The state of greyhound racing in Great Britiain

The state of greyhound racing in Great Britain

A mandate for change

mandymorleyTypewritten Text Ecophoto | Dreamstime.com

mandymorleyTypewritten Text









Annette Crosbie Annette Crosbie OBE, League Vice President

NearlyfiveyearsaftertheintroductionoftheWelfare ofRacingGreyhoundRegulations2010,greyhound racingisstillaself-regulatinggamblingbusinessthat dependsontheuncontrolledbreedingandunaccountable disappearanceofthousandsofdogseveryyear;asituation thatisunacceptable,indefensibleandmustchange.

Marc Abraham BVM&S, MRCVS

Mostpeoplesimplydontrealisetheintensesuffe

ring

enduredbyracinggreyhounds.Bredforspeed,stre

ngth,

andstaminatheheathandwelfareoftheseanimalsi

s

repeatedlycompromisedbythiscruelindustry.Raci

ng

dogssufferwithinjuredtoes,tornmuscles,andstrain

ed

tendons,allresultinginpainfularthriticjoints.

Thesedogsarenotbelovedpet

companionanimals-theyare

commodities-sadlyonlyused

toprovideprofitfortheirowners.

Greyhoundscantypicallylivefor

approximately14years,however

thefateofaracinggreyhound

isoftensealedatjustthreeor

fouryearsofagewhenheor

shewillbedisposedofafter

havingservedtheirpurpose.

Themassivecrueltyandexploitation

surroundingthisindustryneeds

tobeexposedanderadicated.

Emma Milne BVSc, MRCVSIhavelongbelievedthatanimalsshould notbeusedforentertainmentandwouldprefertoseegreyhoundracingstopped altogether.Allthetimeitispermissible Ifullysupportalleffortstoimprovethewelfareofthedogsbeingproduced,usedandbredfromin thenameofthesport. Itistimetheindustry wastrulyaccountable forthethousandsofanimalsinitscare.

2 The state of greyhound racing in Great Britain l A mandate for change

ContentsForeword 4

Executive Summary 6

Greyhoundsufferingandbrokenpromises 6

Ourgreyhoundmanifesto 7

Report

1 Introduction 81.1 Whatisgreyhoundracing 8

1.2 Whyisitofwelfareconcern? 8

2 A dark past 102.1 Caninekillingfieldsuncoveredin

Seaham,CoDurham 10

2.2 APGAWReport 11

2.3 DonoghueReport 12

2.4 TheWelfareofRacingGreyhounds Regulations2010 13

3 A murky present 143.1 DognumbersinBritain 14

3.2 DogsimportedfromIreland 15

3.3 Thelifeofaracinggreyhound 15

3.3.1 Kennelconditionsandinspections 16

3.3.2 Racingandinjuryrisk 20

3.3.3 Injurytype,severityandprevalence 22

3.3.4 Drugs 24

3.4 Unwantedgreyhounds 26

3.4.1 Estimatednumbers 26

3.4.2 Greyhoundadoption 27

3.4.3 Euthanasia 28

3.4.4 Sellingdogsforresearch and dissection 29

3.5 Failureofself-regulation 30

4 What Future? 4.1 DeclineoftheBritishgreyhound

racing industry 32

4.2 Thewayforward 33

References 34

Acknowledgements 38

PublishedbyLeagueAgainstCruelSports,2014.Contentsofthisreportcanbereproducedifcredited.Pleasecall01483524250foradvice.

The state of greyhound racing in Great Britain l A mandate for change 3

Foreword

ThisreportongreyhoundracinginGreatBritainisajointproductof theLeagueAgainstCruelSportsandGREY2KUSAWorldwide.Bothorganisationsbelievethatcommercialgreyhoundracingiscruelandinhumaneand,ascurrentlypractised,hasnoplaceinBritishsociety.

Acrosstheglobe,thehumaneproblemsofalargelyunregulated dogracingindustryhavenowbeenexposed,andgovernmentsare respondingwithaffirmativeaction,includingoutrightprohibitions.

IntheUnitedStatestheactivityisnowillegalinthirty-nineoffiftystates.CountriessuchasSouthAfricaandJamaicahaverefusedtolegalise itinthefirstplace.ItisourhopethatParliamentwillstudythisactivity inthecontextofitsworldwidedecline.

AlthoughofficialcritiquesofgreyhoundracingintheUKhavebeen issuedinthepast,itappearsthatlittletonothinghasactuallychangedwithintheindustry.Greyhoundscontinuetosufferneedlesslywhile concernsovertheirwelfareremainlargelyignored.

Ourjointreportalsostandsapartfrompastresearchasitcontainsmorerecentdataandusesdatanotpreviouslyanalysed,suchasdisciplinaryrulingsandtheuseofgreyhoundsbypublicuniversities.

ThisisalsothefirstcomprehensivereportongreyhoundracingintheUnitedKingdomfromahumaneperspective.

Researchforthisreportwasconductedoveratwenty-monthperiod, fromOctober2012untilMay2014.Informationwascollectedthroughmultipleavenues,includingareviewofexistingreportsongreyhound racing,publicinformationrequestssubmittedtogovernmentagenciesanduniversities,industrywebsitesandnewsstories.

InjurydataisnotpubliclyavailablefromtheGreyhoundBoardof GreatBritain,soinformationwasinsteadcollectedfromthewebsites andblogsofUKgreyhoundtrainers,aswellasonindustryforums, websites,andinanindustrynewspaper.

Atotalof24ofthesesiteswerelocatedandsearched,goingback to2006,tofindreferencestoracinggreyhoundinjuries.Finally, stakeholderswerecontactedandaskediftheycouldprovideany usefuldataforthereport.

Oncedatawascollectedandorganised,keyareasofwelfare concernemerged.

Christine A. Dorchak, Esq. President GREY2K USA Worldwide


The League Against Cruel Sports exists to expose and end the cruelty inflicted on animals in the name of sport.

ThisreportaimstodothatbyrevealingthelevelofcrueltyandsufferingstillenduredbygreyhoundsusedforracinginBritaineightyearsonfromadamningexposandindustrypromisesoftighterregulation andcallingonParliamentarianstofulfiltheircommitmenttosafeguardinggreyhoundwelfarefromthecradletothegrave.

Thiswillnotbeeasyreadingforthosewhocareaboutdogsandknowwhatfaithfulcompanionstheycanbe,formostracinggreyhoundsareviewedascommoditieswhoseusefulnessendswhentheynolongerbringinprizemoney,eitherthroughcareer-endinginjuriesornaturaldecline.

Afterthattheirlifecangooneoftwoways:theluckyonesareadoptedintolovinghomesandenjoythecreaturecomfortsthateverydog deserves.Therestandnooneknowshowmanydogsthatcurrently isareeitherkilled,byavetiftheyarefortunate,orshippedtoIrelandwhereunwantedgreyhoundsarestillsoldfordissection.

Thisneedlesskillingmuststop.

Ihopethatyouwillfindthisreportchallengingandjoinourcampaign toendthecrueltyinflictedongreyhoundsinthenameofsport.

Iain Blake-Lawson Chair League Against Cruel Sports


Executive Summary

Greyhound suffering and broken promises

AlmostadecadeagogreyhoundracinginGreatBritainwasreelingfrompublicexposureofitscallouscrueltytogreyhounds.Investigationsbynewspapersandanimalwelfareorganisationshadshownthedreadfullivesofgreyhoundsfrombirthtoanoftenearlydeath,their bodiesbeingdumpedinmassgraves.

Itwasclearthatcruelty,drugabuse,injury,neglect andkillingwererifeingreyhoundracing.

Theracingcommunitypromisedthepublicand Parliamentthattheywouldhealthemselves.They werebelieved.Parliamentagreedself-regulationwithinastatutoryframeworkwasthebestwaytocleanupthesport.Tothisend,theGreyhoundBoardofGreatBritainwassetupbythesporttoimposesomedecencyanddisciplineandParliamentgaveaframeworkthroughaStatutoryInstrumentwithinwhichtheyhadtooperate.

Intheinterveningyearshavethingsimprovedfor greyhounds?No.Shroudedinsecrecy,greyhoundscontinuetocomelastintheracewithtrainers,owners,bookmakersandpunters.Thisreportshowsthatthe lifeofagreyhoundisstillfilledwithabuse,neglectandearlydeath.

Greyhoundpromotershavenotkepttheirpromisetocarefortheirdogs.Theyhaveshownthattheyarenotcapableofhealingthemselves.Thiscannotcontinue.

Parliamenthasanopportunity,throughareview ofthestatutoryframeworkforself-regulation,tostrengthenprotectionforgreyhoundsandend thesecrecysurroundinggreyhoundracing.

Itisnotpossibletohaveeffectiveself-regulationwithouttransparencyandindependentscrutiny.

Wearecallingforfundamentalchangestoindustry practice,enforcedthroughtighterlegislation.

Now is the time for action

Wearecertainthatthemajorityofthepublicand Parliamentariansfinditunacceptablethatgreyhoundscontinuetosuffercrueltyandneglectjusttoprovidesomesportandgambling.Ifgreyhoundracingisto continueinthiscountryitmustseriously,andina transparentway,endmistreatmentofgreyhounds.

Wewillworkinpartnershipwithpeopleandorganisations thathaveazerotolerancetowardscruelty,includingthosewithinthesport.

However,thelasteightyearshaveshownthat greyhoundracingbyitselfcannotstoptheunacceptablesufferingofgreyhounds.Itistimetostrengthenthe statutoryframeworkandintroduceindependentscrutiny.

Joe Duckworth, Chief Executive League Against Cruel Sports


Our greyhound manifesto

Five year review by Parliament in public ThefiveyearreviewoftheStatutoryInstrumentshouldbeopentothepublicwiththepowerof

Parliamenttodirectorganisationstodiscloseinformation.ASelectCommitteereviewofthe effectivenessofthecurrentgovernancearrangementscouldcallwitnessesfromgreyhoundracing andanimalwelfareorganisations.Itcouldjudgetheeffectivenessofself-regulationbyhowoutcomeshavechangedforgreyhoundssince2010andmakerecommendationstoGovernmentonstrengtheningthecurrentarrangements.

Independent greyhound welfare regulation Anindependentwelfareregulatorybodythatoverseesallgreyhoundracing(bothlicencedand

independent)andincludesrepresentativesfromanimalwelfareorganisations.

Welfare transparency Greyhoundracingshouldberequiredbylawtodiscloseinformationongreyhoundwelfare,atnational

andtracklevel,tothepublicandanindependentregulatoronaquarterlybasis.Itshouldasaminimumincludebreeding,import/exportofdogs,transport,kennelling,racing,injuries,retirement,rehomingandeuthanasia.Thereshouldbefullpublicdisclosureofallregulatoryandenforcementactivitywithintheindustry.

Drugs controls Theuseoftestosteronetosuppressoestrus,andanabolicsteroids,shouldbeprohibited.

Track curbs Amoratoriumonnewtracksopening,oroldtracksreopening,sothedeclineoftheindustrycan

bemanagedinsuchawaythatgreyhoundwelfareisnotcompromised.

Greyhound passports Asystemthatallowsthetrackingofeverydogfrombirthsothattheenigmaofthethousands

ofmissingdogscanbeended.

Rehoming requirements Astatutoryrequirementfortracks,trainersandownerstorehomeallgreyhoundsbredforracing.

Breeding controls TheintroductionofalicensingregimeforBritishbreederstogetherwithjointinitiativesbetween

DepartmentforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairs(DEFRA)andthedevolvednationsofthe UnitedKingdomandIrishgovernmenttotackleissuesofoverbreedingandthetradeingreyhounds.


