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INTERNATIONAL
NEWS UPDATE Rome, Italy: An international effort to rescue the 370 Irish greyhounds stranded at the Rome greyhound track was launched soon after the May 24 announcement of the track's bankruptcy and closure. On June 10, urgent appeals were sent to the European greyhound rescue community. Anne Finch, founder and director of Surrey-based Greyhounds in Need, took on the task of logistically organizing transport for the dogs to groups throughout Europe. Finch traveled to Rome in mid-July and reported that the dogs were kept three together in clean, roomy kennels and appeared well fed. The Associated Press Worldstream reported that the city of Rome picked up the tab to feed the greyhounds after the track's food supply ran out in mid-August. In early September, the Boston-based American-European Greyhound Alliance sent photojournalist Jessica Rinaldi, who speaks fluent Italian, to Rome to assess the situation. The following is a slightly edited version of Rinaldi's report: The fate of 370 greyhounds trapped inside of the Cinodromo di Roma since the racetrack's closure has finally been decided. Roman officials announced that the dogs would be released to international and national greyhound adoption agencies on Oct. 1. While the news of the release date comes as a relief to the people who have been working to save these animals, many feel that the city of Rome is shirking its fiscal responsibility. It has been decided that the 370 greyhounds will be distributed among international adoption agencies in France, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands as well as locating homes for the dogs in Italy. Each of these groups will have to raise the money for transportation, boarding, and dental bills for every dog they take. In addition, Rome is charging a fee of 25 Euros per dog to pay for a necessary vaccination before the dogs can be removed from the track. Marion Fitzgibbon, president of the Irish SPCA, has concerns about how the dogs will be released. "There needs to be an orderly exodus for these dogs. For example, if possible, each dog's health status, age, and temperament should be evaluated in order to decide where they should be sent," said Fitzgibbon. "It is also important that we ensure that all of the groups are able to transport the dogs safely." For the past four months the dogs have been the unwilling victims of political indecision. A law put into place by the Italian Green Party in May 2002 declared dog-racing illegal, but when the track was shut down 40 workers employed by the Commonwealth of Rome were left without jobs. The workers, wanting to prove their loyalty to the Commonwealth, stayed at their jobs as volunteers and continued to clean and feed the dogs in hopes of being rehired quickly. But as the months wore on and the ruling political party, Forza Italia, argued over what would become of the Cinodromo site, the volunteers became restless. At a Sept. 4 meeting of Forza Italia, track volunteers, and animal rights workers, the volunteers stated that they would no longer take responsibility for feeding the dogs, claiming that they did not want to be held liable in the event that a dog should die. Responsibility for feeding the dogs was handed over to animal rights workers. Conditions inside the track are still uncertain. At this point, nobody who goes to the track has the right to exercise the dogs without being held liable. In addition to not receiving exercise, the chores of feeding the dogs and cleaning their cages are only done once a day. Journalists who have been inside the Cinodromo in the past month have only been allowed to see one kennel located behind the actual track where the majority of the dogs are being kept. One source close to the volunteers who wished to remain anonymous claims that 15 dogs have died of neglect over the past week, but there is no way of confirming that information. No officials could be reached for comment and phone calls made to the veterinarian of the Cinodromo were not answered or returned. Update: As of Sept. 20, Anne Finch of GIN had confirmed transport arrangements for 223 dogs bound for Switzerland, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom; 135 will remain in Italy for local adoption. Louise Coleman, president of the Am-Euro Alliance, told GNN Sept. 30 that many of these dogs are being sent to shelters and refuges in Europe, not to greyhound adoption groups. Dogs sent to the UK must endure a six-month quarantine. Coleman said she has serious concerns about the health and safety of those dogs left to languish in shelters. For updated information, go to: www.ameurogreyhoundalliance.org Sources: Eyewitness report of Jessica Rinaldi Associated Press Worldstream: Kristan Szostek ASIA Source: South China Morning Post: Harald Bruning, Antoine So EUROPE GAI issued a press release Aug. 29 condemning the Australian racing authorities, in particular federal live-animal export minister Warren Truss, for exporting greyhounds to known dog-meat-eating countries. Press release