Sport’ that is so cruel

SIR - It is such a shame that a high profile celebrity such as David Seaman is backing such a cruel sport as greyhound racing and supporting this industry which is responsible for the death, neglect and abuse of tens of thousands of these loving, loyal and graceful breed of dog. The truths of the industry should be more highlighted by these celebrities not trying to glamorise what is in effect a blood sport.

CATHERINE ORMROD

Taylor Road

Hindley Green

Wigan

SIR - I would like to thank your paper for giving those of us who care about the welfare of the racing greyhound a chance to put our views across. No matter how much those in favour of racing try to hoodwink the general public with tales of how well they care for their dogs the figures speak for them selves. I myself have seen young dogs about 10 months old bought into a veterinary practice to be destroyed, young healthy dogs whose only crime was they did not want to chase. Until owners and trainers are made totally responsible for the life of their dogs from birth to natural death nobody can convince me that greyhound racing is not a cruel sport.

ANTHEA FROST

Brewers Lodge

Patshull

Shropshire

SIR - How, I wonder, does Mark arrive at the conclusion that the future of greyhounds is 'not as bleak as it is made out to be?' The Retired Greyhound Trust, to which he makes reference, has re-homed 35,000 dogs since being set up in 1974. This sounds impressive, until you read the British Greyhound Racing Board's estimate that 10,000 greyhounds retire every year from registered tracks (ie this figure does not take into account the number of dogs which retire from non-registered tracks). This effectively means that the RGT has failed to find homes for 285,000 greyhounds, ie eight times as many as it has homed.

TRISTAN WYNNE-JONES