Greyhound culling

Graces7

There are no words

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2019/0626/1057535-greyhound-rte-investigates/

Is this really true?

Jupiter Mulligan

Graces7 wrote: »

There are no words

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2019/0626/1057535-greyhound-rte-investigates/

Is this really true?

Looking forward, apprehensively, to watching it tonight. The government has just decided to legislate for the closure of fur farms, so it's well timed.

No doubt many of the pro-choice brigade will be very upset about the inhumane treatment of doggies - go figure!

marvin80

Jupiter Mulligan wrote: »

No doubt many of the pro-choice brigade will be very upset about the inhumane treatment of doggies - go figure!

What are you on about - I thought this was the Animals and Pet issues thread

em_cat

Unfortunately it does Many moons ago I was living in the States & lived right next to a greyhound racing stadium, use to sit in my room crying for the wee things & had a misconception that they where vicious as I could hear them shrieking & wailing to get their prey. Eventually I witnessed the awful state they were kept in & the sight of the poor things frightened me; was the first time I'd seen a racing hound before. It was also a particularly hot summer so you could smell the rot of the hares carcasses and what ever bait the trainers used. Now though, I dearly love sight hounds and every single one I've met (mostly battered ex racers) has been gentle, kind and pretty much afraid its own shadow There is a lovely Scottish lady that lives near us that use to rehabilitate them for nearly 20 years, now she has little Westie and she says he more trouble than any of her hounds where

jackboy

Graces7 wrote: »

There are no words

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2019/0626/1057535-greyhound-rte-investigates/

Is this really true?

Yes it is true. However, there is great hypocrisy in this highlighting of the greyhound industry. This large scale culling is also widely known in the horse racing industry but the media will not touch this due to the benefits to the economy that the horse racing industry brings.

pointer28

We have the most gorgeous 10 month old Greyhound that was handed into the local dog rescue, with papers, microchip, tattoo and vaccinations. No idea why she was handed in at 4 months but they obviously saw something that suggested she wouldn't be a successful racer.

She was one of the lucky ones and if I'm honest I think sometimes the Greyhounds that are euthanased are better off than some of their brethren that are shipped abroad for who knows what kind of life.

Would recommend a rescue Greyhound if anyone's thinking about it, very gentle, very clean and apart from 20 minutes of galloping morning and evening, quite happy to lounge around and be quiet the rest of the time.

Doctors room ghost

em_cat wrote: »

Unfortunately it does Many moons ago I was living in the States & lived right next to a greyhound racing stadium, use to sit in my room crying for the wee things & had a misconception that they where vicious as I could hear them shrieking & wailing to get their prey. Eventually I witnessed the awful state they were kept in & the sight of the poor things frightened me; was the first time I'd seen a racing hound before. It was also a particularly hot summer so you could smell the rot of the hares carcasses and what ever bait the trainers used. Now though, I dearly love sight hounds and every single one I've met (mostly battered ex racers) has been gentle, kind and pretty much afraid its own shadow There is a lovely Scottish lady that lives near us that use to rehabilitate them for nearly 20 years, now she has little Westie and she says he more trouble than any of her hounds where

Were you ever at a greyhound racing meet at a track?

Graces7

jackboy wrote: »

Yes it is true. However, there is great hypocrisy in this highlighting of the greyhound industry. This large scale culling is also widely known in the horse racing industry but the media will not touch this due to the benefits to the economy that the horse racing industry brings.

why do you use the term "hypocrisy"? it needs publicising and more no matter what the situation is in other areas,

em_cat

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

Were you ever at a greyhound racing meet at a track?

Yes, why?

Graces7

pointer28 wrote: »

We have the most gorgeous 10 month old Greyhound that was handed into the local dog rescue, with papers, microchip, tattoo and vaccinations. No idea why she was handed in at 4 months but they obviously saw something that suggested she wouldn't be a successful racer.

She was one of the lucky ones and if I'm honest I think sometimes the Greyhounds that are euthanased are better off than some of their brethren that are shipped abroad for who knows what kind of life.

Would recommend a rescue Greyhound if anyone's thinking about it, very gentle, very clean and apart from 20 minutes of galloping morning and evening, quite happy to lounge around and be quiet the rest of the time.

wish I could. Really wish that . It was in my mind as soon as I saw this,

Doctors room ghost

em_cat wrote: »

Yes, why?

Where did you see hare carcasses and what bait were the trainers using?

em_cat

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

Where did you see hare carcasses and what bait were the trainers using?