1 Introduction 1.1 What is greyhound racing?

CommercialgreyhoundracingbeganinBritainin1926 withtheopeningofthefirstdedicatedgreyhoundstadium, BelleVue,inGreaterManchester1.Incommercialraces greyhoundschaseamechanicallurenormallyastuffed toyorawindsock2aroundacirculartrackinavarietyof distancecategories(e.g.225msprint,1kmmarathon)3.

Twodifferenttypesofcommercialracingtakeplacein Britain(seemapp9)

Regulated

Tracksarelicensedbytheindustrysgoverningbody,currentlytheGreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain(GBGB),andracestakeplaceundertheGBGBsRulesofRacing.

ThisisthepredominantforminBritainwith24tracks currentlylicensedbytheGBGB4.

Independent

FlappingtracksarenotlicensedbyGBGBandthereforedonotneedtoabidebythesamelicensingrequirementsandRulesofRacing.

Therearecurrentlynineindependenttracks operating in Britain5.

1.2 Why is it of welfare concern?

Greyhoundracing,ascurrentlypractised,iscrueland inhumane.Countlessdogssufferterribleinjuriesandsomedieasaresultofthisantiquatedactivity.Despitemediaexpossofcrueltyandkilling,twodamningreportsontheindustryandanewsetofwelfareregulations,it isstillnotpossibletoaccuratelyassessthewelfareofracinggreyhoundsinBritainduetothesecretivenatureofitsself-regulation(seesection2).

Theinformationthatisavailablesuggeststhatthereis muchsufferinginvolvedinBritishgreyhoundracing today(seesection3).


Regulated tracks

Independent tracks

Regulated & Independent Tracks in Great Britain


2 A dark past 2.1 Canine killing fields

uncovered in Seaham, Co Durham

InJuly2006,theSundayTimesexposedadarkandshockingsecretthatthegreyhoundracingindustryhadkeptformanyyears:more than 10,000 healthy but unwanted greyhounds had been shot with a bolt gun and buried in a back garden in Seaham, Co Durham, over a period of 15 years6.

Atthetimeoftheexpos,whichwassparkedbyanindustrywhistle-blower,thisunofficialabattoirand graveyardwasservicinglicensedgreyhoundtrainers andkillingdogsthatwereusedintelevisedraces7.Inotherwords,itwaspartandparcelofthecommercialgreyhoundracingindustry;helpingtodisposeofsomeofthe12,000dogsthatdisappearedfromtheindustryeveryyear8.

AccordingtotheChairmanoftheindustrysgoverningbody,thentheBritishGreyhoundRacingBoard(BGRB),theprospectthatthereweresimilaroperationsthatwereyettobeuncoveredwasveryplausible9.

TheSundayTimesrevelationssparkedanational outcryalongwithdemandsforagovernmentinquiry10.ThesecallswereansweredinAugust2006whenthecross-partyAssociateParliamentaryGroupforAnimalWelfare(APGAW)launchedaninquiryintothewelfareissuessurroundingracinggreyhoundsinEngland11.Shortlyaftertheparliamentaryinquirybegan,the greyhoundindustrysetupitsowninquiryintoregulationoftheindustrywhichwaschairedbyLordDonoughue ofAshton12.

Bothbodiespublishedreportsin2007callingontheindustrytomakechangestohelpsafeguarddogwelfare.

2.2 APGAW report

TheAPGAWreport,publishedinMay2007,concludedthattheeventsuncoveredatSeahamrepresented a major failing for the regulation of the greyhound industry andthatit must be a matter of extreme priority for the industry to improve its tracking of dogs.Thereportmadenumerousrecommendationsfor improvinggreyhoundwelfareandencouragedthese tobeincorporatedinforthcominglegislation (seeboxtoright).

TheLeaguewelcomedthereportandits recommendationswhichincludedmeasuresto reducethenumberofunwanteddogs,improveliving andtransportconditionsforracinggreyhoundsandreduceinjuryratesbelievingthatfullimplementationwouldleadtosignificantimprovementsingreyhoundwelfare.

DavidSmith,theownerofthepropertywherethemass greyhoundgravewasfound, outsidehishomeinSeaton withtwodeadgreyhounds.

Photo:PaulKingston(2006)


Summary of recommendations made by the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare

in its 2007 inquiry into the welfare issues surrounding racing greyhounds.

Thereareenormousgapsinindustryrecordsofnumberofdogs.Thesinglebiggestmeasure[toimprovewelfare]istofindasystemwhichmatchesthenumberofdogsallowedintotheindustrywiththenumbersthatcanberehomedattheendoftheirracingcareer.

Intheabsenceofevidencetothecontrary,itmustbeassumedthatavastnumberofdogsaredestroyedeveryyear.Euthanasiashouldbealastresort.Alltracks,asaconditionoftheirlicence,shouldbe requiredtorunanassociateddogrehomingscheme.Additionally,greyhoundregistrationfeesshould besignificantlyincreasedtohelpfundtheRetiredGreyhoundTrustandotherrehomingcharities.

Theregulatorybodyshouldbeenabledtoimposeheavysanctionsontrainersandownerswhodo notregistertheirgreyhoundsretirement.Secondarylegislationshouldmakeitillegalforaregistered greyhoundtobeputdownbyanyoneotherthanavet.

Measuresneedtobetakenasamatterofurgencytoreducethedemandforgreyhoundpups.Tothatend,allbreedersandtheirpremisesshouldberegistered,ifnotlicensed,bytheindustrysregulatorybodyandberegularlyinspected.As75%ofBritainsracinggreyhoundsarebredinIreland,theDepartmentforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairs(DEFRA)shouldinitiatejointactionwithIrishauthoritiestotackleover-breedingandtransportofgreyhounds.

Theindustryhasanextremelypoorrecordatrecording,collatingandreportinginjurydata.Theyshouldberequiredbylawtorecordandpublishallinjuriesonacentraldatabaseandtheregulatorybodyshouldpublishanannualreportwiththreeyearrollingaveragesforinjuryincidenceatnamedtracks.

Thewholeindustry(includingregulatedandindependenttracks)shouldberegulatedbyabroadenedindependentbodythatincludesrepresentativesfromindependenttracks,vets,thecurrentregulatorybodyandasignificantnumberofrepresentativesfromanimalwelfareorganisations.Thereportspecificallystatesthattheydo not believe that regulation by local authorities would be effective.

Surface,designanddimensionoftrackscouldhaveasignificantimpactondogwelfareandmore researchneedstobeconductedinthisarea.Inthemeantime,tracksshouldbemaintainedtothe bestpossiblestandard.

Asaconditionoftrackandtrainerlicensing,allstaffshouldhavewelfaretraining.Reputable welfaregroupsshouldhaveaccesstotracksandattendracedays.

Allgreyhoundsshouldbeabletostandupatfullheightandturnaroundwhenevertransported.

Allbookmakersshouldberequiredtocontribute[financially]togreyhoundwelfare.


2.3 Donoghue Report

Theindustrycommissionedreport,ledbyLord Donoghue,waspublishedinNovember2007. Althoughthereportfocusedprimarilyonregulationof thegreyhoundindustryandnotondogwelfare,itdidmakerecommendationsonbreeding,trackingand retirementofgreyhounds,aswellaspublicationof injurydata,whichwerein-linewiththosemadeby theAPGAW(seep11).

LordDonoghuesreportdidfallshortoftheAPGAWreportinonekeyaspectregulation.Indirect contradictiontotheAPGAW,itstatedthatanimal welfareorganisationshavenoroletoplayinregulationoftheindustryandshouldnotberepresentedinany newregulatorybody.Instead,itrecommendedthattheexistinggoverningandregulatorybodies(British GreyhoundRacingBoardandNationalGreyhound RacingClub)beunifiedunderthenameGreyhound

RacingBoardofGreatBritain (GBGB)andthatmostofthe existingstaffbeemployedin thenewstructure.Ratherthan offeringgreaterregulatory independence,thismerger wouldmakethebodyresponsible forpromotinggreyhoundracing, andtheonetaskedwithregulating it,oneandthesame.

Thereportalsorecommended thattracksberegulatedthrough ahybridsystem,withtheGBGB licensingregulatedtracksandlocal authoritiesenforcingregulationsat independenttracksasystemthat theAPGAWstatedwouldbeineffective.

Key welfare recommendations in Lord Donoghues 2007 review of greyhound racing in Great Britain.

Allbreedersshouldbelicensedbytheregulatorandsubjecttoveterinarysupervision.Thereshould berapidnegotiationbetweenBritishandIrishgovernmentsonbreedingandtransportissues.

Significantimprovementsbemadeintrackingandtracingofdogs,includingregisteringalldogswhentheyareearmarked(ratherthanwhentheystartracing),maintainingrecordsofalldogmovements andamandatoryrequirementforownerstode-registertheirdogswhentheyretirefromracingand providedetailsofwhathashappenedtothem.

Alldoginjuriesshouldberecordedonacomprehensivecentraldatabaseandinjurystatisticsshould bepublishedregularly.However,unliketheAPGAW,thisreportstatedpublicationcouldbedone anonymously(withoutnamingtracks).

Itshouldbeaconditionoftracklicencesthattheyoperateanefficientdogrehomingschemeanddogregistrationfeesshouldbeincreasedwithapercentagereturnedtotheowneronevidencethatthe dogsfuturehasbeensecured(afterracingcareerisover).

Theregulatorshouldmakeincreasedprovisionforrehomingretiredgreyhounds,includingincreasedfinancialsupportforretirementprovision.

Leadingtracksmustacceptthattheyhaveacollectiveresponsibilityforimprovingthewelfareagenda.

LordDonoghuePhoto:Parliament UK(2013)


2.4 The Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010

InMarch2010thegovernmentpublishedTheWelfare ofRacingGreyhoundsRegulations2010,statutory regulationsbroughtinundertheAnimalWelfareAct2006,whichbecamelegallybindinginEnglandon 6thApril2010.

Despitethenumerouspointsofagreementbetween theparliamentaryandindustryreviewsin2007,thesestatutoryregulationsareverylimitedinscopeandfailtoincorporatemostoftherecommendationsofeitherreview.

Whileafewgoodmeasureshavebeenincluded,suchasmicro-chippingofalldogs,vetattendanceatallracesandcollectionofinjurydata(althoughnorequirementforpublication),theregulationsdoverylittletoimprovedogwelfareandinsteadleavetheindustrytoregulateitselfwithfewdetailsofitsoperationsmadepublic.Explicitly,theregulationsignoredtheAPGAWscallsfor:

anindependentregulatorwithanimalwelfare representation,adoptinginsteadthehybridsystemproposedbyLordDonoughuewhichallowsthe industrytocontinuetoself-regulate.

thepublicationofinjurydata,insteadrequiring veterinariansatthetrackstorecordallinjuriesandthetracktokeepthesedatafor10years.Tracksarenotrequiredtopublishthisinformationorevenshareitwiththeregulator.

theimplementationofsystemstotrackgreyhoundsfrombirthuntildeathandmatchthenumberofdogsallowedintotheindustrywiththenumbersthatcanberehomedattheendoftheirracingcareer.

requirementsfortracks,trainersandownersto rehomeunwanteddogsandprovideevidence thattheyhavedoneso.

licensingofBritishbreedersandjointinitiatives betweenDEFRAandIrishauthoritiestotackle over-breedingandtransportofgreyhounds betweenthetwocountries.

TheLeaguecameoutstronglyagainsttheregulationswhentheywerepublished,callingthemlittlemorethanacrookscharter.

Theyareduetobereviewedin2015andwewill continueourcallforanindependentbodytooverseeregulation,andfortheAPGAWrecommendations tobepursued.

Thefollowingsectionssetoutwhy.


