10 MISUNDERSTOOD FACTS
ABOUT GREYHOUND RACING
ABOUT GREYHOUND RACING
1) Are greyhounds sent to China for their meat?
Greyhounds are NOT sent to China 'directly' to be used as dog meat.
However, greyhounds no longer of use for breeding/racing in China ARE susceptible to being sent to the dog meat trade where they will be horrifically slaughtered ( Live Greyhounds are regularly found on the dog meat trade trucks in China)
2) Can greyhounds be legally destroyed on economic grounds?
Yes; There is a tick box option on the GBGB green retirement form, for dogs to be destroyed on economic grounds. Another tick box option allows for a dog to be destroyed if it is un-rehomable as a pet.
3) Is it legal for a greyhound trainer to kill his own dog using a Captive bolt gun?
Yes, unless unnecessary suffering to the dog is proven, it is not a crime, but pithing must be carried out following use of the Captive bolt gun to prevent a dog that is rendered unconscious from regaining consciousness. (Pithing is a horrific method where the spinal cord must be severed to ensure the death of the dog)
4) Do vets destroy greyhounds using a captive bolt gun at greyhound race tracks?
There is no evidence found to suggest that any vet would use any other method to destroy an injured or unwanted dog at a greyhound race track, other than IV Pentobarbital /Barbiturates
5) Does every licensed greyhound track have to have a freezer to store greyhound cadavers (dead bodies).?
Yes, According to regulations, every track must have a freezer to store greyhound cadavers.
6) Is the 2018 GBGB greyhound death data accurate?
We cannot say whether this is, or is not, but we should add that this data is NOT audited by an independent body and there are strong conflicts of interest that exist.
7) Is the GBGB data for re homing of greyhounds accurate?
The figures for dogs homed, includes dogs that have been retained by greyhound trainers or could be exported by owners/breeders, therefore we believe this data is flawed and misleading to the public.
8) Are greyhounds raced in all temperatures and conditions?
Greyhounds are often raced in extreme conditions. In 2019 dogs were raced in temperatures of up to 34 degrees Celsius at Nottingham Greyhound Track. Such conditions can cause dogs to collapse of heat stroke.
Racing dogs in dangerous conditions, such as heavy rain and snow, and even during times where fireworks are set off nearby the tracks is the norm, regardless of complaints from concerned members of the public.
9) Are track vets independent or employed by the greyhound racing industry?
Track vets are NOT independent and are employed by the GBGB licensed tracks.
10) Is there a complaints body specifically for greyhound racing other than the Governing body (GBGB)
No, there is no specific complaints body covering the GBGB, other than the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) who only cover incidents at GBGB licensed greyhound tracks.
Greyhounds are NOT sent to China 'directly' to be used as dog meat.
However, greyhounds no longer of use for breeding/racing in China ARE susceptible to being sent to the dog meat trade where they will be horrifically slaughtered ( Live Greyhounds are regularly found on the dog meat trade trucks in China)
2) Can greyhounds be legally destroyed on economic grounds?
Yes; There is a tick box option on the GBGB green retirement form, for dogs to be destroyed on economic grounds. Another tick box option allows for a dog to be destroyed if it is un-rehomable as a pet.
3) Is it legal for a greyhound trainer to kill his own dog using a Captive bolt gun?
Yes, unless unnecessary suffering to the dog is proven, it is not a crime, but pithing must be carried out following use of the Captive bolt gun to prevent a dog that is rendered unconscious from regaining consciousness. (Pithing is a horrific method where the spinal cord must be severed to ensure the death of the dog)
4) Do vets destroy greyhounds using a captive bolt gun at greyhound race tracks?
There is no evidence found to suggest that any vet would use any other method to destroy an injured or unwanted dog at a greyhound race track, other than IV Pentobarbital /Barbiturates
5) Does every licensed greyhound track have to have a freezer to store greyhound cadavers (dead bodies).?
Yes, According to regulations, every track must have a freezer to store greyhound cadavers.
6) Is the 2018 GBGB greyhound death data accurate?
We cannot say whether this is, or is not, but we should add that this data is NOT audited by an independent body and there are strong conflicts of interest that exist.
7) Is the GBGB data for re homing of greyhounds accurate?
The figures for dogs homed, includes dogs that have been retained by greyhound trainers or could be exported by owners/breeders, therefore we believe this data is flawed and misleading to the public.
8) Are greyhounds raced in all temperatures and conditions?
Greyhounds are often raced in extreme conditions. In 2019 dogs were raced in temperatures of up to 34 degrees Celsius at Nottingham Greyhound Track. Such conditions can cause dogs to collapse of heat stroke.
Racing dogs in dangerous conditions, such as heavy rain and snow, and even during times where fireworks are set off nearby the tracks is the norm, regardless of complaints from concerned members of the public.
9) Are track vets independent or employed by the greyhound racing industry?
Track vets are NOT independent and are employed by the GBGB licensed tracks.
10) Is there a complaints body specifically for greyhound racing other than the Governing body (GBGB)
No, there is no specific complaints body covering the GBGB, other than the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) who only cover incidents at GBGB licensed greyhound tracks.
