RTE Investigates programme on greyhound racing industry

anewme

anewme wrote: »

My heart went out to her. Hope she gets a few final years peace in a loving home.

So do I.

The Satanist

BAI rejects complaint by Irish Greyhound Board over RTÉ documentary

As expected, the "Running For Their Lives" documentary was found to be “fair, objective and impartial”.

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has rejected a complaint by the Irish Greyhound Board about a documentary on the industry broadcast by RTÉ earlier this year, finding the programme was “fair, objective and impartial”.

The IGB, the governing body for greyhound racing in Ireland, complained that Running for Their Lives, which aired in June, “was neither objective or impartial and constituted an attack on the Irish greyhound industry”.

The programme reported the contents of an expert report, commissioned by the IGB, which stated that up to 6,000 dogs may be culled per year because they do not perform on the track. It reported that 10 times more dogs are bred each year than are needed to sustain the industry.

The IGB claimed that the report, which formed a cornerstone of the RTÉ programme, “was inaccurate” and “was disregarded by the IGB”. It claimed the programme contained several inaccuracies and that its offer to take part in a live interview was rejected.

The documentary also featured undercover footage shot at knackeries, and showed how these facilities were willing to put down greyhounds for between €10 and €35. The programme generated a negative backlash for the IGB, which has been forced to defend its welfare programmes and corporate governance at Oireachtas committee hearings.

While the IGB was invited to take part in a pre-recorded interview, it rejected this opportunity as it was “of the view that the programme makers had a pre-determined agenda in relation to the greyhound industry”.

It also claimed RTÉ had used “false information” and “staged and outdated footage without clearly being labelled as such” which “was misleading and provided a biased view of the subject matter”.

The IGB’s complaint to the BAI also stated that the programme omitted information about the good practices “which are adopted by the vast majority of people involved in greyhound racing in Ireland, the economic benefit, or the statutory regulation of the industry and reforms introduced in the last decade”.

RTÉ successfully defended itself against all these charges, arguing the programme was in the public interest. The broadcaster said it “was fair and did represent the fact that good practices and good intentions were evident in the industry”.

RTÉ said it was not possible to accommodate a live interview in a pre-recorded documentary, and pointed out that in June 2018 the IGB had praised the Preferred Results report which it later claimed was inaccurate.

“The broadcaster stands over the report and states that while a large number of issues were covered the information contained in the programme was factually accurate”.

In rejecting the IGB complaint, the BAI found that the information broadcast was “presented in a factual manner, and sources were clearly identified. In this regard the committee found that information was presented with due accuracy and did not consider that the programme was misleading to viewers”.

The committee noted that there is no requirement in the broadcasting code “for a broadcaster to include all possible viewpoints on a matter and the principle of fairness does not require the broadcaster to achieve an artificial balance or give equal airtime to all views”.

It found the programme explored its subject matter in “a fair and impartial manner” and “was a comprehensive exploration of the topic in a factual manner which was fair, objective and impartial”.

anewme

Dogs seized on the way to Spain. Being transported in a poor condition. Probably to end up the same way as Joy.

https://www.fm104.ie/news/fm104-news/12-greyhounds-seized-at-dublin-port/?fbclid=IwAR0LACDzm1OMnubrw2Gol9DxuTsS1yIjaSVTCLlpYgS876uq9r5xeLgtQ90

anewme

anewme wrote: »

Dogs seized on the way to Spain. Being transported in a poor condition. Probably to end up the same way as Joy.

https://www.fm104.ie/news/fm104-news/12-greyhounds-seized-at-dublin-port/?fbclid=IwAR0LACDzm1OMnubrw2Gol9DxuTsS1yIjaSVTCLlpYgS876uq9r5xeLgtQ90

I’m really glad to see this and would like to see the transporter named and shamed.

Discodog

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I’m really glad to see this and would like to see the transporter named and shamed.

Will you lobby for a total export ban?

angel eyes 2012

The Satanist wrote: »

BAI rejects complaint by Irish Greyhound Board over RTÉ documentary

As expected, the "Running For Their Lives" documentary was found to be “fair, objective and impartial”.

This is an excellent result, and has stood up to scrutiny by the BAI. Well done to all involved who produced the programme. Absolutely unbelievable that the IGB submitted a complaint. I would love to see the day when all tracks are closed in Ireland, for the moment it is absolutely depressing and shameful that this industry is allowed to continue.

Discodog

Discodog wrote: »

Will you lobby for a total export ban?

Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s possible.

angel eyes 2012

angel eyes 2012 wrote: »

This is an excellent result, and has stood up to scrutiny by the BAI. Well done to all involved who produced the programme. Absolutely unbelievable that the IGB submitted a complaint. I would love to see the day when all tracks are closed in Ireland, for the moment it is absolutely depressing and shameful that this industry is allowed to continue.

If you were involved in greyhounds you’d know how many lies were told. Innocent people named and accused of wrongdoing.
A Vet, told how greyhounds were being presented with mutilated ears, when, in fact, he had only come across one, totally ignoring the fact that the greyhounds parentage can be traced via DNA.
He also claimed that dogs were presenting that had been pumped full of EPO, when the last case was of EPO was over 10 years ago.
A dog, (not a greyhound) being killed with hammer blows in a foreign country.
Another dog being boiled alive in China.
The only factual piece was the dogs being killed in a knackery. That needed publicising.

MIKEKC

Deleted User wrote: »

If you were involved in greyhounds you’d know how many lies were told. Innocent people named and accused of wrongdoing.
A Vet, told how greyhounds were being presented with mutilated ears, when, in fact, he had only come across one, totally ignoring the fact that the greyhounds parentage can be traced via DNA.
He also claimed that dogs were presenting that had been pumped full of EPO, when the last case was of EPO was over 10 years ago.
A dog, (not a greyhound) being killed with hammer blows in a foreign country.
Another dog being boiled alive in China.
The only factual piece was the dogs being killed in a knackery. That needed publicising.

The greyhound industry got away very light in that programme. No talk of blooding of the dogs.. There was a programme on Tipp fm (if I recall the station correct) some months ago during a discussion on coursing a man said that they used to go catching hares and give them to the coursing fraternity who would break the hares leg and then set the dogs on the hare

MIKEKC

MIKEKC wrote: »

The greyhound industry got away very light in that programme. No talk of blooding of the dogs.. There was a programme on Tipp fm (if I recall the station correct) some months ago during a discussion on coursing a man said that they used to go catching hares and give them to the coursing fraternity who would break the hares leg and then set the dogs on the hare

Trouble is people actually believe this sh1te. The vast majority of greyhound owners wound never stoop so low.

Igotadose

Deleted User wrote: »

Trouble is people actually believe this sh1te. The vast majority of greyhound owners wound never stoop so low.

Proof by blatant assertion, as is typical. If the majority is dissatisfied with the behavior of an individual or group of individual, report them. Yinno, like whistleblowers where the stalwart guardians of the welfare of the greyhound, the dauntless IGB and those noble maintainers of the flawless studbook, the ICC, will carefully guard this information and prosecute to the fullest of their abilities.

Doesn't happen. Ergo, the 'vast majority' is complicit.

Igotadose

Igotadose wrote: »

Proof by blatant assertion, as is typical. If the majority is dissatisfied with the behavior of an individual or group of individual, report them. Yinno, like whistleblowers where the stalwart guardians of the welfare of the greyhound, the dauntless IGB and those noble maintainers of the flawless studbook, the ICC, will carefully guard this information and prosecute to the fullest of their abilities.

Doesn't happen. Ergo, the 'vast majority' is complicit.

If one was aware and had proof of wrongdoing, then of course one would report it. Here say and rumour are no good in court of law.

MIKEKC

Deleted User wrote: »

Trouble is people actually believe this sh1te. The vast majority of greyhound owners wound never stoop so low.

There is none so blind than those that don't want to see

MIKEKC

MIKEKC wrote: »

There is none so blind than those that don't want to see

Exactly, Mike. If someone on the telly or radio says something, shur it must be true.

Doctors room ghost

MIKEKC wrote: »

The greyhound industry got away very light in that programme. No talk of blooding of the dogs.. There was a programme on Tipp fm (if I recall the station correct) some months ago during a discussion on coursing a man said that they used to go catching hares and give them to the coursing fraternity who would break the hares leg and then set the dogs on the hare

There was a similar barstool story doing the rounds here last year that a local farmer used to break the legs of his ewes to stop them jumping and knocking walls.
“A sledge” he used to use.
Turns out his ewes used to have a bad case of footrot and the farmer was elderly and unable to keep up with his workload.
A few runs through a foot bath and their broken legs were all of a sudden cured.

Discodog

MIKEKC wrote: »

There is none so blind than those that don't want to see

Exactly. It's been blatantly obvious to so many for so long but the Racing lobby have never heard of the abuse.

Discodog

Discodog wrote: »

Exactly. It's been blatantly obvious to so many for so long but the Racing lobby have never heard of the abuse.

If so many knew about it, why didn’t they step in and stop it?

Discodog

[Deleted User] wrote: »

If so many knew about it, why didn’t they step in and stop it?

Exactly. By the way do you support a total ban on the export of Greyhounds?

This story was front page news but you say that no one in the industry knew about it?

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/the-man-whos-shot-10000-greyhounds-634089

Discodog

Discodog wrote: »

Exactly. By the way do you support a total ban on the export of Greyhounds?

Unfortunately, it’s impossible for a total ban. Something to do with EU laws, I think. Many dogs travel to and from the UK for competition’s, safely and with care. Same goes for racehorses. It adds to the competition’s. The old Anglo- Irish rivalry!

Discodog

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Unfortunately, it’s impossible for a total ban. Something to do with EU laws, I think. Many dogs travel to and from the UK for competition’s, safely and with care. Same goes for racehorses. It adds to the competition’s. The old Anglo- Irish rivalry!

Any owner can choose who they sell to. The EU have nothing to do with it.

The question was would you support a ban?

Discodog

Discodog wrote: »

Any owner can choose who they sell to. The EU have nothing to do with it.

The question was would you support a ban?

We’re members of the EU and must trade under their rules, so me supporting a ban is neither here nor there.

anewme

DSPCA pulling no punches in their criticism of IGB.

The DSPCA are housing and caring for 12 Greyhounds which were seized by the Revenue Customs Service in Dublin Port over the weekend. The dogs were being transported in a Spanish registered vehicle in cramped conditions with cages stacked on top of each other or piled with other boxed goods. They were being transported 2 dogs to a cage and 3 of the cages were not accessible without unloading the rest of the vehicle. 10 of the greyhounds were wearing muzzles. They had no access to food or water and it is estimated that they would have been in transit for over 24 hours before arriving at their Spanish destination.

Following examination by DSPCA Veterinary Staff several of the dogs were found to have minor injuries and elevated body temperatures and all of the dogs were showing signs of dehydration. Paperwork accompanying the dogs show that all dogs are registered with the Irish Greyhound Stud Book and originate from dog trainers in Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Wexford. Records also show that 9 of the 12 dogs have raced in the last month, 1 raced last in 2016 and 2 have no race records recorded.

The DSPCA are appalled by the barbaric treatment of these animals despite the revelations seen in RTE’s Primetime program “Greyhounds Running for their Lives” and the assurances given by the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) since the prime time programme that measures were being taken to address Animal welfare issues in their industry. “This seizure flies in the face of the illusion being created by IGB that animal welfare is being taken seriously. The continuing grant of €16.8 million of taxpayers money is no longer acceptable” said DSPCA CEO Brian Gillen. “The DSPCA are calling on Minister Creed to withdraw all funding allocation to the greyhound industry in Budget 2020.”

Corholio

'Condemning what it termed the "barbaric treatment" of the animals, the DSPCA said that paperwork accompanying the dogs showed that all dogs are registered with the Irish Greyhound Stud Book and originate from dog trainers in Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Wexford. The charity also said records showed that nine of the 12 dogs had raced in the last month, one raced last in 2016 and two have no race records recorded'

Sure no one knew that this was happening at all at all. An industry who self proclaim 'regulation' seem to have had exactly zero of it at all, and if they did it was light handed and full of empty, bull**** words after the fact.

mikeym

The IGB cant check every greyhound around the country.

But I strongly believe government funding should be cut.


And Fine Gael members will never ban Greyhound Racing or they will lose support from their rural supporters.

anewme

Discodog wrote: »

Any owner can choose who they sell to. The EU have nothing to do with it.

The question was would you support a ban?

CAGED UK have published a list of which Irish and UK trainers are exporting dogs to China, knowing right well the way those dogs will be treated.

anewme

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Another dog being boiled alive in China.

Irish dogs are being sent to China, this should stop immediately.

anewme

anewme wrote: »

CAGED UK have published a list of which Irish and UK trainers are exporting dogs to China, knowing right well the way those dogs will be treated.

Thankfully, this has stopped. Airlines refuse to transport dogs of any breed.

anewme

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Thankfully, this has stopped. Airlines refuse to transport dogs of any breed.

That's good news.

anewme

anewme wrote: »

That's good news.

Yes. It is.

angel eyes 2012

mikeym wrote: »

The IGB cant check every greyhound around the country.

But I strongly believe government funding should be cut.


And Fine Gael members will never ban Greyhound Racing or they will lose support from their rural supporters.

Well maybe us urban supporters should put it up to Fine Gael candidates in Dublin. I really question the humanity of someone that gets joy from seeing a poor dog run around a track primarily for money, the supporters of this industry must lead miserable lives.

There can't be that many supporters left that would be able to dictate future policy in relation to racing - surely the majority of people would support the total ban on racing which is in the genuine best welfare of the dogs.