Greyhound Traceability

Under the publication of the Draft Greyhound Industry Bill 2018,

The Irish Greyhound Board(soon to be named Greyhound Racing Ireland)

'may make regulations for the...traceability of greyhounds' through

'prescribing the life events[of greyhounds]which are to be notified'.

Life events such as birth, sale, death, loss, export, injury, doping/racing sanctions, breeding:

see Head 16 (5)(d)

Such publications of traceability has been called for for many, many years.

The IGB could now take this time to make such regulations to show full,
and transparent, traceability recordings for each greyhound registered -
and should make such recordings publicly accessible.

Currently the IGB show on their website, for each greyhound, date of birth, the owner(often incorrect, and an offence under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 - transfer of ownership regs), trainer(if applicable), Dam and Sire, pedigree, litters(if applicable), totals of prize money, and race results.

IGS highlights here just a few greyhounds, from the hundreds we have researched over the years, as examples of the notification of life events of Irish greyhounds -

that the IGB may make regulations for,

as proposed under the Draft Greyhound Industry Bill 2018.

• Curragh Andy - Listed as being owned by Michael O'Keeffe. The IGB could now give notice that Curragh Andy was exported to Chile for racing.
• Holly Wood - Listed as being owned by Pat Carey. The IGB could now give notice that Holly Wood was exported to Argentina for racing.
• Rathluric Sham - Listed as being owned by Shane Corkery. The IGB could now give notice that Rathluric Sham is dead - shot and dumped in a quarry in 2012.
• Kildangan Dawn - Listed as being owned by Tony Walsh/Brian Walsh. The IGB could now give notice that Kildangan Dawn is dead - found shot and dumped with Rathluric Sham 2012.
• Sidarian Blaze - Listed as being owned by The Sidarian Syndicate. The IGB could now give notice that Sidarian Blaze suffered a bad break after smashing into the rails at Wimbledon track, and is now used as a stud dog.
• Sole Reason - Listed as being owned by Henning Olesen. The IGB could now give notice that Sole Reason was exported to Spain for racing and breeding.
• Kereight King - Listed as being owned by Aiden Denton. The IGB could now give notice that Kereight King was given a banned substance, and was used as a stud dog.
• Moral Duty - Listed as being owned by Tony Haugh. The IGB could now give notice that Moral Duty was exported to China for breeding.
• Pennys Swan - Listed as being owned by the GBGB. 
• Ticco Foods - Listed as being owned by Ticco Foods Ltd. The IGB could now give notice that both Ticco Foods and Pennys Swan were exported to the UK for racing, both given a prohibited substance(which was highlighted in a BBC investigative report).
• Tally Ho Miller - Listed as being owned by the GBGB. The IGB could now give notice that Tally Ho Miller was given a banned substance in Ireland, then exported to the UK for racing(to be trained by JP Lambe who had himself been found guilty of a doping offence).
• Top Honcho - Listed as being owned by Michael Dunne. The IGB could now give notice that Top Honcho is dead, and that his sperm had been used illegally under the Artificial Insemination of Greyhound Regulations 2005. (Now those Regulations have been waived Top Honcho continues to sire greyhounds 10 years after his death).
• Tyrur Sugar Ray - Listed as being owned by P.J.Fahy. The IGB could now give notice that Tyrur Sugar Ray was bred/registered/raced illegally under the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005.
• Tyrur Nathan - Listed as being owned by P.J.Fahy. The IGB Could Now give notice that Tyrur Nathan was bred/registered/raced illegally under the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005.
• Burnt Oak Bolt - Listed as being owned by Patrick O'Sullivan. The IGB could now give notice that Burnt Oak Bolt was exported to Argentina for racing, and is now dead.
• Fortfield Chief - Listed as being owned by James McMahon. The IGB could now give notice that Fortfied Chief tested positive for Amphetamines.
• Inslips Fizz - Listed as being owned by David Kennedy. The IGB could now give notice that Inslips Fizz was killed by the track vet at the Clonmel track.
• Barney Rubble - Listed as being owned by Seamus McCloskey. The IGB could now give notice that Barney Rubble was exported to Spain for racing, found as a stray by Spanish rescue Scoobys Medina, then homed in Italy.
• Mineola Sprint - Listed as being owned by Seamus McClosky. The IGB could now give notice that Mineola Sprint was exported to Pakistan for racing, and now reported as being dead.(Seamu McClusky greyhound owner/breeder also an Architect of the IGB headquarters/Limerick Greyhound track).
• Shanless Becky - Listed as being owned by Brendan Cullen. The IGB could now give notice that Shanless Becky suffered an injury at Harrolds Cross track by running into an exposed piece of the rail, and was then used for breeding.
• Youthful Silver - Listed as being owned by Maurice O'Connor. The IGB could now give notice that Youthful Silver was found straying in Co.Kerry, extremely underweight with open sores.
• Reverse Backways - Listed as being owned by the GBGB. The IGB could now give notice that Reverse Backways was exported to the UK for racing, and was killed by a track vet at Monmore Stadium. (This followed unquestionable neglect of welfare for Reverse Backways).
