Press Release - More dog deaths at "dangerous" track
Tony Peters | 25.10.2008 13:56 | Animal Liberation | Cambridge
An international greyhound protection group has renewed its calls for greyhound racing to be brought
to an end at Peterborough Stadium, after receiving news of yet more deaths of dogs at the track.
Greyhound Action was contacted by a sympathiser working at the stadium, who informed them that two greyhounds had been "put down" last Saturday (October 18th), after sustaining serious injuries while racing there.
The two dogs who lost their lives were Glandore Queen, who collapsed after breaking a hock in the
first race, and Hanoi Son, who smashed one of his hocks following a collision with another dog in
race five.
Just three months ago there was an outcry amongst animal protection campaigners at the news that a greyhound (He's A Cheetah) had broken his neck during a race at Peterborough and another (Milo Blackbird) had been "put down" after trying to play with other greyhounds during a trial at the
stadium.
And, in April, a greyhound called Ashwell Assassin collapsed and died following a race.
These latest revelations come just 6 months after a former trainer attached to the stadium was
banned from keeping dogs following an RSPCA prosecution.
Greyhound Action's UK Co-ordinator, Tony Peters, said: "A man who holds a responsible position at
the stadium has been in touch with us regarding the deaths of the two greyhounds last Saturday. He
has become disillusioned with the greyhound racing industry, because of the illtreatment of the
dogs, but we have persuaded him to remain in his job, at least for the time being, so he can provide
us with information.
"This string of greyhound deaths at the stadium follows the conviction in April of former greyhound
trainer Rebecca Hagger for causing unnecessary suffering to three greyhounds and failing to meet the welfare needs of another four. Peterborough Magistrates banned Hagger from keeping animals for 10 years and ordered her to do community service.
(See www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Dogs-left-to-suffer-in.4028724.jp)
"These latest tragic incidents, very sadly, come as no surprise to us.
"Such horrific injuries to greyhounds racing on the tracks are all too common and we are often
contacted by members of the public or sympathetic stadium workers who have witnessed them.
"Thousands of injuries to racing greyhounds occur every year, many of them serious. The main reason for this is that the shape of the tracks, with fast straights leading into tight bends, creates a
very dangerous environment for dogs to run in.
"Because track owners fear they will lose money through racing being called off, races are quite
often run in unsuitable conditions, which increase the risk of dogs getting injured.
"The injuries to Glandore Queen and Hanoi Son were obviously serious, but we would question the
decisions to put them down. Broken hocks in greyhounds can be repaired and they can go on to live
long and happy lives afterwards.
"Obviously, such dogs would no longer be any good for racing, which is why we believe the
greyhounds' lives were ended for commercial reasons, rather than out of genuine concern for their
well-being.
"Sadly, even less serious injuries, which spectators may not be aware of, can still end up being
lethal, as greyhounds are often "put down", if it's considered to be not worth the money to get them
fit for racing again.
"Ex-racing greyhounds often suffer considerably in later life because of the unnatural stresses and
strains imposed on their bodies through racing on the tracks.
"Even more serious than the large number of injuries to racing dogs is the fact that many thousands
of greyhounds get put to death every year, simply because they are considered not good enough for
racing.
Our latest research indicates that over 15,000 greyhounds are "put down" annually after being judged unsuitable to race on British tracks or when their racing "careers" come to an end, either through age or injury.
"This means that each of Britain's 28 major dog tracks, including Peterborough is, on average,
responsible for the deaths of more than 500 greyhounds annually.
"According to an RSPCA statement 'at least 20 greyhounds a day - either puppies which do not make the track, or retired dogs aged three or four - simply disappear, presumed killed'.
"In recent years, national media exposés have highlighted the wholesale slaughter of ex-racing
greyhounds and several mass graves containing the bodies of shot greyhounds have been discovered in various parts of the country.
"There are local greyhound rescue groups, who do excellent work in finding homes for some of the
dogs that 'retire' from racing at the stadium, but this only amounts to a minority of the greyhounds
disposed of because of the existence of the Peterborough track.
"Greyhound racing also causes the death of many thousands of other dogs apart from greyhounds, as places in homes and rescue kennels, which could go to other stray and 'unwanted' dogs, are taken up by greyhounds got rid of by the racing industry, meaning that those other dogs are 'put down' because there is nowhere for them to go.
"The rules of the National Greyhound Racing Club, the body that controls dog racing at Peterborough and Britain's other major tracks, encourage greyhounds to be treated as disposable commodities, by allowing racing owners to get rid of dogs, including having them put to death, once they are no longer of use for racing.
"Greyhound Action believes that the only real solution to this horrific state of affairs is for
commercial greyhound racing to be ended. Six states in the USA have banned greyhound racing in
recent years, so there is no reason why a ban shouldn't be imposed in the UK.
"In the meantime it is important to educate the public to boycott greyhound racing. If enough people
refrained from attending greyhound racing and stopped betting on races, then the activity would die
out through lack of support.
"Our local supporters demonstrate and distribute leaflets quite frequently outside Peterborough
Stadium, as part of their campaign to end dog racing there, and these latest appalling incidents
will, without doubt, cause them to redouble their efforts."
For more information, contact Tony Peters on 01562 700 043 or 07703 558724.