packages were sent to all national and several local newspapers. In addition, more than 20,000 leaflets were distributed to the public. On Sept. 3, a protest was held in London outside the Australian High Commission. The following day, more than 20 people from Ireland and Scotland held a protest outside the World Greyhound Racing Federation offices in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland. Letters of protest were given to the WGRF's current president Gerry Desmond. Local radio stations covered the protests. On Sept. 9, a protest was held at the Bourke Street Mall in Melbourne, Australia. It was the first demonstration highlighting the suffering of greyhounds held in Australia. Action: Letters protesting the export of Australian greyhounds to Asia may be e-mailed to The Honorable Warren Truss at: w.truss.mp@aph.gov.au London: The Catford Greyhound Stadium closed one of its kennel blocks after a greyhound died, apparently of extreme heat exhaustion, following an 8:00 p.m. race on Saturday, Aug. 17. Weather conditions were extremely hot and humid that night. Following the race, Football Focus was hosed down, watered, and returned to the kennel block. Steve Gammon, the dog's trainer, checked on him an hour later and found the dog in an extremely distressed condition. "As soon as the kennel was opened I knew he was in a critical state," Gammon said. "There were tremendous efforts made to save him by kennel staff and the veterinary surgeon, but unfortunately he was beyond help and the decision had to be taken to end his suffering." An unidentified trainer called the Racing Post two days later and said he was very concerned about the particular kennel block the dog was housed in, citing several recent examples of greyhounds emerging from it in seriously distressed states. The Post also received a faxed message from a kennel owner who races his dogs at the Catford track, stating, "This was an accident waiting to happen due to the antiquated kennel block. Fund grants would be better spent on dog welfare, such as safer running surfaces and air-conditioned kennels. This tragedy could have happened to any dog." Irene McNally, a National Greyhound Racing Club steward who was at the track the night Focus died, said, " It is imperative that paddock and kennel staff are extra-vigilant in these extreme weather conditions to avoid a similar tragedy." Source: The Racing Post: Phil Donaldson Dublin, Ireland: A deadly virus similar to mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE) is killing Ireland's racing dogs and creating a potential threat to the European racing industry. The virus, which causes an agonizing death within weeks, only affects Irish greyhounds less than a year old. Dr. Sean Callanan, a veterinary pathologist at University College Dublin, said, "This virus invades the brain and then sets up the inflammation. The majority of animals develop clinical signs very quickly and have to be put down within a week." The outward signs of the disease resemble BSE but scientists say the greyhound virus has no connection with it. Callanan and his team have confirmed 30 cases since 1998, but believe hundreds of greyhound deaths may have gone unreported because the dogs' owners didn't recognize the symptoms. Vets also are warning owners of pet dogs to be on the lookout for unusual nervous behavior in their animals amid fears the virus could spread to domestic animals. "So far we are looking for it in only one breed of dog," Callanan said. "But one thing to note is this - everywhere in this country we have looked for it, we have found it." Ireland, second only to the United States in the breeding of racing dogs, produces 20,000 greyhounds every year. Source: The Mirror: Damien Lane Wallyford, Scotland: Construction of the multi-million-pound Victory Lane stadium in the tiny village of Wallyford in East Lothian, southeast of Edinburgh, was expected to begin in mid-August. The eight-lane track, an exact replica of the Albion track in Brisbane, Australia, is scheduled to open in April 2003. The East Lothian Council approved the full details of the project in June. Project developer Howard Wallace of Edinburgh, responding to objections raised by animal activists, said, "A holding kennel for the retired racers has always been part of the plans and will be ready from day one for those dogs whose careers have finished," he said. The Scottish SPCA met with Wallace recently to discuss the dog track and the provisions for greyhound welfare. Scottish SPCA spokeswoman Doreen Graham said society officials are "more than pleased" with the welfare measures incorporated into the plans for the track. Advocates for Animals, however, condemned the decision to give the stadium the green light. The group expressed fears that the area would become a dumping ground for injured and unwanted dogs despite Wallace's assurances. Group spokesman Ross Minett said, "This decision is an animal welfare disaster for Scotland. The East Lothian Council should be ashamed." Sources: Evening
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