Organisationen
|
03.09.2009 - Dog racing’s had its day in the USA
from Greyhound Action
Good news for greyhounds from across the pond
According to February's figures, revenue for Dubuque Greyhound Park in Iowa has fallen by over 6%.
In Colorado, a senate committee has endorsed a Bill relaxing betting restrictions on televised racing.
Kennel operators claimed it would be “the last nail in the coffin” for live greyhound racing in the state,
which stopped last summer after their contract negotiations with track owners broke down. All racing in
Colorado is controlled by one company, BLB Investors, which closed the Mile High greyhound track last
June and has no money to invest in other tracks because of financial problems.
The commission that oversees horse and dog
racing in Texas is facing a shortfall of 14%, nearly
$678,000, mostly due to decreased betting.
Representative Mary Cooney, who wants to outlaw
commercial greyhound racing at New Hampshire's
two remaining dog tracks in Belmont and Seabrook,
told reporters: "I did the math, and if the workers form
these tracks went on unemployment, they'd be better
off and it would cost the state less." Property from the
state’s recently closed Hinsdale track was auctioned
off in April to help pay $1.75m owed to creditors.
In 1989 Wisconsin had 5 greyhound tracks. Now
there’s only Dairyland in Kenosha, where track
bosses expect to lose as much as $2.8m in 2009,
following estimated losses of $2.48m for 2008.
At its height the track boasted 20 kennels housing
over 1,200 dogs. Currently there are approximately
700 dogs housed in 11 active kennels, with 2 having closed just recently for financial reasons.
Rhode Island's Twin River greyhound track is on the verge of going bankrupt. Wagering on races
there dropped from $37.9m a decade ago to $13.2m in 2008 and the track's owners are struggling to
pay back $565m in outstanding loans.
Earlier this year, US greyhound protection activists led a successful campaign to prevent the
introduction of commercial dog racing to Jamaica. http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk/pdf/RftL%20MayJune%202009.pdf
03.09.2009 - Brighton and Hove
from Greyhound Action
Low attendances forces Brighton and Hove to drop their midweek meeting
25.08.09
Brighton and Hove stadium have announced tonight’s Tuesday meeting will be the last, leaving the number of evening meetings held to just two nights a week.
The dog track is one of two owned by Corals bookmakers and on this occasion, the lucrative daytime BAGS races, which are held purely for gambling purposes, could not justify subsidising the loss making evening meeting.
Newly appointed head of stadia David Macdonald, said it was purely a commercial decision.
“Tuesday racing has not been popular for a while. I spoke to bookmakers, owners, trainers and there’s no appetite for the Tuesday meeting. It was time to pull the plug. It will affect some of the staff but we’re in consultation with them and trying to make up their hours.”
The Argus newspaper article makes no mention of what measures are being taken to re-home any surplus dogs but it does serve to remind us there are many greyhounds nationwide, needing loving homes. Please contact your nearest re-homing centre if you can offer a temporary or permanent sofa to one of these gentle and graceful creatures – they make wonderful companions!
Please click here if you would like to leave an online comment with The Argus
[url]http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4562791.No_more_Tuesday_greyhound_racing_at_Hove_s_Coral_Stadium/[/url]
http://www.greytexploitations.com
25.08.2009 - MORE IRISH SCANDAL CONCERNING DOG FIGHTING
from Zeitungsartikel
MORE IRISH SCANDAL CONCERNING DOG FIGHTING AND GREYHOUNDS USED AS BAIT
Growth in dog fighting rings sparks appeal for crackdown
By CONOR KANE
Tuesday May 05 2009
ANIMAL rights activists have appealed to the public for help in their attempts to clamp down on a suspected dog-fighting ring operating across the south of the country.
A recent spate of abandoned, injured dogs has prompted fears that dog-fighting is becoming more organised and is occurring more frequently, with thousands of euros wagered on the outcomes of the illegal bouts.
Dog fights -- typically between variations of Staffordshire or Pit Bull terriers -- usually involve a fight to the death, with the animals suffering horrific injuries.
Meanwhile, tamer dogs such as greyhounds are often used as "bait" during the training phase of a fighting-dog's career, giving the animal a taste for blood and some practice in fighting.
Two abandoned, severely-injured greyhounds, found in the last week in the Clonmel area are thought to have been used as training material for fighting dogs. Gardai and the Tipperary SPCA are currently investigating the discoveries.
Torn
"One dog was quite literally torn open," said Mark Hickey of the TSPCA. "It was still alive when we found it but had to be put down by the vet because the injury was so bad. It [the tear] started below the rib cage, and continued down into the dog's side and into the groin."
Another greyhound/whippet, aged about five, found around the same time had up to 80 puncture wounds -- consistent with being repeatedly attacked by a fighting dog. "He was also brought to the vet but died of shock," said Hickey.
The first dog, thought to have been between two and three years old, was originally a racing greyhound as it had an official tattoo, and the SPCA have asked Bord na gCon for help in tracing its owners.
"I know there's dog fighting going on in the area," said Mark Hickey, "but these fellas are so organised that it's impossible to get near them."
- CONOR KANE
|