Greyhound Derby Towcester
Greyhound Derby protests call out the racing
industry for putting profit above welfare
industry for putting profit above welfare
Dog lovers are protesting outside the Greyhound Derby at Towcester Racecourse on Saturday June 2nd , to highlight that more than 1,000 dogs die or are killed each year within the greyhound racing industry.
Campaign group CAGED Nationwide (Campaign Against Greyhound Exploitation and Death), animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports and greyhound rescue group, Birmingham Greyhound Protection, believe the greyhound racing industry has failed in its duty to protect greyhounds, whilst using them for profit and human entertainment. Protesting at the greyhound racing industry’s biggest annual event, campaigners will be urging people to look deeper into the reality of the industry and what the dogs endure, so they can make an informed decision before attending a greyhound race.
Rita James from CAGED Nationwide, said: “There is a stark contrast between what is dubbed the ‘richest greyhound race’ in the world and the poor treatment of dogs within the racing industry. The greyhound owners, trainers and punters will be hoping their dog wins, as there is a lot of prize money to be won, but the fate of the dogs, even the champions, is precariously in the balance.
“We know that greyhounds in the UK are often killed when they stop being competitive at the tracks, for example if they become lame, too old or too slow. It isn't surprising that the rules of racing permit the destruction of dogs that sustain minor and or treatable injuries because they are perceived on economic ground as acceptable wastage. The whole industry revolves around money and so the welfare of the dogs comes bottom of the list, if it makes it at all.
“Being a champion dog and earning lots of prize money is no guarantee of humane treatment after racing. Both champions and non-graders have also been exported to countries that have no up-to-date animal welfare laws, including China. For many, that is their potential reward, rather than a safe, happy so-called ‘retirement’.”
Earlier this year, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain released figures revealing that more than 1,000 racing greyhounds died or were killed in 2017. The figures also revealed that greyhounds suffer almost 5,000 injuries every year – a startling number that suggests either one in every three racing dogs is being injured, or dogs are suffering multiple injuries.
Director of campaigns for the League Against Cruel Sports, Chris Luffingham, said: “The greyhound racing industry has had more than enough chances to improve, and instead of life getting any better for the dogs, we saw the death of more than 1,000 innocent victims last year.
“Any ‘sport’ that results in animals suffering for the sake of putting money in people’s pockets, is one we need to call time on. Greyhounds are born into a life of injury and for many their death is inevitable. You can’t have greyhound racing without dogs suffering, so we need to choose – are we a country of animal lovers or are we a country that supports greyhound racing – we can’t be both.”
Birmingham Greyhound Protection rescues and re-homes dogs from the racing industry, speaking ahead of the protest, the group’s founder Kerry Elliman, said: “We will be at the Greyhound Derby to be a voice for the dogs who are being exploited by a self-regulating industry. We will be standing there for the greyhounds we have found in China, that are only in that country because greyhounds were exported there for pure greed. We are their voice and a voice for all the dogs suffering instead of being saved after a life in racing.”
Campaign group CAGED Nationwide (Campaign Against Greyhound Exploitation and Death), animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports and greyhound rescue group, Birmingham Greyhound Protection, believe the greyhound racing industry has failed in its duty to protect greyhounds, whilst using them for profit and human entertainment. Protesting at the greyhound racing industry’s biggest annual event, campaigners will be urging people to look deeper into the reality of the industry and what the dogs endure, so they can make an informed decision before attending a greyhound race.
Rita James from CAGED Nationwide, said: “There is a stark contrast between what is dubbed the ‘richest greyhound race’ in the world and the poor treatment of dogs within the racing industry. The greyhound owners, trainers and punters will be hoping their dog wins, as there is a lot of prize money to be won, but the fate of the dogs, even the champions, is precariously in the balance.
“We know that greyhounds in the UK are often killed when they stop being competitive at the tracks, for example if they become lame, too old or too slow. It isn't surprising that the rules of racing permit the destruction of dogs that sustain minor and or treatable injuries because they are perceived on economic ground as acceptable wastage. The whole industry revolves around money and so the welfare of the dogs comes bottom of the list, if it makes it at all.
“Being a champion dog and earning lots of prize money is no guarantee of humane treatment after racing. Both champions and non-graders have also been exported to countries that have no up-to-date animal welfare laws, including China. For many, that is their potential reward, rather than a safe, happy so-called ‘retirement’.”
Earlier this year, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain released figures revealing that more than 1,000 racing greyhounds died or were killed in 2017. The figures also revealed that greyhounds suffer almost 5,000 injuries every year – a startling number that suggests either one in every three racing dogs is being injured, or dogs are suffering multiple injuries.
Director of campaigns for the League Against Cruel Sports, Chris Luffingham, said: “The greyhound racing industry has had more than enough chances to improve, and instead of life getting any better for the dogs, we saw the death of more than 1,000 innocent victims last year.
“Any ‘sport’ that results in animals suffering for the sake of putting money in people’s pockets, is one we need to call time on. Greyhounds are born into a life of injury and for many their death is inevitable. You can’t have greyhound racing without dogs suffering, so we need to choose – are we a country of animal lovers or are we a country that supports greyhound racing – we can’t be both.”
Birmingham Greyhound Protection rescues and re-homes dogs from the racing industry, speaking ahead of the protest, the group’s founder Kerry Elliman, said: “We will be at the Greyhound Derby to be a voice for the dogs who are being exploited by a self-regulating industry. We will be standing there for the greyhounds we have found in China, that are only in that country because greyhounds were exported there for pure greed. We are their voice and a voice for all the dogs suffering instead of being saved after a life in racing.”