• Drumcrow Apollo - Listed as being owned by Roy Ruddy The IGB could Now give notice that Drumcrow Apollo was exported to Argentina for racing and breeding.
• Fishman - Listed as being owned by June Maguire. The IGB could now give notice that Fishman was exported to Chile for racing.
• IMOKRYOU - Listed as being owned by Right and Proper Syndicate. The IGB could now give notice that IMOKRYOU was used for breeding then surrendered to a dog pound in a neglected state.
• Deerfield Sings - Listed as being owned by Bryan Dalton. The IGB could now give notice that Deerfield Sings was exported for racing in Portugal.
• Blackboy Trouble - Listed as being owned by Jeremiah Kirby. The IGB could now give notice that Blackboy Trouble was exported to Pakistan for racing.
• Duke Special - Listed as being owned by Steve Locke. The IGB could now give notice that Duke Special was exported to Argentina for racing.
• Ballymac Floss - Listed as being owned by Elaine T Parker. The IGB could now give notice that Ballymac Floss had an illegally 9th registered litter.(an offence under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 - Restriction on Breeding).
• Dalcash Diva - Listed as being owned by Sean Meade. The IGB could now give notice that Dalcash Diva had an illegally 9th registered litter.(an offence under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 - Restriction on Breeding).
• Parada - Listed as being owned by Eva Abedi. The IGB could now give notice that Parada was exported to Spain, for breeding.
• Iceroad Driver - Listed as being owned by Lou Cross. The IGB could now give notice that Iceroad Driver was exported to Spain(has mated with Parada)
• Ardfert Thunder - Listed as being owned by Owen and Adrian Clifford. The IGB could now give notice that Ardfert Thunder was exported to Nangong Dog Industry, China for breeding.
• Ballyina Droopy - Listed as being owned by John Hayes. The IGB could now give notice that Ballyina Droopy was found badly injured straying in Limerick with open wounds.
• Kierans Trotter - Listed as being owned by Donie Galvin/Der Dineen. The IGB could now give notice that Kierans Trotter was exported to Pakistan.
• Leeview Dave - Listed as being owned by Thomas Delaney. The IGB could now give notice that Leeview Dave was exported to Chile for racing.
• Seefin Hitch - Listed as being owned by Brenda Barrett. The IGB could now give notice that Seefin Hitch was exported to China for breeding.
• Ballymac Hilda - Listed as being owned by Mathew Connell/Javier Jarne. The IGB could now give notice that Ballymac Hilda was exported to Spain for racing.
• Hotshot Farlo - Listed as being owned by Kenneth Bohan. The IGB could now give notice that Hotshot Farlo was found as a stray in Ireland and taken to a dog pound(the dog pound kept Hotshot Farlo until space could be found by the rescue who was able to take him).
• Knocnacree Boss - Listed as being owned by Alan O'Connor/Niamh McKenna. The IGB could now give notice that Knocnacree Boss was exported to Pakistan for racing/coursing.
• Lantern Leon - Listed as being owned by Stephen Wrenn. The IGB could now give notice that despite perfect health, Lantern Leon was surrendered to the dog pound to be killed. Thankfully was released to a rescue for homing.
• North Bound - Listed as being owned by Daniel P Greene. The IGB could now give notice that North Bound was exported to China for breeding.
• Sheepwalk Mac - Listed as being owned by Keon O'Neill. The IGB could now give notice that Sheepwalk Mac was exported to Argentina for racing and breeding.
• Tir Na Croi - Listed as being owned by Nora McDonagh/Katie Fallon. The IGB could now give notice that Tir Na Croi tested positive for cocaine.
• We Have Bob - Listed as being owned by The Stradbally Syndicate. The IGB could now give notice that We Have Bob was exported to Pakistan and is now dead.
• Uncle Jayfkay - Listed as being owned by Anthony Fuda. The IGB could now give notice that Uncle Jayfkay was given amphetamines.
• Fridays Keegan - Listed as being owned by Paul Whyte. The IGB could now give notice that Fridays Keegan was exported to Chile for racing and renamed Grillito.
• Scotchrath Driver - Listed as being owned by Anne Brennan. The IGB could now give notice that Scotchrath Driver was exported to Spain for racing.
• Tynwold Gyp (previously named Gyp Rosetti)Listed as being owned by Terry Cordin. The IGB could now give notice that Tynwold Gyp was given a banned substance. 
• Psychic Sam - Listed as being owned by Phil Curtin/Father Patrick Lawton. The IGB could now give notice that Psychic Sam was exported to Chile for racing.
• Goes Wilder - Listed as being owned by Dan Clancy The IGB could now give notice that Goes Wilder tested positive for cocaine. 
• Billys Questions - Listed as being owned by the GBGB. The IGB could now give notice that Billys questions tested positive for cocaine.
• Dalcash Fickle - Listed as being owned by Nicholas Colton. The IGB could now give notice that Dalcash Fickle was awarded Golden Oldie Bitch at a 2015 Irish Retired Greyhound Trust show(there is great irony in this video, which stars a greyhound owner/trainer who admitted publicly that 'it's impossible to find a loving home for every single greyhound', and she doesn't 'find it inhumane to put a dog to sleep by shooting them', and the IGB Welfare Manager).
• Hondo County - Listed as being owned by the GBGB. The IGB could now give notice that Hondo County was given amphetamines by Nicholas Colton(the listed owner of Dalcash Fickle).

