Public outcry against proposed Greyhound Exports to China by IGB.

international | animal rights | press release Thursday April 28, 2011 09:36 by Bernie Wright - Greyhound Action Ireland/American European Greyhound Alliance bigbrownrat at gmail dot com 087265172

Irish Greyhound Board prompt International condemnation over money grabbing venture

THOUSANDS OF IRISH GREYHOUNDS AND THEIR OFFSPRING WILL DIE IN CHINA IF A PLAN TO EXPORT THEM BY THE IRISH GREYHOUND BOARD IS APPROVED.

We will be outside the Dept of Agriculture TODAY [Thursday] from 1 to 2pm to oppose the IGB plan.
Members of the American European Greyhound Alliance will attend.

Over 7000 signatures will be handed in against Greyhound exports. These are from people who cannot attend today’s 5th protest on this issue. Previously held London, Boston, Edinburgh and Dublin.
DVD of signatures handed into Dept of Agriculture today.

PLEASE HELP US AIR THIS IMPORTANT CAMPAIGN AND CRUEL ILL-CONCEIVED BUSINESS IDEA THAT WILL RESULT IN EVEN MORE CRUELTY TO GREYHOUND DOGS
Bernie Wright. 0872651720

Greyhound Action urgently calls on both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Finance to refuse permission to the semi-state body the Irish Greyhound board to save their ailing industry by sending Irish Dogs to certain death in China.
The IGB have always been killing thousands of dogs who were not winning races here in Ireland. It is the nature of the sport to breed thousands of dogs to secure some winners but this proposed China venture will make their activities here pale in comparison.
They [IGB] say that allocated Irish Greyhound people will look after the dogs in china if this goes ahead , we accept they possibly will but they also admit that all of the dogs with the exception of breeding dogs will be killed similar to everywhere else racing is held. No homes will be available , not that this would rectify this cruel ill-conceived venture. The massive number of dogs will no doubt result in the dog meat or fur trade. Both of these will cause horrendous suffering which is being condemned by greyhound advocates worldwide.

The IGB, which up to now has already received millions in taxpayers money is also seeking a change in animal welfare Legislation to allow it to send thousands of innocent greyhounds to die in China. Currently there is no agreement in place between China and here to allow this. The DOA will have to rush through legislation to facilitate them if this is to go ahead. This is confirmed by their own supporters on many Greyhound Forums.
They will also be seeking approval and even more money from the Department of Finance to fund this cruel venture. We oppose this venture along with fellow animal rights activists who have been lobbying Irish Ministers since word of this sick proposal came to light. Demos in Boston, Edinburgh, London and Dublin have already been well supported.

• Worldwide lobbying of Irish Government Tds and Ministers is ongoing -thousands of letters have been sent.
• Celebrities like Ricky Gervais and Jilly Cooper are backing this campaign.
• This is Jilly Coopers press release ..... Greyhounds are wonderful, heavenly dogs – they are so gentle that they are easily abused. They are brave and true and will gladly run their hearts out for anyone. They also suffer enough abuse in this country [uk]and Ireland, so the proposal by the Irish Greyhound Board to send them to race in China is an outrageous betrayal of all the love and loyalty, joy and entertainment that greyhounds have given for thousands of years. It is a betrayal of the principles of animal welfare. Sending these trusting dogs to a nation of 1.3 billion people with no history of respect, empathy or welfare legislation for animals only serves to emphasize the fact that money talks above compassion every time. The Chinese nation has an appalling record where both animal and human rights are concerned. There is not a hope of anything being in store for them except the worst possible fate. I give my full support to this campaign and can only hope that the Irish Government will decide against this proposal in the light of overwhelming public concern and the profound damage it will do to its international reputation. Please politely contact these people to voice your concerns - Mr Simon Coveney , Minister for Agriculture, minister@agriculture.gov.ie Agriculture House, Kildare St Dublin 2. Ireland Shane McEntee, Minister of State at the Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food shane.mcentee@finegael.ie same postal address as above Taoiseach Enda Kenny (taoiseach is Irish for Prime Minister) taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie Department of the Taoiseach Government Buildings Upper Merrion Street Dublin 2
• See www.afarireland.org look at section ‘Greyhounds to China’.
• See also www.greyhoundaction.org.uk

ALSO THE AEGA PRESS RELEASE IS BELOW

For Immediate Release:
AEGA protest planned at Department of Agriculture Thursday April 28, 2011 in Dublin, Ireland
What: The American-European Greyhound Alliance (AEGA) will be participating in a protest outside the Department of Agriculture this Thursday, April 28th, 2011 with representatives from The United States, Spain and Ireland. The focus of the demonstration is to denounce, from the international community at large, the proposed export of Irish greyhounds to China for racing and breeding. We call on the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Finance to refuse permission to the IGB, the semi-state body the Irish Greyhound board, to send Irish dogs to China where both basic human and animal rights and welfare are shameful. The export of Irish dogs would be a dark day for the reputation of Irish society and would come on the backs of the Irish taxpayers which heavily subsidize the racing operations in Ireland.
Where: Department of Agriculture, Kildare Street, D2 Dublin
When: 12:30 - 2:00pm with media/photo/TV/radio call at 1pm
Press Contact: USA Louise Coleman, President AEGA usa (508) 435-5969 cell usa (617) 817-6706 John Mottern, press officer on location: Dublin 353 1 618 5600 ext 335