I scantly remember a news article of the place, I was about 5 or 6 years old at the time. It wasn't only hare carcasses, they used live rodents and squirrels too. The place was strewn with their remains as well as the remains of battered greyhounds. This wasn't in Ireland, it was in the south, near Tampa, FL.

Decuc500

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

Where did you see hare carcasses and what bait were the trainers using?

I saw two guys training greyhounds in an empty field behind my brothers house (in a remote area in the country) using a hare as bait.

Do you think this doesn't happen?

Graces7

Graces7 wrote: »

........

Is this really true?

Yes........common knowledge amongst animal rights groups too.
Protests at many greyhound tracks are regular occurrences to try and highlight this to the attendees.


Look at the comments after this article from 5 years ago.
https://www.thejournal.ie/irish-greyhounds-global-betting-1677551-Sep2014/

Doctors room ghost

Decuc500 wrote: »

I saw two guys training greyhounds in an empty field behind my brothers house (in a remote area in the country) using a hare as bait.

Do you think this doesn't happen?

It does happen of course it happens.
But the idea of hares being used at tracks is wrong.
They chase a windsock on a motorized rail.

em_cat

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

It does happen of course it happens.
But the idea of hares being used at tracks is wrong.
They chase a windsock on a motorized rail.

TBH though, live bait shouldn't be used at all, either in training or at the track.

Doctors room ghost

em_cat wrote: »

TBH though, live bait shouldn't be used at all, either in training or at the track.

Fully agree with you.

I’m sure that it’ll be a well balanced program with contributions from both sides. Though from the trailer I’ve seen it’s only a homing center spokesperson with nothing from the greyhound racing authority.
I also wonder if coursing greyhounds are included in the figures or are they part of the disappeared?
I’ve been involved with greyhounds all my life. Yes, there are some bad eggs, but the Irish Greyhound Board have been very pro active in recent years regarding welfare issues and getting homes for former racers. My children were reared with retired greyhounds in the house and they couldn’t make better pets.

DBB

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

It does happen of course it happens.
But the idea of hares being used at tracks is wrong.
They chase a windsock on a motorized rail.

Let's not forget that (a) racing greyhounds are trained off-track to live prey, and (b) the significant proportion of greyhounds that aren't bred to race, but to course hares at legitimate (and in all too many cases, illegitimate) coursing meets or sessions.
So, whilst live animals are indeed used out of the public gaze, hares are also hunted for "sport" in Irish Coursing Club registered coursing fields the length and breadth of the country.
I can hear the cries of "oh, but we let the hares go afterwards... There are wildlife rangers on site ensuring welfare... If it wasn't for us there wouldn't be a hare left in Ireland"... But having had a fair bit of exposure to the seedy underbelly of the industry, I simply don't believe them.
That said, the industry is slowly but surely dying on its arse. It can't fold up a day too soon for my liking, both for the welfare of the dogs, and more importantly to me, the welfare of our native Irish hare, found nowhere else in the world.
I hope this program causes an outcry that speeds up the industry's demise.

Doctors room ghost

DBB wrote: »

Let's not forget that (a) racing greyhounds are trained off-track to live prey, and (b) the significant proportion of greyhounds that aren't bred to race, but to course hares at legitimate (and in all too many cases, illegitimate) coursing meets or sessions.
So, whilst live animals are indeed used out of the public gaze, hares are also hunted for "sport" in Irish Coursing Club registered coursing fields the length and breadth of the country.
I can hear the cries of "oh, but we let the hares go afterwards... There are wildlife rangers on site ensuring welfare... If it wasn't for us there wouldn't be a hare left in Ireland"... But having had a fair bit of exposure to the seedy underbelly of the industry, I simply don't believe them.
That said, the industry is slowly but surely dying on its arse. It can't fold up a day too soon for my liking, both for the welfare of the dogs, and more importantly to me, the welfare of our native Irish hare, found nowhere else in the world.
I hope this program causes an outcry that speeds up the industry's demise.

Fully agree.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

............
I’ve been involved with greyhounds all my life. Yes, there are some bad eggs, but the Irish Greyhound Board have been very pro active in recent years regarding welfare issues and getting homes for former racers. ..........s.

You reckon all former racers are homed?

Doctors room ghost

Augeo wrote: »

You reckon all former racers are homed?

I’d hazard a guess that up to 90 percent are culled when finished with. I know several people who used to be involved in racing.majority are put down by injection or shot.thats the reality of it but it’s a reality that the public don’t want to know about.
Once they can turn up for the company night out at the dogs and have a bet on a dog cos they like it’s name that’s all that matters to these people.
If hounds were being rehomed they would be everywhere with the amount that’s bred.its a cruel throwaway industry

jackboy

DBB wrote: »

I can hear the cries of "oh, but we let the hares go afterwards... There are wildlife rangers on site ensuring welfare... If it wasn't for us there wouldn't be a hare left in Ireland"... But having had a fair bit of exposure to the seedy underbelly of the industry, I simply don't believe them.