This is just a tiny insight into the traceability of the
thousands of greyhounds bred and used.
Just between 2010 and 2017 at least 134,772 greyhounds were bred
for the greyhound industry -
for those same years 3,345 greyhounds were surrendered to Irish dog pounds,
  2,729 of them were destroyed in those pounds.

  Too few find homes - the question keeps being asked

 'what happens to them all?'

This industry of mass breeding is funded by the Irish Government - 

€115,600,000 from 2010 to 2018
(plus an extra €23m from the Government for the purchase of Harrolds Cross -
 to help the IGB wipe their debt of €23m).

From Riches to Rags

Bred from a champion greyhound, then bred with a champion greyhound,
then dumped at the dog pound.

Every greyhound - indeed every dog - who
ends up in a dog pound has a story.
IGS highlights another greyhound who fell from grace.
Hopefully her story will help to highlight the plight of
dogs in pounds - they are more than just pound dogs.

Racing and Coursing photographer/greyhound breeder and owner, Yvonne Harrington - a darling of the greyhound industry - received an award in 2013, at The Retired Greyhound Show in Dublin - a series of shows from the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust. 

Yvonne Harrington, aka Helen Kiely, visited the IGS Facebook Page in 2015 to share one of her IRGT show videos with us - although she didn't reply to our comment about the greyhound who won the 'Golden Oldie Bitch' in her video still being registered as owned by Nicholas Colton - a greyhound owner with a history on greyhound doping.

