Sunday 31 May 2015

Numbers - 2014



Numbers surround Greyhounds,  
and they suffer for the ambiguity of the numbers

Registrations

The Irish Coursing Club, keepers of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book, revealed to Irish Greyhound Spotlight that 2,801 Greyhound litters were registered in 2014. The ICC average 6 pups to a litter, meaning that at least 16,806 Greyhounds were born, because of the Irish Greyhound industry, in 2014.
The ICC revealed that 14,898 Greyhounds, of racing age, were named, for use, in 2014. From the age of 13 months Greyhounds are considered adults, and of racing age. Those 14,898 Greyhounds registered in 2014 would be from 2012 and 2013 litters. The ICC went on to explain to IGS that there is no breakdown of the registration figure to show how many of those Greyhounds would be used for racing, and how many used for coursing.
The above figures give absolute ambiguity for those attempting an accurate traceability of Greyhounds - because of this ten's of thousands of Greyhounds fall immediately into huge welfare issues as they take their first breath.

Pound Figures

Figures provided by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government for industry-registered Greyhounds in Local Authority Pounds in 2014:
  • 397 Greyhounds were surrendered/collected to/by LAP's
  • 35 Greyhounds were seized by Dog Wardens
  • 21 Greyhounds were re-homed by the LAP's or reclaimed
  • 165 Greyhounds were saved by Irish rescues, already overwhelmed with other breeds of dog/animals in need.
  • 245 Greyhounds were PTS(killed)by the LAP's
  • 1 Greyhound remained 'on hand' on the last day of 2014
IGS has highlighted before that the Irish Greyhound Board condone the use of Local Authority Pounds as killing-stations for industry Greyhounds under point 7 of the Best Practice Guide - Main Principles: 'where euthanasia is inevitable'.  A statement such as 'where euthanasia is inevitable' will mean Greyhounds with treatable injuries will be taken to the pounds rather than having the veterinary treatment expenses spent on them. 
It is further known that even perfectly healthy, and perfectly adoptable, Greyhounds will be taken to, or find their way to, a pound to be PTS(killed) - Greyhounds such as Leon.
Leon was saved from a Local Authority Pound, in 2015, just 13 days after last being used for racing. Leon had 'earned'  €1,847 during his use in racing - including €187 in March on a fundraising night at the dogs at Mullingar track. Fortunately GalwaySPCA could step in and save Leon from a certain, and needless, death.
The IGB recently released that they request Local Authority Pounds to report Greyhounds given to them in 'poor physical health/poor condition' so an 'immediate investigation' can be undertaken - despite ignoring such reports given to the IGB from various rescues/shelters in recent years.

Rehoming

Between 2010 and 2013 industry-assisted rehomed Greyhounds declined each year. We have been unable to receive figures for 2014. But we can see the effort so far into 2015 in the industry-assisted rehoming is uninspiring. There have been some initiatives from the IGB Welfare Officer, such as the Retired Greyhound Shows. Clonmel 2015 gives us an insight into one of the shows, but it is not clear if the Greyhounds shown are available for adoption or just retired and being judged - such as the Greyhound  Dalcash Fickle, winner of the 'Golden Oldie Bitch' in the Clonmel 2015 video - still registered as being owned by Nicholas Colton, who was fined and severely reprimanded in a 2012 GBGB Disciplinary Hearing for an amphetamine positive given by Greyhound Hondo County. In 2014 Dalcash Fickle was far from retired - giving birth to her 3rd litter at 9 years old.

Deaths and track figures 

In October 2014 11 Greyhounds suffered and died during export from Ireland to Spain. The IGB issued a statement on the 29th October, 6 months later in Clare Daly TD was told that 'investigations are ongoing'.  


For every Saturday night in 2014, IGS recorded 717 incidents concerning the health/life/welfare of Greyhounds used on Irish tracks. Such incidents were assured to us in February 2014 by Irish Greyhound Board Welfare Officer, Barry Coleman, to be 'quite rare in Greyhound racing'.


Every year ten's of thousands of Greyhounds
are born in Ireland
Every year too few Greyhounds find homes.

Please adopt a Greyhound
Don't bet on one
Please don't support the Irish Greyhound Industry.



Monday 6 April 2015

Welfare ?



In June 2014 Bord na gCon Brian Purcell assured the public
that 'the[Irish]Greyhound Welfare Act 2011...is probably the strongest 
piece of legislation for any animal in the world'.