3 A murky present Thelackoftransparencythatstillcharacterises greyhoundracinginBritainmeansthat,sevenyears onfromtheAPGAWreport,thereisstilllittlecredibleinformationavailableon:

thenumberofdogsbredeachyearversusthoseregistered to race

thenumberofdogsimportedfromIrelandandtheconditionsoftheirtransport

thescaleofdoginjuriesandthecauses

thelengthofmostracingcareers

howmanydogsfindlovinghomesintheirretirement

howmanyarestillkilledneedlessly.

ThissectionsetsoutthelimitedinformationthatisavailabletothepubliconthelivesanddeathsofracinggreyhoundsinBritaintoday.

3.1 Dog numbers in Britain

ThenumberofracinggreyhoundsbredinBritainhasbeendecliningsteadilysince2006(Table1).In2013,just251greyhoundlitterswereregisteredwiththeNationalStudBook13,adeclineof58%since200614.ThenumberofadultdogsregisteredtoraceonGBGBlicensedtrackshasnotfallenasdramatically,droppingfrom10,101in200615tojust7,520in201316, a decline of24%(Table1).Althoughnofiguresareavailableforthenumberofdogscurrentlyracingonindependenttracks,itisalsolikelytohavedeclinedfromthe APGAWsestimateof4,000in2006asthenumber ofindependenttrackshasdroppedfrom17tojust ninetoday.

Thereisalsolikelytobeanoverlapofdogsracingonbothindependentandlicensedtracks.Reportsfrom2007suggestedthatbetween2017-3018%ofdogswereracedonbothtypesoftrack.Withanaveragelitter producingsixtosevenpuppies19,themaximumnumberofBritish-bredracinggreyhoundsin2013wouldhavebeenapproximately1,632.

Assumingthateverydogisagoodchaserand thereforeregisteredtorace,anunlikelyscenario,thereremainsaminimumshortfallof5,888dogsbetweenthenumberbredinBritainandthenumberregisteredtoracehere.ThisgapisfilledbyIrish-breddogs(Table1).GBGBrecordsshowthat83%ofdogsregisteredtoraceinBritainin2013werebredinIreland20,anincreaseofsevenpercentagepointssince200621.

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Greyhounds registered in GB

10,101 9,751 9,012 8,672 8,552 7,972 7,964 7,520

Irish-bred dogs in GB racing pool

7,640 7,369 6,943 6,652 6,536 6,223 6,264 6,203

Percentage of dogs racing in GB who were

bred in Ireland

76 76 77 77 77 78 79 83

Table 1: NumberofgreyhoundsregisteredtoraceinBritainandthenumberofIrish-breddogs inthisracingpool:2006-201322.


3.2 Dogs imported from Ireland

DespiteboththeAPGAWandLordDonoghue recommendingthatDEFRAandtheIrishauthoritiesworktogetherontheissueofgreyhoundbreedingandtransport,thereisstillsparseinformationavailableonthistrade.GBGBrecordsconfirmthatthemajorityofgreyhoundsregisteredinBritainoriginateinIreland,yet,inresponsetoapublicinformationrequestmadebyGREY2KUSAWorldwidein2013,IrelandsDepartmentofAgriculture,FoodandtheMarinestated:

Thereisnodefinitivedatabaseforthenumberof greyhoundstransportedbyroadandseaorfortheaveragesizeofconsignments.

Thisisashockinglackofoversightbyboth governments,especiallyasracingdogsareexplicitlylistedasanareacoveredbytheWelfareofAnimals(Transport)EnglandOrder2006whichsetsout provisionsregarding:

Protection during transport

Meansoftransportandtransportpractices

Spaceallowances

Dutiesoftransporters

Fitnesstotravel

Feed,waterandrestperiods

Competentand/ortrainedhandlers

Treatmentofsickanimals

ItisdifficulttocomprehendhowDEFRAcanensurethatallIrish-bredgreyhoundsimportedtoBritain,some6,000+animalseveryyear,aretreatedinaccordancewiththeseregulationswhennogovernmentrecordsarekeptoftheirnumbersorthemethodsusedtomovethem.

3.3 The life of a racing greyhound

Whilemanyracinggreyhoundswereonceprivatelyownedandenjoyedapersonalrelationshipwiththeirowner,oftenlivingaspartofthefamily,thisisrarelythecase today23.ManydogsracedonGBGBtracksare nowownedbytrainersorsyndicates24andareconfinedinkennelswithalargenumberofdogs25.

ThistransitionislargelyduetotheriseofBAGSracing,whereaconsortiumofbookmakerspaytrackstoputonraceswhicharebroadcastdirectlyintobettingshopsforthepurposeofoff-trackbetting26 (see box on next page).


BAGS Racing

AfinanciallycrucialpartoftheindustryistheBookmakersAfternoonGreyhoundService(BAGS).

Foundedin1967byaconsortiumofbookmakerstoprovidegamblingopportunitiesonwetwinters afternoonswhenhorseracingwassuspended27,BAGSracingisnowbroadcastdailyfromseveral ofthe17tracksthathaveBAGScontracts,resultinginmorethan25,000BAGSraceseveryyear28.

AccordingtoLordDonoughue,meetingthishighdemandforbettingproductnecessarilyrequiresverylargenumbersofgreyhounds,withBAGSracingviewedbysomeasthemaindriverofgreyhoundoverproduction.

SometrainersmayalsotrytofulfiltheirlargeBAGScontractbyrunningtheirdogsmoreoften,andthis inevitablyleadstootherwelfareproblemssuchasincreasedinjuryrates29.

WhilstBAGSracesaregenerallypoorlyattended(atthetrack),theygeneratealmostalloftheoff-track bettingincomeforregulatedgreyhoundracing30.

ToparaphraseLordDonoughue,astheprincipleeconomicdriverofgreyhoundracingisoff-trackbetting,andtheprinciplevehicleforoff-trackbettingisBAGSracing....itbecomesclearthat,were it not for BAGS, there would no longer be a sustainable licensed greyhound racing industry in Great Britain31.

3.3.1 Kennel conditions and inspections

Mostgreyhoundsarekeptconfinedatoff-trackkennelsownedbytheirtrainerandbroughttothetrackonthedayoftherace.TrainersracingonGBGBtracksmustkeeptheirkennelsinaccordancewithGBGBrules outliningthesizeofeachunitaswellasdetailsofthecleaningregimeandfoodandwaterprovisions (Table2)32.

SinceJanuary2011,theGBGBhasrequiredallkennelstohaveanannualveterinaryinspectionwherevariousaspectsoftheaccommodationsareratedaseither acceptableorunacceptableandstepsforimprovementgiven33.

KennelsarealsoinspectedtwiceeveryyearbyGBGBStewardstoensuretheyareadheringtotheRulesofRacing34.

Typicalsinglegreyhoundunit.Photo:DillymoreKennels,Suffolk(dillymorekennels.co.uk).


Double unit (housing two dogs together)

Single unit

Kennel width 1.5metres/5feet 1metre/3.3feet

Kennel depth 2.3metres/7.5feet 2.3metres/7.5feet

Removable wooden bench to provide bedding area

1metre2/3.3feet2 1metre2/3.3feet2

Distance between bench and front of kennel

1.25metres/4feet 1.25metres/4feet

Each kennel shall be provided with adequate natural or artificial light and regulated ventilation.

All excreta and soiled material shall be removed at least twice daily and more often if necessary from all living compartments and at least once daily from exercise areas.

All greyhounds accommodated on the premises shall be provided with suitable bedding material and be given adequate exercise

All greyhounds shall be adequately supplied with suitable food and water and visited at suitable intervals.

Mostracinggreyhoundsspend95%oftheirtime confinedinakennel35,sowhiletheseregulationsand inspectionsarewelcome,theyarenotsufficienttoensurethatgreyhoundswelfareneedsaremet.Theregulationsregardingadequateexercise,foodand lightaremeaninglesslyvagueandsubjective.For example,mostgreyhoundsareletoutoftheirkennels forexerciseanddaylightonlythreetofourtimesadayforperiodsofjust15to20minutes.

Additionally,astudyintogreyhoundwelfareconductedbytheUniversityofBristolin2012foundthatmorethan95%ofgreyhoundswhoarekeptinpairedhousing(twodogstogether)areconstantlymuzzledandthatthis practiceishighlydistressingforthem36,yetthisissue isnotmentionedintheregulations.

TheSocietyofGreyhoundVeterinariansabranch oftheBritishVeterinaryAssociationspecialisingin greyhoundshasexpresseditsconcernwithkennel inspectionpolicies,particularlytheGBGBslackofdesiretointroduceminimumstandardsfortheselectionandtrainingofinspectingvetsandthattheinspectionformdoesnotincludeanymentionoftheAnimalWelfare

Act200637.Thefactthatveterinaryinspectorsarepaidbythetraineralsoleavesthesystemopentocorruption.

Trainerswhoraceatindependenttracksdonothavetheirkennelsinspected.TheWelfareofGreyhound Regulations2010simplyrequireslocalauthoritiestoinspectindependenttracksbeforegrantingorrenewing alicence,therearenoprovisionsforinspectionof trainersfacilities38.

DuringtheconsultationontheWelfareofGreyhoundRegulations2010,87%ofresponses(excludingthosecallingforanoutrightbanontheindustry)calledforalltrainersandbreederskennelstobelicensedandinspected by an accountable independent body39.TheGovernmentignoredtheserecommendations statingthat:

WehavenotbeenconvincedthatthereissufficientevidenceofwelfareproblemsattrainerskennelsthatmeritfurtherregulationsabovethealreadysignificantprotectionprovidedtogreyhoundsbytheAnimal WelfareAct200640.

Table 2: GBGBRulesofRacing-Rule212:MinimumRequirementsforallResidentialLicensedKennelsandTransportationofGreyhounds


Welfareproblemsatlicensedandindependenttrainerskennelscontinuetobeamajorcauseforconcern.

DespitetheGBGBawardingatotalof236,000totrainers in2012forkennelimprovements41,AmandaAinsworth,WelfareandOperationsManagerfortheRetired GreyhoundTrust,toldtheGreyhoundStarin September2013:

...therehasbeenamarkedincreaseinthenumber ofimprovementnoticesservedonracingkennels. InthelastsixweeksImusthavebeenapproached by20trainersaskingustotakedogsbecausetheyhavebeenorderedtoreducetheirnumber42.

Adequatelivingconditionsandpropermedicalcarearealltoooftensacrificedtosavecosts,andnumerouscases haverevealedthatevenwhentheseverityofthecrueltyisexposed,eithernoorlenientpunishmentishandeddown.

Herearejustafewrecentexamples,citedbelowand onthefollowingpages.

In 2010, independent greyhound trainer and owner Ian Street was given a lifetime ban on owning animals and a four month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to 11 offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

TheprosecutionwasbroughtbyWirralCouncilwiththesupportofGreyhoundRescueWestofEngland(GRWE)followingtheremovalof29greyhoundsfromStreetspropertyinApril2009.AccordingtoGRWE,thedogswerekeptinbloodstained,rustykennels;innear-totaldarknesswithanopen,cloggeddrainagechannelcontainingstinkingbrownsludge.Manyofthedogswerekeptmuzzled,andnonehaddrybedding;allofthedogswerestainedwithurine,withfivecompletelysaturated43.

Thedogsthemselvesweredescribedasbeinginextremelypoorphysicalconditionandseemedunusedtohumancontact.Manyhadseverelydamagedandbleedingtails,severalwitholdbreaks;almostallshowedsignsofmites,fleasandworminfestations;andmanyhadnoticeableinjuriesincludingopensoresand missingtoes.