In 2013, after taking nearly two years to come into season, following a bad injury, Yvonne Harrington's greyhound, 'Tarsna Sal', was mated with the 2012 Irish Derby-winning greyhound 'Skywalker Puma'.

In 2015 'Tarsna Sal' was used for breeding again, with champion greyhound 'Ballymac Eske', giving birth to a litter five of pups, one of those pups was named 'IMOKRYOU'. The breeder registered in the Stud Book for the whole litter is Yvonne Harrington's partner, Geoff Parnaby.

IMOKRYOU continues to be registered as being owned by a syndicate, whilst two of her siblings are registered as being owned by Geoff Parnaby, the other two siblings registered for racing in the UK.

IMOKRYOU fell from grace less than two and a half years after her birth.

IMOKRYOU was never used for racing, but she did give birth to a litter of pups in December 2017, sired by the Irish Derby-winning Skywalker Puma - the same greyhound her mother had been mated with in 2013. 
After raising her litter, IMOKRYOU ended up in a dog pound in April 2018, underweight, with a poor coat and a bad wrist injury - she was of no further use to the racing industry.
In that same time, April 2018, Yvonne Harrington publicly stated how sad she was to 'keep coming across the most horrendous stories of people being cruel to their pets.....rehome your pets if you don't want them[sad-tear-face]'.

There is something especially profound in a greyhound
 being named 'IMOKRYOU' having to be
 rescued from being destroyed in a dog pound.

Now IMOKRYOU will be OK.

IGS suspects Yvonne Harrington would defend herself by saying something like: not knowing the fate of one of the daughters of her greyhound. But if she can publicly state to 'keep coming across the most horrendous stories of people being cruel to their pets.....rehome your pets if you don't want them[sad-tear-face]' then she should make it her business to follow the fates of all the greyhounds she has had a responsibility for, especially through breeding - and especially when accepting an award at an Irish Retired Greyhound Trust show.

 From the 3,345 greyhounds who entered  

Dog Pounds in Ireland, for the years 2010 to 2017,

2,729 of them were destroyed.

UPDATE - July 2018

Geoff Parnaby is no longer registered as owner of any of IMOKRYOU's siblings. 

The Irish Retired Greyhound Trust

In 2014 IGS highlighted areas of the

Irish Retired Greyhound Trust(IRGT)

for the years 2010 to 2013.

Now in 2018, IGS takes a new look at the IRGT

for the years since....

to highlight further if there is any strength in the word 'Trust'.

'Changing perceptions'

In 2014, IGS highlighted an article where Irish Greyhound Board Welfare Manager/Irish Retired Greyhound Trust Secretary, Barry Coleman, was 'passionate about making sure more greyhounds live out their days here[Ireland]'. But homing greyhounds in Ireland through the IRGT has not advanced since then, very few of the greyhounds homed via the IRGT have been homed in Ireland. The IRGT rely on European adoption agencies. Some adoption agencies want to help with greyhound homing but find the process difficult where some costs are not met, or not met fully, and are given(often)poor photos of greyhounds available/on a waiting list to show to potential adopters. 

The IRGT website is poorly up-dated/confusing/conflicting in areas, there is no link to it via the IGB website, indeed the IRGT doesn't even have an adoption centre where greyhounds can be met by the public.

Outside of Ireland, greyhounds are more welcomed as the beautiful animals they are and the beautiful companion animals they make. Sadly, In Ireland the main perceptions of greyhounds continue to be as of them being racing/working dogs. The main work of 'changing perceptions'  in Ireland of, and for, greyhounds is left to be done by hard-working, dedicated, and often financially-exhausted, independent rescues/charities and not by the IRGT. 

