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.