Inquiry Launched After Vet Destoys Greyhounds

Wednesday, January 21, 2009
4:22 PM

AN investigation has been launched after dog charities complained that four healthy greyhounds were put down at the request of their trainer. Members of Greyhound Rescue West of England (GRWE) and Greyhound Action are dismayed that the ex-racing dogs we

AN investigation has been launched after dog charities complained that four healthy greyhounds were put down at the request of their trainer.

Members of Greyhound Rescue West of England (GRWE) and Greyhound Action are dismayed that the ex-racing dogs were destroyed after being taken by their trainer to a vet in Hitchin.

The trainer, who races greyhounds at the Henlow track, took the dogs to Berry House Vets last week where they were put to sleep.

Racing authority Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) launched an investigation after a volunteer for GRWE, who was at the vets at the time, complained.

Julie Sanders, trustee for the charity, said: "GRWE is shocked and saddened by this event and we are cooperating with the racing authorities in their investigation.

"Greyhounds make wonderful pets and it's very upsetting to see a healthy greyhound being put to sleep at the end of its racing career, usually between three to five years old. Sadly this is a fate for thousands of young greyhounds each year due to massive over breeding by the racing industry."

Greyhound Action is calling for the trainer to be banned from racing. UK coordinator Tony Peters said: "What is particularly tragic is that the greyhounds could have been saved by rescue workers."

He added vets often felt they had to put down greyhounds because they feared otherwise it would be done in a less humane way.

According to the group, around 2,000 ex-racing dogs are put down each year in the UK, in addition to 15,000 young dogs which fail to meet racing standards in the UK and Ireland.

A spokesman for investigators GBGB said: "Welfare is the top priority for the sport and we are due to spend £4 million to raise welfare standards across the sport in 2009.

"Approximately 10,000 greyhounds retire from licensed greyhound racing each year. Of these 4,500 are re-homed by the Retired Greyhound Trust - twice as many as five years ago. A further 3,500 find homes either with their owners, their trainer or through other re-homing charities. Some others will continue their careers on independent tracks or will return to their native Ireland.

"Some are euthanised because they are temperamentally unsuitable for re-homing or for health reasons. The rules lay down that this be done by a registered vet and anyone doing otherwise risks a ban from the sport and even prosecution."

When contacted by the Comet, the trainer refused to comment, and despite several attempts to contact the manager at the veterinary practice she declined to return our calls.

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