Welcome that and have an opened mind on that, not like some.


Jodie

Please post the ear marks and age of these dogs, would like to no if they where registered with the NGRC.

GREYHOUND HOMING SCANDAL

In March last year 2 greyhounds and 5 pups were rescued from a house in Yarmouth. The dogs were found living in dreadful conditions and one of the pups was suffering a broken leg. Both the sire (In The Distance) and dam (Call Her Sophie) had been advertised in a free ads paper and given away without a home check by the previous owner.



Since the exposure of David Smith who was reported killing at least 10,000 young, healthy greyhounds on behalf of trainers and owners, it has become increasingly common for greyhounds to be off-loaded in this way when of no further use or value to the racing fraternity.

Smith would kill a greyhound for £10 but a trainer can dispose of a dog quickly and for no cost at all if advertised free and given to anyone. Needless to say the greyhounds are never neutered and the future welfare of the animal is of little importance.



The words ‘free to good homes only’ in a scribbled and misspelt pet shop window advert for greyhounds under the ‘care’ of trainer Margaret Bailey are totally meaningless. Blue Ruin is just one of the dogs Bailey (attached to Yarmouth stadium) has given away without neutering or home check.



After only 6 months Blue Ruin was no longer wanted by the new owner who left the animal imprisoned in a council house after moving out to live with her boyfriend. The dog showed signs of physical and mental abuse and was found living in terrible conditions in a property that reeked of urine and excrement.



The lack of concern by trainers and owners of racing greyhounds for the future welfare of an animal may surprise many but when talking to the industry it is apparent the greyhound is viewed solely as a commodity. Indeed the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) who regulate racing in Britain refer to these beautiful and majestic animals as ‘units.’



John Lochrane (attached to Shawfield stadium) and Steve Meazer were just two of many trainers off-loading greyhounds through the free ads in September this year, and neither considered a home check necessary.



Meazer runs dogs on Swansea’s flapping (unofficial) track and remarked how quickly the animals are gone when advertised. When asked if the greyhound would be vaccinated or neutered he replied “no mate, I don’t do anything like that.” He boasts homing over 100 greyhounds and presumably all were afforded the same lack of regard for welfare.



An advert for greyhounds submitted by Anne Cossey can be seen in a free ads publication regularly. She claims to have homed about 500 dogs in the last 10 years but is simply acting as go-between for trainers and owners in Norfolk who are being saved the trouble of advertising themselves. At no stage is any responsible vetting procedure carried out for these unwanted greyhounds.



It is not uncommon for Cossey to provide contact details for dogs belonging to trainer Armine Appleton and it is two of his greyhounds that were rescued from a house when their new owner - a drug addict and alcoholic - was found dead from an overdose.



The above, however, are not managing a rescue that you would hope and expect to show more compassion for animals. Think again. Whilst Peter Debenham is a breeder, trainer (attached to Yarmouth stadium) and owner he is also homing greyhounds from outside and was recently to say “I never really see the point in a home check.”



In August Debenham was trying to off-load unwanted pups, seemingly to anyone willing to pay £125, and visitors have described the site and kennel block as appalling. A Norwich based campaign group supporting the abolition of racing have intervened on 5 occasions when greyhounds originally homed by Debenham were no longer wanted.



The danger of giving anyone the responsibility for care of an animal is perfectly illustrated by the story of Bantes Chic (later named Sally); a brindle female given to Ms C Lewis when the animal was retired from racing.



Sally’s new home was a flat in Plymouth where, during a 3 month period, the greyhound was virtually starved. When eventually rescued Sally weighed only 15.4 kg (half the weight for a greyhound of her size), was covered in sores and flea ridden. Reported as one of the worst acts of cruelty ever witnessed for one RSPCA inspector involved in the case, it is thought a miracle this poor greyhound ever survived.



And the importance of neutering cannot be underestimated as all too often no measures are taken to prevent breeding, or mating is orchestrated by new owners who cannot resist the opportunity to make what is perceived easy money.



In spring this year the new owner of greyhounds Drominboy Pretty and On The Dot was advertising 7 pups for £100 each and at the same time the sire was being off-loaded free, as was the dam about 6 weeks later. On The Dot was given to a stranger without advice, questions asked or home check and it would be reasonable to assume the same lack of care was shown to all pups and dam.



Such mindless breeding further exacerbates an already dire situation with the number of dogs bred for racing exceeding many times over the most optimistic figure for greyhounds responsibly homed.



All greyhounds running on official tracks in Britain come under NGRC rules, and Rule 18 covers disposal of the animal. Various options are open to the last registered owner including euthanasia but section 1, E applies when homing a greyhound independently, and it states this action is to be carried out “responsibly.”



When it was put to Luke Taylor - Retired Greyhound Co-ordinator, NGRC - that it is not responsible to give an animal to someone when you know nothing about the person or where they live he replied “I’m not disagreeing there.”



Clearly Rule 18 is being broken by trainers and owners but will the industry do anything about it? I wouldn’t hold your breath. A trainer listed above who has flouted the rule more than most was reported to the NGRC, but 5 weeks later the allegation has not been followed through.