Breeding

The Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 'Restriction on Breeding' gives protection to Female Greyhounds for the age they can start to be used for breeding, there are no regulations beyond that '15 month' eligible age - many Female Greyhounds are continued to be used for breeding at nine years old.
It is an offence for any person to permit a Female Greyhound to give birth to more than six litters in her lifetime - a loophole allows an additional two litters to be permitted, certified by a veterinary practitioner. Any contravention of this(maximum)eight litter regulation must not be registered into the Stud Book - kept by the Irish Coursing Club.
IGS has found that eleven year old Greyhound Dalcash Diva has had nine litters in her lifetime. The four Greyhounds from her last litter in 2013 have all been used for racing - and therefore have been registered in the Stud Book. 
The Artificial Insemination Regulations regarding stud dogs was breached for nine years - amnesty was given for any of those Greyhounds bred, registered, used for racing/breeding, and indeed for those who breached the regulations.


Injuries

'Trainers are urged to seek veterinary advice regarding the use of any[therapeutic]medication close to a race or qualifying trial in order to avoid a positive test result.' From the Bord na gCon Best Practice Guide for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Withdrawal Times.
With that quote we understand that Greyhounds can continually be used for racing despite any injuries they are suffering with. We have seen this with Greyhounds such as Droopys Braedon - used despite ongoing health problems for big prize-money. In 'Doping - continued' we highlighted the doping details/fines for December 2014 and February 2015 - both showing fines for the use of 'therapeutic medicines' highlighted in the Bord na gCon Best Practice Guide. In 'IGB 2015 Awards - Behind the Lights' we highlighted that trainer Michael O'Donovan had been fined and reprimanded by the GBGB(Greyhound Board of Great Britain)in 2014 - where 'It appeared to the Committee that Mr O’Donovan was talking an injudicious risk in racing a greyhound during its recovery period, risking its welfare'. Michael O'Donovan continued in this vain in Ireland by using Laughil Blake who was 'short of full fitness'.
Under the Greyhound Industry(Racing)Regulations 2007 - the Withdrawal of a Greyhound can be allowed where the  officials have knowledge of an ill or injured Greyhound.
The Irish Coursing Club Directives, Instructions, and Guidance Notes(up to 2013)asked stewards to 'use their judgement' in relation to the running of injured Greyhounds
The Bord na gCon Best Practice Guide includes recommendations on track maintenance. Injuries at the Limerick track were raised in February 2011, the Bord na gCon didn't take action until February 2014. Contrary to the February 2014 statement from Bord na gCon that injuries are a 'feature of the sport', the Bord na gCon Welfare Officer assured us, in February 2014, that injuries were 'quite rare in Greyhound racing'
There are no regulations for protecting Greyhounds for the frequency they are used, or how often they suffer on the track. Jilly Bug was used twice in three days - she was 'knocked over'(at high speed at the first bend)in those consecutive races - she continues to be used for racing. Newlawn Impact suffered twice in two weeks - he has not been used for racing since his last horrific race in November 2014. There is a welfare concern  that there are no regulations that Racing Managers, for tracks, should be made aware of such issues - and that Greyhounds are continued to be used despite injuries.

Transport

In October 2014 eleven Greyhounds suffered and died during export from Ireland to Spain. The Bord na gCon issued a statement on the 29th October 2014 and released a reminder to transporters of their obligations under Transport Regulations. Six months on there is still no news of any findings of any investigations.
Clare Daly TD was given assurance from Minister Simon Coveney that Greyhounds would not be exempted from the micro-chipping rules on 24th March 2014, after concerns that the Irish Greyhound industry began to call for exemptions from Transport Regulations. On the 1st of April 2014 representatives of a Greyhound Group held a meeting with representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Irish Greyhound Board and Irish Coursing Club - DAFM being 'very sympathetic' and supportive of any exemption and a meeting between the IGB and GBGB 'would be sought as a matter of urgency'.
Proposals for the exemption sought include that 'Greyhounds should not be classed as pets' they are 'performance animals' already 'highly regulated'.
Any further self-regulation for the industry in regards to the traceability of Greyhounds is a huge welfare concern - a concern we have seen in regards to breeding and industry-rehoming, and from the horrific discovery we sadly saw in 2012/2013
The Bord na gCon Good Practice guide sanctions Greyhounds to be PTS in Local Authority Dog Pounds under point seven of the Best Practice Guide - Main Principles: 'where euthanasia is inevitable' - an action shown in the LADP published figures. This sanction being of the same given from the Irish Coursing Club in their Directives, Instructions, and Guidance Notes(up to at least 2013).

Doping

As we have seen in Doping and Doping - continued, welfare concerns continue. 
Sadly it seems any meeting on doping issues that has long been 'a matter of urgency' between the IGB and GBGB is not such 'a matter of urgency' as is Export exemptions - especially where export for breeding means money - doping is just an issue not to be spoken of.


