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Yet another greyhound killed at Belle Vue

Tony Peters | 16.06.2009 20:52 | Animal Liberation

Campaigners renew call for Manchester dog track closure

One of the weekly demonstrations now taking place outside Belle Vue Stadium
One of the weekly demonstrations now taking place outside Belle Vue Stadium


Greyhound protection campaigners have renewed their calls for the closure of the dog track at Manchester's Belle Vue Stadium after yet another greyhound was put to death there, after being seriously injured during a race last Thursday.

The three year old dog, called Balreask Touch, was in the lead in the ninth race of the evening, when he fell badly at the first bend.

He was carried from the track and later "put down" by a vet.

This latest death comes less than two weeks after three other greyhounds were killed at the track over a two day period.

Tony Peters, UK Co-ordinator for international greyhound protection group Greyhound Action said: "We are frequently informed about the deaths of greyhounds at Belle Vue by an official at the track, who has become sympathetic to our campaign, because he is sickened by the number of injuries to greyhounds that occur there.

"The serious injury to Balreask Touch, and the subsequent ending of his life, is just the latest incident in a catalogue of carnage associated with Belle Vue, which our local branch have dubbed the 'Stadium of Death'.

"Details obtained by greyhound protection campaigners under the Freedom of Information Act indicate that over 40 dogs are being 'put down' annually at the stadium after suffering injuries there.

"In addition, hundreds of other greyhounds, bred because of the demand created by Belle Vue, are put to death as puppies or young dogs, before they even make it to the track, after being judged unsuitable for racing.

"According to our most recent research, as many as 15,000 greyhounds, bred for the British racing industry, are 'put down' every year, after failing to make the grade as racers or when their 'careers' on the tracks come to an end.

"An RSPCA report on greyhound racing has stated that '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'.

"Members of the public can help put an end to this horrific situation by not attending dog tracks or betting on greyhound racing, so this appalling industry fades away through lack of financial support.

"In response to this latest death at Belle Vue, our local branch have renewed their call for the closure of the dog track there and will be continuing with their demonstrations outside the stadium."

Please contact Greyhound Action North-West at  greyhoundactionnorthwest@hotmail.co.uk or on 07952 238592, if you can help
with the campaign to close the Belle Vue track.

Tony Peters
- e-mail: info@greyhoundaction.org.uk
- Homepage: http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk

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Comments

Hide the following comment

Is a new approach needed?

18.06.2009 11:33

Having recently attended a couple of greyhound track demos i began thinking about their effectivness. I used to gamble many years ago and have a fairly good knowledge of the inner workings within the betting industry. I remembered that the tracks do not survive on the turnstyle income but the money they recieve from the major bookmakers and/or the tote. The tracks would go bust very quickly if they weren't subsidised by the bookies. With this in mind it might be more effective to target the bookmakers rather than the tracks. Leaflet dropping in local betting shops may be more effective in getting the information to 'punters' who may stop betting as a result which ultimately would end greyhound racing due to lack of profit made, if enough people gave up. This is also much easier as all that is needed is a pile of leaflets left underneath the track form sheets which means a lot of betting shops could be covered in a short space of time using our time more efficiently. I suggest 11am till 1pm on Saturdays as this is the busiest time of the week in betting shops.
Also greyhound racing is a rigged game. Dogs can be held back so as not to run a good race by merely feeding them before the race. This is how the owner/trainer can pull off a betting coup. Getting this information into a leaflet is very important because it comes from a different angle and appeals to the 'punters' pocket which may have more weight if they feel ripped off rather than merely appealing to any latent compassion they may or may not possess. We would need to find a whistle blower who used to be involved with the industry to give the information credence. I don't think this would be too difficult as their will be many workers who have turned their backs on this cruel industry due to the low wages they pay people who are not at the helm.
After 20 years of track demos maybe a fresh approach is needed.

Dod.G


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