You cannot, of course, make someone care about the wellbeing of an animal and so the option given to trainers and owners to home greyhounds independently needs reviewing. A simple amendment to Rule l8 that would go a long way to protect dogs was put to the NGRC but dismissed out of hand, and whilst very evident apathy prevails so the tragedy will continue.



The fact however remains, whatever industry rules are set, whatever improvement in regulation is made and whatever protection dogs supposedly have under animal welfare law the abuse and slaughter of racing greyhounds will continue. Commercial racing and the humane treatment of greyhounds are simply incompatible and that will never change.



Lord David Lipsey, Chairman of the industries governing body - the British Greyhound Racing Board (BGRB) - was asked 3 times for his opinion about the scandalous homing practice but has yet to provide a comment.

maybe recues should offer free euthanasia to these people and then they wont resort to other measures

Euthanising the perpetrators of such dreadful situations is not legal, [ unfortunately ], but I`m sure the rescues who are left to clean up their mess would be happy to consider it if it were allowed

On the more sensible side of response, rescues pay vets, they don`t get `free euthanasia` for the dogs they are unable to save so why should they pay out of their funds to give the abusers of greys such an easy cop out, and why should the dogs be needlessly killed because of human greed just because its `convenient` ?
That`s the main problem with the industry in the first place, over breeding, despicable culling, and complete lack of provision for welfare, [ aside from the few owners or trainers who do have more than a block of granite for a heart ].

There are these problems in all industrys,what happens to the dairy cows when they no longer give milk,or the beef bull who can no longer perform,we wont be able to talk the whole world into going vegetarian anymore than
you will stop breeders from breeding and owners from racing the dogs for money.
so how to stop the dogs getting left on the side of the street,starved to death is the only option,and I believe if the people that want rid of these animals could do it for free it would make a difference to the actual dogs themselves,after all money is the problem at the end of the day and ridiculing and shaming these trainers is what makes them cut the ears off and dump the dogs So in fact it makes the dogs lives worse
I like racing sports horses and dogs,ive seen the inside of the beef industry its all the same and money is the motivator.so If everyone here can say they are vegetarian
then they might have a right to slam those of us that enjoy these sports.
IMO
xxxxBLXXX

I am vegetarian

good for u

bajaluna
Clearly you accept there are inherent problems with animals used in 'sport' due to the fact that it is a commercial enterprise.
It may come as shock to you that the term 'euthanasia' cannot legally be used when describing the wilful killing of a healthy animal. Euthanasia can only be used when the animal is seriously ill with a very poor prognosis and no chance of recovery. The term 'slaughtered' would have to be used, similar to when healthy animals are slaughtered for the human food chain.
So what you are suggesting is that healthy greyhounds are slaughtered by the rescue centres FOC, just so you can enjoy watching horses and dogs run.
Thanks for your suggestion, but it is because of your attitude, which is typical of the racing industry, that so many greyhounds are abused and slaughtered.
May I suggest you consider my option, which would be to abolish greyhound racing and for you to find some other form of amusement which doesnt involve the slaughtering of innocent dogs in their thousands on an annual basis.
That of course would require some EFFORT on your part...........

dead is dead no matter what you call it be it a cow, horse, dog,unfortunatley money makes the world go around.
what I am suggesting is if you are so worried about the dogs,stop harrassing people as that is making it worse for the dogs,people doing that are the reason the dogs get dumped and ears cut off,if they worked with the owner trainers and accepted [Byou cant change people[/B],and instead worked to help the dogs, then owners and trainers wouldnt be afraid to bring them to rescue or have them euthanised both of those options are better for the dogs[B[/B] than being left to starve on their own look at the big picture get off the soapbox and figure out how to help the dogs of course that would require some effort on your part
what I think personally is irrelevant and you know nothing of my attitude, being rude gets you nowhere if you cant look at a problem sensibly,and fairly you will not find a solution

bajaluna
Unfortunately money makes YOUR world go round which is probably why we shall never agree on this. I place a higher value on the lives of all sentient beings rather than on materialistic objects of desire.
Whereas you believe it is acceptable to abuse, exploit or kill an animal for financial gain.
I am not harassing anyone, I am inviting intelligent debate on whether commercial greyhound racing should be abolished.
I am not on a 'soapbox'. If you feel you are beneath me then that is your assumption.
I DO agree you cant change people who have similar attitudes as yours, which is why I educate the British public on the reality of greyhound racing, exposing the public propaganda the industry perpetuate claiming to have welfare as priority.
I do in fact put much EFFORT into helping greyhounds and am currently fostering, house training, socialising and feeding two ex racers that were abandoned.
I dont believe I have been rude, I was simply making an observation in that your attitude was to be found throughout the racing industry. ie. Animals are financial investments to be killed when they become financial liabilities.
Indeed, I do believe I have looked at the problem fairly and sensibly and as you say, the trainers attitudes wont change, the abuse and slaughtering will continue and therefore commercial greyhound racing should be abolished.