Welfare issues are ongoing despite assurances from Brian Purcell 
and we doubt the welfare issues will be of topic at the annual awards ceremony.




Please adopt a Greyhound
Don't bet on one
Please don't support the Irish Greyhound Industry.





Thursday 2 April 2015

IGB 2015 Awards - Behind the lights




“We are raised to honour all the wrong explorers and discoverers - thieves planting flags, murderers carrying crosses. Let us at last praise the colonizers of dreams.” 
Peter S. Beagle.
 Let that dream be peace and loving homes for Greyhounds - not the track.


On the 2nd of May 2015 the Bord na gCon and the racing community will 
celebrate their industry in their annual awards ceremony.

IGS thought we would briefly highlight the lowlights of those nominees.

From 'Dog of The Year'
  • Ballymac Vic: Followers of IGS on Facebook will remember that this near 5 year old Greyhound was retired to stud after being used on the tracks despite the injuries he sustained. Bord na gCon Head of Regulation, Pat Herbert, was asked in June 2013 if Ballymac Vic had ever tested positive for any prohibited substances. The letter from the Irish Greyhound Owners & Breeders Federation was never replied to.
  • Boylesports Hero: Owned by John Boyle, founder of BoyleSports bookmakers - sponsors, for three years, of the Irish Derby. 3 year old Boylesports Hero was retired to stud after breaking a hock in the first round ofthe 2014 Irish Derby. John Boyle recently announced a huge prize incentive to push Greyhounds further - despite welfare concerns of such monetary incentives.
  • Laughil Blake: Winner of the 2014 Irish Derby. 3 year old Laughil Blake is trained by Michael O'Donovan - who was fined and reprimanded by the GBGB(Greyhound Board of Great Britain), in 2014, for a positive sample given by Laughil George - that 'he allowed a substance to be administered that could affect the performance and/or the well being of the greyhound' and 'It appeared to the Committee that Mr O’Donovan was talking an injudicious risk in racing a greyhound during its recovery period, risking its welfare' Laughil Blake has recently been used in the Dandelion Bar & Nightclub Easter Cup - despite being 'short of full fitness'.
From 'Stayer of The Year'
From 'Newcomer of The Year'
(IGS has refrained from re-publishing the horrific live-baiting video to our Youtube Channel)


Please adopt a Greyhound
Don't bet on one
Please don't support the Irish Greyhound Industry.






Sunday 8 March 2015

Doping - continued




Doping - will it ever be taken seriously?


In October 2014 IGS highlighted doping-scandals of Irish Greyhounds, starting from 2006 through to the details of a second fine and severe reprimand for Irish Greyhound trainer Pat Curtin, by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain for a positive sample of Stanozolol from Greyhound Kereight King in a trial run in the UK. 
In November 2014 a BBC Panorama expose of doping in the UK  was broadcast- highlighting the 'biggest crook in Wimbledon' and the doping of Irish-born 'Ticco Foods'  and 'Pennys Swan'.

Questions continue to be raised

18th December 2014 - Mick Wallace TD questions Tom Hayes, Minister responsible for Greyhounds. Starting with raising concerns on the lack of or slow procedures in publishing the results of doping tests - going on to highlight a 'serious conflict of interest' where 'the chairman[of the Control Committee - who oversee doping investigations]has a dog in training with a guy who has actually been found guilty of doping dogs' , and - as highlighted by IGS in October - and further by Senator Brian O Domhnaill - the warning from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain for English buyers to 'exercise due diligence in assessing the drug status of greyhounds they purchase from Ireland' in the Disciplinary Hearing of Greyhound Gemstones Rover for a positive sample showing Stanozolol.

18th December 2014 - Clare Daly TD questions Simon Coveney, Minister for Dept. Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, over publication of findings for doping results - and the 'reason this is currently not the standard practice in the Irish dog-racing industry'. Simon Coveney points out that under current regulations detailed findings can be published only after consideration at the Control Committee or, in the event of an appeal, at the Control Appeals Committee'....the 'Control Committee shall publish its findings in all decisions in a manner it deems fit, and that and such publication may be delayed subject to appeal procedures' and that he 'anticipates' improved transparency.

24th December 2014 - Paschal Taggart, Ex Chairman of the Bord na gCon & the Control Committee - as we saw in 'Doping' -  the man now bidding to save the UK Wimbledon track for the Irish industry - was proud to say that in his time the industry 'never needed a consultants report'. He didn't mention the fact that In June of 2006 the then Secretary General of the Justice Department, Tim Dalton, published his damming report of 'Certain matters affecting the Bord na gCon' which included focussed concerns of Paschal Taggart's non-publication findings of the EPO doping scandal.


