International News Summer 2005

ASIA
Vung Tau City, Vietnam: Thanh Nien Daily reported Feb. 27 that Vietnam's only greyhound racetrack is scheduled to re-open April 23. The Vung Tau racetrack has been closed since Aug. 4, 2004, after tainted dried dog food supplied by Effern Foods killed an unreported number of greyhounds at the track's breeding and training farm. The dogs reportedly died of kidney stones. Sports and Entertainment Services (SES) operates the racetrack.

SES announced it would no longer import racing dogs [from Australia] because approximately 700 greyhounds are being reared in a training center in the Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. SES director Nguyen Ngoc My said, "They are very healthy, so there is no need to import new greyhounds."

According to SES, more than 200 greyhounds will run races on opening day. Ten greyhound races will be run every Saturday night in the 5,000-seat stadium.

Sources: Saigon Times Daily; Thanh Nien Daily: Hung Son

EUROPE
Caerphilly, South Wales: Andrew Gough, who in December was jailed for six months after he was convicted of animal cruelty in the mutilation of racing greyhound Last Hope (also known as Rusty and Charlie), appealed his conviction on the grounds that the principal witnesses against him were inconsistent in their accounts of the events. Those witnesses were the dog's owner John Hurley and trainer Mark Emmett, who admitted during Gough's trial that they had paid him to dispose of the dog. Hurley and Emmett have not been charged.

Cardiff Crown Court Judge Treverton-Jones rejected Gough's appeal Feb. 28, saying, "This was an appalling attack on a defenceless animal in a bungled attempt to kill it." Treverton-Jones said he found the evidence of Emmett reliable and accurate and the evidence of Hurley less accurate, but still reliable. The judge said he was further convinced of Gough's guilt by his denials of any knowledge of the posters appealing for information about the dog's killer, which were widely distributed throughout Wales by Greyhound Action.

Rusty, a 5-year-old black greyhound, had been shot through the head with a captive-bolt pistol, his ears cut off to remove identifying tattoos. He was still alive when he was discovered by a passerby and was taken to a veterinarian. His injuries were so extensive he had to be euthanized.

Nearly 100 people, many of them accompanied by their rescued greyhounds, attended a solemn remembrance ceremony for Rusty on Sunday, May 1, which was organized by Greyhound Action (GA). Flowers, wreaths and tributes were laid at the spot where the dog was found on Fochriw Mountain in the Rhymney Valley and a minute of silence was observed.

The Rev. James Thompson officiated at a service of prayer and animal protection hymns and gave individual blessings to many of the dogs in attendance. Tony Peters, GA's UK coordinator, said, "Sadly, this case is just the tip of a very large iceberg." GA plans to hold a "Remembering Rusty" weekend each year on or near May 2, the date Rusty died in 2004. Visit GA's website at www.greyhoundaction.org.uk for photos of the event and more international news.

Sources: South Wales Echo; The Independent: Jonathan Brown; The Press Association Limited; Western Mail: Gareth Morgan

NORTH AMERICA
Juarez, Mexico: The Juarez Racetrack and Gaming Center held a trial run of greyhound races on Saturday, Feb. 26 in preparation for its official March debut. "This is still a trial run, but people were able to place bets on the dogs," said track owner Jose Maria Guardia.

"We've got the dog races back, we've got matched horse races, and a golf course that's very popular with people from El Paso, and we've got 285 skill machines [slots] and I expect another 100 soon," Guardia said.

Judy Kody Paulsen, founder of Greyhound Companions of New Mexico, said most dogs in the greyhound racing industry do not fare well, and for that reason she is opposed to the resumption of greyhound racing in Juarez. "We took some of the Juarez greyhounds in when they closed down the last time and they were not in good shape."

Linda Crawford, a marketing executive for the Juarez track, said the greyhounds would be cared for properly. She said the company is aware of concerns about the dogs and that information about adopting retired racing dogs would be available.

Source: El Paso Times: Diana Washington Valdez

Update on Spain
Medina del Campo: The following information was obtained from Scooby (Sociedad Protectora de Animales):

Acting on a tip received Jan. 6, Scooby president Fermin Perez, with the assistance of the local fire department, rescued five galgos (Spanish greyhounds) from a 30-meter-deep (90 feet) abandoned well in Alaejos. Perez said, "the rescue was very difficult, but fortunately and miraculously these five dogs don't have serious wounds." The dogs were dehydrated and emaciated, but are now recovering at the shelter.

Perez said, "Each dog had a rope around its neck. This had clearly been a deliberate act to kill the dogs. It is believed from the stench coming out of the well that it is a dumping hole for unwanted galgos."

Three weeks later, residents of Malpica de Tajo in the province of Toledo contacted Scooby after they heard barking coming from the entrance to a well covered by a cast-iron lid. Scooby volunteers drove 250 kilometers (155 miles) to the town and rescued three galgos with the help of villagers.

On Feb. 25 Scooby took in a galgo with a broken back, the victim of a car accident. X-rays of the injury site revealed three bullets in his body; the dog could not be saved. Also in February, two young boys in Arevalo discovered five hanged greyhounds and a puppy and contacted Scooby. Perez offered a reward of 3,000 euros for information leading to the perpetrators.

The photo above, taken by Scooby, shows a galgo being lifted out of the well in Malpico de Tajo. More photos of the rescue operations and the recovering galgos can be seen at: www.scoobymedina.com Click on one of five languages to enter. For information about how you can help, please go to: www.ameurogreyhoundalliance.org