They absolutely do let go of the hares afterwards. Coursing clubs do protect hare populations. If hare coursing was banned in Ireland there would no doubt be a drop in the hare population.

jackboy

jackboy wrote: »

They absolutely do let go of the hares afterwards. Coursing clubs do protect hare populations. If hare coursing was banned in Ireland there would no doubt be a drop in the hare population.

The only positive from the trailer is the highlighting of illegal coursing, though I very much doubt that the finger will be pointed in the right direction!

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

The only positive from the trailer is the highlighting of illegal coursing, though I very much doubt that the finger will be pointed in the right direction!

Where's the right direction?

jackboy

Deleted User wrote: »

The only positive from the trailer is the highlighting of illegal coursing, though I very much doubt that the finger will be pointed in the right direction!

Yes, I’m expecting a half ass documentary which will be full of sensationalism while ignoring those who are destroying hare populations and inflicting awful abuse on dogs.

‘There is an evil in this country’ the trailer says.

DBB

jackboy wrote: »

They absolutely do let go of the hares afterwards. Coursing clubs do protect hare populations. If hare coursing was banned in Ireland there would no doubt be a drop in the hare population.

Even if I bought that, which I don't, the act of trapping, transporting, corraling, chasing, re-corralling, re-transporting hares is appalling bad for their welfare, leaving aside the absolute fact that too many hares get injured and killed at meets in the name of sport, a fact that is publicly denied by ICC, but they know fine well it's more common than they'd have us believe.

I regularly meet certain people out coursing hares illegally. I've yet to see the local coursing club address this by any means other than lip service, and unless this illegal activity happens 9-5 Mon-Fri, the NPWS aren't going to do anything about it. The only people who have ever helped in any way when I report this illegal activity is the Guards.
To be fair, one of the successful prosecutions of an owner for abuse of his greyhounds listed in the OP's article was dealt with by the ICC... I know this as I played a direct role in getting them involved when the matter was brought to my attention. But as the article states, the number of prosecutions is pitifully small, and I have never seen any measures taken when hares end up being injured on the coursing field.

Doctors room ghost

DBB wrote: »

Even if I bought that, which I don't, the act of trapping, transporting, corraling, chasing, re-corralling, re-transporting hares is appalling bad for their welfare, leaving aside the absolute fact that too many hares get injured and killed at meets in the name of sport, a fact that is publicly denied by ICC, but they know fine well it's more common than they'd have us believe.

I regularly meet certain people out coursing hares illegally. I've yet to see the local coursing club address this by any means other than lip service, and unless this illegal activity happens 9-5 Mon-Fri, the NPWS aren't going to do anything about it. The only people who have ever helped in any way when I report this illegal activity is the Guards.
To be fair, one of the successful prosecutions of an owner for abuse of his greyhounds listed in the OP's article was dealt with by the ICC... I know this as I played a direct role in getting them involved when the matter was brought to my attention. But as the article states, the number of prosecutions is pitifully small, and I have never seen any measures taken when hares end up being injured on the coursing field.

It’s the absolute height of cruelty.chasing a terrified hare for the sake of sport while the toffs cheer on. The same toffs wouldn’t run 50 yards with the lard bellies on them.
I’m all for fishing and shooting where prey is dispatched and consumed in a respectful way but the idea of chasing an animal just to see who has the quickest dog is absolute boll1x and should be confined to a dark distant memory

DBB

jackboy wrote: »

Yes, I’m expecting a half ass documentary which will be full of sensationalism while ignoring those who are destroying hare populations and inflicting awful abuse on dogs.

‘There is an evil in this country’ the trailer says.

Oh now jackboy... We all know there's a certain group of people responsible for illegal killing of hares and abuse of dogs... But using this as a smokescreen to defer attention away from the "legitimate" culling and exporting of unwanted registered, traceable greyhounds within the legitimate industry of racing and closed coursing is just that... A smokescreen.
The number of retired/unwanted dogs that B na gC and ICC has facilitated the rehoming of is absolutely miniscule compared to what is disposed of via less palatable means every year. But doesn't it look good on paper when they say they rehome dogs? The truth is a long way away from their public statements. This, I hope, is what tonight's program will throw light on, so that people who go to legitimate B na gC and ICC events know what actually goes on in the background.
The carry-on of illegal coursing folk is a whole other documentary altogether.

uck51js9zml2yt

jackboy wrote: »

Yes, I’m expecting a half ass documentary which will be full of sensationalism while ignoring those who are destroying hare populations and inflicting awful abuse on dogs.

‘There is an evil in this country’ the trailer says.

There sure is, but I think dogs are the least of those evils.

jackboy

DBB wrote: »

Oh now jackboy... We all know there's a certain group of people responsible for illegal killing of hares and abuse of dogs... But using this as a smokescreen to defer attention away from the "legitimate" culling and exporting of unwanted registered, traceable greyhounds within the legitimate industry of racing and closed coursing is just that... A smokescreen.
The number of retired/unwanted dogs that B na gC and ICC has facilitated the rehoming of is absolutely miniscule compared to what is disposed of via less palatable means every year. But doesn't it look good on paper when they say they rehome dogs? The truth is a long way away from their public statements. This, I hope, is what tonight's program will throw light on, so that people who go to legitimate B na gC and ICC events know what actually goes on in the background.
The carry-on of illegal coursing folk is a whole other documentary altogether.

Yes there are a lot of issues in the industry which should be dealt with. However, banning greyhound racing and coursing will not improve the welfare of dogs and hares one bit. Only a broader approach which also highlights the biggest issues will achieve that aim. The purpose of this documentary will be entertainment, not properly informing the public. Just more trash journalism.

Pintman Paddy Losty

Augeo wrote: »

Where's the right direction?

Travellers

puppieperson1

All sports especially betting sports where animals are used are full of cruelty. show jumping is just as bad & the amount of young racehorses sent to be culled by very important rich irishmen living abroad is sickening. Sending greyhounds to spain & china is a vile vicious end for the poor creatures who are soo gentle my heat bleeds for them they dont deserve it.

Always Tired

Augeo wrote: »

You reckon all former racers are homed?

Not even anything close to that. Or even half. Or a third.

Especially here. We breed 16 times more greyhounds than the UK. But we have far, far less rescues with far, far less funding, and far, far less people looking to adopt than the UK.

They either win or die, 96% of them in Ireland.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

The only positive from the trailer is the highlighting of illegal coursing, though I very much doubt that the finger will be pointed in the right direction!

I unreservedly withdraw my insinuation regarding the illegal coursing and hope that the full rigors of the law bear down on those caught in the act.

I posted this thread in the new current affairs/AH forum - please support this thread as I will with yours


https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057991795

DBB

DBB wrote: »

I hope this program causes an outcry that speeds up the industry's demise.

Good post-and I’ve done what I can with my above thread in AH/New current affairs forum- so EVERYONE, tell Dept of Agriculture to FOAD, and stop using your tax euros to fund this shote because that’s exactly what they’re doing.

Muahahaha

Deleted User wrote: »

Good post-and I’ve done what I can with my above thread in AH/New current affairs forum- so EVERYONE, tell Dept of Agriculture to FOAD, and stop using your tax euros to fund this shote because that’s exactly what they’re doing.

Funding the IGB to the tune of €16m a year, it is insane that the taxpayer is directly subsidising animal cruelty

DBB

I've seen some horrendous stuff in my time. But by jebus, that's right up there at the top now. Absolutely sickening, gut-wrenching, heartbreaking.
The lies and distortions told by B na gC and ICC... Absolutely confirm that I've been correct all along not to believe any of the platitudes given by ICC, or coursing folk, or anyone on this thread, in their attempts to have us believe that no animals are harmed in the making of a jolly day out when legally coursing hares. If it's that bad for legal events, by jebus you can only imagine what a sh!tshow it is with illegal coursing.
You're damn right I'll be adding my voice to the protests to the Dept of Ag and beyond. The images from that show will haunt me for the rest of my days.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Good post-and I’ve done what I can with my above thread in AH/New current affairs forum- so EVERYONE, tell Dept of Agriculture to FOAD, and stop using your tax euros to fund this shote because that’s exactly what they’re doing.

What’s FOAD? Genuine question

Taiga

I didn't watch it. I just couldn't. Breaks my heart.

em_cat

Not a dry eye in ours at the moment, sat thru it with our 2 rescue pooches & our piggies, all on the sofa, dogs either side & piggies in the middle...

A truly horrific industry.

SillyMangoX

I’ve always known a fair share of dodgy-ness has gone on in the greyhound industry here, but seeing this, especially the final scenes in the knackery, will haunt me. I cried at this, and normally I’d consider myself quite hard pushed to emotion over something on the telly. Something has to change and I’ll gladly join in any protests.

Blueshoe

I heard them talking about it on the radio today. Couldn't bring myself to watching it.