17th February 2015 - Mick Wallace TD questions Minister Simon Coveney if any 'measures are in place to deal with' the sale of 'illegal substances for use in the Greyhound industry' - previously an area highlighted by IGS in October 2014  - and a concern highlighted in the 2007 report of the Paul Hennessy case.

17th February 2015 - Clare Daly TD questions Minister Simon Coveney if he is 'satisfied with the current standards of drug testing in the Greyhound industry' especially with in reference to the drug Stanozolol, given that the Bord na gCon have confirmed no positive samples of Stanozolol to date - 'despite reported widespread use of this drug in the industry'. Stanozolol has been highlighted throughout the previous post by IGS on doping - showing concerns that testing for oil-based Stanozolol was 'proving more difficult' for the Bord na gCon. Simon Coveney reports that 'In the past year Bord na gCon has significantly augmented its regulatory function with the appointment of a Director of Racing Governance and Compliance. Bord na gCon reports that since this appointment, it has undertaken a considerable review of all regulatory functions with a view to achieving the highest standards in greyhound racing integrity'. Such as reviews and changes to the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005 - which was breached by the industry for nine years - allowing some illegally bred and registered Greyhounds to be used for racing.
Minister Coveney continued to point out that the Bord na gCon had 'launched a Review into Anti-Doping and Medication Control' and that 'this review, which is on-going, will make recommendations which I expect Bord na gCon to take into account in determining whether any amendments are required to legislation, practices or policies, to ensure both the advancement of the Board's commitment to the welfare of the greyhound and to underpin the integrity of the Irish greyhound industry'

The Anti-Doping and Medication Control review launched by the Bord na gCon, is being led by Professor Tim Morris - independent adviser to the GBGB Regulatory Board. Representatives from the IGOBF(Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation)met with Professor Tim Morris and the Director of Racing Governance and Compliance, Hilary Forde, on 27th of January 2015, to insist 'on a zero tolerance approach for drugs or medication in greyhound racing' and that when 'test results are returned by the Laboratory they should be published both negative and positive with a note if samples are being sent for further analysis'. 

Finally an advance on doping?

In a GBGB Disciplinary Hearing on 10th February 2015, in reference to another positive sample from an Irish Greyhound - Fairyfield What, who had recently been sold to the UK - Professor Tim Morris gave in his evidence to the Committee that 'he had received anecdotal reports of trainers(not Veterinarians)in Ireland using viagra to counter cramp in Greyhounds'.

On the 10th February it was announced that the Irish Derby 2014 'winner' Laughil Blake was set to be used in the Dandelion Bar & Nightclub Easter Cup. The announcement, of course, does not mention any references to doping - such as:

  • Michael O'Donovan, trainer of Laughil Blake, was fined and reprimanded by the GBGB in July 2014 for a positive sample from Greyhound Laughil George where 'It appeared to the Committee that Mr O’Donovan was talking an injudicious risk in racing a greyhound during its recovery period, risking its welfare' .
  • Or the Dandelion Bar & Nightclub, sponsoring the 2015 Easter Cup, as in 2014, being owned by Greyhound trainer Pat Curtin highlighted previously as being severely reprimanded and fined by the GBGB in 2009 and in 2014.

Details and fines on the doping of Greyhounds in Ireland for December 2014 and February 2015 finally, after years of pressure, and with accordance to recommendations from the 2014 consultants report from Indecon, were publicised.

December 2014 shows the biggest fine of €1,000 handed out for a positive sample of Amphetamine from the Greyhound 'Fortfield Chief'. 
A low fine of €100 was handed out for a positive sample of Frusemide from the Greyhound 'Friars Manor'. This low fine is a concern given that the drug Frusemide(aka Furosemide) is listed by the World Anti-doping Agency as a prohibited masking drug(a drug to hide detection of other drugs).

In February 2015 the low fine of €100 handed out for a positive sample of Heptaminol from the Greyhound 'Old Fort Cracker' is surely a concern given that the use of this drug, on Greyhounds, is taken far more seriously in Australia. Results of Heptaminol use in the Australian industry have resulted in trainers being disqualified - up to two years - along with being fined.

Whilst we see details of doping cases in Ireland finally being published as a forward step, we can only hope that the result of the Bord na gCon review of Anti-Doping and Mediaction with Professor Tim Morris will give rise to future positive samples dealt with and published sooner than they have been, and disqualifications given along with fines. Maybe even a unified and shared approach to a zero-tolerance on doping between the Irish and UK industries can be achieved.


Please adopt a Greyhound
Don't bet on one
Please don't support the Irish Greyhound Industry.