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International News Summer 2003 AUSTRALIA Melbourne-based Neil Brown, chief executive officer of the Australian and New Zealand Greyhound Association (ANZGA), the official registry for greyhounds bred for racing in Australia, told the Review, "Welfare concerns have always bubbled along in relation to dogs in Asia. But it was never as significant as when dogs began going to Korea. We now have a huge welfare issue on our hands; and we have had since the issue of eating dogs was highlighted by the World Cup in Seoul." According to the article, "The welfare issue received another kick along in April last year in the lead-up to the Seoul World Cup when an influx of foreign journalists uncovered an unsavoury whiff of dog stew that threatened to push soccer off the front page. One wag 'filed' a circulating email featuring the so-called half-time snack at the World Cup - a digitally created picture of a small dog standing in a roll with tomato sauce squirted down its back. "Other less tongue-in-cheek reports claimed dogs were tortured before death, supposedly to soften their meat. Ever since, the local industry's peak body, ANZGA, has been bombarded with tearful reports of a new Korean dish - Aussie greyhound soup." Betting in Korea and China is officially illegal and greyhound racing is a spectator sport. Greyhound breeder Mick Abbott, who has led the push for exporting greyhounds to Asia, predicts betting will eventually be legalized in these key markets, leading to increased trade and a bigger market for Australian expertise in establishing greyhound racing. "That's one of the great
side effects of exporting to Asia: it means dogs that would be 'euthanized'
here get a second chance. They get two or three more years of life [spent]
racing in Asia before they're put down." Brown said, "There's no concrete evidence of maltreatment of exported greyhounds," adding, "But it's true we cannot say for absolutely sure that we know everything that happens to these animals once they leave Australia. "What's equally relevant is that we don't keep track of where dogs that have finished here end up," he said. "It's always been swept under the carpet. It's an unenviable task, but this organization will be considering who should take responsibility for the welfare of a greyhound bred for racing, from the time it's whelped right up to its end." Brown said he is grappling with the welfare issue on a daily basis. ANZGA recently held an animal welfare conference in response to a protest demonstration outside Australia House in London last December by Greyhound Action International, based in Kidderminster, England. Brown said that if a proposed official visit in September to inspect conditions for greyhounds in Korea turns up evidence of cruelty, "We will consider recommending that the Federal Government ban further exports of dogs to Korea." According to ANZGA figures,
about 20,500 greyhounds were born in 2001, making Australia the world's
third largest producer of racing dogs after the United States (32,000),
and Ireland (23,000). It is estimated that 25 percent of Australian greyhound
puppies born every year will never race. [Editor's Note: Greyhound Action
is organizing a protest to be held outside the Korean Embassy in London
on July 16, 2003. The date marks the beginning of Korea's Bok Days, or
the "dog days" of summer. Visit their extensive website at www.greyhoundaction.co.uk
for additional information, online petitions, contact links for government
officials, other welfare organizations, downloadable posters, etc.
Coventry Against Greyhound Racing, an anti-racing group that successfully fought plans to open another greyhound stadium in Coventry last year, has launched a campaign against the return of dog racing at Brandon Stadium. [For more information, go to
www.greyhoundaction.co.uk
- Ed.] Manchester, England: Buddy, a black greyhound who was thrown from a moving car 18 months ago and survived, was chosen Rescue Dog of the Year at the RSPCA dog show held in June. In January 2002, police saw Buddy running on the M60 and shut down 11 miles of the motorway to rescue him. He was taken to the Sheya Greyhound and Lurcher Centre in Manchester where he recovered from his injuries. Natalie Marinou and Wendy Bell of Sneyd Green adopted Buddy six months ago; he had spent nearly a year in foster care. "He is really sweet-natured," Marinou said. "It's really unbelievable he's endured what he has and still trusts people the way he does." Marinou said she entered Buddy in the RSPCA competition "just for fun," never expecting him to win. "I couldn't believe it when he was chosen," she said. Source: The (Stoke) Sentinel Aberdeen, Scotland: Greyhound Action called for a ban on greyhound racing during protests held outside William Hill betting shops June 28. The protests were targeted to coincide with the company's Greyhound Derby Final. Similar protests were held outside betting shops in London the same day. Sources: Scottish Daily Record
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