Astrainersracingonindependenttracksdonothavetheirkennelsinspected,thiscrueltyonlycametolightwhenmembersofthepubliccomplainedtoWirralCouncil.TheCouncilvisitedStreetinJune2008and issuedawelfareimprovementnotice,whichStreetignored.AfurthercomplaintwasmadeinJanuary2009andStreetwasvisitedagain,butbynowhewasbreedingpuppies.Thedogswerenotrescuedforafurtherthreemonths44.

Femalegreyhoundconfinedtounsafewirekennelinalmosttotaldarkness.(Imagetakenwithflash).

AnopenandinfectedsoreonthethighofayoungdogremovedfromStreetsproperty.Photos:GreyhoundRescueWestofEngland(2010)


In December 2010, GBGB licensed trainer Christopher Cronin was fined 750 and ordered to pay 10,000 in costs for the neglect of puppies in his care.

Specifically,theGBGBfoundthathefailedtoprovidethepuppieswithaccesstodrinkingwater,failedtomonitortheirhealthandwell-beingandfailedtoactupontheillnessthatdevelopedinthepuppiesbytakingremedialmeasuresorseekingpromptmedicalcare.

Thekennelwasalsonotappropriatelyheatedanddidnothave appropriatebeddingforthepuppies.

Aninspectionofthedogsatthekennelbyaveterinarysurgeonrevealed theextentofthepuppiespoorcondition.

Thegeneralconditionofthepuppieswasdescribedashypothermic, allweredescribedasshivering,fiveoutofthesixwereemaciatedand thesixthwasthin,allshowedvaryingdegreesofclinicaldehydration, allthepuppiesweredescribedashavingfleas.

Oneofthedogswasinsuchbadshapethateuthanasiawastheonlyoption.Postmortemtestsdidnotfind adiseaseorvirus,butthevetdidtestifyatthehearingthatfailureofprimarycarewasevident.

TheGBGBDisciplinaryCommitteeruledthatMrCronincausedorpermittedgreyhoundstobetreatedinsuchamannerascausedthosegreyhoundsunnecessarysuffering.

Despitetheseverityofthecase,thetrainerwasnotsuspended.

MrCroninfailedtopaythefineandcostsandhislicenceexpiredonDecember31,2010.InJuly2011theGBGBservedhimwithanoticetopaytheoutstandingmoneybuthelaunchedalegalappeal.AsofJune2013hestillhadnotpaid45.

In 2012, the Sunday Express exposed the terrible conditions at two greyhound trainers kennels after an investigation carried out by the greyhound advocacy organisation Greyt Exploitations. FilmandphotographstakeninsidethekennelsofBeverlyHeatoninSwinton,andNigelSaundersinStockport,revealeddirty,cold,damp kennelswheredogsspentmostoftheirtimeinthedark.

Inanattempttodefendtheconditionsatherkennels,MrsHeaton revealedhowlittleexerciseandfreshairracinggreyhoundstypicallyget.ShetoldtheExpress:WereinspectedbytheGBGBonceafortnight andiftherewasaproblemtheydsoontellus.Thedogsareletoutfourtimesadayfor15to20minutes46.

Although the Express article states that the GBGB was investigating both facilities, no action appears to have been taken against either trainer.

ActivekennelblocksatNigel Saundersproperty.

Photos:GreytExploitations(2012)

GreyhoundspuppiesfeaturedonChristopherCroninslistingonagreyhoundtrainerwebsite.Photo:greyhoundtrainers.com


A GBGB disciplinary hearing on 5th November 2013 further highlights the failure of self-regulation in preventing animal suffering47.

TheDisciplinaryCommitteeheardhowseveralinspectionsatthekennelsofAnneMcCarroll,aprofessionalgreyhoundtrainerattachedtoNewcastleStadium,hadfoundunacceptablefeaturesandgeneralpoor conditionofgreyhounds,includingproblemswithteeth,fleasandunderweightgreyhounds.

InspectionsalsofoundthatMrsMcCarrollhadinexcessof52greyhounds,thelimitimposedbytheDirectorofRegulations,andhaddeliberatelymanipulatedthepaperworktodisguisethisfact.Oneinspectionfoundthekennelsunabletoaccountfor19greyhoundsthathaddisappearedsincethepreviousinspectionjust onemonthearlier.

TheCommitteealsoheardevidencefromtheRetiredGreyhoundTrustwhichhadreceivedanurgentappealfromMrsMcCarrollearlierintheyear.Sherequesteditshelpinurgentlyrehoming20greyhoundsasshehadallowedherselftogetintothesituationofhavingmorethan80greyhounds.

TheevidencelefttheDisciplinaryCommitteeveryconcernedaboutthewelfareofsomeofthegreyhoundsandveryconcernedaboutthecompetenceofMrsMcCarrolltorunprofessionalkennels.

Yet, despite these serious concerns, they did not withdraw Mrs McCarrolls licence or confiscate the dogs.

Instead,shewasfined500andallowedtocarryonoperating,albeitwiththethreatthatherlicencewouldbewithdrawnifshedidnotcomplyfullywithspecificconditionsregardingnumberofdogsheldather kennels,staffsupportandaccuratedocumentation.

InJanuary2014,justthreemonthsafterMrsCarrollsoriginalhearing,asecondinquirywasheldagainsther.ShewasfoundinbreachofGBGBrulesforfailingtokeepaccuraterecordsofthemovementofgreyhoundsinhercarebetweenFebruary2011andJune2013.

She received no further punishment for this new breach of the rules.

3.3.2 Racing and injury risk

GreyhoundracingtakesplaceyearroundinBritain,withdogsownedbyGBGBtrainerstypicallyracingonedayineveryfiveandparticipatinginseveralracesinasingleraceday(heats,semi-finals,final)48.Similarfiguresarenotavailablefordogsracedonindependenttracks.

BoththeAPGAWandDonoughuereportsexpressedconcernsthatthefrequencywithwhichadogracedwouldimpactoninjuryratesandcareerlength.Bothreportssuggestedlimitingthenumberofracesdogstakepartineachweekinordertoprolongtheirracingcareerandtherebyreducethenumberofdogsretiringandneedinghomeseveryyear.

AccordingtotheSocietyforGreyhoundVets,the dimensionsofthetrack,thenatureoftherunning surfaceandtheweatheralsocontributetoinjuryrates49.GreyhoundsVoiceacommitteeofgreyhoundtrainers,owners,promoters,vetsandcharityrepresentativestoldtheAPGAWthatgreyhoundsarenowgenerally largerandfasterthanwhenmanytrackswerebuilt, puttingthematgreatriskofinjuryonbadlymaintainedtracksurfaces50.


Recentpostsbygreyhoundtrainersandownerson greyhoundracingforumssupportthisview:

Nowondertherearenoentriesfortheopens.Atleast3dogscarriedofftonight.Thetrackhasbeengettingworseoverthelastfewweeks.Ihaveheardthetrackisbonehardandneedsdiggingupwithmoresand put on51.

Tracksareforeverbeingdugupandpackeddown.Newsandanddrainagethatdriesoutwaytooquicklyduringwarmerweather.Theabove2thingsalonehaveIMOcontributedtoaseeminglyrecordlevelofbrokenhocksandcareerendinginjuries52.

Consistenttrackmanagementreallyneedstobe addressedasitsamajorconcerntoeveryoneinvolvedwiththesportandateverytrack53.

ConcernsovertracksafetyledtheAPGAWtocallforinjurystatisticstobepublishedfornamed tracks. Theywerenotalone.DuringtheconsultationontheWelfareofRacingGreyhoundsRegulations,23organisationsand1,671individualscalledforinjuryratestobepublished54.

TheSocietyisalsoconcernedthatcurrently,theinjurydatawillnotbepublishedandmadepubliclyavailable. TheSocietybelievesthatthisimportant[sic],asitwouldputpressureontrackswithhighinjuryincidencetomakepromptimprovements.Furthermore,ifthepublicistoregainfaithinthegreyhoundindustry, itmustbeseentobemeasurable,openand accountable.

RSPCAresponsetotheDEFRAconsultation55

Despitesuchoverwhelmingdemandforthepublicationofinjurystatistics,the2010Regulationsdonotrequireit.EvenLordDonoughuescallforthepublicationofanonymousinjurydata(withoutnamingtracks)wasignored.TheRegulationssimplyrequiretrackstorecordallinjuriesthatoccurduringraces,trialsandsalestrials(notduringschoolingtrials)andkeeptheserecordsfor10years.Tracksarenotrequiredtosharethis informationwiththepublicorevenlicensingbodies.

TrackslicensedbyGBGBdohaveanadditional requirementtorecordout-of-racinginjuriesthatoccuronthetrack,andtheirrecordbooksmustalsobeopentoinspectionbyGBGBofficialsatanytime56.However,aGBGBWelfareOfficertoldtheNewZealandGreyhoundRacingAssociations2013IndependentWelfareReview:

...thisruleissubjecttoadherencebythetrainerand monitoringandenforcementisnotfeasible57.

Evensomeintheindustryareunhappyaboutthe secrecysurroundinggreyhoundinjuries.TheGreyhoundTrainersAssociationstatedinMay2014thattrainers andownershavebeenaskingfortracksafetyandinjurystatisticsfromtheGBGBforsometime,yetno informationhasbeenpublishedonthesubject58.A snapshotfromapopulargreyhoundracingforum, GreyhoundScene,revealsadeeplackofconfidence intrackinjuryreportingandtheGBGB:

Tracksafetyisajoke.Theydontpublishthefiguresbecausetherewouldbeawelfareoutcry.Tracks refusingtoputbadlyinjureddogstosleeptokeep theirinjuryratedown,incasetheydoeverhavetoprovidethem59.

AllthetimetheGBGBdontpublishinjurystatstheworsttracksarekeptanonymoussowhatincentive dothesetrackshavetotryharder?60.

ItneedssayingandIamgoingtosayit.Thetruthisthatifaccurateinjurystatswerepublishedfromalltracks.Thesportwouldbeshutdownonthewelfareissue61.

Perhapsunsurprisinglyinthisfracturedindustry,trackownerstelladifferentstory.EasingtonGreyhoundStadium,anindependenttrack,believesthatownersandtrainerswronglyblamepoortrackmaintenanceforinjuriesthatareactuallyaroutinepartofracingstressfracturesfromrepeatedfastrunning62.Inanoticeontheirwebsite,thetrackchastisedownersandtrainers forexpectingthetracktofreelyeuthaniseallinjureddogsincludingthosewithonlyminorinjuriesandcalledonthemtotakeresponsibilityforthewelfareoftheirowndogs.


3.3.3 Injury type, severity and prevalence

Animalwelfareorganisationshavelongconsideredthelevelofinjurysufferedbyracinggreyhoundstobetoohigh.TheseconcernsaresupportedbytheUniversity ofBristols2012studyintogreyhoundwelfarewhichidentifiedracinginjuriesasakeycauseofsevere sufferingforracingdogs63.Intheabsenceofpubliclyavailableinjuryrecords,informationmustbegleanedfromavarietyofsourcestotryandascertainthetype,severityandfrequencyofinjuriesenduredbyracinggreyhounds.

TheNationalGreyhoundRacingClubtheformerregulatingbodythatwasreplacedbytheGBGBin2009estimatedthatonaveragetwodogsperracemeetingrequiretreatmentonsiteforinjuriesrangingfromminorskintrauma,tofracturerequiringfixation,orinjuriesrequiringeuthanasia64.

Theonlypublishedinjuryfigurestodatearecontained ina2014academicpaper65,butwerebasedondata collectedfrom2002to2006.Duringthisfouryear period,atotalof1,168injurieswererecordedatthe twotracksstudied(RyeHouseandWalthamstow, bothnowclosed).