 Imagine how much further promoting greyhounds as companion animals would go if

the sale of Harolds Cross greyhound track, to the Education Deptartment,

(to help rid the IGB of it's massive debts)
included a clause that an IRGT centre would be built on the site.
(The UK Rretired Greyhound Trust has 57 adoption centres)

Numbers

In November 2017 the IGB gave an interview on 4FM's Niall Boylan Show in a PR move to reassure the public on greyhound track injuries/deaths. The misleading figures/data backfired when the subject moves to greyhound adoption, Niall Boylan is clearly shocked. 

But even looking at the true figures, the IRGT(direct and assisted)greyhound homing figures are poor to say the least. 

The Irish Coursing Club are responsible for registrations of greyhound litters in the Irish Greyhound Stud Book. Using the litter figures supplied by the ICC, and using the average of 6 pups per litter that they themselves use, we can see that at least 102,108 greyhounds were born in Ireland from 2011 to 2016.

For the same years(2011 to 2016)figures supplied from the IRGT/IGB show that only 4,064 greyhounds were homed(directly and assisted)by the IRGT.

While IGS views any greyhound homed as a perfect ending for that greyhound, 

it is clear there is so much more that the IRGT should be doing.

(The UK RGT homed 3,811 in one year -2016)

Funding

In 2014 the damming Indecon report was published. Of the many serious recommendations for change within the racing industry, the report called for, was the recommendation for 'additional funds to be paid to the[Irish]Retired Greyhound Trust'. 

The 2014 IGB Annual Report shows IGB contribution to the IRGT was €221,051. 

In 2015 the IGB contribution to the IRGT declined to €206,381.

In 2016 the IGB contribution to the IRGT rose from 2015 but still declined from 2014 to €217,306.

It is interesting to note that the IRGT annual financial reports to the Charities Regulator show a differing income for each of those years:

2014: IRGT Income €202,864

2015: IRGT Income €182,079

2016: IRGT Income €203, 750

Thankfully the IRGT would qualify for the charity tax-exemption status.

(The UK RGT operate from incomes like the £4.1m income for 2016)

The 2015 reported annual IRGT income was not much higher, in the scheme of things, than the hand-shake-pay-off of  €116,000 the ex IGB CEO, Geraldine Larkin, was given at the termination of her contract in Dec 2016. Geraldine Larkin celebrated a €7k IGB industry investment in 2016, which included a €250,000 Breeders Scheme.

A further interesting note is of Denis Healy being appointed as an IRGT Trustee in November 2017. You can hear Denis Healy speaking about how the IGB take welfare seriously, despite declines in doping tests, and declines in welfare inspections.

Sadly, 4 years on from our last IRGT highlight, IGS still has to say:

The perceptions that Greyhounds are 'working dogs or racing dogs' is indeed something that must be changed - creating perceptions that all is good on the industry-funded rehoming

 front is PR that fails the industry tool: the beautiful Greyhound.

The company Bord na gCon keep

The Bord na gCon have run-up a bill of 

€47,831 on public relations advice for just the first 

five months of 2017 to "manage the message" of transparency.

Looking through the Trainer Bios page(or see the PDF)of the go greyhound racing website from the Bord na gCon, it would appear the message is well managed. However, for the sake of transparency, Irish Greyhound Spotlight takes a closer look at some of the trainers proudly listed on the Trainer Bios page, along with a few other trainers/owners that the Bord na gCon enjoys the company of. 

Live-Baiting company

Proudly listed in the Bord na gCon Trainers Bios page is Owen McKenna. This is despite his involvement in live baiting filmed by the BBC and highlighted by MP's in a greyhound welfare debate in 1994(see column 118). Twenty years later, McKenna's act was mirrored by kennelhand Christopher Connolly in 2014 in Australia. Connolly was given a life-time-ban of working with greyhounds in Australia in June 2015. Connolly returned to Ireland and gained employment as a kennelhand with greyhounds trained by Pat Buckley(listed in the Trainers Bio)as early as July 2015. Bord na gCon Chairman was happy to be photographed with Connolly following a big win by the-Pat-Buckley-trained Paradise Maverick in 2016 and again in April 2017, following the-Pat-Buckley-trained Bentekes Bocko winning the prestigious competition. IGS wonders if there was a "manage the message" process when Connolly filled in his kennelhand authorisation form.

