14-inch boxes, they are muzzled and left standing for up to three days in these cramped cages in their own excrement and often without water."
The Irish attitude is that greyhounds are "a cash crop and not a lot of thought goes into their welfare," said Louise Coleman, director of Greyhound Friends in Boston, Massachusetts, and founder and president of the AEGA. Coleman said the government "considers greyhounds as commercial dogs and they don't have the same regulation and oversight as domestic dogs. We are really hoping that the Department of Agriculture will look at the transport conditions to Spain, which should be humane."
A spokesman told The Irish Times that the department was not in a position to restrict the export of greyhounds under European Union law. "We cannot stop the trade," the unidentified spokesman said. "There are regulations that govern the transport of animals including the protection of animals in transport by road, rail and sea. We are reasonably satisfied that those regulations safeguard the transport of animals." However, the spokesman said that a review of the regulations was likely, particularly in relation to the transport of greyhounds. [Editor's Note: Marion Fitzgibbons, President of the Irish SPCA, recently attended greyhound auctions at the dog track in Limerick. Her heartbreaking account of the auctions may be read on AEGA's website: www.ameurogreyhoundalliance.org

Source: The Irish Times: Marie O'Halloran

Scotland
Airdrie, Scotland: A three-year-old racing greyhound whose sire and dam were champion racers, was rescued by the Scottish SPCA (SSPCA) after he was dumped by the side of highway M74 and struck by a car. He was rushed to the Animal Welfare Centre in Hamilton where he underwent surgery and a blood transfusion. Soon after, he was adopted and nursed back to health by greyhound racing fan Thomas Gilmartin and his wife Diana.
"We're told he was in a terrible state when he was rescued by SSPCA officers," Gilmartin told the Scottish Daily Record Sept. 16. "He had been the victim of a hit and run and was close to death. But now he's in great shape and while he won't race again, we are determined to give him a good home. We want to make sure he enjoys the rest of his life."
Gilmartin, who was curious about the dog's history, contacted the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) in London and gave them the dog's ear tattoo number. "We couldn't believe it when they came back to us to say he was the son of Moral Standards and Carib Calypso," Gilmartin said. "Race fans know all about Moral Standards. He won the English Derby in 1994, the sport's blue-ribbon event."
The dog last raced at the Shawfield track in Glasgow. NGRC spokesman Noel Thomson said it was impossible to speculate on exactly what happened to him, adding, "It is a serious matter when a greyhound is abandoned. We will look into this." The NGRC plans to speak to Shawfield officials to find out the date of the greyhound's last race and who owned him at the time.
Denise McGranaghan of the Greyhound Awareness League said many dogs are ditched after losing their ability to win. "Some of the dogs we see are still wearing muzzles and are unable to fend for themselves."

Source: Scottish Daily Record: Simon Houston

United Kingdom
Kidderminster, England: Greyhound Action reported that the Canterbury City Council voted 9-4 July 10 not to allow a greyhound track at the new football stadium now under construction on Sturry Road. "The decision was a victory for local animal rights activists who collected over 1,000 signatures on a petition against the proposed track," said Greyhound Action's co-founder Tony Peters.
In April, the city council approved the proposal to allow dog racing at the new stadium by one vote. On May 5, 20 local animal rights activists picketed the office of the council, calling on them not to allow greyhound racing in the area. The July 10 vote reversed the April vote.

Swansea, Wales: Greyhound Rescue Wales (GRW) reported the following in the Summer 2000 edition of their newsletter. Greyhound Express:
"GRW has secured all party support from members of the Welsh Assembly for our aims to improve conditions for greyhounds in Wales. The next step is to open discussions with the managers of the three greyhound tracks in Wales. We will take our three initial proposals to these discussions: (1) that a qualified vet should attend every race meeting; (2) that tracks should take sanctions (such as a ban on racing) against any owner found not to have made proper provision for a greyhound on retirement; and (3) that a fund should be established by the tracks to make financial provision for the welfare of greyhounds in Wales when they retire."
GRW has received six statements of support from assembly members throughout the country. In addition, GRW members are sending letters and case studies to Ministers of Parliament and are providing data to the Westminster All Party Group on Animal Welfare. The chair of this group, lan Cawsey MP, stated in a letter to GRW member Carole McKeown, that "The status quo is unacceptable."
For additional information on the rescue work of GRW, visit their website: www.greyhound-rescue.demon.co.uk