Thesefiguresonlyincludeinjuriesrecordedbythedutyveterinarianatthetrack,notthosethatbecameapparentafterthedogsleftthetrack,somaybeunderestimates.ThetypeofinjurywasonlyrecordedatRyeHouseandincluded:fractures(legandfootbones,cervicaland coccygealvertebrae,scapulaeandskulls);skinand footpadlacerations;tearsingroinandlegmuscles;bruises;cramp;sprainandunidentifiablecausesoflameness.

Asnopublishedinjuryrecordsareavailableforanyperiodmorerecentthantheabovestudy(2002-2006),orforanyothertrack,GREY2KUSAWorldwideconductedanextensivesearchforinjuryreportsonthewebsites,twitterfeedsandblogsofUKgreyhoundtrainers;aswellasonindustryforums,websitesandintheindustrynewspaperGreyhound Star.

Atotalof276specificgreyhoundinjurieswerefounddatingfrom2006toJune2014.Analysisofthesereportsrevealed:

Bonefractureswereoverwhelminglythemostfrequentlyreportedinjury(118reports),followedby22muscletears,11lacerations,sixsprainsandfivestrains.Thetypeofinjurywasnotidentifiedin100cases(36%).

Forty-fourdogsreportedlydiedorwereeuthanisedasaresultoftheirinjury,atotalfatalityrateof16%.However,asthefateofthedogisnotgivenineveryreport,thisislikelytobeanunderestimate.

Ninegreyhoundswereinjuredtwice;aroundthreequartersoftheinjureddogsweremale;andthemostcommonageofthedogswheninjuredwas2yearsold.

AstudyconductedbytheUniversityofLiverpool revealedthatoneunnamedGBGBtrackeuthanised approximately29greyhoundsperyear(87dogs betweenJune2007andAugust2010),primarilyduetoinjuriessustainedduringracing(80ofthe87dogskilled)66.Theaverageageofthedogswheneuthanisedwasjustthreeyears.

Withoutfigurespublishedbytheindustry,itisnot possibletoknowthetotalnumberofdogsinjured, oftenfatally,onBritishtrackseveryyear.Butthis numberwouldmasktheindividualsufferingofeachdog,manyenduringexcruciatingfracturesand prematuredeaths.

RotarWingsfatalfallatSunderland,July2011. Photo:GreytExploitations(2011)


Alien Planet

Photoby: SteveNash(2013)

Breed: BlueMaleGreyhound Born: 18August2010 Died: 15July2013

EuthanisedaftersufferingabrokenlegduringaraceatNottingham.

Kokoro

Photo: GreytExploitations

Breed: BrindleMaleGreyhound Born: 1June2010 Died: 27March2013

EuthanisedafterbreakinghisneckduringaraceatYarmouthStadium.

Westmead Adonis

Photoby: YanPhotography(2012)

Breed: BlackMaleGreyhound Born: 21August2012 Died: 25February2013

Euthanisedaftersufferinga shatteredforelegduringarace atSittingbourne.

Rotar Wing

Photo: Greyhound-Data.com(2011)

Breed: BlackMaleGreyhound Born: 7September2007 Died: 14July2011

EuthanisedaftercollapsingwithabrokenbackduringaraceatSunderland.

Droopys Quincy

Photoby: GreyhoundData.com(2013)

Breed: BlackMaleGreyhound Born: 9September2011 Died: 24January2014

EuthanisedaftersufferinganinjuryduringaraceatRomford.

Freddy Thelegend

Photo: Greyhound-Data.com(2012)

Breed: BlackMaleGreyhound Born: 1June2011 Died: 21April2014

EuthanisedaftersufferingabrokenlegduringaraceatNottingham.


3.3.4 Drugs

Theuseofdrugsingreyhoundracingisanissue ofintegritybutalsoananimalwelfareconcernas substancesusedtoslowdownorspeedupdogs canhaveseriousside-effectsandresultinlong-termdamage.Yet,theWelfareofRacingGreyhound Regulations2010doesnotrequiremandatorydrug testingforracinggreyhounds.Infact,theissueof dopingisnotmentionedintheregulations.

DogsracedonGBGBlicensedtracksdoreceivesomeprotectionfromunfettereddruguseunderRacingRule214whichstates:it is the responsibility of the trainer to ensure that all food, vitamins, minerals and additives fed to greyhounds in his/her charge are free from any substance that may falsely affect their performance or prejudice their welfare. GBGB Sampling Stewards and Stipendiary Stewards may visit a licensed stadium for any race or trial meeting and select a number of greyhounds at random for drug sampling.

Samplingisnormallyviaaurinespecimentakenjustbeforeagreyhoundsraceortrial,butpost-race samplingmayalsotakeplace67.Dogsracedon independenttracksarenotsubjecttotheseregulations.

AccordingtotheRacecoursePromotersAssociation,theorganisationthatrepresentslicensedgreyhoundtracks:

...settingupadrugtestingregimeforindependenttrackswouldbetoohighaburdenforthemtosurvive68.

In2009,theGBGBcommissionedtheIndependent Anti-DopingandMedicationControlReview.Apanelofexpertswasestablishedtoevaluatetheprocessesinplacetomonitorandcontroltheuseofbannedand controlledsubstances.Despiteclaimingtobean independentreview,allthepanelmembershadsomeconnectiontothehorseordogracingindustries69.

Nonetheless,theirreport,publishedin2010,offeredsomeinterestinginsightsandrecommendations:

Onlyonein60dogsstartinginaraceortrial underwentdrugtesting.

208positivesampleswerefoundfrom2006-2009,outof40,000samplescollected.

Finesgivenaspenaltiesforpositivesamplesduringthisperiodwerehighlyinconsistent,particularlyinrelationtococaine,caffeineanddexamethasone (asteroidusedasananti-inflammatory).

TreatmentBookswerenotbeingcompletedproperlybymanytrainersandwerenotbeingproperly monitoredbyStipendiaryStewards.

Therewasaworryingamountofignorancewithintheindustryonaspectsofthecurrentanti-dopingandmedicationpolicyandsomeuncertaintyamong someofficialsandregulators.

Thepanelrecommendedaconsiderable increase in the number of dogs tested at trialsandsalestrials,stating:we believe this is an important area where integrity and welfare may currently be compromised.

Italsoexpressedconcernoverthewidespread practiceofgivingfemalegreyhoundstestosterone tosuppressoestrus*,stating:it is not possible to justify the administration of androgenic (masculinising) agents to racing bitches and we recommend that testosterone should be prohibited.

*Aregularlyoccurringperiodofsexualreceptivityinmostfemale mammals,duringwhichovulationoccursandmatingcantakeplace.


AstheGBGBdoesnotpublishthenumberofdogstested perrace,itisunclearwhetherthepanelsrecommendationforconsiderablymoretestinghasbeenimplemented.ItisclearthattheGBGBhasignoredtherecommendationtobantestosteroneasanoestrussuppressantasthehormoneisstillnamedasalicensedproduct(underthebrandnameDurateston)forthispurposeontheGBGBanti-dopingwebsite70.

Yet,inguidanceprovidedonthesamewebsiteforanalternativeoestrussuppressantwhichisprogesterone-based,theGBGBacknowledgesthattestosteroneis:

consideredinappropriateforthispurposeonwelfare,efficacyandintegritygrounds.

ThroughreportsoftheGBGBDisciplinaryCommitteehearings,itispossibletouncoverhowmany drug-relatedinquireshavetakenplacesincethe 2010report.Between2011andFebruary2014, atotalof122inquiriesresultedfromdrugrelated cases,afull70%ofallinquiriesheldinthatperiod71.However,itisnotclearwhatproportionofdrugtests, orevenpositivedrugtests,thisrepresents.

Itisclearthatthepenaltieshandeddownwouldnot providemuchofadeterrenttofutureoffending:

Eighty-threeinquiries(68%)resultedinfines,but themajority(64%)were500orlesswhileonly 17(20%)were1000ormore.

Only14inquiries(11%)resultedinsuspensions orapermanentban.

Evenrepeatoffendersaretreatedwithleniency. InSeptember2013,trainerToniTungattwas disciplinedforherfourthdrug-relatedbreachoftheRules.Shereceiveda1000finebutnosuspensionThismeagrepenaltyevenupsetmembersofthe forumGreyhoundScene,whofeltthatsheshouldhavebeenbanned72.

Thereportsalsorevealthatawiderangeofdrugs wereusedtobothspeedupandslowdownracingdogs,including:morphine,amphetamines,manytypesof steroids,temazepam(apowerfulsleepingpill), barbiturates,anti-inflammatories,caffeineandcocaine.

Althoughallofthesedrugscanhaveseriousside-effects, twoofthesesubstancesareofparticularconcern, theobromineandtimolol.

EventhislimitedinsightintodruguseatGBGBtracksismorethanisknownaboutindependenttracksasthereisnolegalrequirementforthemtocarryoutdrugtests.However,acasethatrecentlyhittheheadlinesshowsthatdrugusedoesoccuronindependenttracks.

Theobromine

Achemicalfoundinchocolatethatisknowntobefatallytoxicforsomedogsinverysmallquantities. Itisusedasastimulant.

Timolol

Abeta-blockerwhich,accordingtotheDisciplinary Committee,wouldlimittheirintakeofoxygen especiallyatthebeginningandendofaracewhichcouldattheveryleastcausesignificantdistress. Itisusedtoimpairperformance.


In August 2011, the Daily Mail reported that independent trainer Anthony Gregory Fowler pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog and two counts of administering drugs to a dog knowing it to be poisonous or injurious73.

Hehadbeengivinggreyhoundscannabis to slow them downsothey wouldlose,andthenwhentheoddsimprovedhewouldbetonthesamedogsbutgivethemViagra or testosterone to speed them up.Hewasgiven an18weekcustodialsentencethatwassuspendedfor18monthsso he avoided prisonandwasorderedtopay1000.Healsoreceivedalifetime banonkeepinganimals.

ThiscaseonlycametolightwhenpoliceinvestigatedFowleronsuspicionofsellingcannabis,meaningmanymoredogscouldsuffersimilarabuseonindependenttracksyetgoundetectedduetoinadequateregulation.

3.4 Unwanted Greyhounds

3.4.1 Estimated numbers

In2007,theAPGAWreportedthataminimum surplus of 13,478 greyhoundswasproduced bytheregulatedgreyhoundindustryinEnglandandWaleseveryyear.Thisfigurewasbasedonindustry estimatesof11,000dogsretiringfromregulatedracingeachyearplusapproximately2,478youngdogseachyearwhonevermakeittothetrackbecausetheyare tooslowornon-chasers.

Thereportgoesontoestimatethatapproximately5,000oftheseunwanteddogsarere-homed,3,000mayberetainedaspetsand750mayreturntoIreland,atotal of8,750dogs.Itconcluded:

Underthesefiguresaminimumof4,728 dogs are unaccounted for each yearandwecanassumethatthemajorityofthesedogsaredestroyed.However,thisfiguredoesnotaccountfordogsfromindependentracingorthosewhicharebredfortheBritishracingindustryinIreland.Thesefiguresmustthereforeberegardedasconjecturalandarelikelytobeasignificantunderestimationofthetruescaleoftheproblemofunwanteddogsbeingdestroyed.

LordDonoughuesreportcorroboratedthese findings,stating:

Takentogether,theBGRB[nowtheGBGB]initiativesandthewelfarecharitiesrehomeabouthalfofthedogswhichretirefromracing.Someothersarepersonallyrehomedbytheirownersandtrainers.We do not know what happens to the rest.

