Greyhound racing could be thought of as the forgotten bloodsport, the majority of the British public may oppose fox hunting and other bloodsports, but many are unaware that greyhound racing is responsible for the suffering and death of thousands of dogs every year. For more info on greyhound racing go to  www.greyhoundaction.co.uk

On Tuesday 4th May 2010 Brighton Animal Action demonstrated outside Corals Greyhound Stadium in Nevill Road, Hove.  They’d given out loads of free tickets so the place was heaving.  Sky TV was transmitting live due to it being a special final. Unlike anywhere else in the City, nobody wants to take or look at a leaflet.  After leaving the front entrance when the racesstarted wetook the megaphone roundto the sidewall and gave them some information on the cruelty of greyhound racing.  A TV camera was nearby so let’s hope they picked that up.

Greyhound killer’s case referred to Crown Court:

February 16, 2007  David Smith, the greyhound killer of Seaham, County Durham appeared at Durham Magistrates court today and pleaded guilty to the environmental charges regarding disposal of the bodies of the dogs.  This was the only charge that could be brought against him for this as actually killing the dogs was apparently done ‘humanely’. the magistrates ruled that as they could only give a maximum sentence of 6 months imprisonment and/or £20,000 fine the gravity of the offence required more sentencing powers. They have referred the case to the Crown Court where he could receive an unlimited fine and/or up to five years imprisonment.

Another nail in the coffin of the greyhound industry: Pet home  “a conveyor belt of killing”. Thousands of “retired” greyhounds have been killed at an “animal sanctuary” in the north of England.

Brighton & Hove greyhound stadium:

Brighton Animal Action regularly demonstrates outside the greyhound stadium in Hove. Greyhounds risk death and injury every time they race and race fixing is commonplace with dealers often drugging the dogs to improve, or worsen, their performance. There are both registered and “independent tracks”; neither require a vet to be on the premises and “independent” tracks have little or no regulations to safeguard the well-being of the animals. At 4 or 5 years the dogs retire from registered tracks and are usually used in independent tracks or killed. If they are “lucky” they are put to sleep by a vet, often they are abandoned, starved, poisoned or drowned. Their ears are often cut off to prevent their owners being traced by their id tattoo. In 2001 the BBC exposed a mass grave in Oxford where the greyhounds were found to have been shot. More recently you may have read in the Sunday Times this July about a builders merchant who was filmed killing greyhounds with a bolt gun before burying them in a mass grave at the back of his home in Co Durham. It is estimated that he was responsible for killing at least 10,000 greyhounds.

Although Hove Stadium has a very good retirement scheme for the greyhounds they are still at risk of injury and death every time they race and it is only for our entertainment.

What you can do:

• Boycott race tracks and encourage your friends and colleagues to do the same – many of the customers of the racetracks are businesses treating their staff to a “jolly”; try and discourage this if it is offered in your workplace.
• Don’t bet on the dogs at a bookmakers in your local high street – William Hill and Corral are big offenders.
• Come along to one of our demos or information stalls.