A UK-based holiday company, which organises self catering accommodation in Ireland, is being urged to stop providing discount vouchers to greyhound tracks where dogs suffer and die.
Imagine Ireland, with headquarters in North Yorkshire, is emailing the vouchers to its customers and encouraging them to “add greyhound racing to your itinerary in Ireland”.
The voucher, describes greyhound racing as “a unique social and cultural evening entertainment event” and a “perfect mix of night-time entertainment, Irish culture and good food”. https://www.imagineireland.com/content/downloads/vouchers/ii-gogreyhoundracing-voucher.pdf
In an appeal to Imagine Ireland this week, ICABS pointed out the suffering and deaths of dogs in greyhound racing.
We told them that in the past four years alone at tracks around Ireland, 1,559 greyhounds suffered injuries and 506 were killed. These sickening Irish Greyhound Board figures are based on “reported” injuries and deaths, suggesting that the actual number could be even higher. They do not include the greyhounds injured at tracks and later killed elsewhere, or the thousands of greyhounds who go missing each year – presumed killed when found to be too slow to win races.
We also brought to Imagine Ireland’s attention a former chairman of the Irish greyhound board who stated on Cork’s 96 FM that he believes it is “absolutely” okay for thousands of dogs to be killed and that racing couldn’t exist without the destruction of dogs.
We are calling on Imagine Ireland to join the growing list of companies which have rejected greyhound racing – including Tesco Ireland, Electric Ireland, Aldi, Hyde Irish Whiskey and Toyota Ireland (see full list below).
ACTION ALERT
Urge Imagine Ireland to show compassion for the dogs and stop offering greyhound track discount vouchers.
Imagine Ireland
Telephone (UK): 01756 707 720
Or +44 1756 707 720 from outside UK
Telephone (Ireland): 065 6891105
Email: info@imagineireland.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fbImagineIreland
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ImagineCottages
Companies in Ireland that have rejected greyhound racing
– In June 2018, Boston Scientific moved to disassociate from greyhound racing after its brand name was attached to greyhound races at Clonmel greyhound track. In a statement, it said: “Boston Scientific does not officially sanction or sponsor any dog racing activities. The events that you mentioned were unofficial activities, and we have advised our employees about appropriate use of the Boston Scientific name in the future”
– In April 2018, Hyde Irish Whiskey said it will “never again sponsor a dog race” after it was told about the cruelty of the greyhound industry.
– In March 2018, Electric Ireland scrapped a “50% off admission for a night at the dogs” discount offer after an appeal from ICABS and contact from concerned customers. An Electric Ireland representative stated: “We no longer offer Rewards for the Irish Greyhound Board.”
– In December, Aldi Ireland confirmed that its Arklow store did not sponsor a greyhound race in Enniscorthy, despite the Irish Greyhound Board website suggesting that it did. According to the IGB, race 3 at Enniscorthy greyhound track on 15 December was “The Aldi Arklow A6 525”
– In October 2017, UK-based discounts website, Voucher Cloud, responded positively to an ICABS appeal and scrapped an Irish Greyhound Board 2-for-1 offer for greyhound racing.
– In September 2017, the Maldron Hotel in Limerick removed greyhound racing leaflets from a display in the hotel. Responding to an ICABS appeal, in which we highlighted cruelty and killing in the greyhound industry, the Maldron Hotel chain replied to say: “We have removed these leaflets from our Maldron Limerick hotel foyer.”
– In May 2017, Toyota Ireland ordered the Irish Greyhound Board to remove its brand name from the title of a race held at Clonmel greyhound track. The car company told the IGB that the Toyota brand was used without its knowledge or consent. The Tipperary track and the Irish Greyhound Board had listed the race as “The Toyota A3 Stake for Bitches”, despite the fact that Toyota did not sponsor the race or have anything to do it.
– In November 2016, Toyota Ireland announced that the sponsorship of greyhound racing by one of its authorised dealers in Cork had ended. “We have never sponsored greyhound racing and have no intention of doing so in the future,” Toyota Ireland stated in an email to ICABS. “The sponsorship of the event in Cork was done by a local dealer who has assured us that his sponsorship of the event has ended and he will not be involved in the sponsorship of any greyhound racing again in future.”
– In November 2016, Tesco Ireland confirmed that it had removed greyhound racing from its Clubcard deals. A Tesco spokesperson tweeted: “I can confirm we have cancelled this offer…we have decided to cease this offer going forward.”