Hewentontostressthatthepublicexpectedthe industry,includingtheindependentsector,toestablish asystemwherethewhereaboutsandstatusofall greyhounds,preferablyfromcradletograve,or certainlyfrombirthtoretirement,isknown.Thisdid nothappenandthenumberofsurplusgreyhounds inBritainandwhatbecomesofthemisnoclearer todaythanin2007.

Usingthemostrecentretirementfigureof8,000dogsper year74(comparedto11,000intheAPGAWreport)thenumberofsurplusdogsproducedinBritaineachyearstillsitsabove10,000.ThenumberofyoungdogswhodisappearduringrearingmayalsohavedeclinedsincetheAPGAWreport;however,the2012UniversityofBristolstudyintogreyhoundwelfarefoundthatcurrentstatisticsforthesedogswereunavailable75.

AnthonyFowler outsidecourt.Photo:Darlingtonand

StocktonTimes(2011)


AsmostofthedogsracedinBritaintoday(83%) originatefromIreland,thesurplusofyounggreyhoundsislikelytooccurthere.ThiswasconfirmedinevidencegivenbyMichaelWatts,HonorarySecretaryforthe SocietyofGreyhoundVeterinariansandspokespersonfortheCountrysideAllianceIreland,totheNorthern IrelandAssemblyduringconsultationontheWelfare ofAnimalsBill201076:

WelfareproblemsinEnglandtendtorevolvearoundwhathappenstogreyhoundsthataretoooldortoolametoraceanymoreandwhoseownersnolongerwantthem.Theproblemsariseherewithayoungercohortofgreyhoundsthatarenotfastenoughorareinjuredandareunabletostartracing.

Wehavealargenumberofyounggreyhoundsthat, inthenatureofthings,areperhapsnothandledmuch,notverysocialisedandnothousetrained.Inmanycases,theydonotmakegoodpets.Therearealargenumberofthem,andwhatarewetodowiththem?

InEngland,thereisalargenumberofolder,retireddogsthatwereusedtoalevelofhumancontactandtoregularhandling,andtheyaremucheasiertorehome.Furthermore,thereare60millionpeopleinEnglandwho mightliketorehomethem,asopposedtoabout4million peopleinIreland.WhenIsayIreland,Imeanall32counties.ThebreedingofgreyhoundsinIrelandisregulatedbytheIrishCoursingClub,whichconsiders Ireland,forbetterorworse,a32-countyentity.Forthat reason,wehavenoseparatefiguresforNorthernIreland.

WithEnglandsmuchlargerpopulation,theyhavetorehomeapproximately10,000unwantedgreyhoundsperannum.Therefore,inanutshell,wehavemoreyounger,lessrehomabledogs,andfewerhomesforthemtogoto.

MichaelWatts, SocietyofGreyhoundVetsand

Countryside Alliance Ireland

Thisdoesnotpaintaverycomfortingpictureofthelives,andmorelikelythedeaths,ofunwantedgreyhoundsbredinIrelandtosupplytheBritishracingindustry.Furthermore,rehomingthousandsofretiredgreyhoundseveryyearisnotaneasytaskandshouldnotbe promotedasthesolutiontotheindustrysoverproductionandwantondisposalofgreyhounds.

3.4.2 Greyhound adoption

Thecompetitionfacinggreyhoundsseekinggoodquality homesisextremelyhigh.AsurveyconductedbytheDogsTrustrevealedthat111,986strayandabandoneddogswerepickeduporhandedintolocalauthoritiesacrosstheUKbetweenJuly2012andJuly2013,with aquarterofthesedogsgiventorehomingcentres77.

These27,996dogswillcompetedirectlywithunwanted greyhoundsforalimitednumberofsuitablehomes.Moreover,thisfigureonlyincludesdogswhoarehandled bylocalauthoritiesandnotthosegivendirectlytorehoming charities,sothetruefiguremustbemuchhigher.

Itissimplyunacceptableforthegreyhoundindustry, acommercialenterpriseturningovermillionsofpoundsayear,toaddtotheburdenalreadyfacedbyrehomingcharities.

TheprimaryadoptionagencyforgreyhoundsretiredfromtheBritishracingindustryistheRetired GreyhoundTrust(RGT),whichoperatesmorethan 72localbranchesacrossBritainandisfundedlargely bytheracingindustry(40%ofits2012fundingcamefromtheBritishGreyhoundRacingFund,whileBAGSandthesatellitebroadcastereachdonatedanominalamounttothecharity78).

In2012RGTfound3,910homesforgreyhounds79, allhomesthatcouldhavebeenfilledbyotherneedydogs.Independentgreyhoundcharities,alongwithotherdogrehomingcentres,findhomesforapproximately1,500retiredgreyhoundseveryyearanddosowithoutfinancialaidfromtheindustry.

TheGBGBbelievesthatafurther1,500arerehomeddirectlybyownersandtrainers81,leavingaminimumof1,000retiredgreyhoundsunaccountedforeveryyear.


3.4.3 Euthanasia

DespiteboththeAPGAWandLordDonoughuecalling ontheindustrytotrackalldogsfromthecradletothegrave,neithertrack,trainernorownerarecurrentlyrequiredtoprovideevidencethatanunwanteddoghasbeenrehomeduponretirement.TheGBGBdoesrequireownerstoregistertheirdogsretirementwithin28daysandprovideinformationastodisposition(e.g.retainedbyowner,giventoanimalcharity,euthanasedbyalicensedveterinarian);however,no supporting evidence of this action is required82.

Ownersarethereforefreetosaythatdogshavebeengiventoanimalcharitieswhentheyhaveinfactbeeneuthanised,anditisimpossibletoknowhowmany unwanteddogsareactuallykilledbylicensedvetsormeetthesamefateasthethousandsburiedinSeaham.

Infact,twoyearsafterthekillingfieldsinSeahamwereuncovered,thesamejournalist(DanielFoggo)revealedthataknackersyardinHertfordshirewasstillroutinelykillingunwantedracinggreyhoundsfor20eachusingacaptiveboltpistol83.Whenconfrontedbythejournalist,theowneroftheknackersyard,AlanWaller,said:

Greyhoundtrainersbasicallyjustgetridoftheirdogswhentheyarenolongeranyusetothemandtheycantrehomethem.Itsjustoneofthethingsthat happensinanindustrywheretherestoomanydogs attheendofthedayandtheycantrehousethemall.

Additionally,theGBGBretirementformincludesthecategoryinjurynottreatedoneconomicgroundsasalegitimatereasonforeuthanisingadog84,despiteclaimsthattheindustryisstriving to ensure that no greyhound is unnecessarily put down once its racing career is over 85.

AstheGREY2KUSAWorldwideinjuryanalysis(outlinedinsection3.3.3.)revealed,16%oftheinjuryreportsavailableshowedthatthedogwassubsequently euthanisedordied.Itisunclearhowmanyofthese killingsweredonepurelyonhumanegroundsand howmanywereaneconomicdecision.

Thecallousdisregardsometrainershavefortheir greyhoundswashighlightedbyRGTco-ordinator AmandaAinsworthina2011GreyhoundStararticle86.SherecountsthestoryofatrainerbringingoneofhisdogsintoaRGTcentreandtellingthestaff:There is no point in trying to rehome this one. Hes a nasty bastard, you might as well put him down now.Thestafffoundthedogtobeverygentlemanneredandhewasrehomedwithinafewweeks.

3.4.4 Selling dogs for research and dissection

Killingunwantedgreyhoundsnotonlysavestheownermoney;accordingtonewspaperreportsitcanalsomaketheownermoney.AnundercoverinvestigationbyTheSundayTimesin2008exposedalicensedgreyhoundbreederandownersellingunwanteddogstoLiverpoolUniversitytobekilledanddissectedforteachingandresearch87.

CharlesPickering,thelargestgreyhoundbreederinBritainatthetime,offeredtoselldogstotheundercoverreporterfor30eachandsaidthatthathesold30dogsayearatthispricetotheUniversity,butcouldeasilyprovidemoreifrequired.

Allofthesedogswereyoungandhealthybutunsuitableforracingbecausetheydidnotchasethelureorweresimplytooslow.Pickeringalsosuppliedyearling greyhoundstolicensedtrainerRichardFieldingwhogavehisolderunwanteddogstotheUniversityforfree.Fieldingtoldthereporter:

Igotshotof10oldoneslastyear.Liverpoolisa godsendinthatrespectbecausetheyareusedfor agoodpurpose.

AseparateSundayTimesinvestigationthatsameyearrevealedthatanEssexveterinaryclinicwasputtingdownhealthygreyhoundsandsellingthebodyparts totheRoyalVeterinaryCollege(RVC).


AnundercoverreporterposingasanownerfoundthatstaffattheGreyhoundClinicagreedtokillgreyhoundsfor30each,eventhoughhetoldthemthedogshadnothingwrongwiththem.TheRVCthenboughtdeadgreyhoundsfromtheclinic,butinsistedthedogsbehealthybeforetheywereeuthanised88.

InresponsetoapublicinformationrequestmadebyGREY2KUSAWorldwide,theRVCrevealedthatithadused300greyhoundbodiesbetween2006and2013.Thedogswereusedalmostexclusivelyforanatomicaldissectionclasses.TheRVCstatedthatthedogs

...wereeuthanisedduetovariousreasons,commonlyaninabilitytointegratewithotherdogsorforothermedicalreasons89.

Furthernewspaperreportsandpublicinformation requestsrevealthatmorethan550unwantedorinjuredgreyhoundshavebeenkilledandusedinteachingor researchinBritishUniversitiessince2006(Table3,p30).Mostofthesedogswereusedinveterinaryanatomyclasses;howeverLiverpoolUniversityusedgreyhoundbodypartsinresearchaimedatimprovingtheracingindustryasrecentlyas201090.

Althoughalloftheseinstitutionsclaimthedogswere noteuthanisedspecificallyfortheirteachingorresearchpurposes,theydoprovidetracks,trainersandownerswithaconvenientwayofdisposingofunwanted dogsasevidencedbyRichardFieldingscommentabove91.OfevengreaterconcernisUniversityCollegeDublinscontinuedpracticeofbuyingunwanted greyhoundsandkillingthemspecificallytousein veterinaryanatomystudies.InresponsetoGREY2KUSAWorldwidespublicinformationrequest,the Universityprovidedreceiptsdatingfrom2006to2013demonstratingthatithadpurchasedatotalof212 greyhounds,atthepriceofbetween80and87each,allfromaracinggreyhoundownernamedSeamusDooley.

Thirty-threedogswerepurchasedin2013.The recordsmakeclearthatallofthedogswerealivewhenpurchasedandkilledbytheUniversityfortheexpresspurposeofteachinganatomytoveterinarystudents.

AsmanyBritishracinggreyhoundsarereturnedto Irelandwhennolongerwanted92,theycouldbevictimsofMrDooleyslucrativetrade.


Table 3: Numbers of greyhounds used for teaching and research purposes since 2006.

UniversityNumber of greyhounds used 2006 to present

Royal Veterinary College 30093

Liverpool University 93-9594

University of Cambridge 7095

University of Edinburgh 2096

University of Bristol 6497

University of Nottingham 898

University of Glasgow 3-499

University College Dublin 212100

3.5 Failure of self-regulation

Thisreportmakesclearthatself-regulationhasnotandisnotworkingtoprotectgreyhoundwelfare.

FurtherevidenceisprovidedbytheGBGBs2012 annualreportwhichshowsthatalthoughgreyhound welfarewasthemostcommoncategoryofcomplaint receivedthatyear,lessthan25%ofcomplaintswereacted upon101.Evenwhentrainersandownersarefoundguiltyofneglect,crueltyordruggingtheirdogs,the penaltieshandedoutbytheGBGBarepitifuland providenodeterrenttofutureoffending.

Greyhoundsintheindependentsectorreceiveeven lessprotectionunderself-regulationasthestatutoryrequirementsdonotincludeevenbasicsafeguards suchaskennelinspections,drugtestingandretirementprovisions.ThelackoflawsandregulationsforthewelfareofgreyhoundsinWalesandScotlandisanevengreatercauseforconcern.AstheWelfareofRacingGreyhoundRegulations2010onlycoverEngland,dogsracingonindependenttracksinWalesandScotlandreceivenoprotectionexceptbasicanimalwelfarelaws.

Theinconsistenciesanderrorsinindustryfiguresandpublicationsuncoveredduringtheproductionofthis reportfurtherhighlighttheinabilityoftheindustryto protectgreyhoundseffectively.Moreover,thecontinuedlackofdataavailableonimportantissuessuchasinjuryratesandoutcomes,importationofdogsfromIrelandandtheexactnumberofsurplusdogsproducedeachyearaswellaswhatbecomesofthemsuggests thateitherthepublicisbeingkeptinthedark deliberatelyortheregulatingbodiesaresoincompetentthattheygenuinelydonotknowwhatishappeninginthesecrucialaspectsoftheindustry.


LordDonoughuesreporthighlightedtheimportanceoftransparencyandaccountabilityforprotectinggreyhoundwelfare,stating:

Goodwelfareisderivedfromgoodregulationandgoodregulationisderivedfromhavingthecorrect governancestructuresinplace...thewholeproposition isdependentonrobust,adequateandtransparentfunding.

TheGreyhoundBoardofGreatBritainwasestablishedtoaddressLordDonoughuesconcernsonthisissue.Yet,sinceitsinceptionin2009,theGBGBhasnotpublishedastrategicplanoutliningspecificmeasuresitwilltake,orhastaken,tosafeguardgreyhoundwelfarenoranyfiguresongreyhoundinjuryandretirement.Thisstonewallinghasleftsomeintheindustry,aswellasgreyhoundwelfareorganisations,deeplysuspiciousoftheGBGBanditscommitmenttogreyhoundwelfare.

Thereisaviewbeingwidelyexpressedthat earmarkedfundscurrentlybeinggeneratedwithin theindustryarenotsufficientlyfindingtheirwayto caringforgreyhounds.

GreyhoundTrainersAssociation, StatementofCase,9thMay2014102

Wearesimplynotgettingtheinformationand statisticsthatwekeeprequesting,Barry(Faulkner)ChiefExecutiveofGBGBignoresourrequestsorsendsusroundthehousestohisChairman(MauriceWatkins)ortootherofficials.Itsnolongerworking.Wewanttoknowwhatshappeningtoallthegreyhoundsthatretireeachyear...nomatterhowweaskthequestion,MrFaulknerwontansweritandIhavehadenough...Imtiredofbeingpattedonthehead.

ClarissaBaldwinOBE,ChiefExecutiveofDogsTrust andchairoftheGreyhoundForum,RacingPost,

February2014103

TheGreyhoundTrainersAssociationannouncedin May2014thatitiscallingforaFormalIndependent ReviewoftheGreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain toincludeanauditofLordDonoughues recommendations104,demonstratinghowlittle haschangedwithinthisindustrysince2007.


4 What Future? 4.1 Decline of the British

greyhound racing industry

NoonecandenythattheBritishgreyhoundindustryisinfastdecline.LordDonoughuereportedanattendancefigureof3.2millionforlicensedtracksin2006105, but by2012thatnumberhaddeclinedto2million106, a decreaseof38%.

Thisdropinattendanceimpactsonthenumberof viabletracks,leadingtoadropinthenumberoflicensed tracksinBritainfrom30in2006to24today.Eventheremaininggreyhoundtracksarestrugglingtoturnaprofit,witharecentGBGBreportrevealingthat,withouttheincomefromadditionalactivitiessuchasmotorsport,carbootsalesandon-sitenightclubs,restaurantsandhotels,therewouldbean overall negative movement of cash from these businesses107. Independenttrackshavealsofacedclosures,with14operatingin2006andonlyninetoday.

Fewertracksneedfewertrainersandonly835 registeredwiththeGBGBin2013,comparedto975 in2010,adeclineof14%108.Moreworryinglyfortheindustry,45%ofcurrenttrainersareagedover60 whileonly9%areaged40oryounger109.

Thedecreaseinlicensedtrainersislinkedtoa similardecreaseinthenumberofdogslicensedto runonGBGBtracks,down14%in2013(7,500dogs) comparedto2009(8,672dogs).Thecontinueddeclineingreyhoundnumbershasledtoanincreaseinthenumberofracestakingplacewithoutthefullcomplement ofsixrunners.In2013,7,900racestookplacewithfewerthansixrunners110.

AddtothisthecatastrophicdeclineinBritishgreyhoundbreedingoutlinedinsection3.1,andtheindustrysfuturelooksfarfrompromising.Indeed,accordingtoaGBGBsurveyconductedin2013,54%ofgreyhoundownersarenotconfidentaboutthefutureofracing111.

Themajordeclineinracecourseattendance figures,combinedwithincreasedalternativebettingopportunities,hasledtoadeclineingreyhoundbettingrevenue.AccordingtotheGBGBs2014reportontheeconomicimpactsoftheindustry,thegrosswinfromBritishgreyhoundracing(themoneynotwonbybettersandthusretainedbythebettingagencies)was237m in2012/13,down21%from300min2008/09112.

ThishasaprofoundimpactonthefundingavailableforlicensedgreyhoundracingastheBritishGreyhoundRacingFund(BGRF)theofficialfundingbodyforlicensedracingisfinancedentirelythroughavoluntarylevyonbookmakers113.Currently92%ofbetting officescontribute0.6%oftheirannualgreyhound bettingturnovertotheBGRF,amountingtoanincome of8min2013114.

Thismoneyisthenallocatedtodifferentaspectsoftheindustry,includingwelfare,integrity,marketingandprizemoney.

Whileitisdifficulttohavesympathywithbetting agenciesdwindlingprofits,thedeclineinrevenue theyreceivefromgreyhoundbettingdoesimpactongreyhoundwelfare.TheBGRFsincome,andthereforethemoneyavailabletothelicensedgreyhoundindustry,hasdeclinedby43%115since2008whenitpeakedat14m116.

Thisincomewillshrinkbyafurther800,000in2014asBetfairhasnowwithdrawnitsfundingfromtheBGRF117.AccordingtoTomKelly,BGRFchairman,thewithdrawalofBetfairmoneyisundermining its ability to support greyhound welfare, especially the rehoming of retired dogs118,demonstratingthattheindustryisquicktocutwelfareprovisionsinfavourofprofits.

However,thelatestfinancialfiguresfortheGBGB,whichisfundeddirectlybytheBGRF,revealthatitmaynotbeabletoprotectitsprofitsmuchlongereither.According toitsannualreports,from2009to2012itsturnover decreasedby26%anditsprofitsdecreasedby98%119.Eventheindustryacknowledgesthatthisdownwardspiralisunsustainable:

GreyhoundracinginBritainhasgotitselfintoaterriblefixwithnosolutioninsight.

EditoroftheGreyhoundStar, October2013120

Itiswidelyrecognisedamongstgrassrootsgreyhoundtrainers,welfareorganisationsandownersthatthesportofgreyhoundracingisinaneverdeepeningcrisis.

GreyhoundTrainersAssociation, StatementofCase,May2014121


4.2 The way forward

Thegovernmenthasallowedracingindustrydemandstotakeprecedenceovergreyhoundwelfarefortoolong.Newlegislationmandatingfundamentalchangestoindustrypracticemustbeenactedandenforced.

TheDepartmentforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairs(DEFRA)hasalreadycommitteditselftoareviewoftheWelfareofRacingGreyhoundsRegulationsin2015andwebelievethatgenuineimprovementsingreyhound welfarewillonlybeachievediftherecommendationsmadeinthe2007APGAWreportarenowimplementedinfull.

Specifically,wearecallingonParliamenttodemand industryactionontheissuesofoverbreedingandsurplusdogs;tracksafetyandinjuryrates;druguse;greyhoundtrackingandadoptionasoutlinedatthebeginningofthisreport.

WeurgeParliamentandthegreyhoundracingindustrytodemonstrateagenuinecommitmenttosafeguardingthewelfareofgreyhoundsfromthecradletothegravebyembracingandimplementingourfullsetof recommendations.

Untilsuchtime,greyhoundracinghasnoplaceina nationthatvaluesanimalwelfareashighlyasBritonsdo.

Attendance at GBGB tracks down 38% since 2006

Greyhound welfare declines

Gross gambling win down 21% since 2009

Licensed industry income down 43% since 2008

As the licensed greyhound

industry is funded almost

exclusively from betting

revenue, declines in the sports

popularity have a direct impact

on greyhound welfare.


References 1 Donoughue(2007).IndependentReviewof

theGreyhoundIndustryinGreatBritain. http://tinyurl.com/pnuqcbl

2 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain.FrequentlyAskedQuestions.http://tinyurl.com/no5cxtv

3 GreyhoundPredictor.BritishGreyhoundTrack RaceLengths.http://tinyurl.com/pr9g3yb

4 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain.Tracksearch.http://tinyurl.com/pyonkfg

5 GreyhoundPredictor.BritishGreyhoundTrackRaceLengths.http://tinyurl.com/pr9g3yb

6 Foggo,D.(2006).Killingfieldofthedogracing industry.TheSundayTimes,16thJuly. http://tinyurl.com/o2v648h

7 Ibid

8 Ibid

9 TheAssociatedParliamentaryGroupforAnimal Welfare(2007).TheWelfareofGreyhounds: ReportoftheAPGAWinquiryintothewelfareissuessurroundingracinggreyhoundsinEngland. http://tinyurl.com/cz4xphr

10 Ibid

11 Ibid

12 Donoughue(2007).IndependentReviewofthe GreyhoundIndustryinGreatBritain. http://tinyurl.com/pnuqcbl

13 GreyhoundStudBook.BreedingUpdate:2013. http://tinyurl.com/ooja5rf

14 NationalGreyhoundRacingClub,(2007).Snapshot oftheNGRC:Hownumberstellastory.NGRC Calendar,March9th.

15 Ibid

16 IndeconInternationalConsultants(2014).ReviewofcertainmattersrelatingtoBordnagCon.SubmittedtotheDepartmentforAgriculture,FoodandtheMarine.http://tinyurl.com/kenuk8n

17 TheAssociatedParliamentaryGroupforAnimal Welfare(2007).TheWelfareofGreyhounds: ReportoftheAPGAWinquiryintothewelfare issuessurroundingracinggreyhoundsinEngland.http://tinyurl.com/cz4xphr

18 Donoughue(2007).IndependentReviewof theGreyhoundIndustryinGreatBritain. http://tinyurl.com/pnuqcbl


20 Cremin,J.(2013)Hopeandthequestforglorymustbepromoted.RacingPost.http://tinyurl.com/q5oxh8o

21 IndeconInternationalConsultants(2014).ReviewofcertainmattersrelatingtoBordnagCon.SubmittedtotheDepartmentforAgriculture,FoodandtheMarine.http://tinyurl.com/kenuk8n

22 Ibid


24 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain(2014). EconomicimpactoftheBritishgreyhoundracingindustry.http://tinyurl.com/nr277rv


26 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain(2014).EconomicimpactoftheBritishgreyhoundracingindustry. http://tinyurl.com/nr277rv


28 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain(2014). EconomicimpactoftheBritishgreyhoundracingindustry.http://tinyurl.com/nr277rv


30 Ibid


31 Ibid

32 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain(2013).RulesofRacing.http://tinyurl.com/oqu3sfm

33 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain.VeterinaryKennelInspectionshttp://tinyurl.com/pakdajj

34 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain(2012).Annualreport.