Shooting company

Bord na gCon are happy to have the returned company of greyhound owner John Corkery. Mr. Corkery was that guy who had greyhounds, Rathluric Sham and Kildangan Dawn, shot and dumped at a quarry in Co. Limerick back in 2012. He was fined a total of €800 for forgery and failures of transfer of ownership notification. Despite never giving the identity of the person(s) he gave his greyhounds to to be shot, the Bord na gCon praised it a successful prosecution.  Other greyhound owners have spoken publicly of their knowledge of greyhounds being shot. Owner John Daniels spoke, in 2013, of seeing greyhounds being shot. Still-active-owner Lotte Orum spoke, in 2008, of having met trainers who shoot greyhounds. Lotte co-owns Kiss and Hug with Tony Haugh. They had previously co-owned Bite Me, who has since been homed. Sadly the same cannot be said for the father of Bite Me, Moral Duty, owned by Tony Haugh. Moral Duty was exported to China to be used for breeding.

Sponsorship company

Trainer/owner/breeder P.J. Fahy(listed in the Trainer Bio). Fahy is the owner and founder of EEC Timber, sponsors of races and competitions in Ireland and the UK. Bord na gCon are happy to have his company despite his past of unlawful breeding, registering and racing greyhounds, as IGS had exposed in 2014 after highlighting breeding regulation breaches which were allowed to continue for nine years. Bord na gCon are further happy to keep the company of Dominic Magnone with his sponsorship of races and competitions such as the annual Greyhound & Petworld Golden Muzzle, and the Greyhound & Petworld Supersprint.  Magnone was fined £2,700 in 1999 for possession for prohibited substances and jailed in 2002 for repeated offences. Pat Curtin of the Dandelion Bar & Nightclub was another welcomed friend of the Bord na gCon to sponsor races and competitions through to 2015. This was despite Curtin having a past involving the prohibited substance Stanozolol. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain fined and severely reprimanded Curtin in 2009 for a positive sample given by Shelbourne Aston, and again in 2014 for a positive sample given by Kereight King. 

Doped company

Other trainers praised on the Bord na gCon Trainer Bios web-page include:

• Michael O'Donovan, who was fined and reprimanded in 2014 for a positive sample given by Laughil George, where the Disciplinary Committee saw O'Donovan took 'an injudicious risk in racing a greyhound during its recovery period, risking its welfare'.
• Graham Holland. On 14th November 2015, four greyhounds being trained by Holland gave urine samples showing prohibited substances. The disciplinary hearing results of the adverse analytical findings were published in May 2016, where Holland was given no case to answer. Holland took steps to change his source of meat supply days after new Bord na gCon advice on feeding meat products, issued on 6th November 2015. The advice given on meat category risks(following 6th Nov 2015)was that a greyhound must be 'free of “prohibited substances”, and  the feeding of contaminated meat, whether innocent or not, cannot be a defence at any hearing in that respect'. A month later, on 22nd December 2015, another greyhound trained by Holland gave a urine sample showing the same prohibited substance as had been found in Holland's previous hearing. No disciplinary hearing has been heard, to date of this post, indeed the Bord na gCon have since changed the rules of the drug and(as from March 2017)any outstanding analytical findings would be reviewed by the Bord na gCon, that would otherwise be dealt with by the Control Committee. In November 2016, Holland was awarded Personalty of the Year by the Bord na gCon. On 10th June 2017 Holland-trained Garryvoe Bobby gave a positive urine sample for a prohibited substance, at the UK Derby. 
• Peter Cronin, who was fined €500 for a positive sample given by Gyp Rosetti on 18thAugust 2016. Gyp Rosetti, now named Tynwald Gyp, carried on racing regularly following the 18th August sample. IGS are impressed at the speed of the analytical-finding-process in this case. A greyhound is prohibited from racing until a further test is undertaken with negative results. Gyp Rosetti began racing again on 27th August 2016, just in time to continue in the Boylesports Derby. Cronin had earlier trained Dungill Rocket, who had given a urine sample showing a prohibited sample on 14th November 2015. The disciplinary hearing results were published in November 2016, as with Graham Holland, no case was to be answered for Cronin.(within the same disciplinary hearing results the same offence was heard for Neil Conroy, who was fined €100).
• Robert Gleeson, who was fined €100 for a positive sample given by Old Fort Cracker on 26th September 2014. Disciplinary for a positive sample of the same drug in Australia would be treated far more seriously through higher fines and/or disqualifications.  
• Paul Hennessy pleaded guilty, in 2007, and was fined after a 'drugs haul' in 2005. In 2006 the Hennessy-trained Heart Rumble was nominated for 'Greyhound of the year' by the Bord na gCon. Heart Rumble tested positive in the UK in 2004 for the banned steroid, nandrolone, after a race in Sunderland. In 2006 Hennessy was embroiled in the EPO/Paschal Taggert controversy, which led to the Tim Dalton report on Certain Matters Affecting Bord na gCon, condemning the EPO controversy: 'The reasons advanced for failing to publish details of the Control Committee findings in the two(EPO)cases......are not at all convincing'.

