Greyhound Racing Ireland has claimed that its policy is that greyhounds “are only euthanised by a veterinary surgeon”, despite its Code of Practice stating otherwise.
In a recent Dail Question, Paul Murphy TD (Solidarity-People Before Profit) asked the Minister for Agriculture “if proposed Statutory Instruments legislating that euthanasia of a greyhound must only be carried out by a vet, have been adopted; if he has concerns that Greyhound Racing Ireland’s Code of Practice states that non-vets can kill greyhounds for reasons including “the greyhound has behavioural and temperament issues that deemed the greyhound as being unsuitable for rehoming”.
In a response on behalf of Greyhound Racing Ireland’s Interim CEO John Tuohey, Deputy Murphy was told: “Rasaiocht Con Eireann [Greyhound Racing Ireland] policy is that all healthy greyhounds should be rehomed. There are occasions however, where greyhounds, like all breeds of dogs are unsuitable for rehoming as a pet. It is also RCE [GRI] policy that greyhounds, when euthanised, are only euthanised by a veterinary surgeon.”
“Under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, greyhounds are protected animals,” the spokesperson added. “Under section 23 of this legislation, euthanasia of a protected animal may be performed by a competent person, and must be performed in such a manner as to inflict as little suffering as possible in the circumstances.”
In stark contrast, the GRI’s so-called “Code of Practice for the Care and Welfare of Greyhounds” – which was approved by the board of Greyhound Racing Ireland and Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue before launch in November 2021 – states that greyhounds may be killed by non-vets.
In a section headed “Euthanasia”, Greyhound Racing Ireland states that “euthanasia must only be performed humanely by a registered veterinary practitioner EXCEPT [if] it is performed by or on behalf of an owner of a greyhound that is injured, if the killing is to prevent unnecessary, avoidable or excessive suffering to the animal.”
While a “health checks” section of the Code of Practice booklet states that “veterinary care must be provided for sick or injured greyhounds to relieve pain, suffering or distress”, there is no mention in the euthanasia section of the option of calling a vet to seek emergency treatment for a greyhound who is suffering.
It goes on to outline that euthanasia can be performed not only on greyhounds who are “in pain or suffering” and who are “unlikely to make a recovery” but also on greyhounds with “behavioural and temperament issues that deem the greyhound as being unsuitable for rehoming”.
The document tells greyhound owners that after the greyhound has been killed, they “must obtain a death certificate appropriately stamped and signed by the registered veterinary practitioner and send it to Welfare Department of [Greyhound Racing Ireland]”.
Owners are also told that the killing of greyhounds must not be done within view of the public.
“If necessary, euthanasia must be performed in a location that is separate from any greyhound housing area and must not be performed in the view of any other greyhounds or the general public,” the code of practice states.
As highlighted in RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds running for their lives” documentary, thousands of greyhounds are culled in Ireland every year. The documentary featured extracts from a damning report which Greyhound Racing Ireland attempted to hide which, estimated that, for example, a total of 17,962 greyhounds were culled in 2013, 2014 and 2015. They were killed for “failure to produce qualifying times”, “failure to produce desired entry level times” and for an “unacceptable decline in performance”.
The documentary included sickening scenes of greyhounds being delivered to a knackery where they were shot in the head and dumped in a skip. One shot dog was seen writhing on the ground in agony as his merciless owner drove away with a collar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
Greyhounds also suffer and die at tracks. At races around Ireland in 2022, 287 greyhounds were injured and 122 killed. Since 2014, at least 3,050 greyhounds sustained injuries and 1,060 died or were killed at races. The deaths do not include the greyhounds injured at tracks, taken away and later killed elsewhere.
Many of the greyhounds who are killed at tracks are destroyed after suffering treatable injuries. However, once injured, their chances of winning races in the future – and securing prizemoney for owners – are diminished and this can sadly seal their fate.
Please help end this despicable dog-killing gambling activity by joining calls on the government to scrap the massive annual grants that are keeping greyhound racing afloat.
Download the “Code of Practice for the Care and Welfare of Greyhounds” https://www.grireland.ie/globalassets/rescource-centre/rcegricodeofpracticenovember2021.pdf
Watch the launch video at https://youtu.be/SosMx7lP04E
ACTION ALERT
Don’t go greyhound racing or attend events at greyhound tracks.
Since 2001, over €328 million in funding has been handed over to Greyhound Racing Ireland, including €19.2 million for 2021, €17.6 million for 2022 and €18.2 million for 2023. It’s time for politicians to stop the funding and allow unpopular greyhound racing to die a death.
Please contact your local TDs and urge them to oppose this funding. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33
Urge the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour to stop the funding and back a ban on cruel greyhound racing
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Leo Varadkar TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradka
Eamon Ryan TD
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
Ivana Bacik TD
Leader, The Labour Party
Tel: (01) 6183136
Email: ivana.bacik@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivanabacik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bacikivana/
Please sign and share the petitions
Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-racing
GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks
Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing
Ban Bloodsports 
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