35 Pitt,C.(2013).Oldgradersdontjustfadeaway. BOSMagazine,June4th.

36 Rooney,N.J.(2012).Welfareofracinggreyhounds-prioritisationofissues.PosterpresentedatUniversitiesFederationforAnimalWelfareconference.

37 SocietyofGreyhoundVeterinarians(2011). Newsletter:SummerEdition. http://tinyurl.com/pcnu38f

38 DEFRA(2010).ExplanatoryMemorandumtothe WelfareofRacingGreyhoundsRegulations. http://tinyurl.com/pg2tdn8

39 DEFRA(2009).Summaryofresponsestothe consultationontheWelfareofRacingGreyhoundsRegulations2010from30April2009to22July2009.http://tinyurl.com/nf9hgaq

40 Ibid

41 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain(2012). Annualreport.

42 Ainsworth,A.(2013).AmandasDiary.GreyhoundStar,September.

43 GreyhoundRescueWestofEngland(2010).WirralRacingGreyhoundTrainersentencedtolifetimebanandsuspended4monthcustodialsentenceafterpleadingguiltytochargesofneglectandcrueltytotwenty-ninedogs.http://tinyurl.com/psn2dp8

44 LiverpoolEcho(2010).WirralgreyhoundownerIanStreetbannedforlifefromkeepinganimals.February,23rd.http://tinyurl.com/q42levz

45 KingsleyNapley(2013).CaseUpdate:ChristopherCroninvGreyhoundBoardofGreatBritainLtd[2013]EWCACiv668.http://tinyurl.com/nkqujw6

46 Jeory,T.(2012).Dogkennelsbrandeddisgusting.DailyExpress.http://tinyurl.com/oauz9px

47 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain(2013).DisciplinaryCommitteeInquiries,November5th. http://tinyurl.com/opxrqwm

48 NewZealandGreyhoundRacingAssociation(2013).IndependentWelfareReview. http://tinyurl.com/ohtb8dm


50 Ibid

51 GreyhoundScene(2013).GeneralGreyhound BoardsGREYHOUNDDISCUSSIONCov. ThreadactiveAugust2013. http://greyhoundscene.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action= display&thread=52387

52 GreyhoundScene(2013).GeneralGreyhoundBoardsGREYHOUNDDISCUSSIONStarsoflast18monthsinjured.ThreadstartedSept25th2013. http://greyhoundscene.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=53171&page=1

53 GreyhoundScene(2013).GeneralGreyhoundBoardsGREYHOUNDDISCUSSIONCov.Thread activeAugust2013.http://greyhoundscene.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=52387

54 DEFRA(2009.)Summaryofresponsestothe consultationontheWelfareofRacingGreyhoundsRegulations2010from30April2009to22July2009.http://tinyurl.com/nf9hgaq

55 Robinson,C.(2009).RSPCAResponsetoDEFRAconsultationonproposalsforwelfareofracing greyhounds.

56 NewZealandGreyhoundRacingAssociation(2013).IndependentWelfareReview.http://tinyurl.com/oht-b8dm

57 Ibid

58 GreyhoundTrainersAssociation(2014).StatementofCase.May13th.http://tinyurl.com/l93lrbm


59 GreyhoundScene(2013).GeneralGreyhoundBoardsGREYHOUNDDISCUSSIONStarsoflast18monthsinjured.ThreadstartedSept25th,2013.http://greyhoundscene.proboards.com/index.cgi?action= display&board=general&thread=53171&page=1

60 GreyhoundScene(2013).GeneralGreyhoundBoardsGREYHOUNDDISCUSSIONINCREASEIN INJURIESATANUMBEROFTRACKS.Thread startedJuly13th,2013.http://greyhoundscene.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action= display&thread=52260

61 Ibid

62 EasingtonGreyhoundStadium.RacingInjuries. http://tinyurl.com/o5hpskj

63 Rooney,N.J.(2012).Welfareofracinggreyhoundsprioritisationofissues.Posterpresentedat UniversitiesFederationforAnimalWelfare conference.


65 IddonJ.,LockyerR.H.andFreanS.P.(2014).Theeffectofseasonandtrackconditiononinjuryrateinracinggreyhounds.JournalofSmallAnimalPractice,EarlyViewonline:2ndMay2014.

66 Hercock,C.A.(2010).Specialisationforfast locomotion:performance,costandrisk.UnpublishedPhDthesis.

67 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain(2011).ATrainersGuidetoMedicationControlinGreyhounds. http://tinyurl.com/ntmqssw

68 GreyhoundRegulationWorkingGroup(Wales)(2008).1stMeeting,September2nd.

69 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain(2010).ReportoftheIndependentAnti-dopingandMedicationControlReviewofCurrentGBGBAnti-dopingandMedicationRulesandtheirImplementation.http://tinyurl.com/ nnv4zop

70 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain.Norethisterone.http://tinyurl.com/ot8el2q

71 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain.Disciplinary CommitteeHearings.http://tinyurl.com/ohqtpbg

72 GreyhoundsceneTopic:Trainerfined1kfor4thdrugbreachofrules

73 DailyMail(2011).GreyhoundtrainerbannedfromkeepinganimalsaftergivingdogsViagraand cannabis.August10th.http://tinyurl.com/njte9ux

74 Ainsworth,A.(2013).AmandasDiary.GreyhoundStar,October2013.

75 Rooney,N.J.(2012).Welfareofracinggreyhoundsprioritisationofissues.Posterpresentedat UniversitiesFederationforAnimalWelfare conference.

76 Watts,M.(2010).CommitteeforAgricultureandRuralDevelopment.OfficialHansardReport.WelfareofAnimalsBill:CountrysideAllianceIrelandhttp://tinyurl.com/o4r88qj

77 DogsTrust(2013).StrayDogsSurvey2013:AreportpreparedforDogsTrust.http://tinyurl.com/qxr25qu

78 RetiredGreyhoundTrust(2012).Trusteesreportandaccounts.http://tinyurl.com/qeu3aw9

79 Ibid

80 TheAssociatedParliamentaryGroupforAnimal Welfare(2007).TheWelfareofGreyhounds: ReportoftheAPGAWinquiryintothewelfareissuessurroundingracinggreyhoundsinEngland.http://tinyurl.com/cz4xphr


82 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain.RetirementFormforGBGB-RegisteredGreyhounds.http://tinyurl.com/q2kn4kt

83 FoggoD.(2008).Knackersyarddisposesof unwantedgreyhoundsfor20.TheSundayTimes,November2nd.http://tinyurl.com/c75l7a9

84 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain.RetirementFormforGBGB-RegisteredGreyhounds.http://tinyurl.com/q2kn4kt

85 GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain.Retirement&Care.http://tinyurl.com/pdlx53p

86 Ainsworth,A.(2011).Amandasdiary.GreyhoundStar,July.


87 Foggo,D.(2008).Greyhoundbreederoffersslowdogstobekilledforresearch.TheSundayTimes,May11th.http://tinyurl.com/budgb3j

88 Foggo,D.(2008).Vetssecrettradeindogbodyparts.TheSundayTimes,March2nd.http://tinyurl.com/p784wdr

89 Jackson,S.(2013).RoyalVeterinaryCollegereplytoGREY2KUSAWorldwideFoIrequest.July11th.

90 Qureshi,Y.(2010).30injuredgreyhoundsputdownatdogtrack.ManchesterEveningNews,27thApril.http://tinyurl.com/nzj848c

91 Foggo,D.(2008).Greyhoundbreederoffersslowdogstobekilledforresearch.TheSundayTimes,May11th.http://tinyurl.com/budgb3j

92 TheAssociatedParliamentaryGroupforAnimal Welfare(2007).TheWelfareofGreyhounds:ReportoftheAPGAWinquiryintothewelfareissues surroundingracinggreyhoundsinEngland. http://tinyurl.com/cz4xphr

93 Jackson,S.,RoyalVeterinaryCollege(2013).ReplytoGREY2KUSAWorldwideFoIrequest.July11th.

94 Jackson,L.,UniversityofLiverpool(2013).ResponsetoGREY2KUSAWorldwideFoIrequest.July5th.

95 Knapton,J.,UniversityofCambridge(2013). ResponsetoGREY2KUSAWorldwideFoIrequest.July9th.

96 Golightley,L.,UniversityofEdinburgh(2008). ResponsetoFoIrequestmadebyTrudyBaker. July28th.

97 Morrison,M.,UniversityofBristol(2013).Response toGREY2KUSAWorldwideFoIrequest.July15th.

98 Warry,C.,UniversityofNottingham(2013).ResponsetoGREY2KUSAWorldwideFoIrequest.June21st.

99 DataProtectionandFreedomofInformationOffice,UniversityofGlasgow(2013).ResponsetoGREY2KUSAWorldwideFoIRequest.June28th.

100Hogan,M.,UniversityCollegeDublin(2013). ResponsetoFoIrequestmadebyKimStallwood.December5th.

101GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain(2012). Annualreport.

102GreyhoundTrainersAssociation(2014).StatementofCase.May13th.http://tinyurl.com/l93lrbm

103 Ibid

104 Ibid

105Donoughue(2007).IndependentReviewofthe GreyhoundIndustryinGreatBritain. http://tinyurl.com/pnuqcbl

106GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain(2014).EconomicimpactoftheBritishgreyhoundracingindustry. http://tinyurl.com/nr277rv

107 Ibid

108 Ibid

109 Ibid

110 Ibid

111GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain(2013).GBGBOwnershipResearch.http://tinyurl.com/o3msxng

112 Ibid

113Donoughue(2007).IndependentReviewofthe GreyhoundIndustryinGreatBritain. http://tinyurl.com/pnuqcbl

114Davy,L.(2013).BetfairurgedtosupportgreyhoundracingintheUK.CalvinAyre.com,September25th.http://tinyurl.com/nptcx3o

115BritishGreyhoundRacingFund(2013).AnnualReport2012-2013.http://tinyurl.com/la2zsdw

116BritishGreyhoundRacingFund(2008).AnnualReport2008.

117Cremin,J.(2014).APPGGaimstorestoreBetfairsFundpayments.RacingPost,February,28th. http://tinyurl.com/nrrd83n

118 Ibid

119GreyhoundBoardofGreatBritain(2012). Annualreport.

120GreyhoundStar(2013).FromtheEditorsChair. October,2013.

121GreyhoundTrainersAssociation(2014).Statement ofCase.May13th.http://tinyurl.com/l93lrbm


Acknowledgements

TheLeagueAgainstCruelSportsandGREY2KUSAWorldwidewouldliketothankthefollowingindividualsandorganisationsfortheircontributionstothisreport:

MrKimStallwood

GreytExploitations

GreyhoundCompassion

TheRoyalSocietyforthePreventionof CrueltytoAnimals(RSPCA)


Some of the lucky greyhounds that have found happy homes in the UK

Photos:Grey2KUSAWorldwide


League Against Cruel Sports NewSparlingHouse,HollowayHill, Godalming,Surrey,GU71QZUKTel:01483524250 www.league.org.uk

@LeagueACS

LeagueAgainstCruelSports

Leagueagainstcruelsports

CharityNo:1095234

Grey2KUSAWorldwide P.O.BoxF,Arlington, MA02476,USATel:0017814883526www.grey2kusa.org

@Grey2KUSA

Grey2KUSA

Grey2KUSA

FEIN04-3554776

EmmaMilneandAnnetteCrosbiewithrescuedgreyhounds.

Documents

The state of greyhound racing in Great Britiain