See also the Greyhound Action website at www.greyhoundaction.org.uk
Photos taken demonstrations outside Peterborough Stadium can be seen at
http://tinyurl.com/6aqkb9
to an end at Peterborough Stadium, after receiving news of yet more deaths of dogs at the track.
Greyhound Action was contacted by a sympathiser working at the stadium, who informed them that two greyhounds had been "put down" last Saturday (October 18th), after sustaining serious injuries while racing there.
The two dogs who lost their lives were Glandore Queen, who collapsed after breaking a hock in the
first race, and Hanoi Son, who smashed one of his hocks following a collision with another dog in
race five.
Just three months ago there was an outcry amongst animal protection campaigners at the news that a greyhound (He's A Cheetah) had broken his neck during a race at Peterborough and another (Milo Blackbird) had been "put down" after trying to play with other greyhounds during a trial at the
stadium.
And, in April, a greyhound called Ashwell Assassin collapsed and died following a race.
These latest revelations come just 6 months after a former trainer attached to the stadium was
banned from keeping dogs following an RSPCA prosecution.
Greyhound Action's UK Co-ordinator, Tony Peters, said: "A man who holds a responsible position at
the stadium has been in touch with us regarding the deaths of the two greyhounds last Saturday. He
has become disillusioned with the greyhound racing industry, because of the illtreatment of the
dogs, but we have persuaded him to remain in his job, at least for the time being, so he can provide
us with information.
"This string of greyhound deaths at the stadium follows the conviction in April of former greyhound
trainer Rebecca Hagger for causing unnecessary suffering to three greyhounds and failing to meet the welfare needs of another four. Peterborough Magistrates banned Hagger from keeping animals for 10 years and ordered her to do community service.
(See www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Dogs-left-to-suffer-in.4028724.jp)
"These latest tragic incidents, very sadly, come as no surprise to us.
"Such horrific injuries to greyhounds racing on the tracks are all too common and we are often
contacted by members of the public or sympathetic stadium workers who have witnessed them.
"Thousands of injuries to racing greyhounds occur every year, many of them serious. The main reason for this is that the shape of the tracks, with fast straights leading into tight bends, creates a
very dangerous environment for dogs to run in.
"Because track owners fear they will lose money through racing being called off, races are quite
often run in unsuitable conditions, which increase the risk of dogs getting injured.
"The injuries to Glandore Queen and Hanoi Son were obviously serious, but we would question the
decisions to put them down. Broken hocks in greyhounds can be repaired and they can go on to live
long and happy lives afterwards.
"Obviously, such dogs would no longer be any good for racing, which is why we believe the
greyhounds' lives were ended for commercial reasons, rather than out of genuine concern for their
well-being.
"Sadly, even less serious injuries, which spectators may not be aware of, can still end up being
lethal, as greyhounds are often "put down", if it's considered to be not worth the money to get them
fit for racing again.
"Ex-racing greyhounds often suffer considerably in later life because of the unnatural stresses and
strains imposed on their bodies through racing on the tracks.
"Even more serious than the large number of injuries to racing dogs is the fact that many thousands
of greyhounds get put to death every year, simply because they are considered not good enough for
racing.
Our latest research indicates that over 15,000 greyhounds are "put down" annually after being judged unsuitable to race on British tracks or when their racing "careers" come to an end, either through age or injury.
"This means that each of Britain's 28 major dog tracks, including Peterborough is, on average,
responsible for the deaths of more than 500 greyhounds annually.
"According to an RSPCA statement 'at least 20 greyhounds a day - either puppies which do not make the track, or retired dogs aged three or four - simply disappear, presumed killed'.
"In recent years, national media exposés have highlighted the wholesale slaughter of ex-racing
greyhounds and several mass graves containing the bodies of shot greyhounds have been discovered in various parts of the country.
"There are local greyhound rescue groups, who do excellent work in finding homes for some of the
dogs that 'retire' from racing at the stadium, but this only amounts to a minority of the greyhounds
disposed of because of the existence of the Peterborough track.
"Greyhound racing also causes the death of many thousands of other dogs apart from greyhounds, as places in homes and rescue kennels, which could go to other stray and 'unwanted' dogs, are taken up by greyhounds got rid of by the racing industry, meaning that those other dogs are 'put down' because there is nowhere for them to go.
"The rules of the National Greyhound Racing Club, the body that controls dog racing at Peterborough and Britain's other major tracks, encourage greyhounds to be treated as disposable commodities, by allowing racing owners to get rid of dogs, including having them put to death, once they are no longer of use for racing.
"Greyhound Action believes that the only real solution to this horrific state of affairs is for
commercial greyhound racing to be ended. Six states in the USA have banned greyhound racing in
recent years, so there is no reason why a ban shouldn't be imposed in the UK.
"In the meantime it is important to educate the public to boycott greyhound racing. If enough people
refrained from attending greyhound racing and stopped betting on races, then the activity would die
out through lack of support.
"Our local supporters demonstrate and distribute leaflets quite frequently outside Peterborough
Stadium, as part of their campaign to end dog racing there, and these latest appalling incidents
will, without doubt, cause them to redouble their efforts."
For more information, contact Tony Peters on 01562 700 043 or 07703 558724.
See also the Greyhound Action website at www.greyhoundaction.org.uk
Photos taken demonstrations outside Peterborough Stadium can be seen at
http://tinyurl.com/6aqkb9
Tony Peters
e-mail:
info@greyhoundaction.org.uk
Homepage:
http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk
