Puppy farm bill will have detrimental effect on an industry that supports 11,000 jobs

I WISH to take issue with the Dog Breeding Bill 2009 in its current format.

While the bill, which was drafted in response to the unacceptable standards in “puppy farms” is most welcome, the effect on the well-regulated greyhound industry will be detrimental to greyhound racing.

As the bill stands, it defines a dog-breeding establishment as a premises at which bitches are kept, not less than six of which are

(a) more than four months old, and (b) capable of being used for breeding purposes. The bill would also restrict the number of litters produced by our brood bitches to six.

This will bring all training and rearing establishments into this category, with registration fees ranging from €400 and €3,000 per annum in an industry already suffering massive funding cutbacks of 23.6 % in the horse and greyhound fund.

It would also decimate the top bloodlines in the industry as many of our top broods would be exported. Greyhound racing supports up to 11,000 full and part-time jobs and up to €500 million worth of economic activity is generated through the sport. The greyhound industry is already highly regulated. It includes greyhound welfare, the registration of all matings, litters born, greyhound namings, transfer of ownership, DNA profiling and tattoo ear-markings.

In addition up to 20 control stewards carry out regular inspections and veterinary surgeons attend all race meetings. The Irish Coursing Club’s greyhound stud book can trace greyhound pedigrees back to 1847.

Greyhound racing is critical to sustain economic activity in rural Ireland. Environment Minister John Gormley should exempt greyhound racing from this bill given that it already has world-class regulation in operation.

Teddy Foley

St John’s Park

Tralee

Co Kerry