This is greyhound racing.

Creed and his Greyhound

Michael Creed T.D was appointed as the Minister for 
Agriculture, Food and the Marine in May 2016. 
In this appointment Creed has been entrusted with a Ministerial role in
 overseeing the Irish Greyhound industry.

Creed was a member of the Oireachtas Finance Committee, up to February 2016. The role of the Committee is to play key role in scrutinising the work of a number of Departments tasked with the responsibility of public expenditure. Public expenditure such as the funding of the Irish Greyhound(and Horse)racing industries. The Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund payments are divided 20% to the Greyhound industry, and 80% to the Horse racing industry. The HGRF for 2016, overseen by the previous DAFM Ministers, was for €74m, of which the Bord na gCon(Irish Greyhound Board)received €14.8m. The 2016 funding brings the total exchequer funding of the HGRF since 2001 to €1,037,991,713.

In 2012, the now Minster for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, along with other Ministers & T.D's, became the owner of the Greyhound Swift Starlet. The 14-man syndicate(The-oir-syndicate)which includes the Finance Minister Michael Noonan, the then(and now deceased)Junior Minister for DAFM, Shane McEntee, and owner of several Greyhounds Ray Butler T.D.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan was responsible for the increase of 2015 funding for the Bord na gCon, along with the previous DAFM Minister, Simon Coveney, through on-line betting tax legistlation in 2014.

So what became of Swift Starlet? 

We can see via her racing results that her last four races looked particularly hard. On the 17th July 2014 she was crowded at the Mullingar track. The next day, 18th July 2014, she was raced again, taking a bump at the Dundalk track. She was balked on her next race, 26th July 2014, at Mullingar, and then finished last in her final race, on 30th August 2014, with her race comments showing that she went the distance but never showed.

Has Swift Starlet been kept for future breeding, as her sister, Brenval Star, was?

In 2014 Brenval Star had a litter of  nine pups(five dogs and four bitches)but only four of them are shown on the Board na gCon litter report.

Did Swift Starlet sustain an injury prior to her last race and as such has never raced again?

Has Swift Starlet been homed?

Is Swift Starlet still alive?

According to the Stud Book/Irish Coursing Club and, as we have seen, the Bord na gCon, Swift Starlet is still owned by Creed, Noonan, and the rest of the The-oir-syndicate.

 Under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 If more than one person is entered in the Irish Greyhound Stud Book as the owner of a greyhound, each person so entered is responsible for giving notice of the sale, death, and/or transfer of ownership to the ICC for amendment of the Stud Book. Anyone who fails to follow the regulations set out in the Act commits an offence.

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.

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.