Irish Greyhound Board backs down on sending Greyhounds to China

international | animal rights | press release Wednesday May 04, 2011 11:06 by Bernie Wright - Greyhound Action Ireland bigbrownrat at gmail dot com 0872651720

VICTORY for Irish Greyhounds but others may die in China due to IGB TRACK PLANS..

GREYHOUND ACTION IRELAND is relieved to hear that the prospect of thousands of Greyhounds being bred in Ireland for Chinese greyhound Tracks has been shelved by the Irish Greyhound Board after fierce opposition by animal rights activists.

GREYHOUND ACTION IRELAND is relieved to hear that the prospect of thousands of Greyhounds being bred in Ireland for Chinese greyhound Tracks has been shelved by the Irish Greyhound Board after fierce opposition by animal rights activists.
As legislation stands these greyhounds could not be exported legally as no welfare agreement exists between Ireland and China.
Gambling on Dogs and horses ,it appears is still not legal in China so this ill-conceived cruel money-grabbing idea was a no-go from that respect also.
The greyhound Industry is in dire financial straits with a couple of tracks keeping the others afloat. Heavily subsidised by taxpayers money this dying Industry in sinking morally and from a business perspective.
This development came to light in a Dail debate yesterday 3rd May = 2011.

GAI Spokesperson Bernie Wright says ‘Public pressure from both within Ireland and from International activists in the USA and Europe has diverted this cruel development. Obviously the IGB did not realise the positive shift in the public’s perception of these beautiful gentle breed of dogs, along with the determination of those who fight for their protection from those who try to exploit them.
We will be monitoring this situation as tracks in China will have to get Thousands of Greyhounds from another source if this goes ahead’.

In an Adjournment Debate 3rd May 2011, Full text attached .

“The export of Irish greyhounds to the People's Republic of China”

Minister of State, Shane Mc Entee, TD

RELEVANT TEXT AS FOLLOWS, Shane Mc Entee TD.
‘The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is aware that Bord na gCon is exploring possible business opportunities in China and has been in contact with the Department in this regard. I would like to inform the House that today I met the Chairman and Chief Executive of Bord na gCon to discuss the proposal. I made it clear to Bord na gCon that I am not in a position to approve the project as presented. It was agreed that Bord na gCon would modify its proposal to exclude the export of greyhounds from Ireland but would continue to explore possibilities of developing the proposal to assist in the management of greyhound racing in China.’

Bernie Wright. PR 0872651720
Greyhound Action Ireland
greyhound Tracks has been shelved by the Irish Greyhound Board after fierce opposition by animal rights activists.