Exporting greyhounds part of shameful industry

The export of greyhounds from Ireland to China has shocked animal lovers nationwide and beyond our shores.

Unfortunately, the present plight of unwanted Irish greyhounds is part of the bigger shameful picture of a greyhound industry that encompasses the scandal of live hare coursing, a practise outlawed in many jurisdictions, including Northern Ireland.

It doesn’t surprise me in the slightest that an industry that allows and encourages the capture and baiting of terrified live hares is prepared to stand by as greyhounds are despatched to a living hell thousands of miles away.

In coursing, hares are terrorised, mauled, and tossed about like broken toys for the amusement of gamblers and sadists. Wildlife rangers who attend coursing events file reports confirming horrific injuries to hares and video footage shot by animal welfare groups and coursing fans alike and posted on YouTube clearly show the cruelty.

In addition to live hare coursing, there is widespread doping of greyhounds in Ireland, blooding of greyhounds on live cats, rabbits, and birds to enhance their performance, and cruel abandonment of greyhounds that have ended their sporting careers.

Export to China is the latest method of unwanted greyhound disposal, one from which some people profit considerably, heedless of the suffering caused to the dogs they claim to love and care about so much.

John Fitzgerald

Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports