Activists target accused dog home

A greyhound racing watchdog has started an investigation
An animal sanctuary is to stop taking in greyhounds after becoming a target for animal rights activists.
Staff at the Leigh Animal Sanctuary in Greater Manchester said they had been threatened at home and at work with abusive phone calls and letters.

It follows claims that the sanctuary had put down some healthy animals.

But the owners said they only put down animals when there was "no viable alternative" and described the threats as "cowardly and malicious".

'Hurtful' allegations

It had been claimed that the sanctuary, on East Lancashire Road, had offered to destroy two healthy dogs.

The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC), which runs the sport, is investigating the claims.

A spokesman for the centre described the allegations as "hurtful".

"As people who have dedicated our lives to animal welfare, I can categorically state that ending an animal's life has only ever been undertaken by Leigh Animal Sanctuary when every other avenue has been explored and there is no viable alternative."

He said the centre had been subjected to a "cowardly and malicious" campaign by animal rights activists for some time.

"We have been repeatedly threatened at work and even at home by people who hide behind anonymous notes and phone calls and whose actions are growing ever more intimidating and menacing.

"Because of the increasingly extreme nature of these threats, Leigh Animal Sanctuary will no longer be dealing with unwanted greyhounds.

"We announce this with a heavy heart as we fear that many dogs will suffer if professional and compassionate people in the animal welfare industry are forced to withdraw their services to protect their own family's welfare."