Iv seen videos of people getting killed or maimed which didn't bother me but there is something about innocent animals

Dual wheels

DBB wrote: »

I've seen some horrendous stuff in my time. But by jebus, that's right up there at the top now. Absolutely sickening, gut-wrenching, heartbreaking.
The lies and distortions told by B na gC and ICC... Absolutely confirm that I've been correct all along not to believe any of the platitudes given by ICC, or coursing folk, or anyone on this thread, in their attempts to have us believe that no animals are harmed in the making of a jolly day out when legally coursing hares. If it's that bad for legal events, by jebus you can only imagine what a sh!tshow it is with illegal coursing.
You're damn right I'll be adding my voice to the protests to the Dept of Ag and beyond. The images from that show will haunt me for the rest of my days.

I couldn’t watch it because of that very fact, it’s sickening and disgusting how those poor animals are treated, is there a petition going to the dept oh agri on this? This scum laden industry needs to be shut down ASAP

Blueshoe

Blueshoe wrote: »

I heard them talking about it on the radio today. Couldn't bring myself to watching it.

Iv seen videos of people getting killed or maimed which didn't bother me but there is something about innocent animals

I agree. I think it’s because as humans we have intellect, somewhere deep down we understand the evilness of humankind. So if we are attacked, mugged, beaten, cheated on, whipped, hurt .......somewhere deep down we know this is the evil of the other person.

Animals trust, implicitly and unconditionally. They don’t have our intellect. They don’t understand. They just trust us not to hurt them. But we hurt them, injure them, beat them and kill them. And all they do is offer love and affection. We should be ashamed as a nation about what is happening these dogs and that our taxes subsidise this industry !!!!

Choc Chip

I knew that was going to be bad, but it was worse than I expected them to actually show on TV.

I'm delighted RTE showed it and that they didn't hold back, but I'll feel sick about that closing scene for a while.

Choc Chip

I'm haunted by how quiet those greyhounds are after everything that's happened to them.

What do you even say after that?

I didn't cry for most of this. I've seen the videos of the dogs boiled alive and beaten and shot and of the little animals used for baiting and blooding. I've read the stories. I've met greyhounds with ears burned off and emaciated bodies. None of this is really news is it?

I've spoken about it before.. on boards and in my own life to anyone willing to listen. I've found most people don't want to know. Not because they don't care but because they're afraid to hear the truth. I don't blame them, its frightening stuff. Nightmarish stuff. But I have to know. Its a bit like when there's a big spider in the corner of the room and I'm waiting for my partner to get home and take it outside.. and i have to keep watching him, because the only thing worse than having to face my fear is not knowing where it is or what its doing. I have to know whats happening with these dogs because not knowing is actually more terrifying to me. I can't imagine pretending those things aren't happening because if we don't face it head on then who will speak for them?

But then I've signed all the petitions and sent all the emails and nothings changed. Christ I hope this tonight will bring about that change. I hope some of those people who were too afraid just opened their eyes and forced themselves to watch.

The industry has been dying for a long time but every year the government throws more money at it. More taxpayers money. Our money. 16 million to fund that revolting business. While our homelessness crisis persists and our hospitals continue to have people lying on trollies in corridors and any number of other worthwhile causes go on crying out for funding. Not to mention the underfunded rescues who are picking up the pieces, with no end in sight.

There's no point trying to deflect to other issues either. It's ok, you know, to want to deal with this one right now and then to worry about the others. In fact it's even ok to worry about more than one issue at the same time. With the fur farming ban, I read comments saying 'but what about banning puppy farming'. Yeah that's bad too. But one thing at a time. We can rejoice in this and then move on to that. If this show helps bring about the end of these barbaric 'sports' and you feel that horse racing also has its issues, then great, maybe we can move onto that next?

I'll tell you what broke me though. That man waiting for the dogs collar back. A collar worth more than a life. The dog writhing around and this .. i just can't say person.. this creature waiting for a collar. Yeah that broke me.

Doctors room ghost

There’s a few of them bad bastards having a sleepless night tonight and no job to go to tomorrow if there’s any justice. I hope they haven’t an ounce of luck for life.

I’d also just like to add many thanks to all involved in the production and research of that documentary. If any of ye are reading this many thanks to ye all for highlighting this horrific industry to the public and hopefully it proves productive in ending the greyhound racing industry.

Doctors room ghost

Between horses ending up in lasagne and now greyhounds being shot in knackerys it just goes to show the absolute jokeshop that is the department of agriculture.
Heads should roll after that documentary.
Corrupt barefaced liars the lot of them